Official Document Translation & Legalisation Map

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:

The translator’s signature

The official registration or certification details

A certification that the translation is accurate and complete

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.