What do I need to arrange if I want to marry in Colombia?
If you are a Dutch national planning to marry in Colombia, you will need to provide certain documents. And you may need to meet extra requirements.
Can I get married in Colombia?
Ask the organisation that you want to perform the marriage in Colombia if you are allowed to marry there as a Dutch national.
If you are not a Colombian national, you can only marry in Colombia if you have been living there for at least 6 months with a valid residence permit.
Same-sex couples can get married in Colombia.
You cannot get married at the Dutch embassy.
Requirements for getting married for Dutch nationals
If you are a Dutch national and you want to marry, you must meet the following requirements:
- You and your partner must be 18 or older. If you are under 18 and you marry abroad, the Dutch authorities will not recognise your marriage until you and your partner are both 18.
- You and your partner must not already be married to or have a registered partnership with someone else.
- If you are under guardianship, you will need the permission of your guardian or of the limited jurisdiction judge (‘kantonrechter’).
- The following family members are not allowed to marry each other or enter into a registered partnership with each other: parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, and brothers and sisters.
What documents do I need to marry in Colombia?
To get married in Colombia you will need the following documents:
A declaration of marital status shows that you are unmarried. To get this document, you will need to submit a number of other documents.
More information about applying for a declaration of marital status
You can get an official copy of your birth certificate from the municipality where you were born. You must have the document legalised. If you do not have an international version of the certificate, you must have it translated and have the translation legalised.
More information about having Dutch documents legalised for use abroad
Is my marriage valid in the Netherlands?
Marriages performed in Colombia are recognised in the Netherlands.
Do I have to register my marriage in the Netherlands?
You may need to register your marriage in the Netherlands. This depends on where you live.
If you live in the Netherlands, you must register your marriage with your municipality. You will need your marriage certificate to do this. First have your marriage certificate translated and legalised.
More information about having documents from Colombia legalised
If you live outside the Netherlands, you can have your marriage certificate converted into a Dutch certificate by the municipality of The Hague. This is not mandatory, but it can be useful if you ever need an extract in the future.
More information about registering a foreign marriage certificate in the Netherlands
Extra information
There are 2 kinds of marriage in Colombia: religious marriage and civil marriage.
Contact the notary public's office where you want to get married well in advance. It can sometimes be difficult to get an appointment.