Official Translation in Colombia - Frequently Asked Questions 2026

An official translation in Colombia is one that is performed, signed, and stamped by a duly certified and qualified translator registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the competent authority. This type of translation has full legal validity and is the only one accepted for formal international, immigration, judicial, or academic procedures. An unofficial translation lacks these credentials and legal signatures and is therefore only used for informational, reading, or internal business purposes.

It depends entirely on the receiving entity. If you are submitting documents to an embassy, consulate, university abroad, ministry, or court, an official, signed, and certified translation will always be required. If the use is personal, internal corporate (manuals, informational emails), or for reference websites, a standard or unofficial translation is sufficient and inexpensive.

As a general rule, what should be apostilled as a priority at the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the original document (e.g., birth certificate or diploma issued in Colombia). Once the original has its respective apostille affixed, the entire set (original document + its apostille) is scanned and sent for official translation. This certifies the legality of the source document abroad.

You only need to have the official translation apostilled if the destination country explicitly requires that the translator's signature also be apostilled. To do this, you must first go to a notary public to have the translator's signature on the physical translation authenticated, and then use that notarized code to request the apostille of the translation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

No. The official translation issued by Traductores.co is fully valid on its own due to the authorized signatures and seals. It is only necessary to go to a notary in the specific cases mentioned above, where the final procedure requires apostilling the official translator's signature.

If you bring a document from abroad written in another language to present in Colombia, you must first ensure that the original document has been apostilled in its country of origin. Upon arrival in Colombia, the Traductores.co team will provide an official translation into Spanish. This official translation does not require a new Colombian apostille to be valid within the country.

If the entity requires this specific procedure, you must notify us when requesting your service so we can coordinate the physical delivery of the signed documents. You will need to bring the physical translation to one of our locations. allied notaries in Bogotá (or the corresponding city) so that the notary public can certify the official translator's signature. With this notarized document, you can digitally process the apostille of the translation on the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Prices vary depending on the word count of the original document, the technical complexity of the text (medical, legal, commercial), and the deadline. At Traductores.co, we have a transparent pricing policy, charging per original word, which guarantees you an accurate quote before we begin. You can find more details on our dedicated page. Official Translation Prices.

Every official translation delivered by Traductores.co includes a native certification statement in the target language (for example, English for ECFMG, USCIS, or UK processes). If an entity requests a certificate of suitability or the translator's resolution, you can request it directly from our support team via email.

All official translations in Colombia must include the full name, national identification number or resolution number, and the handwritten or digital signature of the certified translator. Traductores.co works exclusively with formally registered linguists with current accreditations (such as corporate membership in the American Translators Association – ATA).

The Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has modified its direct databases for public access to complete lists due to personal data protection regulations. However, certified translators maintain their valid resolutions and notarial registrations, which allows their signatures to be fully recognized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when requesting an apostille online.

Our translations are endorsed by over 1,600 global organizations. They are fully accepted by international immigration authorities (such as USCIS in the United States, IRCC in Canada, the UK Home Office, and Australian Home Affairs), as well as ministries, universities, and notaries within Colombia. Click here to learn more.

Each document processed by our team has a unique alphanumeric serial number printed in the footer. Any consular, academic, or judicial official abroad can access the web address. translators.co/verify or write to the email address verifica[@]traductores.co to immediately verify the authenticity and accuracy of the document against our records.