Getting Married in Colombia as a Foreigner: Legal Steps

Getting married in Colombia at a Cartagena notary requires one partner who has lived there for the previous 6 months. So two foreigners who don’t meet that rule marry at their own consulate or at home instead. That is why most foreign couples sign the legal marriage at home and then celebrate a symbolic ceremony in Cartagena.

This is general information, not legal advice. Requirements as published by Cartagena notaries, checked in October 2026. However, each notary sets its own list, so confirm with yours or with an independent lawyer before you apostille anything.

The requirements of Cartagena’s Notaría 3 are clear: one of you needs a Cartagena domicile for the previous 6 months. In contrast, two foreigners who live outside Colombia marry at their own consulate. Similarly, the Dutch government says non-Colombians can marry in Colombia only after 6 months’ residence with a valid permit.

So, in our experience, most foreign couples sign the legal marriage at home or at their consulate. Then they fly to Cartagena for a symbolic ceremony with family and friends. As a result, the paperwork stays at home and the party happens here.

First, foreign documents need a Hague apostille from the country that issued them. However, if your country is not part of the Hague convention, the Colombian consul authenticates (legalizes) them instead. Then any document in another language needs a Spanish translation by an official translator.

Where you translate also matters. According to Colombia’s Foreign Ministry, a translation made in Colombia needs no apostille. In contrast, a translation made abroad needs its own apostille in its country of origin. So translating in Colombia saves you a step.

Meanwhile, a Colombian partner brings a cédula and a birth certificate “valid for marriage”. Its maximum age varies: 1 month at Notaría Sexta and 3 months at Notarías 3 and 7. Also, the foreign partner’s single-status certificate should be recent, usually 3 months old at most.

• First, file your request at least 7 business days before your date. However, the request lapses after 6 months, so don’t file too early.
• Also, Notaría 7 gives a window of 6 days to 3 months instead, so ask your notary.
• Then the notary may post a public notice (edicto) for 5 business days. At Notaría 3, though, it applies only when one partner has no Cartagena domicile.
• In addition, you don’t need witnesses.
• Finally, if one partner can’t attend, you need an apostilled special power of attorney.

As for fees, El Universal reported in July 2026 about COP 64,700 for a ceremony at the notary. In contrast, a ceremony outside the office costs about COP 174,800. So the notary fee is a small part of your budget.

Usually, yes. The U.S. State Department says that marriages abroad are generally valid when they follow local law. Still, U.S. couples should check with their state Attorney General. Likewise, couples from other countries should check the rules of their own country.

Because rules change, confirm every step with the notary or with an independent lawyer before you book flights. After all, this page is general information, not legal advice.

Yes, same-sex couples can marry in a civil ceremony. In ruling SU-214 of 2016, the Constitutional Court held that judges and notaries must celebrate and register same-sex civil marriages. These marriages have the same legal effects. In addition, Circular 1004 of 2016 from the notary regulator gives them full legal validity. So the notary steps on this page apply to every couple.

For a Catholic wedding, the Archdiocese of Cartagena has no official page with a list of requirements. However, El Universal lists what parishes usually ask for. That means a baptism certificate no older than 3 months, a confirmation certificate and a premarital course certificate. Also, if you are not from the host parish, you bring a letter from your own parish.

So ask the parish first, and then the archdiocese chancery, which authenticates church documents. Also, book months ahead.

A symbolic ceremony has no legal effect, so it needs no notary. Instead, you choose the setting: a beach, a Walled City plaza, a private venue or a yacht on the bay.

Still, public settings need permits. For a beach event, you write to DIMAR’s Port Captain at least 15 days before. Then you include a description, the area, a site plan, your ID and proof that you paid the fee. Large events also need liability insurance and a contingency plan. Also, amplified music needs Sayco-Acinpro and environmental permits.

Meanwhile, the city occasionally lets couples use public space in the Walled City. For that, you write to the Oficina de Espacio Público at least one month ahead. In the Centro Histórico, you also need approval from the IPCC heritage institute and the Junta de Acción Comunal. In any case, we handle permits with our venues.

Next, see the Cartagena wedding cost, how to plan a 3-day wedding weekend and what a yacht wedding looks like. Also, share our guide for your guests.