How to Download Background Check Certificates to Look for Work in Colombia: Official Guide and Step-by-Step

Looking for a job in Colombia requires having a flawless resume, but also having your "paperwork" in order. Some companies will ask for the three basic background check certificates before signing a contract. Honestly, I would skip the internet cafes or brokers who charge you to download them; it is a process you can do yourself from your phone or computer.

Here is a quick summary of what you need to have on hand: If you want to see real options right now, you can view available jobs on Colombia Move — posting is completely free.

Certificate	Entity	Cost	What is it for?
Judicial	National Police	Free	Check the results of judicial background checks.
Disciplinary	Inspector General's Office (Procuraduría)	Free	Review registered sanctions and disqualifications.
Fiscal	Comptroller's Office (Contraloría)	Free	Check if you appear in the Fiscal Responsibility Bulletin.

Before you start downloading, I recommend taking a look at our guide on how to make a resume that lands interviews in Colombia so you have the whole package ready to send.

1. Judicial Background Certificate (National Police)

This is the most common one of all. It allows you to check the result of judicial background checks. The process is done directly on the official Police portal.

• Enter the official National Police background check portal.
• Accept the terms of use at the bottom.
• Enter your document number. They accept Citizenship ID (Cédula de Ciudadanía), Foreigner ID (Cédula de Extranjería), Passport, or Document from your Country of Origin.

Watch out for this: The Police page does not have a "Download PDF" button. To save it as a document, press Ctrl + P (or Cmd + P if you use a Mac) as if you were going to print the screen, and in the window that opens, choose the "Save as PDF" option for the destination.

2. Disciplinary Background Certificate (Office of the Inspector General)

This document allows you to check for sanctions and disqualifications, which is essential if you are going to work for the State or in certain regulated professions.

To obtain it, go to the official Procuraduría certificate portal. The system will give you two options:

• Ordinary: Reflects current sanctions and disqualifications and those from the last 5 years. This is the one typically requested by private companies.
• Special: Shows the entire history of entries. It is required for certain specific public positions determined by law.

What happens if you get the error "THE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ENTERED IS NOT REGISTERED IN THE SYSTEM"? Don't panic. It means the SIRI database does not have your ID. You must request registration in person by bringing a copy of your document to a Public Service Center (CAP) or a territorial office of the Procuraduría.

3. Fiscal Background Certificate (Office of the Comptroller General)

The Comptroller's Office reviews the Fiscal Responsibility Bulletin (SIREF) to verify if you are registered with fiscal responsibilities toward the State.

Enter the official Comptroller General website, search for the "Fiscal Background Certificate" section for natural persons, and type in your ID number. If the result indicates that "no records exist," it means you do not appear in the bulletin searched.

4. Sexual Offense Disqualification Certificate (Law 1918 of 2018)

This certificate is not requested in every industry, but it is mandatory if you are going to work in roles that involve direct contact with minors (teachers, sports coaches, school buses, ICBF contractors). It is processed on the official Police disqualification portal.

The big difference compared to the other background checks is that you cannot obtain it just with your personal data. The system will ask for the NIT and the legal name of the company or institution that is going to hire you. Without that corporate information, you cannot generate the certificate.

5. Beware of scams: Safety tips

I repeat this because it is a common scam on social media and WhatsApp groups: consulting and downloading judicial, disciplinary, and fiscal background records in Colombia is 100% free. No official portal will ask for credit card details or transfers via Nequi to "expedite" the process. Always make sure the pages are the official sites linked in this guide.

Once you have all your PDFs saved in a folder, you are ready to apply. And here is a key detail: according to active listings on Colombia Move (July 2026), we currently have a significant gap in supply in our job section. Talent demand outweighs published supply, with 0 active listings today in categories like technology and marketing, but with several users looking for profiles. It is an excellent time to get ahead of the competition.

If you still don't know where to start handing out that resume now that you have your paperwork ready, I invite you to check out our free job board for Colombia, where we connect local talent directly with companies.

Frequently asked questions

❓ How much does it cost to download background certificates in Colombia?

All official background check certificates (Police, Inspector General, Comptroller, and Disqualification records) are 100% free and can be downloaded online without intermediaries. No government entity charges to generate these documents, according to the official portals consulted on July 21, 2026.

❓ How do I download the Police certificate in PDF format if I don't see a download button?

To save the Police certificate as a PDF, press Ctrl+P (on Windows) or Cmd+P (on Mac) on the results screen and select the "Save as PDF" option in the print destination.

❓ What is the difference between the ordinary and special certificate from the Inspector General's Office (Procuraduría)?

The ordinary certificate shows current sanctions and disqualifications as well as those from the last 5 years, while the special one details the entire history of entries and is required for certain specific public positions.

❓ What should I do if my ID is not registered in the Inspector General's system?

If you get an error stating your ID is not registered, you must request the registration of your document at a Customer Service Center (CAP) or a territorial office of the Inspector General, attaching a copy of your identity document.

❓ Who is required to present the certificate of disqualifications for sex offenses?

This certificate, under Law 1918 of 2018, is mandatory for anyone aspiring to work in positions involving direct contact with minors, such as teachers, coaches, or ICBF contractors.

❓ Where can I look for safe job offers once I have my certificates ready?

You can explore job offers in sectors such as technology, marketing, and administration for free and without intermediaries in the Colombia Move jobs section.