Embassy of the United States

Applying for a U.S. Passport in Colombia - Applicants 16 and Older

Click here for information about passports for applicants 15 and under.

Where and When to Apply

To apply for a U.S. passport in Colombia, you MUST make an appointment. Online 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.

To make an online appointment click here

If you would prefer to apply at our Consular Agency in Barranquilla, please click here for the Consular Agency’s location and hours of operation.

EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2011, THE U.S. EMBASSY IN BOGOTA
WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTING ONLINE APPOINTMENTS

Choosing the Correct Application Form

There are two different passport application forms.  Which one you should use depends on whether you have previously had a U.S. passport and when your most recent one was issued. To determine the correct form, please answer the following five questions:

1. Have you had a U.S. passport before?
2. Do you still have your most recent U.S. passport and can you submit it with your application?
3. Were you at least 16 years old when you received your last U.S. passport?
4. Was your last U.S. passport issued within the past 15 years?
5. Is your name still the same as it appeared on your most recent U.S. passport, or, if it has changed, can you present a marriage certificate or other court order that documents the name change?

If you answered yes to all five of the above questions, you should use form DS-82. If you answered no to any of the above questions, you must use form DS-11. 

Are you Required to Apply in Person?

Whether you must apply in-person depends on which form you must submit, as described above. All applicants who fill out form DS-11 must appear personally at the Embassy or Consular Agency at the time of application. If you are permitted to fill out form DS-82, no personal appearance is necessary.

Regrettably, the Embassy and Consular Agency cannot accept applications by mail or other delivery service. Consequently, even if you are not required to appear, you or someone on your behalf must submit your signed, completed DS-82 application at the Embassy or Consular Agency.  Please see above for information on how to submit a passport application at the Embassy or Consular Agency.

Fees

Effective July 13, 2010, there are new fees. These are outlined in detail below.

The fee you pay likewise depends on the application form you are required to fill out, as described above. If you are permitted to fill out Form DS-82, the fee is US$110.00. If you must fill out Form DS-11, the fee is US$105.00 for children 15 and under, and US$135.00 for applicants 16 and over.

Fees are payable at the Embassy or Consular Agency when you apply for your passport, in cash, either in U.S. dollars or Colombian pesos. At the Embassy only, you may also pay with a credit card. Checks and debit cards are not accepted. These fees do not include optional delivery of your passport, which is discussed below. We regret that we cannot accept $100 bills.

Passport Photos

All applicants must provide one recent passport photo in color. The photo must measure 5X5 cm (2X2 inches) and have a white background.  Photo labs are located throughout major cities in Colombia, as well as across the street from the Embassy. Digital photos are not acceptable.

Evidence

Proof of identification: If you cannot submit a previous U.S. passport, you should bring a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license. A photo ID serves only as proof of identity and is not proof of U.S. citizenship.

Photo evidence: If you were a small child when your last passport was issued, or if your appearance has changed significantly since then, you should be prepared to present photos of yourself at various ages since your last passport was issued, to establish that you are the same person who was pictured in your last passport.

Previous U.S. passport or other proof of citizenship: You must submit your most recent U.S. passport, if available. If it is not available, you may submit another previous U.S. passport.

If no previous passport is available, or if you have never had one before, you should be prepared to present other proof of citizenship. U.S. citizens born in the United States, should present an original or certified copy of their U.S.-issued birth certificate. U.S. citizens born outside of the United States should present an original naturalization certificate, certificate of citizenship, or Consular Report of Birth Abroad. Photocopies of these documents will not be accepted. Please note that driver's licenses, state or military identification cards, and other similar documents are not proof of U.S. citizenship because they are also issued to non-U.S. citizens.

• Click here for information on how to request a certified copy of your birth certificate from the United States.
• Click here for information on how to order a replacement Consular Report of Birth Abroad. 

Please see the website for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for information on how to contact that agency for replacement of lost certificates of citizenship or naturalization.

• Click here for additional instructions if you were born outside of the United States but have never been documented as a U.S. citizen.

If Your Last Passport was Lost or Stolen

If your most recent U.S. passport was lost or stolen, you should also complete and sign Form DS-64. If you believe the passport was stolen, you can register the loss online here. Please bring the printed confirmation with you when you apply for your new passport, and be prepared to submit it with your passport application.

If you or your family were the victim of a violent crime in Colombia, including one that led to the theft of a U.S. passport, you may contact the Embassy for assistance 24 hours per day, seven days per week, at (1) 275-2000 (011-571-275-2000 from the United States) or by e-mail during business hours at ACSBogota@state.gov.

Pickup or Delivery of Your New Passport

If you apply for your 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. Effective August 1, 2010, the cost is $24,300 Colombian pesos for delivery within Bogota and $43.300 Colombian pesos outside of Bogota. Payment is accepted in cash, only in pesos, 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 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.

Additional Information

If you have further questions, please contact the Embassy at ACSBogota@state.gov, or visit the Department of State website for general information.