--- title: "Cédula de Extranjería: What to Do in Your First 15 Days" description: "Cédula de extranjería guide for Medellín veterans: 15-day deadline, 2026 cost, documents, office address, and official links." date: "2026-04-24" author: "Raquel Mejía" category: "immigration-legal" url: "https://raquelmejia.com/en/blog/cedula-extranjeria-first-15-days" lang: "en" alternate: "https://raquelmejia.com/es/blog/cedula-de-extranjeria-primeros-15-dias.md" --- 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](../../../assets/images/blog/cedula-extranjeria-first-15-days/cedula-process-infographic.webp) ## 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)](https://apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/registro/public/formularioRegistro.jsf). 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](https://apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/citas/) 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](https://apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/aplicacioncedulas/consulta) 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 - [Migración Colombia: Cédula de extranjería](https://www.migracioncolombia.gov.co/cedula-de-extranjeria) — main official page for the document - [Migración Colombia: Requisitos cédula de extranjería](https://www.migracioncolombia.gov.co/cedula-de-extranjeria/requisitos-cedula-de-extranjeria) — official requirements overview - [Migración Colombia: FUT form](https://apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/registro/public/formularioRegistro.jsf) — start the application - [Migración Colombia: Appointment portal](https://apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/citas/) — schedule biometrics - [Migración Colombia: Cédula status check](https://apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/aplicacioncedulas/consulta) — check whether the card is ready - [Migración Colombia C3](https://www.migracioncolombiac3.gov.co/) — contact center for questions and problems - [Cancillería: Resolución 5477 de 2022](https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/normograma/compilacion/docs/resolucion_minrelaciones_5477_2022.htm) — visa rules tied to the cédula requirement - [Superintendencia Nacional de Salud, Concepto 1140171 de 2024](https://normograma.supersalud.gov.co/compilacion/docs/concepto_supersalud_1140171_2024.htm) — health system enrollment IDs for foreigners