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Colombian Marriage Visa Check List

Just received my marriage visa and thought some might be interested in the process.

It took me two days and two trips to Bogota to receive it.

The Ministerio Relactiones Exteriores is located near Park 93. The first day my Colombian wife and I showed up at about 9am and suffered 2 hours of the most uncomfortable small chairs. I must say that everyone at the place was cordial despite the long lines. Anyway,in 5 minutes we found out that we were missing some information and needed a paper to fill out.

Here is a listing of items needed. Remember this is for a marriage visa. I have no clue about what is needed for other visas.

1. Your marriage documents from the notary

2. A letter from the Colombian spouse stating they are asking permission from the Colombian government for their spouse to stay in Colombia (this is important)

3. Photo copy of the cedula of the Colombian spouse. (Note: if the spouse is not there in person,
then the cedula copy must be notarized)

4. If the Colombian spouse is there in person they must have their cedula

5. Photo copy of the passport of the non-Colombian spouse. In particular they want the identification page, pages with any visas and the page of the latest entry stamp.

6. The passport of the non-Colombian Spouse

7. Three photos (Note these are smaller photos than needed for a passport. I went to a Photo Japon
shop and they knew exactly what was needed and what the correct background was to be)

8. The form completely filled out and with photos attached.

9. Money (The prices for the various visas are all quoted in American dollars, yet you pay in Colombian pesos at the current exchange rate - I know, it makes no sense to me either)

The second day we arrived at 7:20 in the morning and joined an already formed line outside the building. The process of them going over your paperwork and issuing the visa takes about two hours more in the uncomfortable chairs. By 9:40 AM I was out of there with my 2 year visa.

Ok, a few notes: They only take applications in the morning and lines are long, so get there early.
Cell phones are not allowed to be used in the area. Your wait will be long so bring a book to read, or as one lady did, her cross-stitch).
After receiving your visa, you are still not out of the woods. You have 15 days to get to the DAS building
and register your visa with them.

We asked about a permanent visa. The helpful lady told us that after 3 years (obvious that you need to renew the
temporary visa) if you have not been out of Colombia for more than 3 months total and you have been a good boy or girl
that you can apply for the resident visa.

By JMCana on Dec 14, 2006, 14:14 in Visa & paperwork.

Boatygringo says on Dec 19, 2006, 09:10:

Mariage Visa Thank you JMC you have answered the question I posted about a Novia Visa it looks like I was given the wrong info and it was for a marriage visa. The process you explain sound the same as was explained to me. Boatygringo

Boatygringo

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JMCana says on Dec 20, 2006, 09:25:

Update of marriage visa and DAS Ok, I thought the only thing I had to do after obtaining the marriage visa was to go to the DAS building and register it. Wrong. Seems that I needed many of the original papers needed for the marriage visa, 4 photos of me with a blue background (Visa uses white background), a certificate of my blood type and 150,000 pesos.

Once there, I needed to fill out another paper asking for my religion, father´s name, mother´s name, where I was born, etc. Then came the massive finger printing. I lived in the USA for over 50 years and was never fingerprinted. But they got all of my fingers twice and my index fingers 3 times both on computer and conventional ink method.

I will say that everyone was friendly, including the man who patted me down before entering the building. The finger printing person spoke some English. And the process was expedient when compared to the visa office previously.

Oh yes, this process gives me a cedula so I do not have to carry a copy of my passport with me all the time. And there are some other benefits to having a cedula, but since they don´t get me a discount on anything I really can´t say what they are.

Once again, my recommendation is to get there early when they open.

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Boatygringo says on Dec 21, 2006, 05:17:

Marrage Visa JMC with a Cedula you can open a bank account, register a car or a motorcycle, get a cell phone in your own name and lots of other things you can't get as a foriegener.. Boatygringo

Boatygringo

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JMCana says on Dec 21, 2006, 05:37:

Gracias Thanks Boatygringo for the info. Now if I can just figure out how to get a discount at OMA, Crepes and Waffles, and a few other favorite restaurants.

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adrienne79 says on Feb 23, 2007, 10:40:

thanks for this info... So now that you have that visa, are you allowed to work in Colombia? or is there another process for that? any idea?

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Gator says on Feb 23, 2007, 13:25:

Can't Work on a "straight" marriage visa. If you did NOT specify a job when you obtained the spouse visa you are basically relegated to being a house husband. you must reapply for modification of the visa at MRE when you locate employment. You will have to furnish the same documentation as needed for a Temporary Work Visa.

NOTE: You do not need the re-submit the basic information you supplied with the spouse visa, just the work information.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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josinka says on Mar 27, 2007, 02:55:

visa I am Belgian, but live in Spain.
As E.C.C. member we anot supposed to need a visa
to visit Columbia.
Is this correct???

