Citizenship by Descent in Colombia

You may already be Colombian, because a child born in Colombia is Colombian if a foreign parent was living there legally with the intention to stay. It turns on your parents' residence status when you were born.

For births since Law 2332 of 2023 took effect (25 September 2023), a foreign parent counts as domiciled if they had held, for three continuous years, a migrant or resident visa. Holders of Venezuela's special permits (PPT or PEP Tutor) are presumed to qualify. For earlier births, the older rules on domicile apply, and a child born in Colombia who would otherwise be stateless is Colombian.

What to check: your Colombian birth registration. If it carries the note "válido para demostrar nacionalidad" (valid to prove nationality), you are Colombian and can apply for an identity card and passport. If it does not, ask the Registraduría whether your parents' visas at the time qualify, and bring copies of them.

If your parents were only visiting, you are not Colombian by birth, and our Naturalization quiz for Colombia covers what remains.

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