For ordinary Colombian passport service, the official rule is simple: do not bring photos. The consulate or passport office captures your photo, fingerprints, and signature during the appointment.
Need a Different Colombia Photo? $6.99| Printed photos | Not necessary |
| Capture | At consulate/passport office |
| Biometrics | Photo, fingerprints, signature |
| Adult appointment | In person with Colombian ID |
| Minors | Attend with parent/legal representative |
| Fee | Confirm on Cancilleria fee page |
A CVS/Walgreens/Walmart passport package is usually unnecessary for a Colombian passport appointment because the official system captures the image.
The appointment records photo, fingerprints, and signature. A printed US 2×2 photo does not replace that step.
Children must attend with a parent or legal representative and bring the required civil registration and authorization paperwork.
| Requirement | Colombian Passport | US Passport |
|---|---|---|
| Photo source | Captured at appointment | Applicant supplies 2×2 photo |
| Printed photos | Official page says not necessary | Required for paper applications |
| Biometrics | Photo, fingerprints, signature | Photo only for ordinary application |
| DIY photo value | Usually not needed for passport | Strong; can print 4×6 sheet |
Colombian citizens living in the US apply through the appropriate Colombian consulate or selected passport office process. Adults complete the electronic form to speed processing, book the appointment, and appear in person with an accepted Colombian citizenship document. During the appointment, the officer captures the photo, fingerprints, and signature.
For minors, the child must attend with a parent or legal representative. The appointment requires the civil birth record and, depending on age and representation, additional identity or authorization documents. If a parent cannot attend, the authorization process has to follow the official notarized or consular rules.
Colombia also has a limited online passport replacement path, but it is not a general mail-in renewal. It applies only when the adult applicant already has an eligible ordinary/electronic passport issued after November 17, 2017, has prior biometric authentication, and is replacing for specific reasons such as damage, exhausted pages, loss, theft, or voluntary change. Pickup is still in person.
The official passport requirements page links to the Cancilleria costs and payment page for current fees. This batch did not capture a stable current fee table from the official page output, so the public page should avoid hardcoding a peso or dollar amount. Tell users to confirm the fee and payment method on the selected consulate or Cancilleria fee page before the appointment.
Colombian passport applications can be delayed when an applicant brings the wrong citizenship document, when a minor lacks the required parent/legal-representative documentation, when civil registration papers do not meet the stated format, or when identity data requires additional verification. Another practical delay is assuming a retail passport photo is the main requirement; the real requirement is appearing in person so the consulate can capture the official biometric data.
The 4×6 print hack is useful for countries that ask you to bring physical passport photos. Colombia's ordinary passport process says photos are not necessary because the office captures the image. If a consulate asks for a printed photo for a special non-passport document, then you can place multiple copies on a 4×6 sheet and print cheaply. For the standard passport appointment, focus on the appointment checklist instead.
Back to Country RequirementsFor another Latin American consulate workflow, compare the Mexico passport and Matricula guide. You can also review the full country requirements hub.