But mostly all requests for Marriage visas come from US -citizen.
Does anybody have any idea, what I need to marry a Colombian women
in case of marriage in Colombia, or

What she needs in case of marriage in Spain?

What do I need as E.C.C-MEMBER FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN cOLOMBIA?

Thanks!

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Gator says on Mar 27, 2007, 08:17:

Best Bet. Nationals of Belgium (Bélgica)do not need a visa just a valid passport. Contact the Colombian Embassy in Madrid or Google Colombian decrees- RESOLUCION No. 4591 DEL 12 DE DICIEMBRE DE 2003 for information or MRE's (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores) web site at www.minrelext.gov.co.

"What she needs in case of marriage in Spain?" contact the civil authority in Spain-Colombian would be out of the picture on that question.

"Does anybody have any idea, what I need to marry a Colombian women
in case of marriage in Colombia?" Search this site or direct you question to the Colombian Embassy in Madrid. Also the US Embassy web site in Bogota will answer most of your questions. Also consult www.visajourney.com. The fact you are from Belgium would not change any of the marriage requirements.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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Joell says on Apr 1, 2007, 11:39:

Runners or clubs Looking for runners or clubs to run with 5 to 6 days a week. In Bogota please email me at trijoel at yahoo.com
Thank you All

Thank you All

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cremaster says on Apr 12, 2007, 13:06:

2 questions Does anyone know whether you need to travel to Bogota for the marriage visa, or can you do it in Medellin?

Also, do you need to have a civil ceremoney or will just the Catholic ceremony suffice?

Thanks in advance,
Patrick

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griffbos says on Jun 1, 2007, 08:12:

Mario what do you mean US Citizens don't need a marriage visa

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Gator says on Jun 1, 2007, 09:35:

That Visa Requirement..(Mario-he may mean the US Visa) went out at least a year and a half ago. No special visa needed by COLOMBIA to be married.

"Does anyone know whether you need to travel to Bogota for the marriage visa, or can you do it in Medellin?

Assuming you mean obtaining the US Visa that process eventually ends up in Bogotá but initial application is done through filing in the USA. UNLESS you are eligible for DCF (direct consular filing) which requires you have been a resident of and living in Colombia the process stars in the USA and later the paperwork if approved is sent to the Embassy in Bogotá. The US Embassy Bogotá, as of July 01, 2003, no longer accepts DCF in routine cases.

"Also, do you need to have a civil ceremoney (sic) or will just the Catholic ceremony suffice?"

Either one will do as far as the issuance of a visa for travel to the USA. You do NOT get married again at a notary office but you MUST register the Catholic marriage at the notary for it to be valid IN Colombia. For US visa purposes there is no need to have the religious ceremony registered at the notary's office. BUT it will save a LOT of grief if you have to prove the marriage is valid in Colombia-like changing name on a cedula, passport bank account ad nauseam.

BTW, if you do decided to register the wedding in Colombia it must be done with a notary where the wedding took place. You can't be married in Medellin and later decide to register the wedding in say Bogotá or Cartagena.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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cremaster says on Jun 1, 2007, 13:02:

Thamks, Gator...but I was actually talking about a visa for ME to stay in Colombia. It´s called ¨visa conjugale¨ or something like that. I belive that what the original poster was referring to.

But, thanks for trying!

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Gator says on Jun 1, 2007, 19:40:

Oh! The visa you are asking about is called a Cónyuge o Compañero Visa and is one of the types that can be requested directly from MRE (Ministerio de Relacions Extereriores) in Bogotá. The spouse is fairly straight forward for common law you need, according to Law 979 Article 4° to prove the existence of the common union in fact between permanent companions, will/can be declared by anyone of the following mechanisms:

1. By public writing before a Notary by mutual consent of the permanent companions.

2. Per Act of Conciliation subscribed by the permanent companions, in legally a constituted center.

3. By judicial order as required a set out in the Code of Civil Procedure, with knowledge of a Judge of Family of First Instance (Jueces de Familia de Primera Instancia).

I believe you are only eligible for this visa if you are in Colombia pursuant to a legally issued visa that is still valid. You can check at MRE's web site http://www.minrelext.gov.co and the office you need is the Coordinación de Visas e Inmigración y Consulados de Colombia en el exterior at Carrera 13 # 93-68 Oficina 203. Bogotá. They are good about answering questions by e-mail.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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Gator says on Jun 1, 2007, 19:40:

Oh! sorry double post

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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griffbos says on Jun 5, 2007, 18:07:

Photos needed okay I have heard different things on this the photo for a colombian visa has to be 2x2 color white background and you need 3 is that correct? they photo place i went to (he does passport, immirgation ect type photos )says his book says for the cedula for foreigner it is also 2x2 and white background is this correct, I have seen some say it is blue background and how many do you need?

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