Translating U.S. Documents for Use in Colombia
Why Colombia wants the translation itself apostilled, and how we do it in one order
In short: Colombia's Foreign Ministry accepts translations made outside Colombia, but the translation must be apostilled in the country where it was made, and the original document must be apostilled too. We translate your U.S. document into Spanish, sign our certificate before an Illinois notary, and get the Illinois apostille on it, all in one order.
Colombia's rule, in plain words
According to Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería), a translation made outside Colombia has legal effect there only if it is apostilled or legalized in the country where it was made. The original document must also carry its own apostille from its country of origin, and the Ministry recommends apostilling the original before it is translated. The alternative is to have an official translator in Colombia translate it after it arrives.
Why a U.S. translation can be apostilled
An apostille authenticates a public official's signature, not a translator's. So our translator certificate is signed before an Illinois notary, and the Illinois Secretary of State apostilles the notary's signature. The result is a Spanish translation Colombia's rule recognizes. See can a translation be apostilled?
The right order of steps
- Apostille the original. Illinois documents go to the Illinois Secretary of State; an FBI background check goes to the U.S. Department of State. We handle both.
- Translate the document and its apostille into Spanish.
- Notarize our Certificate of Translation Accuracy in Illinois.
- Apostille the translation at the Illinois Secretary of State.
- Ship the bound set to you or your recipient, tracked.
Common documents for Colombia
- FBI background checks for visas and residency
- Birth and marriage certificates for marriage, registration or residency
- Diplomas and transcripts
- Powers of attorney for property or banking in Colombia
The office receiving your documents, such as Migración Colombia, a notaría or the Registraduría, can set its own requirements, so ask them before ordering.
Why people choose Efficient Biometrics for documents going abroad
- Translation, notary and apostille in one order. We translate, have our certificate signed before an Illinois notary, and take it to the Illinois Secretary of State for the apostille. One order, one point of contact.
- Certificates anyone can verify. Every Certificate of Translation Accuracy carries a QR code and a unique reference and code. Scanning it opens our verification page, which confirms the certificate is genuine and how many pages it covers, without showing any personal details.
- Tamper-evident paper sets. Certificate, source copy and translation are bound together, initialled on every page and sealed with a serial-numbered tamper-evident sticker.
- Honest answers on sworn translations. If your country only accepts its own sworn translators, we tell you up front rather than sell you a translation that will be refused.
- A real office. 682 Illinois Route 59, Naperville, with an in-house notary and our own apostille service. Call or text 847-436-5222 before walking in.
- Careful with your documents. Uploads are encrypted, never sent by email, and deleted 90 days after delivery.
Get a quote
Upload a clear scan or phone photo through our secure quote form and tell us the destination country. We confirm what that country needs and quote before any work begins. Certified translation starts from $45 per page, including our signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy. A page is up to about 250 words; dense or technical documents may be quoted higher. Standard turnaround is 48 hours, with rush as quick as 12 hours. Notarization, Illinois apostille and sworn translations are quoted with your order. Questions? Call or text 847-436-5222.
Requirements change and can differ by consulate, office and purpose. This guide reflects what official sources said when we last reviewed it (October 2026); always confirm with the office that will receive your documents. Our certificate attests to the accuracy of the translation, not to the authenticity of the original document. This is general information, not legal advice.
Related guides
- Can a U.S. translation be used abroad? Requirements by country
- Apostille before or after translation?
- Certified vs. notarized vs. sworn translation
- Can a translation be apostilled?
- Do I need to translate the apostille?
- Certified translation service
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Colombia accept a translation made in the U.S.?
Yes, according to Colombia's Foreign Ministry, if the translation is apostilled in the country where it was made. The original document must be apostilled too.
How do you apostille a translation?
Our translation certificate is signed before an Illinois notary, and the Illinois Secretary of State apostilles the notary's signature.
Should I apostille my document before translating it for Colombia?
Yes. Colombia's Foreign Ministry recommends apostilling the original first, then translating the document and its apostille.