Colombian Document Apostille

Apostille for Colombian Documents — Cancillería

Updated: March 2026 · Written by the Apostilla Antecedentes team

Colombian documents apostilled through the Cancillería — Colombia's official Hague Convention authority. Online system available. 100% remote service.

  • Cancillería-authorized process
  • Online apostille available
  • All Colombian document types
  • Certified translation offered when your procedure requires it, quoted separately
Laura Chen
Reviewed byLaura ChenLegal Document Expert

What Colombian document do you need apostilled?

Step 1 of 4

What type of Colombian document do you need apostilled?

Colombia's apostille system: the Cancillería

Colombia joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 2001. The Cancillería (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores) is Colombia's sole competent authority for apostille — it handles all document types, from civil records to criminal certificates to academic documents.

The Cancillería now offers an online apostille portal that allows remote submission and issues digital apostilles with a QR verification code — verifiable online, and recognised in destination countries where the Convention applies between the issuing and receiving States.

Who needs this service?

🇨🇴 Colombians living abroad needing documents apostilled

Birth certificates, criminal records, and university degrees from Colombia regularly need apostille for visa applications, employment verification, and credential recognition abroad. We handle it remotely.

🇪🇸 Spain visa applicants with Colombian documents

Spanish visas and residency permits require apostilled Colombian documents. We know exactly what each type of document requires and which Cancillería office processes it fastest.

🎓 Colombian professionals seeking credential recognition

Degrees from Colombian universities (Universidad Nacional, Los Andes, Javeriana, etc.) need apostille for credential evaluation abroad. We handle both the apostille and the certified translation if needed.

Required documents

DocumentIssuing authorityEstimated timeNotes
Original Colombian document (or certified copy) Relevant Colombian authority (Registraduría, ICFES, courts, etc.) Varies by document type Must be an original or a certified copy issued by the competent Colombian authority.
Apostille via Cancillería Cancillería (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores) Per the timeframe of your specific Cancillería application (official online or in-person channel) Colombia's Cancillería is the sole apostille authority. It operates the apostille service, including online requests; online apostilles include a digital verification code.
Certified translation (if required by destination country) Sworn / certified translator 1–2 business days Only if the receiving authority asks for it (it decides whether and in what format). Spanish offices generally accept Colombian documents already in Spanish. Quoted separately unless your written quote says otherwise.

How the process works

1

We confirm your Colombian document is apostillable by the Cancillería and identify whether it can be processed online or requires in-person submission in Colombia.

2

We submit your document to Colombia's Cancillería through the official online platform or via our local partners in Colombia for in-person submissions.

3

Colombia's online apostille system includes a digital certificate with a verification code. We confirm validity before delivery.

4

Translation (if needed) is coordinated in parallel. Final documents are delivered by tracked courier to your address worldwide.

Example scenarios

Illustrative examples based on common situations; names and details are changed.

IE
Indian Expat, Hong Kong

from India to France

Apostille
The problem was…

An Indian expat living in Hong Kong had their Indian birth certificate notarized and apostilled by Hong Kong authorities, but France rejected it.

We solved it…

Documents can only be apostilled by the competent authority of the country that originally issued them. The applicant had to restart the process in India.

Result

In this example, the application was resubmitted with the correct apostille from India — the issuing country's competent authority.

CA
California Applicant

from USA to International

Apostille
The problem was…

A private affidavit notarized by a California notary was rejected for a state apostille because the notary stamped their seal on a blank white space instead of over the printed text of the affidavit.

We solved it…

The applicant had to reprint a fresh original of the private affidavit and ensure the notary followed state-specific seal placement guidelines perfectly before resubmitting.

Result

In this example, the document was resubmitted with the correct notary seal placement for the state office to review.

WS
Wrong State Apostille

from USA to Mexico

Apostille
The problem was…

A user paid a third-party service for a California birth certificate apostille, but received a Kansas apostille attached by a proxy notary, which was rejected in Mexico.

We solved it…

The applicant had to dispute the credit card charge and apply properly directly through the California Secretary of State.

Result

In this example, the fix is to dispute the third-party charge and apply directly through the California Secretary of State.

View all cases →

Official sources & authorities

Information on this page is based on procedures from recognized government and intergovernmental bodies — not third-party estimates.

Cancillería — Apostilla Colombia's official apostille authority. The Cancillería processes apostilles for all Colombian public documents online and in-person. View source →
Hague Conference — Colombia country profile Confirms Colombia as a Hague Convention member and details the Cancillería as the apostille authority. View source →
Policía Nacional de Colombia — Certificado de Antecedentes Source for Colombian criminal background certificate, required for Spain and other destination countries. View source →

Related guides

Guide
Apostille of Colombian documents for Spain: complete guideLaura Chen · February 2026
→Guide
Colombian criminal record certificate for Spain visaLaura Chen · January 2026
→

Related services

🌐Certified translationSworn certified translations for all languages

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Frequently asked questions

Who issues apostilles for Colombian documents?

The Cancillería (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores) is Colombia's sole apostille authority under the Hague Convention. All Colombian public documents — civil records, criminal certificates, academic degrees, notarial documents — are apostilled by the Cancillería.

Can I get a Colombian apostille online?

Yes. The Cancillería offers an online apostille system for eligible documents. Documents submitted online receive a digital apostille with a verification code that foreign authorities can validate at the Cancillería portal. This is the fastest option and does not require you to be in Colombia.

How long does a Colombian apostille take?

Colombia's Cancillería operates the apostille service, including online requests. Quote the timeframe for that specific application, separating private agency logistics from the official apostille processing and delivery — a guaranteed combined figure does not exist.

Does Spain require a certified translation of Colombian documents?

No — since Colombian documents are already in Spanish, Spain generally does not require a certified translation. For use in other countries (US, UK, Germany, etc.), whether a translation is needed, and which kind, is decided by the receiving authority for your procedure. Confirm it first; if a translation is requested, we quote it separately from the apostille unless your written quote states it is included.

Can I apostille a Colombian document if I live outside Colombia?

Yes. The Cancillería online system can be accessed from anywhere. For documents that require in-person submission, we coordinate with local partners in Bogotá and other major Colombian cities to handle the process on your behalf.

Which Colombian documents does the Cancillería apostille?

The Cancillería apostilles all Colombian public documents: birth certificates (Registraduría), marriage and death certificates, criminal background checks (Policía Nacional), university degrees and transcripts (when notarially certified), court documents, commercial registry certificates, and notarial instruments.

What is the cost of apostilling a Colombian document?

The official Cancillería apostille fee in 2026 is COP 37,800 per document when processed in Colombia (consular fees abroad differ). Our service fee covers submission, tracking, and delivery. Contact us for an exact quote based on your document type and destination country.

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