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:
New Permanent Partner Visa
A new Permanent Partner visa is created for those unions through Domestic Partnership.
New validity period for Visas
The maximum duration of the permanent partner visa or marriage visa with Domestic Partnership is for one year.
New application waiting time
The Domestic Partnership must have been signed for at least one year to apply for the visa.
How to get married in Colombia?
To have the possibility of applying for a Marriage Visa in Colombia 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 therefore, 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.
- Copy of civil birth records with a valid note for marriage 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 of the spouses has underage children, they must request a solemn inventory of assets before the family judge. If they are children of the couple, they must attach a civil registry with a date no greater than 3 months, for legitimation.
After submitting the documents to the notary, you must wait 5 days for the application to be approved and they will schedule a date for your marriage celebration.
All requirements and procedures can be verified through the notaries. The recommendation is that you contact the notary first because, in fact, there are some notaries that are not authorized to carry out procedures that involve foreigners. Here you can find the Directory of Notaries in Colombia.
Civil Marriage has a notary cost of less than $200,000 COP (which would be around USD $45 approximately). You can find updated information about the process and notary prices for the year 2024 in Resolution 00773
Religious Marriage
If you want to do a religious ceremony, the documents to present are:
- Baptism certificate recently processed, date no greater 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 choose one of them here.
However, you must keep in mind that in order for the marriage to be valid, it will also have to be registered through a notary.
Domestic Partnership – Common-Law Marriage
Another type of valid union in Colombia for the Marriage Visa application is the Domestic Partnership or Common-Law Marriage, which is commonly known in Colombia as a “Unión Marital de Hecho” o “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. But remember that due to Resolution 5477, it is only possible to apply for the permanent partner visa when the Common Law Marital Union has been signed for more than one 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, through a Judgment by Family Judge, or through 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 is different from the simple Extra-procedural Statements (Declaraciones Extraproceso) that can be obtained from a notary. To be a valid document, it must include at least the following statements:
- FACTS (HECHOS)
- PRETENTIONS (PRETENSIONES)
- TIME LENGTH (CUANTÍA)
The Domestic Partnership
is recognized for grant the MType Marriage Visas by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Quote Domestic Partnership with expatgroup.co
¿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 navigating this process smoothly. We can provide you with the necessary support. Schedule an appointment with us today to learn more.
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.
How can assets be protected before getting married in Colombia?
In Colombia, normally when a couple marries, from that moment, the properties, assets, and liabilities become shared, this means, everything will be divided 50/50.
However, if the couple wants to make a prenuptial agreement about the assets before they get married, this is allowed. The name by which this type of agreement is known in Colombia is “Capitulaciones Matrimoniales” or Marital Capitulations.
Capitulations are regulated in Colombia by the Civil Code, under Title XXII, from article 1771.
This process must be carried out by a specialized lawyer who prepares the agreement based on the specifications required by both spouses, and which includes clauses to protect the assets in the event of future claims.
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!
What are the documents required for the Colombian Marriage Visa?
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:
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?
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 Beneficiaries
Why choose us 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).
Do you want to get the step-by-step guide to apply for your Cédula de Extranjería?
At expatgroup.co, we know that it is essential to have everything in order so that you can access all the benefits as a foreigner in Colombia. Therefore, we invite you to fill in your information to obtain the step-by-step guide to apply for your Cédula de Extranjería.
Why should I use expatgroup.co services?
expatgroup.co visa service
- Includes migratory advisory
- Visa submit and registration
- Registering visa / requesting “Cédula de Extranjería”
Contact us
Excelente información.
Gracias por leernos, Jhander!
