Colombian Parents? The Ultimate Guide to Claiming Your Citizenship (Even if They Renounced or Passed Away)
2026-02-02
Last Updated: February 10, 2026
By Camila Ocampo Expert Immigration Attorney | Founder of Colombian Passport
I hear this story every week in my office:
"Camila, I was born in Miami (or Queens, or Madrid). My dad was Colombian, but he became a U.S. citizen in the 80s and had to renounce his Colombian citizenship. He already passed away and never registered me. Did I lose my right to be Colombian? Can I no longer get the passport?"
If you feel a knot in your throat reading this, take a deep breath. I have good news for you: Blood has no expiration date.
In Colombian law, Ius Sanguinis (Right of Blood) rules. Article 96 of our Constitution is clear and generous: if Colombian blood runs through your veins (from a father or mother), Colombia recognizes you as one of its own. It doesn't matter if you are 5, 30, or 60 years old.
But, like everything in law, the "devil is in the details." Today, I am going to translate those details into simple English so you know exactly how to claim your second nationality, even in cases that seem impossible.
1. The Golden Rule: Who has the right?
You don't need to have stepped foot in Colombia to be Colombian. According to the Constitution and Law 43 of 1993, you are also Colombian by birth if you were born abroad and:
Your father OR mother was Colombian (by birth or adoption).
The crucial step: You register at a Colombian Consulate or at a Notary in Colombia.
Until you do step 2, you are Colombian "potentially," but not before the law. The process that transforms your blood into citizenship is called Registration in the Civil Birth Registry (Inscripción en el Registro Civil de Nacimiento).
2. The 3 Most Common Scenarios (and how we solve them)
Not all cases are the same. I have classified the situations I see most in my office so you can identify yours.
Scenario A: The Easy Path (Parents with ID and no renunciation of Colombian nationality)
Your parents are alive, have their valid Citizenship ID (Cédula) or passport, did not renounce their Colombian nationality, and you have your U.S. Birth Certificate (or from the country where you were born).
Difficulty Level: Low.
Your Task: You need to "Apostille" your original birth certificate and have it officially translated into Spanish. Then, schedule an appointment at the Consulate.
Heads up: The Consulate will not register you if the certificate is not apostilled. If you don't know how to do this in the U.S., my Local Concierge team can take charge of getting the apostille for you.
Scenario B: The Ghost of Renunciation
"My dad renounced his Colombian nationality to become a U.S. citizen before I was born." This is the number one fear. Before the Constitution of 1991, Colombia did not allow dual nationality. Many had to formally renounce.
The Reality: If your father renounced before your birth, technically he broke the chain of nationality.
The Solution, if there is good luck: Some renunciations of Colombian nationality were not recorded in the Civil Birth Registry. Therefore, the first thing you must do is verify whether or not this renunciation was registered in your Colombian parent's Civil Birth Registry. If it was not registered, excellent news: you can start the process of obtaining his or her citizenship ID (cédula) and subsequently, you will be able to carry out your own Colombian nationality process.
The Strategic Solution, if there is no good luck: Recently, Colombian law included a solution for those Colombians who want to recover their nationality. According to Article 44 of Law 2332 of 2023, a motivation letter stating that your parent wants to recover their nationality is required. Additionally, it must include a photocopy of their ID (Cédula) or their Civil Birth Registry. Furthermore, it must include a copy of the act of renunciation of Colombian nationality (if you don't have it, you can request it at the Colombian consulate where the renunciation was requested). Finally, it must include a 4x5 cm white background photo (the typical ID photo—don't take it with your cell phone!).
Scenario C: Deceased Parents without Registering You
"My mom was Colombian, never renounced, but she passed away and never registered me. I don't have her physical ID." Many people believe the road ends here. False.
The Legal "Secret": If your mother was Colombian at the moment of your birth, the right is already yours. You don't need her to be physically present to sign.
How we do it: We request a copy of her Civil Birth Registry from the Registrar's Office (Registraduría) in Colombia (we do that genealogical search for you) and use that document to prove your filiation. You register yourself by presenting the death certificate and her civil registry.
3. The Grandparent Myth
"My grandparents were Colombian, but my dad was born in Venezuela/USA and never registered. Can I skip my dad and claim nationality through my grandparents?"
Short Answer: Not directly.
Expert Answer: We must build the bridge. You cannot skip a generation, but we can do a "Late Registration" (Inscripción Extemporánea) for your father first, and once your father is recognized as Colombian, you automatically acquire the right to register yourself as Colombian. It is a two-step process, but totally viable.
4. Why do it now?
Beyond the pride of having the passport with the condor, nationality opens financial doors for you:
Inheritance: Facilitates succession processes for family properties.
Indefinite Stay: Forget about counting the 90 tourist days. You can live in Medellín, Cartagena, or the Coffee Axis as long as you want.
Tool: Do you qualify for Nationality?
Immigration law can be confusing. That’s why I have created this small interactive tool. Answer 3 questions and I will tell you what your exact legal situation is and what step you must take.questions, and I’ll tell you your exact legal situation and the next step you should take.
Feeling Overwhelmed by Paperwork?
If reading about apostilles, official translations, and searches in the National Registry gives you a headache, let us handle it.
At Colombian Passport, we are not just lawyers; we are your bridge to Colombia. We offer a Roots Search & Registration Support service:
We search for your parents' or grandparents' civil records in any notary in Colombia.
We manage the apostilles for your documents abroad.
We prepare the entire file so you only have to show up and sign at the Consulate.
Ready to claim your heritage? Schedule a Diagnostic Consultation Here