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requirements for getting married in Colombia

Marriage for foreign People in Colombia

According to Colombia’s civil law, a person who was born outside national territory must get the following documents in order to get married. These documents are both for civil and religious weddings.

Civil: It is a contract that starts after the approval of a public notary of a document in which the couple expresses its will to get married.

To process the manuscript, the foreign citizen must identify him or herself with the passport and a valid visa or with “the cedula of extranjeria”. In addition he or she has to attach to the petition:

1) Authenticated photocopy of the cedula de extranjeria or passport.
2) Authenticated copy of the birth certificate of each member of the couple of not more than 90 days before the wedding. If the paper is in a language different to the Spanish, it must be translated by an official translator plus it has to have apostille.
3) Oral or written petition expressing their desire to tie the knot. In this document, the name of the parents, their address and the name of the witnesses are required.
5) The certificate proving that you are single authenticated by notary and with apostille.

If you were married before, you would be requested to fill in:

1. Authenticated copy of the annulation of the marriage, the divorce and its liquidation of assets.
2. If you are a widow, a copy of the act of death of the partner and its registration.

Each case is different, because of that I recommend to ask for a legal advice and prepare your petition based on law.

Greetings

Esteban R.
Colombian lawyer
Email lawyercolombia at yahoo.com

By lawyer in colombia on Feb 16, 2007, 14:40 in Visa & paperwork.

Gator says on Feb 16, 2007, 15:10:

must identify him or herself with the passport and a valid visa Amigo, the "marriage visa" is no longer required or issued as of about two years ago,

Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

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

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Lowell says on Feb 16, 2007, 16:21:

Marriage Perhaps one should be careful what attorney they use. Some just want money for services not needed. I had a church wedding and didn't need half the crap listed.

Burned before by attorney's, became paralegal and now know better.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

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Lowell says on Feb 16, 2007, 16:22:

Marriage AND I DIDN'T NEED AN ATTORNEY

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

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poco says on Feb 16, 2007, 19:25:

Do what you want to do, say what you want to say one notaria may require things which another does not

A requirement in Colombia is subject to "interpretation". The more of these you can afford to spend, the looser the interpretation.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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lawyer in colombia says on Feb 16, 2007, 19:28:

addition 1. For Gator: Colombia still requires visa for some countries and it doesnt mean only the wedding visa.

2.Lowell: The list i wrote was for civil marriage and religious can change depending of the church

3. Mario: attorney are not needed but as i said each case is different and you would be surprised of how many marriages are unexistance because the mistakes done by the couple.

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poco says on Feb 16, 2007, 20:03:

This tread makes me wonder Colombia legalized Gay Marriage,, or so the news said, a few weeks ago. I don't know if this is effect at this time ?

Anyway, will the same criteria apply ? Will a foreign "spouse" of a same sex marriage be allowed to live in Colombia/elsewhere ?

Will other countries allow a same sex "spouse" legal/medical/social benefits ?

This should be interesting.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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Gator says on Feb 16, 2007, 20:34:

lawyer in colombia I suggest you reread your post:

Your Reply to me: "1. For Gator: Colombia still requires visa for some countries and it doesnt mean only the wedding visa."

Your post:

"According to Colombia’s civil law, a person who was born outside national territory MUST get the following documents in order to get married. To process the manuscript, the foreign citizen must identify him or herself with the passport and a valid visa or with “the cedula of extranjeria”."

Your reply to Lowell:
" Lowell: The list i wrote was for civil marriage and religious can change depending of the church

Your original post:

"These documents are both for civil and religious weddings."

Your Original Post:

" Each case is different, because of that I recommend to ask for a legal advice and prepare your petition based on law."

Our notary is an attorny, both the one we presently use in Bogotá and the lady who took care of registering our marriage in Cali. No problems.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

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

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lawyer in colombia says on Feb 17, 2007, 07:44:

Gay marriage No, they did not legalize gay wedding only the congress acepted that a couple of the same sex can have a community of assets during the time they lived togheter.

2. Gator: Of course many things are made by the notary, but the licence required to a woman who has children from previous marriage can only be obtained in Court

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chester says on Feb 17, 2007, 08:32:

go to San Andres Jesus Christ

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PaisaAmericano says on Feb 17, 2007, 08:51:

Why in San Andres?? Chester can you tell us why in San Andres???

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Azul says on Feb 17, 2007, 10:53:

Next the lawyers will tell you that you need them on the Honeymoon too!

las cosas caen por su propio peso

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chester says on Feb 17, 2007, 13:21:

why San Andres? u only need your passport and he/she only needs their cedula and at most their recent birth certificate.

I've been throught the mainland papermill requirements, believe me, not worth the trouble.

just go to san andres. the colombian legislature passes laws easing the marriage requirements on the island to attract tourism.

I have cussed myself blue in the face about the mainland paperwork requirements as well as the catholic church requirements.

now, this is not to say that colombia is the only anal retentive society in the world. here in the US, we certainly can rival any catch-22 government requirements.

I do not know if you're north american, european or what, but I imagine you have the same situations in your life with driver license, permit licenses, marriage license etc....what if I told you that wherever you're from, there is small island off the coast where you could get all your paperwork taken care of in a quick and painless manner?...would not you go there?

I'm from the US, it is actually easier to get married in San Andres than here.

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PaisaAmericano says on Feb 18, 2007, 09:18:

Thanks Chester Very informative!!!!

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Miguel says on Feb 23, 2007, 22:13:

Shop for notarías Bribe their ass to the 9th degree...or just move to locolombia and pick the flowers.

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mroberts122 says on Feb 26, 2007, 14:21:

marriage records Are marriage records from Civil Marriages in Colombia available on-line?

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Azul says on Feb 26, 2007, 20:07:

Marriage records are public record in the US and are available online in many areas. But I seriously doubt that you will find this anywhere in Colombia. The amount of resources it would take to accomplish it would not be justified by the demand.

las cosas caen por su propio peso

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Azul says on Feb 27, 2007, 09:57:

Texas has a lot of privacy laws so I don't know if you can or not. But they are usually listed on the county auditor's web site, not the civil court web site. I live near Seattle, and most of the counties around here have them listed on the auditors website for free. It's amazing what is public record. In a lot of States you can look at the Deeds to peoples houses, etc...crazy.

las cosas caen por su propio peso

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