Colombia consular ID (Tarjeta de Registro Consular) + cédula digital — both, explained

Colombian consulates in the US handle two different identity documents. The Tarjeta de Registro Consular (TRC) is a consular card created by Decreto 642 of 2014: free, valid five years, issued in person at authorized consulates. The cédula de ciudadanía is Colombia’s national ID: the Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil issues it and the consulates take the application, and since April 2023 the US consulates can process it in the digital format. A first-time cédula is free; a duplicate of the digital cédula costs US$76.28 under the Registraduría’s 2026 tariff. Facts below were read on official pages on October 3, 2026.

Versión en español

The Tarjeta de Registro Consular (TRC)

Article 1 of Decreto 642 of 2014 creates the TRC as the document that records that a Colombian national registered at the consulate for the district where he or she lives.

Tarjeta de Registro Consular
Legal basisDecreto 642 of 2014
CostFree: “sin costo alguno” (art. 2); New York 2026 guide: “No tiene costo”
Validity5 years, renewable if you meet the article 5 requirements (art. 6)
ChangesNo modifications or rectifications on the card; a change requires a new card (art. 7)
Data on the cardIn Spanish and the local language: name, place and date of birth, your ID document, your address at registration, issue and expiry dates, and photo, signature and fingerprints taken at the consular office (art. 4)

Requirements (Decreto 642 of 2014, article 5)

You must appear in person at an authorized consular office with:

  • Adults: cédula de ciudadanía or valid passport
  • Minors: registro civil de nacimiento or valid passport (ages 0 to 7); tarjeta de identidad or valid passport (ages 7 to 17)
  • Proof of current address inside the consular district, with one of: a utility bill (water, electricity, gas, phone), a lease or rent receipt, a tax payment receipt, or mail received at your name and address — all from the last three months

If you present a contraseña (the receipt for a cédula in process), the consul must check your data with the Registraduría (art. 5, parágrafo). The New York consulate’s 2026 user guide summarizes the same requirements: a cédula in valid format or a valid passport, plus proof of address with your name and address, no older than three months.

Where the card is issued, and how to book

Colombia Ágil (Gov.co), in a page dated November 2018, lists the authorized US offices as Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, New York, Newark, San Francisco, Boston and Chicago. That list is from 2018, so confirm with your consulate that it issues the card.

Booking is run by each consulate. In New York, the Tarjeta consular is on the list of appointment-only procedures, and the consulate opens its appointment calendar Tuesday to Friday at 9:00 a.m. at agendamientonuevayork.cancilleria.gov.co (New York consulate pages, read October 3, 2026). For other offices, see the Colombia consulate directory and the consulate appointment tracker.

Immigration status and your data

Article 3 of the decree says every Colombian has the right to be registered by the consulate for his or her domicile “sin importar su condición migratoria” — regardless of immigration status. Article 9 says the data recorded to issue the TRC is confidential and may not be used for purposes other than those authorized by the Foreign Ministry or by the cardholder, under the law. The decree does not name any US agency.

What the TRC is accepted for

Colombia Ágil describes the TRC as “un documento de alto reconocimiento para las entidades locales en el exterior” and as support for procedures with other countries’ authorities, such as the driver license in the United States, and for banking procedures in almost every country. Article 8 of the decree tells the consulates to build alliances with public and private institutions so the card is accepted.

Treat that as the issuing government’s description, not a promise by any US institution. Before relying on the TRC at a bank or DMV, ask that institution whether it accepts it. See opening a bank account with an ITIN and the state ID and driver license guide by state.

The cédula at US consulates

The Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil issues the cédula de ciudadanía; Colombian consulates take the application and deliver the document. On April 24, 2023 the Embassy of Colombia in the US announced that Colombians could process the cédula digital at 11 consulates: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark, Orlando, San Francisco and Houston. The Registraduría’s list of consulates with digital workstations (EIS) names the same 11 US offices.

Fees (Registraduría Resolución 1500 of February 11, 2026, in force since March 1, 2026)

Cédula procedureFee abroad
First-time cédulaFree — “la solicitud por primera vez no tiene costo, es gratuito” (Cancillería)
Renewal of an old-format cédula (one that is not the yellow cédula with holograms)Free — “Este servicio es gratuito” (Cancillería)
Duplicate of the digital (polycarbonate) cédulaUS$76.28
Duplicate of the yellow cédula with hologramsUS$67.55
Rectification of the yellow cédula with hologramsUS$67.55 in the Registraduría table (‘duplicado y rectificación’); the Cancillería cédula page shows USD $64.27 — confirm with your consulate

The New York consulate’s 2026 user guide lists the same amounts — US$76.28 for a duplicate and US$67.55 for a rectification — payable by credit card, debit card or money order. All figures read October 3, 2026.

How it works

  • At consulates with digital workstations, the Registraduría says the procedure produces the cédula in digital format (a physical card plus activation on your phone), and no photo is needed. Rectifications and renewals produce the yellow cédula with holograms.
  • The 2023 embassy announcement describes the steps: book with your consulate, give personal data, fingerprints, signature and photo, receive the contraseña by email, then return to the consulate to collect the physical card and activate it on your phone.
  • Processing: the Registraduría says identity documents can take about 1 to 3 months, depending on where you apply; the New York consulate’s guide says two months for the cédula. Delivery requires biometric authentication of the holder.

Requirements for each cédula procedure (first time, duplicate, rectification, renewal, online duplicate with free transfer to a consulate) are on the Colombia national ID (cédula) page.

Which one is which?

Tarjeta de Registro ConsularCédula de ciudadanía
Issued byThe consulate (Decreto 642 of 2014)The Registraduría, via the consulate
CostFreeFirst time free; duplicates US$76.28 (digital) or US$67.55 (yellow), 2026 tariff
Validity5 years, renewableNot stated in the sources used for this page
Where in the USAuthorized consulates (2018 list: 8 US offices)Digital format at 11 US consulates (2023 announcement)
Proof of US address neededYes, last 3 monthsNot on the cédula requirement lists

Official sources

Last verified: 2026-10-03. General procedural information for educational purposes. Consular fees, document requirements, and acceptance policies change. Verify directly with your Colombian consulate, the Registraduría, and the specific US institution accepting the document before relying on it. Not legal advice.