Expert: MRZ - 10/16/2009

Question
Hello, hopefully you can answer this. I need to renew my passport which has not expired yet, but I'm told that I need copies of my cedula. I don't have one because I came to the US when I was little. I'm 19 now and I'm trying to go to Brazil in January. Do you think I can get my cedula on time to renew my passport before January?

Thanks!

Answer
Hi Mateo,
Since you are over the age of 18, you have to process your cedula first. To get the cedula for the first time, you will need one copy of your original birth certificate, 3 pics, white background, 1.5 x 2 inches, head must occupy 80% of the pic (you can get the pics taken near the consulate, they know exactly what you will need), you will need to know what blood type you have. The cedula does not cost anything. They will first issue a temporary cedula, called a contrasena. You will receive your permanent cedula about 12 months later.
Since you are under the age of 25, you can obtain your passport with the temporary cedula (contrasena) you will receive at the Consulate.
For the passport you need, 3 pics, white background, 1.5 x 2 inches, head must occupy 80% of the pic (you can get the pics taken near the consulate, they know exactly what you will need), for the passport you need 2 copies of your birth certificate, and $117 dollars in a money order.
Since you are over the age of 18 and I assume you have graduated from High School, you also need to resolve your military status in Colombia. Being a Colombian national who lives over seas you can process your military card through a consulate as well.
Military card, you can get a provisional military card for 2 years, you can renew every 2 years until you turn 28 and then you can get your permanent one. You need 3 pics, blue background, 1 x 1.5 inches, blue background, frontal view (you can get the pics taken near the consulate, they know exactly what you will need), your passport, your cedula and copies of both, $115 dollars payable to a Colombian bank account through a wire transfer, and fill out the form given to him at the Consulate.
Let me know if you have any other questions. If you need help in getting yoru birth certificates, we can assist you, you can reach us at info@colombianpossibilities.com
Thanks
Marta