How To Get Married In Colombia

The Colombian marriage visa is in the migrant visa category. It is intended for foreigners who are married to a Colombian national or have a permanent partner. The Colombia marriage visa is fairly easy to obtain if you have a relationship. You can easily obtain a Colombia Marriage Visa with only a few required documents.

Historically, the Colombian marriage or permanent partnership visa was designated as the TP-10 visa. This visa was valid for three years. After three years, you became eligible for a resident (R) visa. After you have an R visa for 2 years, you can apply to become a Colombian National. Colombia allows dual citizenship, and has no limit on the number of other nationalities.

The Colombian marriage visa, and Colombian Parents visa are the visas with the strongest legal benefits for foreigners. Direct family links to Colombia through Colombian citizens give foreign nationals special rights and abilities to avoid deportation in certain circumstances.

Since December 2017, the Colombia marriage visa has changed and is now known as a Migrant (M) visa of category 1 (an M-1 visa). The new M-1 visa is valid for up to three years, just like the TP-10 visa. With the new visa you are eligible to apply for a resident (R) visa after only two years. The M-1 visa allows you to stay, work, and study in Colombia. This is similar to the previous TP-10 visa.

If you currently hold an M-1 marriage visa you will need to wait for three years before you are eligible to apply for a resident visa. The resident visa is also a path toward Colombian Citizenship. You must live in Colombia 180 days a year to meet residency requirements. After three years you can qualify for the resident visa. Then you can qualify for citizenship and even dual citizenship, or third or fourth citzenship as Colombia has no limits.

Even though M-1 visa allows multiple entries into Colombia, you cannot stay out of Colombia with an M-1 visa for more than six months consecutively or nonconsecutively during the year. If you stay out of Colombia for more than six months in a row, then your visa loses its validity like any other migrant visa.

This rule will apply changes in the category of various types of visas and will require adjustments in Colombian Visa Application System. According to this resolution, the new visa rules will be applicable starting October 22, 2022.

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Civil Union (union marital de hecho) Visa holders now need to wait 5 years before applying for residency visa, previously it was only 2 years.

Common Law Marriage is now required and must be registered officially at least 1 year prior to visa application. Partner M Visas for common law marriages are valid for up to 1 year, which means that visa holders would need to reapply for the same visa at least 4 times prior to applying for residency visa.

Common Law (Union Marital de Hecho) Visa holders now have to wait a full 5 years to apply for residency, previously it was only 2 years.

If someone is exploring the Colombian Marriage Visa page, they might also be interested in the Colombian Parents Visa: This visa allows foreign nationals to reside in Colombia if they have a child who is a Colombian citizen or resident. It’s an excellent option for parents looking to live near their children while enjoying the benefits of Colombian residency. Parent Visa.

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What are the Colombia Marriage Laws?

Getting married to a Colombian in Colombia may be thrilling and exciting to you but you must know a few things about marriage laws before you tie the knot. Here are a few things you must know before getting married in Colombia.

Civil Union or Partnership

Colombia allows civil unions or civil partnership. A civil partnership is considered to be common law marriage. In Colombia a civil partnership is known as a union libre or union martial de hecho. If you have lived with your partner for two consecutive years, then this constitutes a legal martial union in Colombia.

A written declaration in front of a notary documenting a civil union is required for marriage visa purposes. In Colombia, this declaration is called as declaracion union marital de hecho. It must be documented in a public escritura and this document can be used to get a marriage visa.

Consider the civil union as an alternative to the full marriage as it does not require you to obtain the certificates. This process must be handled by an attorney through the court system, otherwise a notary will always ask for a birth certificate. So we always recommend or clients avoid having to obtain a birth certificate from your home country to save a money and time.

Same Sex Civil Unions:

Colombia allows same sex civil unions or partnerships. So, partners in same sex relationship have the right to apply and obtain marriage visas in Colombia.

Inventory of Assets:

If someone getting married has minors in Colombia then you will need an attorney to create a list of assets belonging to the parent with minors in Colombia. This must be done and approved by a judge before you marry. This process can take one month if not done correctly.

