Apostille colombia criminal record

Apostille Colombia Criminal Record — Certificate, Authentication & Translation

Updated: June 2026 · Written by the Apostilla Antecedentes team

Certificado Judicial de Antecedentes Penales from the Policía Nacional for US immigration, Canadian PR, UK visas, and international use. Cancillería apostille and certified translation included. 100% remote — free consultation.

  • Policía Nacional certificate covered
  • Cancillería apostille included
  • Certified translation available
  • Free document review
Laura Chen
Reviewed byLaura ChenLegal Document Expert

What do you need for your Colombian criminal record?

Step 1 of 4

What is the certificate for?

Apostille a Colombia criminal record: the Policía Nacional certificate and Cancillería apostille

The official Colombian criminal record certificate is the Certificado Judicial de Antecedentes Penales, issued by the Policía Nacional de Colombia. It is available online through the Policía Nacional portal and covers judicial, disciplinary, and investigative records nationally.

For international use in countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention — including Spain, the US, Canada, Mexico, and most of Europe — the certificate must carry an apostille issued by the Cancillería (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores).

We coordinate the full process from certificate issuance through apostille and certified translation — all remotely, whether you are in Colombia or abroad.

Who needs this service?

🇨🇴 Colombians applying for US or Canadian immigration

Applying for a US green card, USCIS benefit, or Canadian permanent residency? Requirements are application-specific: USCIS asks for evidence of the underlying record plus a certified English translation of any foreign-language document, while an apostille (Cancillería for Colombian certificates) applies only when the specific filing procedure requires it — and IRCC police-certificate instructions vary by country and process. We confirm your case and handle the apostille and translation when they apply.

💼 Professionals and job seekers

Background checks are routinely required for employment in Colombia and abroad — especially in finance, government, healthcare, and security sectors. We obtain your Policía Nacional certificate quickly.

🎓 Students and university applicants

International universities and scholarship programs often require an apostilled criminal record certificate from your country of origin. We handle the full process, including translation for English-language institutions.

Required documents

DocumentIssuing authorityEstimated timeNotes
Certificado Judicial de Antecedentes Penales Policía Nacional de Colombia 1–3 business days (online) Issued online via the Policía Nacional portal. Many procedures require it to be less than 90 days old. Required for employment, visas, and most official purposes.
Cédula de Ciudadanía or valid passport Applicant Current Required to request the certificate. The name must match your travel document exactly.
Apostille (for international use) Cancillería (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores) Per the timeframe of your specific Cancillería application (official online or in-person channel) Colombia is a Hague Convention member since 2001. The Cancillería issues apostilles on official Colombian documents.
Certified translation (if required) Sworn / certified translator 1–2 business days after apostille Where the destination procedure requires a translation, confirm whether it must cover the document, the apostille page, or both; the receiving authority defines the translator and format. We provide English, Portuguese, French, and other languages.

How the process works

1

We confirm what you need: the standard Policía Nacional certificate, whether apostille is required, and which language the translation must be in for your destination country. No commitment required.

2

We guide you through or manage the online application on the Policía Nacional portal. If you are abroad, we coordinate the process so you don't need to return to Colombia.

3

Once the certificate is issued, we submit it to the Cancillería for the official apostille. We track every stage and keep you updated.

4

If required, a certified translation is prepared by a qualified translator. Your complete document package is delivered by tracked international courier.

Example scenarios

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

DM
Democratic Memory Law – Name Typo

from USA to Spain

Apostille
The problem was…

An applicant for Spanish citizenship under the Democratic Memory Law had their mother's 40-year-old US Naturalization Certificate rejected because of a minor spelling error in her first name.

We solved it…

The applicant had to petition USCIS for a formal name correction, which can take months, and request an extension from the Spanish consulate.

Result

In this example, the fix is to correct the name through USCIS so the Spanish citizenship application can resume.

DM
Deferred Master's – Expired FBI Check

from USA to Spain

Apostille
The problem was…

A student deferred their Spanish master's program for a year and tried to reuse their previously apostilled FBI background check for the new visa application.

We solved it…

The consulate rejected it because the underlying criminal record check is only valid for 5 to 6 months from its original date of issuance.

Result

In this example, the fix is to obtain a new FBI check for the student visa application for the following year.

FF
FBI Fingerprint Card – Translation Required

from USA to Spain

Apostille
The problem was…

An applicant submitted an apostilled and translated FBI background check to the Spanish consulate, but it was rejected for missing a translation of the physical fingerprint card itself.

We solved it…

The applicant had to hire a sworn translator to translate the English text on the standard FBI FD-258 fingerprint card to meet the consulate's translation checklist.

Result

In this example, the refile would include a translation of the fingerprint card; some consulates require it.

View all cases →

Official sources & authorities

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

Policía Nacional de Colombia — Antecedentes Penales Official portal for requesting the Certificado Judicial de Antecedentes Penales online. View source →
Cancillería — Apostilla The Cancillería is the Colombian authority that issues apostilles on official documents for international use. View source →
Hague Apostille Convention (HCCH) Colombia has been a party to the Hague Convention since 2001 (accession in 2000). Apostille is the correct authentication for Colombian documents going to other member countries. View source →

Related guides

Guide
Colombian criminal record certificate: complete guide 2026Laura Chen · March 2026
→Guide
Colombian criminal record for Canadian PR: complete guide 2026Laura Chen · March 2026
→

Related services

🇺🇸Criminal record for the USAFBI check for US immigration, USCIS, and international use📋All criminal record servicesHub for criminal record certificates from all countries🔏Apostille servicesHague Convention authentication for all document types🌐Certified translationSworn certified translations for all major languages

Criminal record certificates by destination country

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Laura Chen

Legal Document Expert

Specialist in documents for the English-speaking market with a focus on fast and secure processing.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Colombian Certificado Judicial de Antecedentes Penales?

It is the official criminal record certificate issued by the Policía Nacional de Colombia. It shows whether the holder has any judicial, investigative, or disciplinary records in Colombia. It is the document required by foreign embassies, employers, and immigration authorities when they ask for a Colombian background check.

Can I get the certificate if I am outside Colombia?

Yes. The Policía Nacional portal allows online requests using your Colombian national ID (cédula). If you are abroad and do not have access to the portal, we can coordinate the process for you with proper authorization.

Does Colombia issue apostilles?

Yes. Colombia has been a party to the Hague Apostille Convention since 2001 (accession in 2000). The Cancillería (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores) is the competent authority for issuing apostilles on Colombian official documents, including criminal record certificates.

How long is the Colombian criminal record certificate valid?

There is no universal three-to-six-month window: verified Spanish consular checklists include limits of three, five and six months, generally counted from the issuance date of the certificate. Check the current official checklist of the consular post processing your application. We coordinate timing to match your application deadline.

Do I need a certified translation?

Only if submitting to a non-Spanish-speaking country. The US, Canada, UK, and most European countries require a certified English (or local language) translation. We provide certified translations that meet the requirements of the destination authority.

How long does the whole process take?

The police certificate and the apostille are separate steps. Colombia's Cancillería operates the apostille service, including online requests. Quote the timeframe for that specific application, separating private agency logistics from the police certificate and official apostille processing; delivery is additional. We do not promise a fixed combined total.

What if the destination country is not in the Hague Convention?

If the destination country is not a Hague Convention member, an apostille is not valid. Instead, a consular legalization chain is required. We handle both apostille and consular legalization — contact us to confirm which route applies to your destination.

Laura Chen
Laura Chen Legal Document Expert
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