Getting Married in Colombia: The Complete Guide for Foreigners (2025)

Picture this: The sun is setting over Colombia's coffee region, painting the mountains in shades of orange and pink. Your closest friends and family are sipping tinto and admiring views that belong on a postcard. And you're about to say "I do" in one of the most beautiful countries in South America.

That's exactly how my wife and I got married—in the heart of Colombia's Eje Cafetero near Armenia, with a ceremony at sunset that our guests are still talking about years later. The scenery was breathtaking, the experience unforgettable, and honestly? The whole process of getting legally married in Colombia was easier than we expected.

But—and this is important—it was also kind of stressful. Colombian bureaucracy has its quirks, and if you're not prepared, you'll find yourself running between notaries, translators, and government offices wondering why nobody mentioned that document.

So whether you fell in love with Colombia itself, met someone special in Cartagena, or just want an epic destination wedding, here's everything you actually need to know about getting legally married in Colombia as a foreigner.

Why Get Married in Colombia? (Besides the Obvious)

Let's be real—Colombia is stunning. From Caribbean beaches to mountain valleys to colonial cities, you can design a wedding that looks like it came straight out of a travel magazine, often for a fraction of what you'd pay back home.

But beyond the Instagram-worthy backdrops, getting married in Colombia comes with some practical perks:

Affordability: Even a full destination wedding with 50+ guests can cost significantly less than a comparable event in North America or Europe.

Legal recognition: Colombian weddings are legally valid internationally, so your marriage will be recognized back home.

Visa pathway: If you're marrying a Colombian, the marriage visa allows you to stay in Colombia for up to 3 years, and after 2 years, you're eligible for permanent residence.

Flexible options: You can have a quick civil ceremony at a notary, a full religious wedding, or even establish a common-law marriage if you've been living together.

The Three Types of Marriage in Colombia

Colombia recognizes three ways to formalize your union, and which one you choose depends on your situation, beliefs, and how fast you want this done.

Civil Marriage (Matrimonio Civil)

This is the most straightforward option. Civil marriages are performed at notary offices throughout Colombia by trained notaries who have quasi-governmental authority. You show up with your documents, two witnesses, and about 45 minutes later, you're legally married.

The costs (as of 2025):

Prices vary depending on which notary you choose, but here's what to realistically expect:

• At the notary office: Around $100 USD total (includes various notary fees, not just the ceremony itself)
• At an external location (beach, mountain, your villa): Add an extra $100 USD on top for the notary to come to you

So we're looking at roughly $100-200 USD for the legal wedding, depending on where you want it done.

One quirky thing nobody tells you: You need to book your date well in advance and submit all your documents early because Colombian law requires notaries to publicly announce upcoming marriages for a waiting period. Yep, it's like something out of a period drama—if someone objects to your marriage or has legal issues with it, they can actually stop it.

When our notary explained this, we looked at each other like "wait, what?" But hey, it's Colombia. Just another charming bureaucratic detail that makes for a good story later. Spoiler: Nobody objected to ours, and they probably won't object to yours either.

Religious Marriage

Religious ceremonies require additional documentation depending on your faith tradition. For example, some religious weddings may require baptismal and confirmation certificates. After the religious ceremony, you still need to register the marriage with a notary for it to be legally valid in Colombia.

One important note: Some religious institutions may have restrictions if you have a previous divorce that is not recognized by that particular faith.

Common Law Marriage (Unión Marital de Hecho)

If you and your partner have been cohabiting for at least two years, you may be eligible for a common law marriage in Colombia, known as "unión marital de hecho". This is officially recognized as a legal marital relationship without requiring a formal ceremony.

The advantage? For a Civil Union you need not show a birth certificate and proof of single status, which can be difficult to produce and expensive to legalize in Colombia.

The Document Gauntlet: What You Actually Need

Here's where it gets real. The document requirements depend on whether you're both foreigners, one Colombian and one foreigner, or planning something more complex. But let's break down the essentials.

For Colombian Citizens Marrying a Foreigner:

Basic requirements:

• Recent copy of civil birth certificate (issued within the last 90 days)
• Valid Colombian ID card (cédula de ciudadanía)
• If previously married: proof of divorce or death certificate of former spouse

🚨 CRITICAL TIP for Colombians: When you request your birth certificate from the Registraduría, you MUST specify that you need it "válido para matrimonio" (valid for marriage). This version explicitly states that you're legally able to get married, even if you were previously married.

Most websites don't mention this detail, and I'm telling you from experience—it's a game changer. I didn't know about this requirement and had to make the trip twice to get the right document. If you're like me and live in a different city from where you were born, trust me, you do NOT want to travel twice just because nobody told you this little detail.

