Colombian Document Apostille in the U.S. — 2026 Guide

Colombia and the United States are both parties to the Hague Apostille Convention. A U.S. document used in Colombia needs an apostille from the Secretary of State of the issuing state — the state where the event happened or the document was issued — plus a translation into Spanish. Colombian consulates do not authenticate U.S. records.

Quick facts

Which state issues the apostille is decided by where the document came from, not by where you live now. A birth certificate from New Jersey is apostilled in New Jersey even if you file the consular procedure in Florida.

Fees breakdown

Colombian public documents travel in the opposite direction through the foreign ministry’s online apostille service, which verifies the document against the issuing entity’s records.

How to prepare a document for Colombia

1. Order a certified copy from the issuing office. Photocopies are refused.
2. Notarise private documents first, since the apostille certifies the notary’s signature.
3. Send it to the Secretary of State of the state that issued it, or to the U.S. Department of State for federal records.
4. Have the document translated into Spanish, including the apostille.
5. Present the set at the consulate or send it to Colombia, keeping copies.

Required documents

• Original certified copy with signature and seal.
• Completed state authentication request and payment.
• Prepaid return envelope for mail filings.
• Photo ID for in-person service.

What the consulate does instead

Consulates keep the civil registry abroad, issue identity documents and passports, authenticate signatures on documents signed before a consular officer, and execute special powers of attorney.

Additional notes

Translations

Colombian authorities generally expect a certified translation, and for civil registry work the consulate will tell you which format it accepts. Ask before commissioning one.

Freshness

Civil registry files often require the U.S. certificate to be recent. An old certificate with a fresh apostille is still an old certificate.

Never apostille a photocopy

The certificate attaches to an original or to a certified copy from the record keeper. Anything else is returned.

Order two

Colombian offices keep what they receive. Two apostilled originals cost little more and save repeating the chain.