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With over 10 years of experience helping expats get Colombian visas, we’re well aware of how popular the Colombian marriage visa is.
We enjoy listening to our clients and learning more about their reasons to get engaged here, most agree, that they find beauty, intelligence, understanding, happiness, and harmony in their Colombian partner to think about long-term relationships.
Also, this becomes a way to access a stay visa in the country to enjoy the Colombian paradise.
What changes does Resolution 5477 bring for the marriage visa?
On October 21, 2022, a new Resolution 5477 came into force regarding Colombian visas. For the case of the marriage visa, it brings the following changes:
How to get married in Colombia?
To have the possibility of applying for a Marriage Visa in Colombia, it is very important to know the legal regulations regarding the types of unions that are valid for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We will do a little review below:
Civil Marriage
Civil Marriage is a contract between two people and must be carried out before a judge or notary. It is a formal union that recognizes a couple as married by civil authorities and gives them the rights and duties of a marital union. The requirements for a civil marriage are:
- Copy of valid passport and Colombian ID.
- A copy of the civil birth records with a valid marriage note was issued no later than three (3) months back.
- Certificate proving that foreigner is single in their home country to get married in Colombia.
- If either party has previously been married, a copy of the divorce certificate or death certificate will be necessary, as applicable.
- In case the foreigner does not speak Spanish, an official interpreter at the time of the marriage will be needed.
- If either spouse has underage children, they must request a solemn inventory of assets before the family judge. If the children are children of the couple, they must attach a civil registry with a date no greater than three months for legitimation.
After submitting your documents to the notary, wait 5 days for application approval and scheduling of your marriage celebration. Check with notaries for all requirements, as some may not assist with foreign procedures. Civil Marriage costs under $200,000 COP (around USD $45). For updated fees and processes for 2024, refer to Resolution 00773.
Religious Marriage
If you want to do a religious ceremony, the documents to present are:
- The baptism certificate was recently processed, and the date is no longer than three months.
- Sacrament of Confirmation certificate recently processed, date no greater than three months.
- Single status certificate before a priest and authenticated by a church official, in which two close relatives of the contracting party attest that they know you and that you have never been married by the church. If you have done so, you must present the invalidity documents.
For a Religious Marriage, the prices and time will depend on the church you choose. You can research the different churches in Colombia for more information and select one of them here. However, you must remember that for the marriage to be valid, it must also be registered through a notary.
Domestic Partnership – Common-Law Marriage
Another type of valid union in Colombia for the Marriage Visa application is a Domestic Partnership or Common-Law Marriage, which is commonly known in Colombia as a “Unión Marital de Hecho” or “Unión Libre.” This type of union is regulated in Colombia through Law 54 of 1990.
What is special about this union is that the couple lives together under the same roof. The idea is that this coexistence has more than two years to be legalized. However, remember that due to Resolution 5477, applying for a permanent partner visa is only possible when the Common Law Marital Union has been signed for over a year; otherwise, the application will be denied.
The coexistence between two people can then be legalized in three ways: through a public deed in a Colombian notary, a Judgment by a Family Judge, or a conciliation act with specialist lawyers.
Typically, you will need documents similar to those required for a Civil Marriage, including apostilled and translated documents from abroad. However, at expatgroup.co, we can offer you a faster, cheaper, and easier service through specialized lawyers. With our service, you will only need the identification documents (passport of the foreign person and ID of the Colombian person). No foreign document will be necessary.
PLEASE NOTE:
The Domestic Partnership Document differs from the simple Extra-procedural Statements (Declaraciones Extraproceso) obtained from a notary. To be a valid document, it must include at least the following statements:
- FACTS (HECHOS)
- PRETENTIONS (PRETENSIONES)
- TIME LENGTH (CUANTÍA)
Are same-sex unions legal in Colombia?
Yes. Colombia allows same-sex unions. Homosexual couples have the same rights as heterosexual couples in Colombia and can also apply for a Marriage Visa. Our Domestic Partnership service is also for homosexual couples, and the requirements are the same.
At expatgroup.co we help you to obtain the Colombian Domestic Partnership visa, that is granted for a maximum period of one (1) year. Click on the button and get professional advice today.
How can assets be protected before getting married in Colombia?
In Colombia, when a couple marries, their properties, assets, and liabilities are typically divided 50/50. However, they can create a prenuptial agreement, known as “Capitulaciones Matrimoniales,” to outline asset distribution before marriage. This is regulated by the Civil Code under Title XXII, article 1771. A specialized lawyer must prepare the agreement, including clauses to protect assets from future claims.
¿Are you planning to get married in Colombia?