Pro tip: Many Registraduría offices can mail you this certificate if you can't travel. Call ahead, explain you need the marriage-specific version, and ask about their mailing options. It might save you hours of travel and frustration.

For Foreigners Getting Married in Colombia:

This is where the fun begins. You'll need:

1. Valid Passport Valid passport with entry stamp to the country, or foreigner ID card (cédula de extranjería) if applicable. Make sure you entered legally—some notaries ask for a certificate of migration movements.

2. Birth Certificate (Apostilled and Translated) Your birth certificate must be issued within the last 90 days, apostilled or legalized, and officially translated into Spanish.

Here's what this actually means:

• Apostille: This is an international certification that validates your document. For birth certificates issued in the United States, you'll need to obtain an apostille from your state's Secretary of State office.
• Translation: Must be done by an official translator in Colombia. Budget $50-100 USD per document, but negotiate—prices vary wildly.

3. Certificate of Single Status (Certificado de Soltería)

This may be issued by the authority of your country of origin or by its consulate/embassy in Colombia. This document also needs to be apostilled, just like your birth certificate.

For Americans, this is tricky because the U.S. doesn't issue these certificates. Your options:

• Get an affidavit from the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá (they know the drill and can provide it with the proper authentication)
• Some notaries accept a sworn declaration that you're single (this also needs to be apostilled from your home country)

🔥 THIS IS WHERE FINDING THE RIGHT NOTARY BECOMES CRITICAL 🔥

You need to ask the notary upfront and make absolutely sure they'll accept the sworn declaration. That sworn declaration needs to be translated to Spanish if needed and have the stamp of an official translator in Colombia.

Some notaries are really picky, and man, it hurts my brain how some are more strict than others.

Real Story (Learn From Our Pain):

For example, we got rejected by one notary just because our translated documents—the official translator didn't stamp our documents with a special stamp, even though the person who translated the documents was an official translator. We got rejected and had to find another notary.

⏰ TIMELINE WARNING:

That's why it's important to have plenty of time to schedule the date of the legal ceremony—at least 3 to 4 months. Make sure your visa is valid throughout this process. If you need to extend it, find out how to do it in this blog.

4. If You Have Children from Previous Relationships

If either or both parties getting married already have children, there may be additional requirements to protect the children's future rights and inheritance.

Important: Requirements can vary by notary and situation. Ask your specific notary for the full list of required documentation if children from previous relationships are involved. This can add 2-4 weeks to the process, so factor this into your timeline and make sure your visa stays valid.

5. Two Witnesses

You'll need two people with valid IDs to witness your ceremony. We had our siblings as witnesses for our legal ceremony—it made it even more special having family there for that moment.

6. Official Interpreter (If Needed)

If either of you doesn't speak Spanish fluently, you'll need to hire an official interpreter for the ceremony. This isn't optional—the notary requires someone certified to ensure both parties understand what they're agreeing to.

Interpreters typically charge by the hour. Try to negotiate yourself a fair rate—we've seen prices range from $30-150 USD depending on how long the process takes. Don't be afraid to shop around and ask for quotes from multiple interpreters.

The Apostille Process (Your New Nemesis)

Let's talk about apostilles, because this trips up everyone.

An apostille is basically an international stamp that says "yes, this document is legit." If your country doesn't recognize The Hague Convention, documents must come authenticated by the Colombian consul and verified by the Colombian Foreign Ministry.

The process:

1. Get your birth certificate from your home state/country
2. Have it apostilled by your state's Secretary of State (or equivalent)
3. Bring it to Colombia
4. Have it officially translated by a certified translator
5. Submit to the notary

Timeline: Plan for 4-8 weeks minimum if you're starting from scratch.

Pro tip: Start this process before you book your wedding venue. We learned this the hard way.

The Step-by-Step Process (From Experience)

Okay, here's how it actually goes down, with a clear timeline:

Step 1: Choose Your Notary (Do This First - Months Before)

Before you even start gathering documents, research and choose your notary. Marriage requirements sometimes vary from notary to notary, so once you select one, find out what they specifically request. In big cities like Medellín, Bogotá, and Cartagena, some notaries specialize in foreign marriages. Ask around in expat groups.

Since my wife and I had been living in the Armenia area for about 3 years, we were pretty familiar with the region and did the legwork ourselves to find a notary. We called several, compared their requirements and prices, and picked the one that worked best for our situation.

Pro tip: If you speak Spanish or have a Colombian partner who can handle the communication, you'll save money by doing this yourself rather than paying someone else to coordinate.

Step 2: Gather and Translate Documents (4-8 Weeks Total)

This is the longest part. Get everything apostilled in your home country, then arrange for official translations in Colombia. You can't use Google Translate or your bilingual friend—it must be a certified translator.

