Citizen Services
Applying for a U.S. Passport in Colombia - Applicants 15 and Under
Click here for information about passports for applicants 16 and over.
Where and When to Apply
Applications for U.S. passports are accepted at the U.S. Embassy’s American Citizen Services office in Bogota, or at the U.S. Consular Agency in Barranquilla. At the Embassy, passport application hours are 8:30 am. to 12:00 noon, Monday through Thursday, except U.S. and Colombian holidays. Please click here for the Consular Agency's location and hours.
Passport Application Form
When applying for a passport for a child 15 or under, you must use form DS-11. Please do not sign the application until you are asked to so by a consular official during your visit to the Embassy or Consular Agency.
Passport Photos
All applicants must provide two recent, identical passport photos. Each must measure 5X5 cm (2X2 inches) and have a white background. Color or black and white photos are acceptable. Photo labs are located throughout major cities in Colombia, as well as across the street from the Embassy.
Fees
The fee for a passport for a child 15 and under is US$85.00. The fee is payable in cash (dollars or pesos) at the Embassy or Consular Agency at the time of application. At the Embassy only, you may also pay with a credit card. This fee does not include optional delivery of your passport, which is discussed below.
Must the Child Appear in Person?
All children 15 and under must appear at the Embassy or Consular Agency at the time of application.
Must the Child's Parents Appear in Person?
For applicants 15 and under, both parents must consent to issuance of the child's passport. Ordinarily, the parents provide consent by accompanying their child to the Embassy or Consular Agency at the time of application, presenting their own photo identification, and signing the child's passport application in front of a consular official.
If one or both of the parents do not accompany the child, the absent parent(s) must provide a signed, notarized letter, in English, that expressly consents to issuance of the passport. This letter may be notarized by a U.S. or Colombian notary, or by a consular officer at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Parents may choose to use Form DS-3053 for this purpose. The absent parent(s) must also provide a photocopy of his/her driver's license, cedula, passport, or other government-issued photo identification.
The requirement for parental consent does not apply if a parent is deceased, if one of the parents or a legal guardian has full custody of the child, or if special circumstances make it impossible to obtain the absent parent's consent. In cases where the parent is deceased, a certified death certificate must be submitted. When one parent or a legal guardian has full custody, a certified custody order must be submitted. If special circumstances make a parent's consent impossible, a written explanation must be provided to the consular officer at the time of application.
Please contact us at ACSBogota@state.gov if you would like further guidance about the parental consent requirement.
Required Documents
Previous passport: If you have the child's most recent U.S. passport, you must submit it with the application. You should also bring the child's previous U.S. or foreign passports, if available.
Photo evidence: Small children change quickly, and the consular officer may be unable to determine that your child is the same one who was pictured in his/her most recent U.S. passport. If your child's appearance has changed significantly, please bring photos of your child at various ages since his/her last passport was issued.
Birth certificate or Consular Report of Birth Abroad: You must present an original or certified copy of the child's birth certificate issued in the country where the child was born. For children born outside the United States, you may instead submit an original Consular Report of Birth Abroad that was issued by a U.S. embassy or consulate. If you are renewing your child’s previously issued U.S. passport, an uncertified photocopy of the birth certificate or Consular Report of Birth Abroad will ordinarily suffice.
Click here for information on how to order a replacement Consular Report of Birth Abroad.
See the website for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to learn how to replace lost certificates of citizenship or naturalization.
If the Child's Most Recent Passport was Lost or Stolen
If the child's most recent U.S. passport was lost or stolen, you must submit Form DS-64. If you believe the passport was stolen, you should report the theft to the local police and obtain a police report. Please bring the original police report with you when you apply for your new passport, and be prepared to submit it with your child's passport application.
If your passport was stolen in the course of a violent crime against you, and you need immediate Embassy assistance, please see our emergency contact information for instructions on how to reach us.
Pickup or Delivery of Your Child's New Passport
If you apply for your child's passport at the Embassy, it will be available for pickup approximately ten calendar days after your application is approved. You also have the option of requesting delivery of your passport to major cities in Colombia via a private courier service. The cost is $21,500 Colombian pesos for delivery within Bogota and $37,500 Colombian pesos outside of Bogota. Payment is accepted in cash, in pesos only, and must be made during your visit to the Embassy. Passports delivered by courier usually arrive 2-3 weeks after your application is approved.
If you apply for your child's passport at the Consular Agency in Barranquilla, your passport will be available for pickup there in 3-4 weeks. No delivery service is available from the Consular Agency.
For additional, general information about applying for a U.S. passport, please see the website for the Department of State. If you have further questions, please contact us by e-mail at ACSBogota@state.gov.