Quick answer
Colombians are used to a certificado de existencia y representación legal, which shows both that a company exists and who represents it. One Florida apostille is all the U.S. side needs — $220, 5–7 business days.
- Issued by
- The Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz).
- Florida state fee
- $10 — included in $220
- Route
- Apostille only — Hague member since 2001
- Online notarization
- Not applicable — needs a certified copy
- Consulate serving Florida
- Consulate General of Colombia in Miami
- Translation
- Colombia accepts translations made in Florida when they're certified by the translator, notarized by a different notary and apostilled, which matches our general rule…
How a Florida certificate of status is used in Colombia
Colombians are used to a certificado de existencia y representación legal, which shows both that a company exists and who represents it. Florida's certificate of status from the Division of Corporations only does the first half. That surprises Colombian banks, notarías and the Cámara de Comercio, so send it with a document naming the authorized signer, such as a notarized resolution. Banks often want it recently issued. Order it from Sunbiz shortly before shipping, and apostille and translate the whole set together.
Getting a certificate of status Florida will apostille
The original certificate of status, or a new certificate requested together with the apostille; never a photocopy or scan. It can only show the company as active if the annual report is filed and the entity hasn't been dissolved, and it speaks only for the date it was issued.
Order it from the Division online or by mail (listed at $8.75 for corporations, $5 for LLCs and $8.75 for partnerships by mail), or let us request a fresh certificate with the apostille using the two separate payments the state requires. The Division's fee is not included in our $220.
State fee for this document: $10 — included in our price. Full details on the certificate of status apostille page.
Who receives it in Colombia — and translation
Florida documents go to the Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil and notarías (registro civil), the Cancillería (visas, apostille rules, minor-travel guidance), Migración Colombia (departures of minors), the Ministerio de Educación Nacional (convalidación), the Corte Suprema de Justicia (exequátur of foreign judgments) and the ICBF (adoptions). The Consulate General of Colombia in Miami handles registrations and authentications for Florida residents.
Colombia accepts translations made in Florida when they're certified by the translator, notarized by a different notary and apostilled, which matches our general rule; that translation is a separate document on your order. Alternatively, a Colombian official translator in Colombia can translate after the apostille, and that translation needs no apostille. The Cancillería recommends apostilling the original before translating, and the Ministry of Education doesn't require apostilled translations for convalidación.
For visas, the Cancillería requires documents other than passports to be issued no more than three months before the application. Notarías and other entities set their own limits, and many also want recent civil-status documents.
Consular office serving Florida: Consulate General of Colombia in Miami.
Four steps, one week
Order online
Pick the document and destination country on the order form and pay by card. After we review your documents, FedEx emails you a prepaid label.
Send your document
Drop the envelope at any FedEx location.
We file in person
We review it, then walk it to the Florida Department of State in Tallahassee for the apostille.
Returned to you
Back in 5–7 business days — anywhere in the U.S., or abroad for a flat $100.
Why certificate of statuss get rejected
- Photocopy or scan of the certificate
- Entity not active because the annual report wasn't filed
- Certificate older than the foreign institution's age limit
- Letter from an accountant or registered agent instead of the Division's certificate
What it costs for Colombia
$220 per document, $380 for two and $160 each for three or more — the state fee, request form, in-person filing in Tallahassee and FedEx shipping inside the U.S. are included. Shipping the finished apostille to Colombia is a flat $100 per order.
Not included: whatever the issuing office charges for the certified copy or certificate, and notarization (online notarization is $40 for the first document — $10 notarization fee + $30 technology platform fee — and $20 for each additional one).