The following information was provided by an official at the Embassy of Colombia in Ottawa on 16 May 1995.

Colombian authorities would recognize as a Colombian citizen a person who produces at least a Colombian birth certificate, preferably with his/her Colombian identity card (cedula). An old Colombian passport could also be used as proof of having held Colombian citizenship. Should the person be unable to produce either one of these documents, he/she will have to obtain under his/her own initiative a birth certificate from the registry office in the city/town of his/her birth in Colombia.

Colombia has recognized dual citizenship since 1991 and as of that year Colombians can acquire a foreign citizenship without losing their Colombian citizenship. Persons who may have lost their Colombian citizenship for having acquired a foreign citizenship before 1991 can file an a application to reclaim their lost Colombian citizenship at a Colombian consulate or embassy in their country of residence.

For further information on this topic, please consult Response to Information Request COL17066.E of 12 April 1995 available at your Regional Documentation Centre. Please note that a copy of the Citizenship Act of Colombia and related articles are available in Spanish at the DIRB and can be made available on request.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Embassy of Colombia, Ottawa. 16 May 1995. Telephone interview with official.