Consular Assistance

In addition to Australia’s travel advice on Smartraveller and COVID-19 advice from Australia’s Department of Health, please find information from the local authorities here.

Colombia is becoming an increasingly popular destination for surrogacy agreements. If you plan to take part in commercial surrogacy arrangements, be aware of all legal and other risks involved.

Although it is not illegal, surrogacy is not regulated by Colombian law. We suggest you get independent legal advice.

Research prospective clinics and agencies to ensure that you’re dealing with a reputable organisation. The Australian Embassy can’t provide legal advice about surrogacy or information on clinics.

You may need to spend a significant amount of time in Colombia before and after the birth. The processes required to obtain Australian citizenship and an Australian passport may take up to 9 months. You need to be prepared to stay in Colombia during this time.

Please bear in mind that commercial surrogacy is a crime in all Australian states and territories, except the Northern Territory. In the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Queensland it’s illegal for residents to enter into international commercial surrogacy arrangements.

The Smartraveller website has important general information on international surrogacy.

For information on Australian citizenship or Australian visa requirements for children born overseas, see International Surrogacy Arrangements on the website of the Department of Home Affairs.

Once the child has acquired the citizenship, you may a apply for a passport at the Australian Embassy in Bogota. The passport application lodgement process is the same with any child application, except that in addition to those requirements you also need to provide a B4 – Child born through surrogacy (PDF 190.88 KB) and:

Unless the child has held an Australian passport in the past, you also have to present documentary evidence of the surrogacy, such as a surrogacy agreement or a foreign court order. Any foreign-language documents need to be translated in full by an approved translation service.

More information on passports can be found at the APO website.

Stay smart while you’re travelling. Be informed. Be prepared. Visit smartraveller.gov.au for travel advice and tips and to register your travel plans.

Smartraveller has the latest, authoritative travel advice so you can be informed and prepared about overseas travel. Subscribe to receive travel advice updates – by simply supplying your name and email address – straight to your inbox.

You can now also subscribe to the new SMS service – by supplying your mobile number – to receive critical alerts in the event of a crisis overseas.

In a crisis, Smartraveller will activate a crisis page on its website. It will make it easier for you or someone you know to contact the Australian Government if you need help. It will supplement the consular emergency hotline.

Visit www.smartraveller.gov.au to subscribe or connect with Smartraveller on Facebook and Twitter.

Under the Australian Privacy Act, the Australian Embassy cannot obtain a birth, marriage or death certificate from Australia on your behalf.

If you wish to obtain a copy of your Australian birth, marriage or death certificate you may apply through official web site of the relevant State or Territory Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

The gateway to information about Australian benefits, payments and services.

Handy information for Australians or residents returning from the holiday or moving back to Australia.

Taking cats and dogs to Australia

For general information on Australian elections, enrolment and voting while overseas, visit the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website, or contact the AEC by calling +61 2 6160 2600 or emailing [email protected]. You can also follow the AEC’s Twitter account.