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Birth Registration
Colombia
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Colombia
Birth Registration
Procedure and Certificates
Procedure and Certificates
Place
Where must births be reported?
Place of occurrence
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Registration may be place of occurrence of place of residence. The civil registration law should clearly state the place where births must be reported. Reporting in the place of occurrence usually makes the registration process faster and easier for the informant. The determination of the place of usual residence may be in fact complicated for some people who have more than one residence or often move. In addition, reporting at place of occurrence facilitates declaration or notification by a health facility.
Countries with electronic systems for civil registration may allow more flexibility and allow reporting from anywhere the civil registration system can be accessed.
Colombian law does not distinguish between “reporting” a birth and formally registering it; the law treats them as the same act. According to Article 46 of Decree 1260 of 1970, all births that occur within Colombian territory must be registered at the civil registry office that corresponds to the territorial district where the birth took place. If the birth happens while traveling—whether inside or outside Colombia—the registration must be completed in the place where the trip ends.
What are the reporting periods for birth registration specified in law?
1 month
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
A clear deadline for reporting a birth, especially a short one, reduces the risk of misreporting or underreporting. The deadline is typically between 14 and 30 days.
A late birth registration occurs when a birth is reported after the legally specified time period, but within a grace period, usually one year after the vital event.
Delayed birth registration is the registration that occurs after the grace period has expired. Delayed birth registration may occur many years after the event, and may require additional evidence.
Colombian law requires birth registration within one month of birth (Decree 1260 of 1970, Article 48), with no different deadlines for different informants. Late registrations are allowed but must be supported by documents, parish or other religious records, or—if none exist—sworn statements from two witnesses (Decree 1260 of 1970, Article 50). For registrations of persons over seven years old, an additional certificate from the central registry showing no prior record is required (Decree 1260 of 1970, Article 63). The law does not authorize officials to extend or modify the one-month deadline.
Colombian law establishes that there are no fees for on-time birth registration. Under Law 1163 of 2007, Article 5, the civil registry authority must exempt all fees for the initial inscription of a birth in the Civil Birth Register and for issuing the first copy of that registration. As of February 2025, subsequent copies do have a cost: COP 10,300 for copies issued in Colombia, and USD 10.41 for copies issued at Colombian consulates (Resolution 1174 of 2025, Article 7).
Are there any fees or fine for late or delayed birth registration?
No
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Fees are not effective in preventing late or delayed registration and may act as a disincentive for registration. If fees are charged for delayed or late registration, policymakers should consider having a fee-waiver process for those for whom fees are a hardship. More effective results to increase registration rates are observed through educational programmes aimed at the public. Some countries have opted to impose a penalty for failure to register or, more precisely, refusal to register, rather than impose a fee for late registration.
Colombian law does not establish any fees or fines specifically for late or delayed birth registration. The law provides the same fee exemption for all birth registrations—whether on time or late. Under Law 1163 of 2007, Article 5, the initial inscription of a birth in the Civil Birth Register and the first copy of that record must be issued free of charge. There are no sanctions, fines, or additional costs in the law for registering a birth after the one-month period.
What is the minimum information required for birth registration?
Minimum information required goes beyond UN recommendations but registrar has discretion to register birth without all information"
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
The information required for legal purposes is minimal, and usually consists of: given name; surname; date of birth; birthplace; sex; and names of both the parents. It is preferable that information on both parents is provided but registration should not be denied if the mother cannot or will not name the father. Registrars should be authorized to complete registration with the available information to strive for universal registration. Failure to provide statistical data elements such as the weight of the child, should also not prevent birth registration.
Colombian law requires a minimum set of information for birth registration consisting of the child’s name, sex, municipality and date of birth, the registration office, and the folio numbers (Decree 1260 of 1970, Article 52). Additional information is also requested—such as the hour and place of birth, parents’ names, and, when available, their identification, occupation, nationality, marital status, and their own birth and marriage record codes, as well as the certifying professional’s details and the child’s footprints.
