Explore country-specific rules for recognising foreign documents for official use.
This map shows when certified or sworn translations, apostilles, or legalisation are required for official use.
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Requirement: Sworn / Licensed
| Apostille required | Required for foreign public documents unless exempt by treaty |
|---|---|
| Translation type required | Official translation (Traducción Oficial) |
| Who can translate | Licensed Traductor e Intérprete Oficial |
| Official translator registry | No public national searchable registry |
| Accepted languages | Spanish |
| Legalisation authority | Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería) |
| Official source | Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Colombia |
Important: Only licensed Traductores e Intérpretes Oficiales may issue translations for legal and administrative use in Colombia.
Official translations in Colombia must be completed by a Traductor e Intérprete Oficial.
These professionals must pass an official examination administered by an accredited Colombian university. Once certified, they are recognised nationwide for official translation purposes.
An official Colombian translation must include:
Since December 2020, official translations prepared in Colombia no longer require additional legalisation for domestic use. The translator’s certification is valid throughout the national territory.
Colombia does not maintain a public searchable online registry of licensed translators. Officially recognised translators are accredited under the authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería), but no central directory is currently published.
To verify whether a translator is officially recognised, request proof of accreditation or resolution documentation from the translator, or consult the receiving authority. Government administrative acts are published via the Cancillería Normograma system .
Foreign public documents must be apostilled or legalised in the country of origin before being translated.
Once legalised, they must be translated into Spanish by a licensed Traductor e Intérprete Oficial to be accepted by Colombian authorities.
The profession of Traductor e Intérprete Oficial is regulated under Colombian administrative law and supervised through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Official translators are authorised after passing an accredited certification examination.
