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Colombia/Requirements for a Colombian "Cedula de Identidad" (a Colombian Identity document)

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Expert: - 3/23/2009


Question
I need to know exactly what is required to obtain a Cedula

Answer
Dear Paula:

The answer appears at the Colombian Consulates. I obtained the information below from the one in Miami at:

http://consuladodecolombia.com/servicios_documentacion.htm#cedula

I translated their requirements. Please note that the requirements for people under 17 are different (they are issued Tarjetas de Identidated, which are ID cards).

1) Original copy of the Registry of birth. That is, it should have the original seal from the notary certifying that it is an original copy. Certified copies are not accepted.

2) Photography of the head (headshot). The total picture size measuring 4 by 5 centimeters and the head measuring 2.5 by 3 centimeters. White background, simple paper, shining surface, flat or semyflat. Near the consulate you would find a photo service that would meet such specifications.

3) Know the blood type and RH (for example A+). My note: If you do not know it you got have a lab exam done to find out. In Colombia they do it at the same place by the place where people apply for the citizenship certificate.

The requirements in Spanish are:
• Copia original del Registro Civil de Nacimiento; es decir que el registro debe llevar el sello original de Notario que certifica que es fiel copia. No se aceptan certificaciones.
•Fotografia tamaño 4 x 5 cm, cabeza de  2 1/2 a 3 cm, fondo blanco, papel peso sencillo, superficie brillante, mate o semimate.(Cerca al consulado encontrará el servicio de fotografía,con estas especificaciones)
• Saber el RH y grupo sanguíneo.

You can find a list of Colombian consulates at:
http://www.cesarusa.com/Colombia.htm

If you are in Colombia you go to a nearby office and turn in the requirements. They would issue you a temporary card and you would have to wait a long time, like a year to get the final document. If you are in another country you will also have to wait a long time, probably a year or more for the final document. Passports are much faster to obtain.

Best wishes,

Cesar
www.CesarUSA.com

Colombia

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Cesar

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At Allexperts I offer free advise about Colombia. In my personal website I also provide travel advise and other services (http://www.cesarusa.com/travel.htm and www.CesarUSA.com). I was born in Colombia, lived in Venezuela, and in the US. While I was in the US I travelled to Colombia in multiple occasions and currently live in Medellín, Colombia. I can provide general information on touristic matters, safety, employment, and some basic immigration matters (and recommend contacting your local consulate first for information about immigration matters). I am bilingual English-Spanish. In 2005 I worked in Colombia for a short while as an English teacher. In my spare time I promote businesses, people, models, and artists at my multiple websites that provide multiple services such as real estate, model promotion, etc.

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I have lived in Colombia before and currently live in Colombia. I have also lived in the US for 22 years. I have travelled to and from Colombia multiple times. I lived in Caracas, Venezuela when I was young and I lived in Quito, Ecuador recently for 15 months. I invite you to visit www.CesarUSA.com and www.CesarColombia.com

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I studied Systems Engineering

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