Colombia Civil Documents · Updated August 2026
The Civil Documents You Need From Colombia for a U.S. Marriage Green Card
For a U.S. marriage green card, your Colombian spouse needs a recent civil birth record, a national police certificate, and a marriage record, all issued by Colombia's official registries and translated into English.
Quick answer
For a U.S. marriage green card, the Colombian spouse generally needs the Birth Certificate, Police Certificate, and Marriage Certificate. An apostille is generally not required by USCIS for a filing inside the U.S. Non-English documents need a certified English translation, which you can self-certify.
- 3 core documents
- Birth Certificate
- Police Certificate
- Marriage Certificate
- No apostille needed
For a filing inside the U.S., USCIS accepts a certified copy plus an English translation.
- Translate it yourself
Any bilingual person can certify the English translation. No licensed translator required.
The documents you actually need
Start with these core records in order. Each one lists who issues it, what it costs, how long it takes, and exactly what USCIS wants.
Birth Certificate
What USCIS needs: USCIS wants a recent full certified copy (copia integral), not the short-form version; order a fresh copy rather than reusing an old one.
How to get it: Request a full certified copy (copia integral) in person at any notaría, Registraduría office, or municipal registrar, or through the Registraduría's online civil-record service. The copy must be fully legible and show the registering official's name and signature on both sides.
- Issued by
- Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil (notarías and municipal registrars also issue certified copies)
- Cost
- Certified copy fee approx 6,000 to 11,000 COP (a few U.S. dollars); the Cancillería apostille itself is free but has associated consular processing.
- Timing
- Often same day when requested in person; online or apostille-linked requests can take about 15 business days.
Police Certificate
What USCIS needs: Required for consular processing (IR-1/CR-1) and useful evidence generally; the NVC prefers it dated within the last six months even though it is technically valid for up to a year.
How to get it: Generate it online at the Policía Nacional portal using your Colombian cédula. Applicants 18 or older who lived in Colombia more than six months (State Dept guidance covers residence since age 16) should obtain one.
- Issued by
- Policía Nacional de Colombia
- Cost
- Free.
- Timing
- Immediate online if there is no record; 5 to 10 business days if a manual review is triggered.
Marriage Certificate
What USCIS needs: For a marriage-based petition, submit the certified Registro Civil de Matrimonio as the primary proof of a valid marriage; for single-status proof before marrying, the annotated birth record is the accepted equivalent.
How to get it: If you married in Colombia, request a certified copy of the Registro Civil de Matrimonio from the notaría where it was registered or from the Registraduría. If you are not yet married, Colombia has no standalone single-status certificate; marital status is shown by the annotated civil birth record, or a sworn declaration of single status (declaración de soltería) can be used.
- Issued by
- Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil (registered via a notaría)
- Cost
- Certified copy fee approx 6,000 to 11,000 COP (a few U.S. dollars).
- Timing
- Usually same day in person.
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At a glance
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Apostille status | Colombia has been a Hague Apostille Convention member since January 30, 2001, and the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (Cancillería) issues apostilles through its online portal. For USCIS marriage green card filings, an apostille is generally NOT required, though it is often needed for documents used at the consular stage or inside Colombia. |
| How records are kept | Civil records are managed by the Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil, with notaries and municipal registrars recording births, marriages, and deaths; the system is largely digitized and copies are widely available. |
| Typical time to gather | Certified copies are frequently same-day in person; apostille-linked Registraduría requests run about 15 business days, and police certificates are usually immediate. |
| Translation | All Spanish-language documents need a certified English translation for USCIS. USCIS allows any competent bilingual person to translate and self-certify accuracy; a sworn or notarized translator is not required at the USCIS stage. |
Source: U.S. State Dept Reciprocity Schedule: Colombia. Verified August 2026. Need to translate a document? See our certified translation guide.
What officers watch for
Full document reference
Every civil record from Colombia that can come up in a marriage green card case, with the issuing authority, cost, and how to obtain it.
| Document | Issuing authority | Cost | How to obtain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth Certificate | Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil / notaría | Approx 6,000 to 11,000 COP | Request full certified copy (copia integral) in person or via the Registraduría online service |
| Marriage Certificate | Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil (via notaría) | Approx 6,000 to 11,000 COP | Certified copy of Registro Civil de Matrimonio from the registering notaría or Registraduría |
| Divorce Certificate | Judge issues the decree; must be registered with the Oficina de Registro Civil | Varies (court and registration costs) | Provide the original divorce decree plus proof it was registered (annotated birth or marriage record) |
| Death Certificate | Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil / notaría | Approx 6,000 to 11,000 COP | Certified copy of the Registro Civil de Defunción from a notaría or the Registraduría |
| Police Certificate | Policía Nacional de Colombia | Free | Generate online at antecedentes.policia.gov.co using the Colombian cédula |
What applicants report
“Applicants going through Colombian consular processing consistently report that the police certificate and civil records do not need an apostille for USCIS, and that ordering the full copia integral of the birth record (not the short form) up front avoids requests for evidence. Prior divorces are the common snag, since the decree must be both apostilled and shown as registered on the civil record.”
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See how it worksFrequently asked questions
Do my Colombian documents need an apostille for a USCIS marriage green card?
Generally no. USCIS accepts certified copies of Colombian civil records with a certified English translation. An apostille from the Cancillería is typically needed only for documents used at the consular stage or for use inside Colombia, not for the USCIS petition itself.
How does my Colombian spouse prove single status if we have not married yet?
Colombia does not issue a standalone single-status certificate. Marital status is shown by the annotations on the Registro Civil de Nacimiento (civil birth record). Some notaries also accept a sworn declaration of single status (declaración de soltería) for a marriage in Colombia.
Which birth certificate version does USCIS want?
Order the full certified copy, the copia integral, from the Registraduría or a notaría. The abbreviated version leaves out details USCIS expects, and important events like marriage or divorce are often annotated directly on the birth record.
How do we get the Colombian police certificate and does it expire?
Generate the Certificado de Antecedentes Judiciales online at the Policía Nacional site using the Colombian cédula. It is free and usually instant. It is considered valid for up to a year, but submit one dated within the last six months to be safe.
Do the documents have to be translated into English?
Yes. Every Spanish-language document needs a certified English translation. For USCIS, any competent bilingual person may translate and sign a certification of accuracy; you do not need a sworn or government-licensed translator at that stage.
Key takeaways
- ✓
The core documents most Colombian applicants need are the Birth Certificate, Police Certificate, Marriage Certificate.
- ✓
Colombia is a Hague Apostille Convention member, but USCIS generally does not require an apostille for a marriage green card filed inside the U.S.
- ✓
You do not need a licensed translator: any competent bilingual person can translate a document and self-certify it for USCIS.
- ✓
A home-country police certificate is generally needed only for consular processing abroad, not for adjustment of status inside the U.S.
- ✓
Order fresh certified copies directly from the official issuer and keep the originals; documents from Colombia draw closer scrutiny.
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