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Cédula de Extranjería: What to Do in Your First 15 Days

Raquel Mejía 5 min read Immigration & Legal

If your visa is valid for more than three months, the cédula de extranjería stops being optional fast. It becomes the ID many systems in Colombia expect, and you need to start the process within 15 calendar days of getting your visa or entering Colombia on that visa.

This guide reflects official sources reviewed on April 24, 2026. It is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules change, so verify current requirements with Migración Colombia or the Cancillería before you start.

Here is the process at a glance:

Five-step infographic showing visa approval, online FUT form submission, appointment booking, biometrics, and cédula pickup

Before you begin

  • Know whether you need it. Migración Colombia requires a cédula de extranjería for foreigners with visas valid longer than three months.
  • Do not wait on the deadline. Missing the 15-day window can trigger fines, even if delays were not your fault.
  • Set aside the 2026 fee. As of April 2026, the tariff is COP 294.000 under Resolución 0599 de 2026.
  • Gather your core documents. You need your valid passport, your Colombian visa, and a single PDF for the online form.
  • Keep FMP separate in your mind. The VA Foreign Medical Program does not require a cédula de extranjería for eligibility, but daily life in Colombia often does.

Step 1: Submit the FUT online

Start with Migración Colombia’s Formulario Único de Trámites (FUT).

When you fill it out:

  • Select Cédula de Extranjería
  • Choose the Medellín CFSM
  • Upload one PDF that includes your passport biographical page and your visa
  • Save the Código Único de Trámite or radicado number

That code matters. You will use it for the rest of the process.

Step 2: Book the appointment as soon as you have the radicado

Use Migración Colombia’s appointment portal as soon as you have the radicado. Medellín does not allow walk-ins for this process.

In practice, Medellín appointments can disappear very quickly. Research for this post found that new slots often open on Sundays around 5:00 PM and may be gone within minutes. If you cannot get a slot before your 15-day deadline, take screenshots of your booking attempts and keep them. That record can help show the delay was caused by the system, not by inaction on your part.

Step 3: Pay the 2026 fee

As of April 24, 2026, the cédula de extranjería fee is COP 294.000.

Migración Colombia accepts payment through:

  • PSE online
  • Debit or credit card at the office
  • Bank payment using the official receipt barcode

Keep the receipt. You may need it at the appointment and again if there is any follow-up problem.

Step 4: Go to the Medellín office with originals

The Medellín Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios is at:

Calle 19 #80A-40, Barrio Belén La Nubia, Medellín

Migración Colombia’s C3 contact center lists office hours as Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00 PM–5:00 PM, but posted hours can change. Call ahead if you can.

Bring:

  • Your original passport
  • Your visa or printed e-visa
  • Your FUT confirmation
  • Your payment receipt

At the appointment, staff take your photo, fingerprints, and digital signature. Research reviewed for this guide found the visit usually takes about 20–30 minutes once you are called.

Step 5: Track the card and pick it up

Migración Colombia says processing can take up to 10 business days after payment. Use the official cédula status checker before you make another trip.

Pick up the card at the same office. Bring your passport again.

Where the cédula matters most

The cédula de extranjería is not only an immigration document. It becomes your everyday ID inside Colombia.

Three places where it matters most:

  1. Employment. Colombian employers must ask for it when the law says you should have it.
  2. Banking. The Superintendencia Financiera says passports are valid ID for foreigners, but many banks in practice expect the cédula for full account services.
  3. Healthcare and insurance administration. SuperSalud says EPS enrollment can use a passport or a cédula de extranjería. Even so, many systems work more smoothly once your cédula number is active.

One more thing: there is no official digital cédula de extranjería yet as of April 2026. You still need the physical card.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Waiting until the second week. The 15-day clock moves faster than most people expect.
  • Uploading the wrong PDF. Make one clean file with the passport page and visa before you start the FUT.
  • Assuming your passport will work everywhere. It may work legally in some places, but many systems still push you toward the cédula.
  • Showing up without a booked appointment. Medellín does not reliably handle walk-ins for this process.
  • Mixing up VA rules with Colombian rules. FMP eligibility comes from the VA, not from Colombian ID paperwork.

When to get help

If you cannot get an appointment, use Migración Colombia’s C3 contact center and keep records of every attempt. If your case involves a visa change, a beneficiary visa, or a pensioner visa with overlapping health insurance questions, speak with a licensed Colombian immigration attorney. If an EPS refuses enrollment after you present valid documents, you can also escalate through the Superintendencia Nacional de Salud.

Sources