Passports
Applying for a U.S. Passport in Colombia - Applicants 13 and Under
Where and When to Apply
Applications for U.S. passports are accepted at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, or at the U.S. Consular Agency in Barranquilla. No appointment is necessary. The Embassy's American Citizen Services office accepts passport applications from 8:30AM until noon, Monday through Thursday, and is located at Cra 45 # 24B - 27 in Bogota. The Consular Agency is open from 8:00AM until noon, Monday through Thursday.
The Embassy's and Consular Agency's busiest day of the week is Monday, or Tuesday when Monday is a holiday. Please consider arriving later in the week for faster service.
Passport Application Form
When applying for a passport for a child 13 or under, you must use form DS-11. Please do not sign the application until you are asked to so by the consular officer during your interview.
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 withe 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 13 and under is US$82.00. 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. These fees do not include optional delivery of your passport, which is discussed below.
Must the Child Appear in Person?
All children 13 and under must appear at the Embassy or Consular Agency at the time of application. Click here to see personal appearance requirements for applicants 14 and older.
Must the Child's Parents Appear in Person?
For applicants 13 and under, both parents must consent to issuance of the child's passport. Normally, 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 the consular officer.
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 the Embassy at ACSBogota@state.gov if you would like further guidance about the parental consent requirement.
Required Documents
Certified copy of birth certificate or original Consular Report of Birth Abroad: In all cases in which the applicant is 13 or under, 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 of the United States, you may instead submit an original Consular Report of Birth Abroad that was issued by a U.S. Embassy or consulate.
Click here for information on how to order a replacement Consular Report of Birth Abroad. See the website for the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Service to learn how to replace lost certificates of citizenship or naturalization.
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.
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 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) 315-0811 (011-571-315-0811 from the United States) or by e-mail during business hours at ACSBogota@state.gov.
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 one week 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 $20,000 Colombian pesos for delivery within Bogota and $35,000 Colombian pesos outside of Bogota. Payment is accepted only in cash (pesos). Passports delivered by courier usually arrive two 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 two to three 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 the Embassy by e-mail at ACSBogota@state.gov.