The Cédula de Extranjería is an identification document issued to foreigners who hold a valid visa for more than 3 months, either as the principal visa holder or as a beneficiary.
Obtaining the Cédula de Extranjería is a mandatory step for foreigners once a visa has been issued by the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería), according to Article 118 of the Resolution 5477 of 2022.
This cédula can only be obtained by individuals who hold a Colombian visa issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia (Cancillería).
The Cédula de Extranjería serves as the official identification for foreigners in Colombia, enabling them to access services and enter into contracts under the same conditions as Colombian citizens.
According to Resolution 5477 of 2022 (the current visa regulation), foreigners holding a visa must register it and apply for the Cédula de Extranjería with Migración Colombia within 15 calendar days from the issuance of the visa.
Steps to apply for the Cedula de Extranjería
- Complete the Single Procedure Form (FUT) here. The form requires uploading the visa and passport as a single PDF document.
After completing the form, the system will generate a "FUT number". This number must be saved digitally or printed for use in the next steps.
- Schedule an appointment with Migración Colombia here The appointment must be scheduled at any of the Migración Colombia offices.
Once the appointment is scheduled, the confirmation email must be saved and presented during the appointment.
- Attend the appointment with the required documents
The applicant must attend the appointment in person at the Migración Colombia office, bringing the following physical documents:
- Original passport
- Printed copy of the visa
- Printed copy of the passport
- Appointment confirmation email and FUT number
- Blood type information If this is a first-time application, Migración officials will take fingerprints and a photo for the physical Cédula de Extranjería. The passport will also be stamped with the visa number and the Cédula number.
Cost: The government fee for the Cédula de Extranjería in 2024 is $267,000 COP, payable only by credit or debit card. Migración Colombia does not accept cash.
After completing the procedure, Migración officials will inform the applicant about the timeframe for issuing the physical document. The status of the Cédula can be checked on this website.
Important Note: Currently, Migración Colombia and the National Printing Office are experiencing delays in the issuance and delivery of the physical Cédula de Extranjería. In some cases, the delivery time is taking between 3 and 4 months.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- If I completed my visa process in my country of origin, do I need to travel to Colombia within 15 days of my visa approval to complete the procedure, or can I do it in my country of origin? If your visa process was carried out at a Colombian Consulate in your country of origin, the 15-day period begins once you arrive in Colombia with your valid visa, you don’t need to travel to meet the 15 day-rule since it won’t start counting until you arrive.
Migración Colombia, unlike Cancillería, does not have offices or consulates abroad, so the process for obtaining the Cédula de Extranjería can only be completed in Colombia.---
- Can I complete the procedure in a city different from where I live and request to have the Cédula sent to my address? The Cédula de Extranjería process can be completed at any Migración Colombia office in the country. However, the Cédula can only be delivered at the office where the procedure was originally carried out.
While Migración officials may agree to send a physical Cédula from one city’s office to another, for example, completing the process in Cartagena and requesting delivery to the Medellín office, we do not recommend this. We've encountered cases where Cédulas were lost during transit or significantly delayed before delivery.---
If my child is under 7 years old, do they also need a Cédula de Extranjería? Children under the age of 7 are not required to obtain a Cédula de Extranjería. However, they must complete the Registration of Foreign Minors under 7 Years Old process with Migración Colombia. This process also involves filling out the FUT form and submitting the required documents to Migración Colombia.---
What happens if I don’t complete the procedure within the 15-day timeframe? If the procedure is not completed within the legally required timeframe, Migración Colombia may initiate a disciplinary process against you for non-compliance, which could result in a fine.
However, if the delay is due to the recent technical issues experienced by Migración Colombia, it is unlikely that they will take action for this non-compliance.