When Jake — an American from Austin — and Valentina — a Colombian from Medellín — decided to get married in Colombia in 2025, their first assumption was that a civil marriage at the Notaría would take two weeks. It took four months. Not because of the complexity of the marriage process itself — but because of the apostille on Jake's birth certificate, the soltería certificate (proof of unmarried status) from Texas, and the translation requirements for both documents. The documents were straightforward once they knew what was needed. The timeline was the problem — and it was entirely predictable. This guide gives the exact document list, the timeline, and the three options foreigners have for getting married in Colombia: civil marriage (Notaría), religious marriage with civil effects (iglesia), and common-law union (unión marital de hecho). It also covers what happens to your immigration status when you marry a Colombian national.
depending on apostille timeline
documents — 1–6 weeks abroad
Visa M spouse path
varies by municipality
Option 1: Civil Marriage at a Colombian Notaría
Civil marriage in Colombia is governed by the Código Civil (Ley 57/1887, as amended) and is performed by a Notario Público — a Colombian civil law notary who functions as a public official, not a private practitioner. The marriage is recorded in a civil registry (registro civil de matrimonio) and has immediate legal effect in Colombia. It is also recognizable abroad through apostille and legalization processes. The Notaría can be any Colombian Notaría — not necessarily in the city of your residence. The ceremony is simple: the Notario reads the legal provisions, both parties declare consent, two witnesses sign, and the notarial act is completed. Religious meaning and ceremony are separate and optional.
Required Documents for a Foreigner Marrying in Colombia
This is where most foreign-national marriages get complicated. The documents required:
- Foreign national: Valid passport + cédula de extranjería (if you have one), original birth certificate from your home country with apostille (Convention de La Haye apostille, or legalization if your country is not in the Hague Apostille Convention), official Spanish translation of the birth certificate by a certified Colombian translator, and a certificado de soltería (proof of unmarried status/single status certificate) from your home country, also apostilled and translated.
- Colombian national partner: Cédula de ciudadanía, registro civil de nacimiento (Colombian birth certificate), and a certificado de soltería from the Registraduría Nacional (available at registraduria.gov.co).
- Both parties: Two Colombian witnesses with their cédulas, and completed marriage application form (solicitud de matrimonio) at the Notaría.
US nationals: Your state's Secretary of State office apostilles birth certificates. Most states have online/mail services — cost USD 5–20, turnaround 1–4 weeks. Then get certified Spanish translation from a Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores-registered translator in Colombia (COP 80,000–150,000).
UK nationals: FCDO Legalisation Office — apostilles UK documents. Online at gov.uk/get-document-legalized — GBP 30–75, 2–4 weeks.
Other nationals: Contact your country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs or designated apostille authority. The Hague Apostille Conference website (hcch.net) lists each country's competent authority.
The Certificado de Soltería — The Hardest Document to Get
The certificado de soltería (proof of unmarried status) is the document that most delays foreign-national marriages in Colombia. It is essentially a statement from your home country's civil authorities confirming you are not currently married. For US nationals: this can be a letter from your county clerk's office stating no marriage records are on file, or a sworn affidavit notarized in the US and apostilled. For UK nationals: a Statement of Marital Status issued by the General Register Office (GRO) — turnaround approximately 6–8 weeks. For other nationals: contact your country's civil registry authority. Important: some Colombian Notarías also accept a sworn declaration (declaración juramentada) before a Colombian Notario by the foreign national stating they are single — this is faster and avoids waiting for the foreign document but acceptance varies by Notaría.
Timeline: Realistic Expectations
Assuming you start from scratch (no documents apostilled): Week 1–2: request birth certificate apostille and soltería certificate from home country. Week 3–6 (or longer depending on home country): receive apostilled documents. Week 7: certified Spanish translations done (2–3 business days in Colombia). Week 8: submit application at Notaría, schedule ceremony date. Week 9–10 (minimum): ceremony and registration of marriage. Total realistic minimum: 8–12 weeks from starting document collection. If your soltería certificate takes 6–8 weeks (UK GRO timeline), add that buffer. Plan for 3–4 months total to be safe.
What Marriage to a Colombian Gives You — Visa M Spouse Path
Marriage to a Colombian national (or to a foreigner who holds a Colombian Visa M or residency) opens a specific Visa M path: Visa M "cónyuge" (spouse visa). Requirements: certified copy of the registro civil de matrimonio (Colombian marriage registration), proof that the Colombian spouse is a Colombian national or legal resident, Art. 11 medical plan, and standard application materials. The Visa M cónyuge has the same annual duration and renewal process as other Visa M categories. After five continuous years of Visa M (any category), you qualify to apply for Visa R (residency) — and marriage to a Colombian gives access to a faster path to Colombian nationality (3 years of residency instead of 5 for the standard naturalization).