Apostilling your criminal record at Colombia's Foreign Ministry
Step by step to process and apostille online the certificate of judicial records before the Chancellery of Colombia (Minrex) for the Spanish visa.

For stays longer than 180 days (such as complete academic courses, master's degrees or work visas), the Spanish Consulate in Bogotá requires an apostilled Colombian criminal record certificate.Fortunately, in Colombia this procedure is 100% digital and does not require traveling to Bogotá or hiring external processors.
Step 1: Generation of the Police Background Certificate
Unlike other countries where the criminal certificate requires in-person appointments and fingerprints, in Colombia the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is directly interconnected with the database of the Colombian National Police.
You do not need to print the basic disciplinary history web query; The issuance and apostillation process is carried out directly on the Colombian Foreign Ministry portal by selecting the automatic consultation option with the Police.
Step 2: Apostille Request on the Minrex Portal
- Go to the official website of the Foreign Ministry of Colombia (cancilleria.gov.co) in the 'Procedures and Services' section -> 'Apostille and Online Legalization'.
- Select the option 'Digitized documents' -> 'Certificate of Judicial Records'.
- Enter your Citizenship Card number and date of issue of the document.
- The system will automatically verify online with the National Police database that there are no pending judicial notes.
- Choose the destination country'SPAIN' (a member country of the Hague Convention).
Keep readingBank statements for BLS Bogotá: the bank's original stampStep 3: Electronic Payment and Document Download
The cost of the apostille in Colombia is set by the Foreign Ministry (approximately $36,000 to $40,000 COP for national procedures).Payment is made online through the secure PSE gateway charged to any Colombian bank account.
Once the payment is validated, the system sends to your email within 1 to 4 hours the official PDF file with the Hague Apostille, digitally signed with a Secure Verification Code (CSV) by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Digital Background Apostille Circuit in Colombia
| Processing Phase | Issuing Entity | Official Cost (COP) | Broadcast Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Background Check | Colombian National Police | $0 COP (Free) | Immediate (PDF Download) |
| 2. Online Apostille Application | Foreign Ministry of Colombia (MRE) | Telematic procedure 24/7 | 5 minutes on platform |
| 3. Payment of the Apostille Fee | PSE payment gateway / GNB Sudameris Bank | $36,000 COP per document | Validation in 15 minutes |
| 4. Reception of The Hague Apostille | Registered Email | Includes QR validation code | Between 1 and 24 business hours |
| 5. Legal Validity for the Consulate | Consulate General of Spain | Strict validity of 90 days | Apostille maximum 30 days before appointment |
Key Practical Tips
What the team recommends before you file anything:
- Validity: The criminal record certificate has a strict expiration date for the Spanish Consulate of three months from its date of issue in Colombia.
- Do not leave the process until the day before your appointment at the BLS. Although it usually takes hours, random homonymy checks in the system can delay the issuance of up to three business days.
Required Documentation Checklist
- Valid Colombian Citizenship Card and issuance data.
- Active bank account with PSE gateway for payment in Colombian pesos.
- Download the official PDF with the text of the apostille and the validation QR code.
- Sharp print in black and white or color for delivery to the BLS window.
- Calculation of dates so that the document does not exceed 90 days of consular expiration.
Sources: Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Colombia (Cancillería) - Trámites de Apostilla en Línea; Policía Nacional de Colombia - Certificado de Antecedentes Judiciales; Convenio de La Haya de 1961 sobre la Apostilla.