Prenuptial Agreements:

Colombia allows spouses to get prenuptial agreements before getting married. This is commonly known as which are known as capitulaciones matrimoniales. You will need services of an experienced lawyer in Colombia who can craft a prenuptial agreement for you. Such an agreement must include asset dissolution clauses that can protect claims on future assets.

Personal Appearance:

Sometimes this visa requires a personal appearance for the first time by both applicants if done in the country.

Correct legalization of documents:

Many people arrive in Colombia without correct legalization of required documents and for this reason it is extremely important to start the process with an experienced visa agency before you send or bring documents to Colombia. Common errors are expired documents, incorrect stamps, missing stamps, poorly worded certifications, and invalid documents.

Community Property Country

It is very important to know that Colombia is a community property country. Therefore, any assets acquired post marriage are divided on 50/50 basis in Colombia. This equal division applies to both marriages and civil partnerships. In Colombia, anyone who has been living with his or her partner for over two years essentially has almost the same rights as a spouse. Any assets acquired before marriage are not up for debate when dissolving the marriage or civil union.

Symbolic Ceremony:

Symbolic Ceremonies are good for those who will not use a minister, father or other religious figure. You can have the symbolic ceremony even if all of the foreign papers are not

If the notary cannot come to the ceremony so a professional presenter can fill in.

What Is The Process Of Getting Married In Colombia?

In Colombia, you can get married at a church or at a Colombian notary. If you get married at a church in a religious ceremony, then that marriage must be registered at a notary as well. Getting married at a Colombian notary is quite common among foreigners and their Colombian spouses. Here is step by step process of getting married in Colombia.
* For Foreign Spouses Marriage Registration for persons married outside of Colombia is also possible, but follows a different process.

1. Contact the notary you want to use for your civil marriage.

2. Find out from the notary what documents are required.

a. Documents may differ from notary to notary.

b. Document requirements vary from person to person depending on personal situation.

3. Use a notary that has experience with marriage of foreign nationals.

4. Once you have arrived, then present the following documents for getting married in Colombia.

Photocopy of your Colombian spouse’s cedula.
Notarized copy of your Colombian spouse’s birth certificate not older than 90 days. Please note that this certificate needed to be the long form folio version which shows his or her marital status orestado civil.
Your birth certificate with an apostille and Spanish language certified translation not older than 90 days.
Proof you are single or a recent divorce certificate.
Divorce Records recently certified with an apostille and Spanish language translation not older than 90 days if applicable
Photocopy of your cedula or a photocopy of your passport.
Inventory of Assets

For parents of minors living in Colombia. This process can take one month if not done correctly. Our office can assist with speeding up this process.

5. Once you bring all the above mentioned documents to the notary, they will review the documents and schedule the civil wedding with the notary. After you are married they will give you a marriage certificate, (registro de matrimonio), which is the equivalent of a marriage license in Colombia.

What Documents Are Required For Colombian Marriage Visa?

The following documents are required for M-1 marriage visa

Passport Photocopy.

Proof of Legal Entry.

Photocopy of Previously Issued Visa: If you’ve had a previous Colombian visa such as a student or retirement visa, then a photocopy of this visa.

Migration Certificate: Migracion Colombia will issue a certificate of your entries and exits out of Colombia over the last 5 years.

Letter from Spouse.

Cedula Photocopy.

Marriage Certificate: Colombian marriage certificate or a notarized copy of marriage certificate. Must be issued within 90 days prior to the Colombia visa application.

Passport photo: Passport style face photo with a white background, sized at 3 cm width X 4 cm height, maximum size of 300 kb jpg file for online application.

Health Insurance: You must have health insurance either from Colombia or from another country. The health insurance policy must cover all risks including repatriation of the body to the home country in case of death.

Proof of Relationship: is very important and can make a diffierence on the approval of your applciation. We have a page on our website with ideas on what documents work for this applciation.

FBI Background Check: This is not always asked for on this type of application but one should be prepared tos ubmit this with apostille and translation if you are from the United States.

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