It is now possible to request the civil birth register online: step by step

In Colombia, it is currently possible to register a birth certificate in hospitals, clinics or at any notary, registry or consulate, regardless of the person’s date and place of birth.

This is due to Article 118 of Law 1395 of 2010, which abolished the territoriality requirement for access to the registry office and facilitated the procedure for low-income Colombians.

According to the National Civil Registry, the Civil Registry is both the legal and administrative instrument through which the State recognizes the rights and obligations of Colombians towards society and the family.

This document specifies the date of birth, time of birth, first and last name, parents and a unique personal identification number (NIUP).

However, the company points out that this process can also be carried out by relatives such as grandparents, great-grandparents or great-great-grandparents (ancestors), the next of kin or the head of the public or private institution where the birth took place. The interested party must be over 18 be years old.

This procedure must be carried out within one month of the birth of the child, otherwise you must provide the live birth certificate from the health center or the affidavit of two witnesses.

Steps to Download Birth Certificate

Previously, to apply for this document, the person had to go in person to the registry office, where it was first issued. However, the registry now allows you to do the virtual download to avoid long lines or to do it in the shortest possible time in an emergency. These are the steps you need to follow:

• The procedure must be carried out by email to the registry office of the relevant department.
• The application must contain the person’s full first and last name as it appears in the original document.
• Finally, they must attach proof of payment, volume number, folio, serial number and date of birth.

Official emails by department

• Atlántico and La Guajira: rc_atlanticolaguajira@registraduria.gov.co
• Santander and Arauca: rc_santanderarauca@registraduria.gov.co
• Bolívar: rc_bolivarmagdalena@registraduria.gov.co
• Valle and Cauca: rc_vallecaucachoco@registraduria.gov.co
• Norte de Santander: rc_nortesantander@registraduria.gov.co
• Tolima and Guainia: rc_tolimaguainia@registry.gov.co
• Antioquia: rc_antioquiacordoba@registraduria.gov.co
• Putumayo, Vichada and Vaupés: rc_putumayovichadavaupes@registraduria.gov.co
• Nariño and Amazon: rc_narinoamazonas@registraduria.gov.co
• Huila and Caquetá: rc_huilacaqueta@registraduria.gov.co
• Risaralda, Quindío and Caldas: rc_risaraldaquindiocaldas@registraduria.gov.co
• San Andrés and Providencia: rc_sanandres@registraduria.gov.co
• Successful: rc_sucrecesar@registraduria.gov.co
• Boyacá and Casanare: rc_boyacacasanare@registraduria.gov.co
• Meta and Guaviare: rc_metaguaviare@registry.gov.co
• Cesar: rc_cesar@registraduria.gov.co
• Córdoba: rc_cordoba@registraduria.gov.co
• Magdalena: rc_magdalena@registraduria.gov.co
• Chocó: rc_choco@registraduria.gov.co
• Cundinamarca: rc_cundinamarca@registraduria.gov.co
• Bogotá DC: rc_bogotacundinamarca@registraduria.gov.co

Does it cost anything to request a copy of the civil register?

This request will be accepted during office hours from Monday to Friday, i.e. from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The copy of this document costs $9,000 for people who are in the country and may be abroad, a value of $9.

The value of the copy must be deposited at Banco Popular or Banco Agrario according to the tariffs in force and brought with the deposit to the registry office where it is registered. It is important that the citizen needs the security sticker in the registry office to ensure proper collection and monitoring of the deposited funds.

List of fees for registration procedures here: http://www.registraduria.gov.co/-Tarifas-vigentes-.html

Requirements for issuing birth registration

This role is indivisible, non-prescription and its allocation is in accordance with Colombian law. According to Decree 1260 of 1970 in Article 45, registration must be carried out by the father or mother of the minor. These are the requirements for registering a birth:

• Take the minor to any registry office to take his or her fingerprints. (The presence of the minor and the declarant is always required)
• If the baby is one month old or younger, bring the live birth certificate issued by the hospital.
• Identification of parents. Bring the original ID and a photocopy of it.
• If one parent has a different nationality, they must present their current passport and a copy.

Please note that registration is free and there are no costs at Colombian consulates abroad.