What evidence is required for on-time birth registration?
Medical certificate issued free of charge by the attending doctor or nurse. Alternatively, if no certificate is available, an affidavit from two competent witnesses
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Registrars should require proof as to the veracity of the information to be registered. Proof or evidence required for registration must be sufficiently stringent to provide assurance of the accuracy of the information without being so burdensome so burdensome as to discourage or prevent registration. Documentary evidence is always preferred. For birth registration, the most common form of documentary evidence is the notification of birth (from health sector or local leader), but if this is not available, testimony or affidavits of witnesses may be substituted.
For births registered within the legally defined one-month deadline, Colombian law requires a medical certificate as the primary evidence of birth. Under Decree 1260 of 1970, Article 49, the certificate must be issued free of charge by the doctor or nurse who attended the birth. If no medical certificate is available, the law allows an alternative form of evidence: an affidavit from two competent witnesses who can attest to the birth and explain how they know about it.
Are there additional or alternative documents required for late or delayed birth registration?
Yes
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
While late and delayed reporting should be discouraged, the procedures should not be so restrictive as to prevent late and delayed reporting of events. Laws that require a court order for late or delayed registration present a significant barrier to registration. For late registration (within 1-year grace period), the provision of a notification of birth, or other evidence required for on-time registration, should be sufficient. For delayed registration (after 1 year), the law may require additional evidence such as a witness statement.
Yes. For late or delayed birth registration, Colombian law requires additional evidence beyond the documents used for on-time registration. Under Decree 1260 of 1970, Article 50, the informant must present authentic documents proving the birth, such as parish baptism records or other religious documents; if these are not available, the law allows a sworn statement from two competent witnesses who saw the birth or have direct reliable knowledge of it. For persons older than seven years, Article 63 also requires a certificate from the central registry confirming that no prior birth record exists. The law does not distinguish requirements based on the type of informant.
Does the registrar (local or other level) have the authority to correct minor errors (such as data entry errors and typographical errors)? If yes, are such changes free of charge?
Local registrar can make corrections free of charge
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
The civil registration agency should have authority to correct errors such as obvious spelling, date or typographical errors.Providing the registration agency with authority to make these types of corrections relieves the applicant of having to spend time and money applying to courts. No fee should be charged for minor clerical errors.
Yes. Colombian law allows registrars to correct minor errors (such as typos or spelling mistakes) free of charge and directly in the registry. Under Decree 1260 of 1970, Article 91, the registrar may correct these mistakes upon written request by opening a new folio and entering the corrected information.
Does the registrar (local or other level) have the power to add omitted information (such as name of baby, in the case of late naming, and paternity information)? If yes, are such changes free of charge?
Other (Notarial public deed required, and payment of fee)
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
The civil registration agency should have authority to add information omitted in the original record, such as the late addition of a baby name within the time frame for late naming, or adding uncontested paternity information. Providing the registration agency with authority to make these types of amendments elieves the applicant of having to spend time and money applying to courts. No fee should be charged for adding omitted information
Corrections—such as changes that require documents or justification—must be made through a public deed before a notary, which is not free of charge. Corrections involving change of sex must follow the specific procedure in Decree 1227 of 2015, which always requires a notarial public deed and payment of notarial fees.
Is the original birth certificate provided free of charge?
Yes
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Legislation should require the registrar, upon completion of registration, to issue an original birth certificate to the parents of the child free of charge. Ideally, the local registrar has the power to issue a birth certificate, as this will shorten the time frame for certificate issuance.
Yes. Colombian law provides that the first copy of the birth certificate is free of charge. Under Law 1163 of 2007, Article 5, the civil registry authority must exempt all fees for the initial birth registration and its first copy. Local registrars are empowered to issue this copy. Any additional or duplicate copies have a cost of COP 10,300 in Colombia or USD 10.41 at Colombian consulates (Resolution 1174 of 2025, Article 7).
