Passports
Applying for a U.S. Passport in Colombia - Applicants 14 and Older
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 Carrera 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.
Choosing the Correct Application Form
There are two different passport application forms, and the 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:
- Have you had a U.S. passport before?
- Do you still have your most recent U.S. passport and can you present it with your application?
- Were you at least 16 years old when you received your last U.S. passport?
- Was your last U.S. passport issued within the past 15 years?
- 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 bring your signed, completed DS-82 application to the Embassy or Consular Agency hours indicated above. If someone submits the application for you, that person must have a letter from you that authorizes him/her to apply for your passport. The letter need not be notarized.
Fees
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$67.00. If you must fill out Form DS-11, the fee is US$82.00 for children 15 and under, and US$97.00 for applicants 16 and over.
Fees are payable at the Embassy or Consular Agency when you apply for your passport, in cash (dollars or 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.
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.
Required Documents
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 a previous passport is unavailable, or if you have never had one before, you must present other proof of citizenship. U.S. citizens born in the United States, must present an original or certified copy of their U.S.-issued birth certificate. U.S. citizens born outside of the United States must 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 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.
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. As noted above, an ID serves only as proof of identity and is not proof of U.S. citizenship.
Photo evidence: If your appearance has changed significantly or if you were a small child when your last passport was issued, please bring photos of yourself at various ages since your last passport was issued.
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 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 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 New Passport
If you apply for your 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 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.
Adding Visa Pages to Your Passport
If your current passport is still valid, but has no more space for visas and immigration stamps, you may request additional passport pages at no cost. Same-day service is available at the Embassy; requests made at the Consular Agency in Barranquilla take approximately one week to process.
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.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.
