Foreigner's identity card in Colombia
An identity document that Migración Colombia issues to foreign nationals holding a long-term visa. It confirms their status to government bodies, banks and employers, replacing the passport within the country. An adult foreign national with a visa must obtain it, as must the school-age children named on that visa. The applicant completes an electronic form and attends a migration centre for biometrics. Holders of short visas, young children and Venezuelans under temporary protection are issued different documents.
Who must obtain the document, and when
The procedure depends on the applicant's age: adults and children have different filing deadlines and different sets of documents, although the card itself is issued by the same authority.
Adult visa holders
- Holder or beneficiary of a visa valid for more than three months
- The application must be filed within 15 calendar days of entering the country or of the visa being issued
- Collection of the finished card in person, with the original passport or national identity document
Children aged 7 to 17
- The child is named on the visa as holder or beneficiary
- The card must be obtained within 15 days of the child turning 7
- The application is filed, and the child accompanied to the appointment, by the father, mother or legal representative
When this programme is not suitable
The visa is valid for three months or less
Identification by passport with the visa or a valid entry permit — no cédula de extranjería is required
The child is under 7
Only the foreigner registration (registro de extranjero) is completed, without an identity card
A Venezuelan with temporary protection status (ETPV)
A separate free document is issued — the Permiso por Protección Temporal (PPT) — rather than a cédula de extranjería
What it costs
| First issue of the identity card | 294 000 COP |
|---|---|
| Duplicate after loss, theft or damage | 293 000 COP |
| Issue for Pacific Alliance scholarship holders on a TP-1 visa (Peru, Mexico)This concessionary category is exempt from the fee | 0 COP |
| Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. the “Issue for Pacific Alliance scholarship holders on a TP-1 visa (Peru, Mexico)” branch replaces the “First issue of the identity card” line — 293 000 COP. Charges with no official price list are in the list below. | 587 000 COP |
Paid separately
- Apostille or legalisation of the proof of relationship for a child's application — Arranged separately with a notary or at the consulate of the country of origin; not included in the Migración Colombia fee
Documents to gather
The set for filing the application, and separately the documents needed when attending in person to collect the finished card.
- A completed single electronic FUT form (Formulario Único de Trámites)
- One PDF file with the passport pages showing the biographical data and the valid visa
- For an adult applicant attending in person — the original passport or national identity document
- For a child — the originals of the child's passport and visa, the original identity document of the parent or legal representative and proof of relationship
- Where a representative collects the card — a notarised special power of attorney and the representative's original identity document
How the process runs
The procedure combines an online application with a single visit in person to a migration service centre.
- 1
Completing the electronic FUT form
The applicant completes the single FUT form on the Migración Colombia website and attaches one PDF file with the passport pages and the valid visa.
- 2
Booking an appointment
A date for the visit to the nearest migration service centre is chosen through the authority's services.
- 3
Attendance in person, identification and biometrics
The applicant attends with the original documents; for a child the presence of the father, mother or legal representative is mandatory. Identification and biometric registration are carried out.
- 4
Paying the fee
Payment is accepted by debit or credit card at the service centre or online through the PSE system; cash is not accepted.
- 5
Production and issue of the card
10 working days from the date of paymentThe finished card is collected in person on presentation of the original passport or national identity document; a representative may collect it for the holder under a notarised power of attorney.
Who you can bring with you
The rules depend on the child's age and on who collects the finished document.
Children aged 7–17 who hold or are beneficiaries of a visa
Children aged 0–6
Adults who previously held a child card
A representative under a power of attorney
Trips, renewal and the grace period
The application must be filed within 15 calendar days of entering the country or of the visa being issued. Children receive the card within 15 days of reaching the relevant age.
There is no separate renewal procedure for the card itself — it is valid for as long as the visa on which it was issued remains valid. If the card is lost, stolen or damaged, a duplicate is issued: the application is filed entirely online through a separate form, payment goes through PSE, and the production time is the same as for the first card. If an error in the data is found in a document already issued, the holder has 30 calendar days from the date of issue to request a reissue.
Frequently asked questions about Foreigner's identity card
How long is there to file the application after entering Colombia?
How much does it cost, and are there any concessionary categories?
What should be done if the card is lost or damaged?
Does a child need a separate foreigner's card?
Who is not required to obtain this document at all?
How does the cédula de extranjería differ from the PPT document for Venezuelans?
Other ways to move to Colombia
Every route in one list — migration programmes: Colombia.
The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.