How to Download Background Certificates for Job Searching in Colombia: Official and Step-by-Step Guide

Applying for a job in Colombia requires having an impeccable resume, but also having your "papers" in order. Some companies will ask you for the three basic background certificates before signing a contract. Honestly, I would skip the internet cafes or fixers who charge you to download them; it's a process you can do yourself from your cell phone or computer.

Here's 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?
Criminal Records	National Police	Free	Check the result of criminal background checks.
Disciplinary Records	Prosecutor's Office	Free	Review registered sanctions and disqualifications.
Fiscal Records	Comptroller's Office	Free	Check if you appear on the Fiscal Responsibilities Bulletin.

Before you start downloading, I recommend taking a look at our guide on how to create a CV that gets interviews in Colombia so you have the complete package ready to send.

1. Criminal Records Certificate (National Police)

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

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

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

2. Disciplinary Records Certificate (General Prosecutor's Office)

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

To get it, go to the official Prosecutor's Office certificate portal. The system will give you two options:

• Ordinary: It reflects current sanctions and disqualifications, and those from the last 5 years. This is usually what private companies ask for.
• Special: It shows the entire history of annotations. 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 that the SIRI database does not have your ID. You must request registration in person by bringing a copy of your document to a Public Attention Center (CAP) or a territorial office of the Prosecutor's Office.

3. Fiscal Records Certificate (General Comptroller's Office)

The Comptroller's Office checks the Fiscal Responsibilities Bulletin (SIREF) to verify if you are registered with fiscal responsibilities towards the State.

Go to the official website of the General Comptroller's Office, look for the "Fiscal Records Certificate" section for individuals and enter your ID number. If the result indicates "no record found," it means you do not appear in the consulted bulletin.

4. Certificate of Ineligibility for Sexual Offenses (Law 1918 of 2018)

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

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

5. Beware of scams: Safety tips

I'm repeating this because it's a common scam on social media and WhatsApp groups: the consultation and download of criminal, disciplinary, and fiscal background checks in Colombia is 100% free. No official portal will ask you for credit card details or Nequi transfers to "speed up" 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're ready to apply. And here's a key piece of information: according to active listings on Colombia Move (July 2026), we currently have a strong supply gap in our job section. The demand for talent exceeds the published supply, with 0 active listings today in categories like technology and marketing, but with several users looking for profiles. It's an excellent time to get ahead of the competition.

If you still don't know where to start sending that resume now that you have the papers 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 certificates (Police, Prosecutor's Office, Comptroller's Office, and Ineligibilities) are 100% free and can be downloaded online without intermediaries. No state entity charges for generating these documents, according to 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, you must 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 Prosecutor's Office?

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

❓ What should I do if my ID card is not registered in the Prosecutor's Office system?

If you get the error that your identification is not registered, you must request the registration of your document at a Public Attention Center (CAP) or a territorial office of the Prosecutor's Office, attaching a copy of your identity document.

❓ Who must present the certificate of ineligibilities for sexual offenses?

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

❓ Where can I look for secure 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 jobs section of Colombia Move.