Is my child Colombian if born in Colombia to foreign parents?

Only if at least one parent was domiciled in Colombia at the birth. The Registraduría accepts M and R visas as proof.

How much does birth registration cost?

Nothing. Registration and the first copy are free. Extra copies cost COP 10,800 at the Registraduría or COP 18,750 online in 2026.

Where can I register my baby?

At any Registraduría, notaría with civil registry functions, or at the registry desk in many hospitals and clinics, wherever the baby was born.

How do I get a copy of the registro civil online?

At copiaderegistrocivil.registraduria.gov.co you create an account, find the record, pay COP 18,750 (2026) by PSE and receive the digital copy by email.

ID & documents

How do I register my baby born in Colombia?

Every birth in Colombia is recorded in the civil registry at a Registraduría office, a notaría or the hospital's registry desk, ideally within the first month. Registration and the first copy are free. If both parents are foreigners, the baby is Colombian only if one of them proves domicile in Colombia, for example with an M or R visa.

Go to the official Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil site ↗

Independent guide by Colombia Move. Not a government website: the procedure itself is done on the official portal linked here.

Cost: Registration and the first copy are free (Ley 1163 de 2007). Extra copies in 2026: COP 10,800 at the Registraduría and COP 18,750 for an online digital copy (Resolución 1500 de 2026, in force since 1 March 2026). Notarías charge their own current fee.
How long: Registration is done the same day. The law asks for it within a month of the birth; after that it is a late registration and needs more evidence.
Where: Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil · Online + in person
Last checked: October 1, 2026

Who needs it

The father or mother of any child born in Colombia, whatever their nationality. It is the basis for the NUIP, EPS health cover, the tarjeta de identidad and the passport.

What you need

The certificado de nacido vivo issued by the clinic or hospital. If there is none, a sworn statement from two qualified witnesses.
Parents' ID: cédula de ciudadanía, or a valid passport or cédula de extranjería for foreigners.
Foreign parents seeking Colombian nationality for the baby: proof of domicile, such as an M or R visa valid at the time of birth.
The baby must be present (fingerprints are taken), along with whoever registers the birth.

Step by step

1Get the certificado de nacido vivo from the clinic before you leave.
2Go with the baby to a Registraduría office, a notaría that handles civil registry, or the hospital's registry desk.
3Hand in the certificate and the parents' IDs; foreigners should also bring their visa or proof of domicile.
4Check names, dates and the NUIP before signing: fixing errors later is a separate procedure.
5Receive the first copy of the record for free.
6For more copies, ask at the Registraduría or download a digital one at copiaderegistrocivil.registraduria.gov.co.

Tips and common mistakes

A visitor (V) visa does not prove domicile: the baby is registered but not as Colombian. Check your visa type before the birth.
If the parents' country won't grant the baby its nationality, the child can be Colombian without proof of domicile, with a certificate from that country's consulate.
For use abroad, get a recent copy and have it apostilled by the Cancillería.
Download copies only from registraduria.gov.co; some sites overcharge for the same document.

Frequently asked questions

Is my child Colombian if born in Colombia to foreign parents?: Only if at least one parent was domiciled in Colombia at the birth. The Registraduría accepts M and R visas as proof.
How much does birth registration cost?: Nothing. Registration and the first copy are free. Extra copies cost COP 10,800 at the Registraduría or COP 18,750 online in 2026.
Where can I register my baby?: At any Registraduría, notaría with civil registry functions, or at the registry desk in many hospitals and clinics, wherever the baby was born.
How do I get a copy of the registro civil online?: At copiaderegistrocivil.registraduria.gov.co you create an account, find the record, pay COP 18,750 (2026) by PSE and receive the digital copy by email.

Official sources

Checked on October 1, 2026. Fees and requirements can change; the official site always wins.

Go deeper

📖 Having a Baby in Colombia: Hospitals, Costs & What Expats Should Know

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