If you want to get married to your partner from Colombia and need help with the M-type Marriage Visa or the Domestic Partnership Visa application process? expatgroup.co has assisted many individuals in smoothly navigating this process. We can provide you with the necessary support. Schedule an appointment with us today to learn more.
What happens if we already got married abroad?
Marriage certificates issued abroad can be registered in Colombia in order to apply for a Marriage Visa. This applies to both same-sex couples and heterosexual couples in which one person is Colombian.
In this way, marriage will be legally recognized in both countries. It is not recommended to get married again in Colombia because, in legal terms, the correct process is to register the original marriage in Colombia.
How can I legalize a foreign marriage in Colombia?
Issue an updated Marriage Certificate with Apostille in your home country. Here we explain what the apostille is.
If the certificate is in a language other than Spanish, it must be translated by an official Colombian translator. We offer you the official translation service with the endorsement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Copy of both identification documents (Passport and Colombian ID). In the event of Capitulations, a true copy of them must be provided to carry out its respective registry in the Colombian Marriage Certificate.
The process of registering a foreign marriage can be carried out through consulates, notaries, or national registries. You can know the location of these authorities abroad and in Colombia through the following link: DIRECTORY.
However, if you are in Colombia, at expatgroup.co we can also assist you so that your foreign marriage will be recognized in Colombia under all legal regulations. This is a procedure that can take about a week. If you want more information, contact us!
In addition to the true and updated copy of the Colombian Marriage Certificate, or one of the valid certificates explained above, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will require the following documents:
What are the documents required for the Colombian Marriage Visa?
Letter
Application letter signed by the Colombian spouse, requesting the visa for the foreign spouse and stating the effective cohabitation.
Power of Attorney
Special power of attorney, with acknowledgement of content and signature before a notary public or Colombian consul.
Migratory Movements
Certificate of migratory movements of the foreigner and his/her Colombian spouse.
Proof Pictures
Pictures together where the date of capture can be seen.
Social Media Proof
Information exchanges on social networks.
Other requirements
And other documents that our expatgroup.co team will help you prepare to increase the success of your application.
It is important to keep in mind that the Colombian government may require additional documents within the process, before giving a final approval response regarding the visa application. Some examples are:
Is an interview necessary to obtain a Colombian Marriage Visa?
The Colombian government may request an interview in any case that they think is necessary. However, interviews are more recurring in the Marriage Visa process. There are a few factors that can make an interview request by the government more likely:
- Relationship time: When the relationship is less than 2 years old, the government is more likely to request an interview.
- Age Differences: When there is a difference of more than 5 years of age, it is another factor of incidence.
- Demonstrable Coexistence Time: When it isn’t possible to demonstrate that you have traveled together, that you have lived in the same place for a long time, and that you have common interests.
The interview may be together or separately to compare the responses. Some examples of typical questions could be the following to demonstrate that it is a real relationship:
- Where and when did you meet?
- What trips have you planned and taken together?
- Special and birthday dates.
- Questions to find out information about both families.
- How is the place where you live together? Describe some characteristics of the space.
- Questions about the couple’s scars, tattoos, or special tastes.
- What side of the bed does your partner sleep on?
- Last activities that you did together.
- How long does it take to get a marriage visa in Colombia?
How long does it take to get a marriage visa in Colombia?
In addition to the time necessary to marry in Colombia as explained above, when you have all the necessary documents to start the application, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can take around 30 days days to study your request. If there are no additional requirements and everything is correct, the visa will be approved!
Then you can request the cédula de extranjería. With the cédula de extranjería you can access the health system, open bank accounts, obtain a driver’s license, among other benefits. In addition, you can carry out any legal activity in the country. You can work under any type of contract, be a freelance worker, start your own company, study, do business, etc.
You can leave and enter Colombia without any problem, but to keep the visa valid you mustn’t stay outside of Colombia for more than 6 months in the same departure. The Marriage Visa could be issued from a year up to three years and you will always have the possibility to renew it. When you accumulate three continuous years with this kind of visa, you can finally become a permanent resident.
Costs, Validity, and Restrictions
Why choose expatgroup.co as your specialized visa agency?
- We have the best rating on Google Business.
- Automatic quotes: You can get a quick and complete quote with the requirements and prices of the service you need. Completely online here.
- Virtual counseling, call scheduling, or in-person appointments to discuss the visa requirements and process. (appointment request)
- Online chat through the website and online-enabled for quick advice through WhatsApp.
- Office for face-to-face attention and correspondence reception in El Poblado, Medellín city.
- English-speaking advisor if required.
- Documents preparation, form filling, and professional document reviewing to increase the chances of success.
- Online visa application.
- Assistance with the visa registration with Migración Colombia and application to obtain your “cédula de extranjería” (foreigner ID card).
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