Where to find official translators:

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs website has a list
• Ask your notary for recommendations
• Expat Facebook groups always know someone

Cost: Budget $50-100 USD per document for translation, but negotiate. We found our translator through recommendations and negotiated directly with them for a fair price.

Important tip on negotiating: Sadly, Colombia sometimes tries to overcharge when you're a foreigner. Try to get yourself a fair price. If you don't speak Spanish well, bring a friend or someone who can help you negotiate. Being quoted the "foreigner price" is real, so having a local with you or handling it in Spanish yourself can save significant money.

Step 3: Submit Your Marriage Application (Within 90 Days of Document Issue)

CRITICAL TIMING: Once you have your birth certificates and all required documents ready (apostilled and translated), you have 90 days maximum to submit your marriage application to the notary. The 90-day countdown starts from the date your birth certificates were issued.

After submitting your documents to the notary, there's a mandatory 5-day waiting period for application approval and scheduling of your marriage celebration. This is a legal requirement—they post your intention to marry publicly for 5 days to make sure nobody objects (dramatic, but okay).

Timeline breakdown:

• Day 0: Birth certificates issued
• Days 1-90: Get documents apostilled, translated, and submitted to notary
• Days 91-96 (approximately): 5-day public announcement period
• Day 96+: Your wedding date can be scheduled

Pro tip: Don't wait until day 85 to submit your documents. Give yourself buffer time in case the notary rejects something or asks for additional paperwork. Aim to submit around day 60-70 to stay safe.

Step 4: The Ceremony (The Easy Part!)

On the wedding day, both parties and two witnesses must be present with original identification documents. The notary will read the public marriage deed, ask for your consent, and after signing, the marriage will be recorded in the civil registry.

The civil ceremony itself takes 20-30 minutes. It's formal but not stuffy. Since I'm Colombian and handled most of the communication throughout the process, the ceremony was entirely in Spanish. If you need an interpreter, make sure they're there for the full ceremony.

Step 5: Get Your Marriage Certificate (Registro Civil de Matrimonio)

This is critical: Many couples leave on their honeymoon without getting their Registro Civil de Matrimonio, then months later realize they need it for visa applications.

After the ceremony, make sure you:

• Get multiple certified copies of your marriage certificate
• Keep them somewhere safe (not just your phone)
• You'll need these for visas, name changes, and legal matters

The Hidden Costs Nobody Mentions

Let's talk money, because the notary fee is just the beginning.

Realistic budget breakdown:

• Notary fees: $100-200 USD
• Document apostilles (in your home country): $50-150 USD
• Official translations: $100-300 USD (depending on number of documents and how well you negotiate)
• Legal assistance (optional): $300-800 USD
• Interpreter for ceremony (if needed): $30-150 USD (negotiate by the hour)
• Marriage certificate copies: $10-20 USD each

Total realistic cost: $500-1,500 USD for the legal process alone, not including your actual wedding celebration.

Money-saving tip: If you or your partner speaks Spanish and can handle the bureaucracy, you can save hundreds by doing the legwork yourself instead of hiring coordinators or fixers. We handled everything ourselves and saved significantly.

When Things Get Complicated

Both Partners Are Foreigners

If there are two foreigners not domiciled in Colombia, they must get married in the respective consular authorities of their country of origin (or one of the two). However, the marriage must be held at the address of one of the two parties, and at least one must have had that address during the 6 months prior to the application.

Translation: You can't just fly in, get married, and fly out. At least one of you needs to have been living in Colombia for six months.

Prenuptial Agreements (Capitulaciones Matrimoniales)

Colombian law defaults to a community property regime called "sociedad conyugal". If you want to keep assets separate, you need a prenuptial agreement.

Critical timing: The capitulaciones must be signed and registered via an Escritura Pública at a Notaría before the marriage ceremony—it cannot be done retroactively.

Important for foreigners: If you're a foreigner considering a prenuptial agreement, ask your notary for full detailed information about requirements and costs. This is especially important if you're entering the marriage with significant assets or own businesses. Factor this into your timeline to make sure you still have a valid visa or legal stay in Colombia while completing the process.

Cost: Budget $500-1,500 USD for a lawyer to draft this properly, but shop around and negotiate.

The Marriage Visa: Your Path to Staying

Got married? Congrats! Now you might want to actually stay in Colombia.

The marriage visa (M-type visa) allows the foreign spouse to stay in Colombia for up to 3 years, and after 2 years, you're eligible for permanent residence.

What you need for the visa:

• Authentic copy of the Colombian Civil Registry of Marriage
• Letter of application signed by the Colombian spouse, accompanied by a copy of their citizenship card
• Special power of attorney, with recognition of content and signature before a notary or Colombian consul
• Certificate of migratory movements of both the foreigner and Colombian spouse
• Proof of cohabitation (photos together, social media exchanges, joint bills)

Timeline: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs can take around 30 days to study your request.