SOY PORTUGUES NACIONALIZADO GRINGO. CONECI VA CAZE DOS Anos una joven mujer de venezuela viviendo en bogota,colombia. you quiero traer la a vivir aca como mi esposa.pero segundo las leys cambiadas gringas va llevar anos traerla mientras entraram 3 millones de tipos de todo el m undo si entregar identificacion,,es gringolandia.
quien se atreve a dar me consejo y caso possible buscar manera de venir mi novia vivie comigo a usa lo mas pronto possible ? leo y leo. mucho tie,mpo mejor ser desornado y sin documentos a ENTRAR ACA.
pago el justo.voy alla a colombia. hay la de turista pero no tiene dinero en el bank.no trabaja que doija tengo uno trabajo profissional.yo pago todo.gracias hermanos
rui da luz
CHILONEIRO@GMAIL.COM
OR USA-774-526-5231
MASSACHUSETTS
Hi Rui, thanks for contacting us. At expatgroup.co, we are specialists in visas for foreigners in Colombia. Sadly we do not offer services to obtain American visas. However, if in the future you need our help with procedures in Colombia, contact us: +18507714928.
Hi!
Just a question.
If I will get an SPA for our papers to be submitted for marriage, do I get it from Colombian Embassy or Philippine Embassy since I am a Filipino?
Regards,
Robin
Hi Robin,
Do we understand that you require obtaining a valid marriage to process your Colombian spouse visa? If so, I will tell you that one of our specialists will be able to provide you with all the information through the following line +18507714928. We hope you will contact us soon and be able to help you.
Hola. I need assistance marrying my fiancée who lives in Medellin. I am traveling there November 18 2023. I am staying at the Marriott. I think your office is nearby. Do you offer services to assist me? Gracias
Hi Andy, best regards. Tell me what process you need advice on. at expatgroup, we can help you process a de facto marital union, and advise you on getting a Colombian visa. Write us and we will help you with your process, you don’t have to come to our office as we have 100% virtual advice.
Hello, I just found your website through a Google search. Just in the beginning stages of leaving spanish and how to get married. It seems there is a lot of information out here on many online platforms including YouTube, Google, Facebook, and many other sites. I just turned in my first passport in the US and I paid extra to have it expedited so I may travel in January hopefully. I have agf there. She’s unlike most of the women you see on YouTube videos. But I also ordered a big passport book so I may make frequent visits to Colombia to sirens time with her and come back to the states for work. I’m obviously not jumping through a lot of hoops and hurdles to simply date someone. I’m serious and so is she. We are taking our time together but I want to arrange before my first vacation from my new employer, next year in the spring(I’ll be planning to come in April sometime for a full 7 day week). In the spirit of efficiency and getting all my ducks in a row, would it be possible to have everything involving the notaries and documentation filed on my first visit in January then when I come for vacation in April to have the marriage planned for that week? And if I hired your service what all is included with the purchase? Is it a one stop shop for all the necessary steps I would have to do on my own? I’m willing to afford the extra cost of it means an easy pain free streamline process with a strong possibility of Southall for marriage and visa. Thank you.
Hi, Aaron. Thank you so much for sharing this remarkable story. As you said, the notary processes can be a bit cumbersome, but with our help, we will guide you to have a successful process for your Colombian visa.
I invite you to book an appointment with our specialists to guide you through the process https://expatgroup.co/english/book-an-appointment/
Appreciate it for helping out, excellent information.
Good Day,
I am a Canadian citizen and I want to marry my Colombian girlfriend. I have a one year M retirement visa which I will renew in Dec 2023. What documents do I need to proceed to the notary to acquire a license of marriage? Can you assst me in getting these documents.
Thank you
Geoff Chapman
Hi, Geoff, thanks for writing to us. At the moment we do not offer the service or accompaniment for marriage processes in Colombia. At expatgroup.co we can help you with the domestic partnership and if you want to get the marriage visa. Regards
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The $220 price is not accurate. It will assuredly cost you more. Great service but they need to update the image with current costs.
Hello Patrick. We hope you’re doing well.
The 220 price represents the expatgroup.co service fee. Government fees and other costs related to processing documentation for visa applications aren’t included in this fee.
All applicants can book an appointment or get a quotation to know more about the specific documentation and additional fees for associated services or government charges. In your particular case to get the marriage visa.