Official Size: 4cm 5cm (40 x 50mm)
Meets Cancilleria requirements
Last updated: July 2026 | By Prabir Sarkar
Quick answer
Use this page when you need a Colombian document photo with the right crop, clean background, and export format before submitting or printing.
Last reviewed: July 2026. Check your appointment or embassy checklist if your application type has a special upload rule.
Colombia uses a 4 x 5cm (40 x 50mm) photo size for passports and ID cards, slightly larger than the international 35 x 45mm standard. Our tool ensures exact specifications for Cancilleria approval.
Practical guidance
Colombia uses a 4 x 5 cm passport-photo format, so a default 35 x 45 mm crop can look close but still be wrong at the counter. Use the Colombia preset, keep the head centered, and leave enough space around the hair and shoulders so the photo does not look zoomed in.
For cedula or passport paperwork, print quality matters. A screenshot or compressed download may look acceptable on a phone but lose detail on paper. Use the HD export or print-ready sheet when you need a clean copy for a photo shop or application appointment.
Upload your photo and get Cancilleria-compliant results in 60 seconds. One standard daily download available; upgrade for HD and print-ready files.
Create Photo NowIf you've ever dealt with passport bureaucracy in other Latin American countries, Colombia might pleasantly surprise you. The Cancilleria (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) has streamlined the process to the point where you can sometimes walk out with a passport the same day you apply. The catch? Your photo has to be perfect, because there's no "we'll fix it later" step - the Cancilleria scans it right there at the counter.
Colombian passports require a 3 x 4cm (30 x 40mm) photo, which is smaller than the international standard of 35 x 45mm. The background must be white, and the expression needs to be completely neutral - no teeth showing, no raised eyebrows, nothing. The Cancilleria specifically warns against "expresiones forzadas" (forced expressions) on their website.
The process starts online at cancilleria.gov.co, where you schedule a cita (appointment). Then you show up in person at:
A Colombian passport costs around COP $178,000 (roughly $45 USD) domestically. The beauty of the system is the speed - most people receive their passport within 1-3 working days after their appointment. Overseas applications through consulates cost about $80-120 USD and take 2-4 weeks. There's no formal "express" track; the standard processing is already fast by global standards.