The catch: To maintain your residence status, you must be in Colombia for 6 months per year or more.

For more details on long-term visa options, check out our guides on the Digital Nomad Visa and Student Visa.

Real Talk: The Stressful Parts

Let me be honest about what made this process stressful for us:

The uncertainty: Because Colombian marriage laws leave room for interpretation, marriage requirements sometimes vary from notary to notary. What one notary says is mandatory, another says is optional.

The language barrier: If you don't speak Spanish, everything becomes more complicated and expensive. Having a Colombian partner who can handle the communication is a huge advantage.

The timeline stress: Between apostilles, translations, waiting periods, and notary schedules, plan for at least 2-3 months from start to finish. We thought we could do it in 4 weeks. We were very wrong.

The "what if"s: What if they reject a document? What if the translation isn't accepted? What if, what if, what if. Colombian bureaucracy can be unpredictable.

The foreigner upcharge: Be prepared to negotiate everything. The first price quoted to foreigners is rarely the fair price. Don't be afraid to push back or get help from a local friend.

Pro Tips From Someone Who's Been There

1. Do the legwork yourself if you can If you or your partner speaks Spanish, handle the notary hunting, translator negotiations, and document submissions yourself. You'll save hundreds of dollars and have more control over the process.

2. Start the document process immediately Don't wait until "closer to the date." Start getting apostilles and translations the moment you decide to get married in Colombia.

3. Get multiple copies of everything Birth certificates, apostilles, translations, marriage certificates—get extras. You'll need them for visas, banks, and who knows what else.

4. Budget more time and money than you think you need If you think it'll take 6 weeks, budget for 10. If you think it'll cost $800, budget for $1,200.

5. Join expat Facebook groups Groups like "Foreigners Living in Colombia" and "Expats in Medellín" have people who've done this recently. Their recommendations for notaries and translators are gold.

6. Negotiate everything Translator fees, interpreter rates, even some notary services—don't accept the first price. Especially if you're obviously a foreigner, you're likely being quoted the "gringo price." Negotiate fairly but firmly.

7. Have a local friend help if you don't speak Spanish This single tip can save you hundreds of dollars. Having someone local negotiate on your behalf or just be present during quotes can dramatically reduce the "foreigner tax."

8. Ask your specific notary for detailed info on complex situations If you have children from previous relationships, want a prenuptial agreement, or have any other complicating factors, get detailed information directly from your chosen notary. Requirements vary, and you want to know exactly what YOUR notary needs.

9. Factor in visa validity Keep track of your visa or tourist permit expiration dates throughout this process. The last thing you want is to become illegal while trying to get married. Check out our guide on extending your tourist visa if you need more time.

Is It Worth It?

Absolutely.

Yes, the paperwork was tedious. Yes, there were moments of "why didn't we just get married at home?" But standing there at sunset in the coffee region near Armenia, surrounded by mountains and the people we love, with Colombian music playing and our guests tearing up at how beautiful it all was—worth every stressful document chase.

Colombia gives you the chance to have a wedding that's not just legal, but genuinely memorable. Whether you're doing a tiny civil ceremony in Bogotá or a full destination wedding with 100 guests in Cartagena, you're creating something special.

Just start early, stay organized, negotiate fairly, and don't be afraid to do the work yourself if you can.

Your Next Steps

If you're serious about getting married in Colombia:

1. Choose your city - Each has different notaries and translator availability
2. Pick your notary - Call 2-3 options and compare their requirements and prices
3. Order your documents - Get apostilles started immediately
4. Find a translator - Get quotes from multiple translators and negotiate
5. Budget realistically - Plan for $1,000-2,000 for the legal process (or less if you handle it yourself)
6. Build in extra time - Nothing in Colombia happens as fast as you think
7. Keep your visa valid - Check expiration dates and extend if needed

And if you need to extend your stay while you're getting everything sorted? Check out our guide on extending your tourist visa in Colombia.

Final Thought: Getting married in Colombia was easy-ish but stressful—kind of like Colombia itself. Beautiful, worth it, occasionally confusing, but ultimately one of the best decisions we made. Having lived there for 3 years before getting married definitely helped us navigate the system, but even if you're new to Colombia, you can absolutely do this with proper planning and realistic expectations.

Just remember: bring patience, negotiate when needed, and enjoy the process. You're not just getting a marriage certificate—you're getting a story you'll tell for years.

Want to read more about living and traveling in Colombia? Check out our other articles on visas, travel tips, and remote work opportunities. Have a specific question or want us to cover a particular topic? Send us an email at info@udreamjob.com with your blog requests—we'd love to hear from you!