How to Get Colombian Citizenship By Marriage
Many of our clients are constantly asking us about becoming Colombian citizens by marrying their Colombian partners.
The process is pretty straightforward, yet there are some essential steps that you need to take to gain citizenship successfully.
With this in mind, we’ve laid out our comprehensive guide on how to get Colombian citizenship by marriage.
Colombian citizenship requirements
If you’ve been married to a Colombian and have held an R-type resident visa for at least two years, you are eligible to apply for Colombian citizenship.
Like most other countries, Colombia allows you to hold dual citizenship between itself and your current place of citizenship, so there’s no need to worry about renouncing your nationality. This is also the quickest route to acquiring Colombian citizenship other than by having Colombian heritage. Becoming a Colombian citizen by working there, for instance, means holding the M-type work visa for at least five years.
As is the case in most North American and Western countries, you’ll need to pass a citizenship test. The test contains several questions on Colombian history, geography, and constitutional law. The test is in Spanish and contains a verbal section to assess your level of spoken Spanish. However, exceptions are made for applicants over 65 or with a bachelor’s degree from a recognized Colombian university.
When applying to do the citizenship test, the assessor at the migración office will quickly evaluate your intentions behind becoming a Colombian citizen. This counts towards accepting or denying your application before or after the test.
Colombian citizenship benefits
When you become a Colombian citizen, you’ll be able to move freely between members and associate members of the Mercosur trade agreement (every landlocked South American country apart from Suriname and French Guiana). This means you won’t need your passport, only your Colombian ID (la cédula) to cross borders.
On top of this, you’ll no longer need to apply for Colombian visas, saving some time-consuming trips to Migración. In addition, after 5 years of being a naturalized citizen of Colombia, you can also find work in Mercosur countries without needing a visa, pending a government background check.
Colombian marriage visa requirements
If you’re struggling with the ins and outs of the Colombian marriage system, or if your marriage type or circumstance is special, read up on how to get married in Colombia.
Once you’ve married your partner, you should have your marriage certificate and be able to apply for the R-type marriage visa.
Firstly, you’ll need to apply for your visa on the Cancillería website. Here are the following documents that you’ll need before and during the application:
- A scanned copy of your passport with at least two blank pages. You’ll also need a photocopy of the page that shows your latest entry stamp into the country
- Your marriage certificate and any other documents demonstrating your legal eligibility to stay in Colombia
- A passport-style photo with 3x4cm dimensions and a white background. Make sure to remove all accessories such as hats and sunglasses
- A photocopy of your spouse’s cédula (Colombian ID card)
- A visa application letter signed by your spouse that has been notarized by a recognized Colombian notary
If you’re unsure at any point in your marriage visa application process, consult an experienced visa specialist agency that can guide you through any pitfalls or complications.
Final Thoughts
Getting Colombian citizenship by marriage is ideal if you’re looking to secure your future with your spouse inside Colombia or the Mercosur region.
Not only will it provide you with peace of mind when traveling between Colombia and the country of your national origin, but you’ll also be able to benefit from freedom of movement within South America.
So if you’re looking to become a Colombian citizen and want to assure your application is successful, contact Expat Group. We’ve already helped hundreds of foreign nationals like yourself get Colombian visas, set up businesses, and gain citizenship. Book an appointment or contact us for more information.
I’m an American married for almost 4 years to a Colombian Citizen. We both reside in the U.S. I want to move to Colombia but my husband does not. He’s happy here in the U.S. I’m an African American woman and I hate it here in the U.S. I cannot convince him to help me get my Visa so that I can live and work (I’m a writer) in Colombia. I earn my own money and owned my home here in the U.S. before I met him. I will be selling or renting my home. Can you all tell me how I can become a Colombian Citizen. My husband has been in the U.S. for 24 years non-interrupted. He has not been in his home country for 24 years.
Good morning,
In order to apply for Colombian citizenship, you must first have an R-type visa for at least two years and then try to apply for citizenship.
But in Colombia there are several types of visas to which you can apply, Contact us! and we will guide you through the whole process https://wa.me/19547993692
I have a Cédula that expires next Sept. after the first year. My passport then expires next October… Can I get a Colombian passport when my Cédula expires BEFORE my current passport expires?
Hello, the Colombian passport is granted only if you are a Colombian citizen. On the other hand, if your Cédula is about to expire we invite you to renew your visa. Contact us, and we will explain to you step by step +19547993692
I have a dual citizenship U.S. /Colombia. I live with my wife in the U.S. Although I’ve been to Colombia I don’t have a residence there. My wife is a US citizen. I wanted to know what she needs to do to become a Colombian citizen. She would do fine on a citizenship test. She speaks Spanish and knows some Colombian history through my family.
Hello, Eduardo; greetings. For your wife to be eligible for Colombian citizenship, she must first have a three-year M-type Marriage visa to be able to apply for an R-type visa. Once she completes two years with the Resident visa, she can apply for Colombian citizenship.
Thank you. Do you have a link for the guidelines to getting an M-type visa and an R-type visa?
Hi. Can i get a Colombian resident and acquire a passport with know how to speak Spanish
Good afternoon. Thank you for leaving your comment in our blog. Answering your question, no, you will not have any issue getting a colombian resident visa or passport if you don’t speak english. The language is not a requirement.
Have a great day!
Hi my father is Colombian an married my mother in Colombia but I was born in the us how can I obtain my dual citizenship
Good afternoon, Mr Joshua. Thank you for leaving your comment and for being part of our community. To become a colombian citizen you will have to contact the colombian chancellery. They will give you all the information about this process.
We hope you have a great rest of your day!
Hello. My wife has dual citizenship in the US & Colombia. We have been married for 7 years. After we go to Colombia and apply for a R-visa, during the next 2 years before applying for Colombian citizenship, do i need to stay in Colombia for certain time periods or can we return to the US for those 2 years and continue to work in the US or do i need to stay in Colombia those 2 years? Also I am a US Military Veteran, does that interfere with anything?
Thanks
I m married to a Colombian. We currently live in the US. I want to get my residency through marriage in Colombia. After 2 years, I can apply for citizenship and take all the tests. However, how much time in those two years do I have to spend in Colombia? Can I enter every 6 months for a week or two?
Hello Adam
Regarding the times of stay in Colombia for resident visas and citizenship eligibility, the approvals are always at the discretion of the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The best decision you can make is to contact an immigration consultant to study your case better and give you accurate information about the requirements and timeframe. Contact us today to get the best advice for your residence in Colombia.
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