How to Get Colombia Citizenship
Key facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 5 years
- Language
- Test or certificate
- Dual citizenship
- Accepted
- Civic test
- Required, with a test or certificate
- Criminal record
- No criminal record condition in the law
- Income condition
- Income or economic resources must be shown
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Accepted in both directionsNew citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship.Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship.
- Available routes
- Region
- Americas
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. A November 2026 search found no later change for this country, but this has not been verified.
Naturalisation (residence)
Residence in Colombia is the basis of this route, together with the other conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
- Residence
- 5 years
Person has been legally and continuously resident in Colombia for 5 years immediately preceding the application.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Language
- Required, with a test or certificate
Proficiency in Spanish (except for those who are from an indigenous community sharing border territory with Colombia, who have had secondary or university education in Colombia, or who are older than 60 years).
- Civic knowledge
- Required, with a test or certificate
Knowledge of basic principles of the Constitution, history and geography of Colombia (except for those who are from an indigenous community sharing border territory with Colombia, have had secondary or university education in Colombia, or who are older than 60 years).
- Criminal record
- No criminal record condition in the law
- Income or economic resources
- Income or economic resources must be shown
Proof of employment, activity or trade of the applicant or of the person on who they depend financially.
Marriage or civil partnership
Marriage to a citizen of Colombia is the basis of this route, together with the conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is the spouse of a citizen, or is in a long term relationship with a citizen and has been legally and continuously resident in Colombia for 2 years immediately preceding the application. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Descent (citizen parent)
For a person with a parent who is a citizen of Colombia, the rules below set out how this route works.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Colombia to a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen and establishes residence in Colombia or registers with a Colombian consulate.
Birth in the country
This route concerns people born in Colombia, and only in the situations described below. The law of Colombia confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Person is born in Colombia to non-citizens who are domiciled in the country at the time of birth (Article 1 of Law 1997 of 2019 establishes that the children of Venezuelan nationals born in Colombia between 1 January 2015 and 16 September 2021 will be Colombians by birth. This is regardless of whether the parents were regular or irregular in the country at the moment of birth.)
Child of a new citizen
This route covers children of a person who becomes a citizen of Colombia, subject to the conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is a minor whose parent is acquiring citizenship by naturalisation, has parental authority over the child, and the child is included in the naturalisation certificate. The foreigner may request the extension of nationality to his minor foreign children who are domiciled in Colombian territory and are holders of a resident visa as beneficiaries.
Other family members of citizens
This route covers certain family members not covered by the marriage or descent routes in Colombia. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person has Colombian children and has been legally resident in Colombia for a continuous period of 2 years immediately preceding the application. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Former citizens (reacquisition)
This route covers people who previously held citizenship of Colombia, subject to the conditions below. An application is required, and citizenship must be granted once the legal conditions are met.
Person is a former citizen who lost citizenship due to naturalisation abroad when this was still a ground for loss under Article 9 of the Constitution of 1886. Reacquisition can be extended to minor children but not to spouse.
Citizens of specific countries
For citizens of certain countries, the law of Colombia sets separate rules, shown below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is a Latin American or Caribbean national by birth and has been continuously resident in Colombia for 5 year immediately preceding the application. Any reciprocity through operative international treaties is taken into account.
Ethnic or cultural affinity
This route covers people with an ethnic or cultural link to Colombia, subject to the conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is a member of an indigenous people living in a border region with Colombia (acquisition is on the basis of the reciprocity principle under public treaties).
Stateless persons
Statelessness, or the risk of it, is the basis of this route in Colombia. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born in Colombia and is not entitled to citizenship of another country. Legal residence is not required for the child, but the parents have to prove that their country of citizenship does not grant citizenship by descent to the child.
Stateless persons
Person is stateless and domiciled in the country since one year after obtaining the resident visa.
Special achievements
For people whose achievements or contributions are recognised by Colombia, the rules below set out what applies. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person whose acquisition of the colombian nationality has particular convenience or relevance for Colombia. Upon presentation of a letter, signed by a Minister, Amabassador or Parliamentarian, arguing about this relevance, and of a CV, the President of the Republic may partially exonerate such applicants from fulfilling various requirements to naturalise.
Not available in Colombia: Adoption, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Refugees, Public or military service, Investment. Coded by GLOBALCIT for 1 January 2024 and updated with in-force changes.
Dual citizenship
Both groups can hold a second citizenship under the law of Colombia: new citizens, and citizens who naturalise abroad.
- New citizens
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship
Compare with neighbours
See how Colombia compares with every country in the residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Bolivia | 3 years | None | Accepted |
 Brazil | 4 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Chile | 5 years | None | Accepted |
 Ecuador | 3 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Guyana | 6 years | None | New citizens only |
 Suriname | 5 years | None | New citizens only |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Legal basis: Constitution Art. 96(2)(a), Nationality law Art. 8, 9.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Colombia Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/colombia/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/colombia/">How to Get Colombia Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, retrieved 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become a Colombian citizen?
The residence period for ordinary naturalisation in Colombia is 5 years. Other legal conditions also apply.
Does Colombia allow dual citizenship?
Yes, in both directions: new citizens and citizens who naturalise abroad can hold another citizenship.
Do I need a language test for Colombian citizenship?
Applicants must provide a language test result or certificate.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Colombian citizenship?
Demonstrating civic knowledge through a test or certificate is necessary for Colombian citizenship.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Colombian citizenship?
There is no obligation to renounce your current citizenship to get Colombian citizenship. The law of your current country may have its own rules on this.
Can I get Colombia citizenship by marriage?
Yes, Colombia provides a marriage route. Procedure: discretionary.
Can I get Colombia citizenship by descent?
Yes, the law of Colombia provides citizenship by descent from a citizen parent. Procedure: automatic, entitlement.
Can I get Colombia citizenship by investment?
The data shows no investment route for Colombia.
Related pages
Also see: Colombia passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.