COLOMBIA · PASSPORTS
Published Wednesday, 28 October, 5:16 p.m. ET · Source: Colombian Foreign Ministry, Administrative Tribunal of Cundinamarca, Colombian Finance Ministry
Key Facts
- —Who Colombia's Foreign Ministry and its Fondo Rotatorio signed with Unión Temporal Documentos de Viaje 2027, led by Thomas Greg & Sons with Thales DIS Colombia.
- —What An urgent-need contract worth up to US$76.3 million (COP 240,352,447,851) covers passport booklet production, personalization, storage, custody, distribution, and visa label printing.
- —Where The announcement was made at Casa de Nariño in Bogotá, Colombia, on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
- —When The contract runs until December 17, 2027, with an implementation period of up to 20 business days before full service begins.
Emergency Contract Signed
Colombia's Foreign Ministry signed an urgent-need contract with Unión Temporal Documentos de Viaje 2027 on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, to guarantee passport issuance until December 17, 2027. Foreign Minister Omar Bula announced the agreement from Casa de Nariño in Bogotá, describing it as a temporary solution.
The contract has a maximum value of US$76.3 million (COP 240,352,447,851), with approximately COP 32.025 billion (US$10.2 million) allocated for the remaining two months of 2026 and COP 208.327 billion (US$66.2 million) for 2027. The consortium includes Thomas Greg & Sons, which handled Colombian passport production for nearly two decades before the previous administration changed the model, and Thales DIS Colombia S.A.
The arrangement covers production, personalization, storage, custody, distribution, and delivery of Colombian passport booklets, as well as printing and delivery of machine-readable Colombian visa labels. The service will continue in Colombia and through Colombian consulates abroad.
Why The Change Happened
The Administrative Tribunal of Cundinamarca provisionally suspended on September 2, 2026, the two agreements that enabled the previous passport model. That model, promoted under former President Gustavo Petro, involved Portugal's Casa da Moeda producing booklets with support from French state-owned IN Groupe, while Colombia's National Printing Office handled personalization, custody, and delivery.
The Foreign Ministry issued Resolution 12973 on September 17, 2026, declaring a state of manifest urgency to protect continuity of passport issuance. Officials said the existing inventory of passport booklets was expected to run out in November 2026.
The ministry also noted that introducing a new passport design would require foreign border authorities to verify three Colombian document versions. The government requested a quotation from Thomas Greg & Sons on September 22, and the consortium submitted its proposal on October 14, which was approved.
What It Means For Travelers
Passport fees paid by citizens will not increase under the new contract. The reported price of an ordinary passport remains COP 195,600 (US$62), and an executive passport costs COP 335,400 (US$107).
The contract uses fixed unit prices with no inflation or exchange-rate adjustment, according to the reported terms. Applications continue through Foreign Ministry offices, authorized departmental offices, and Colombian consulates abroad.
Reported delivery times are 24 to 48 working hours in principal domestic offices and eight working days at consulates, subject to exceptional transport or mobility conditions. The government said issuance would continue normally, securely, and without interruption both in Colombia and abroad.
Political Context
The decision reverses the previous administration's policy under former President Gustavo Petro, whose government had removed Thomas Greg from the operating model. Under President Abelardo de la Espriella, the Foreign Ministry has restored Thomas Greg to the production chain through an emergency contract.
The government said the Procuraduría General de la Nación and Contraloría General de la República would accompany the preparation of a new public tender. The available reports do not identify a formal public reaction from the tribunal, oversight bodies, Thomas Greg, Portugal's mint, IN Groupe, or the opposition as of October 28.
What It Means for US Readers
Colombian citizens in the United States should see no change in passport application procedures or fees at consulates. The Foreign Ministry said service will continue normally at consular offices abroad, with reported delivery times of eight working days subject to exceptional conditions.
The contract ceiling of COP 240,352,447,851 is equivalent to approximately US$76.3 million at the October 28, 2026 TRM of COP 3,148.02 per US$1, though the final amount paid may be lower. US travelers to Colombia are not directly affected, as the arrangement concerns Colombian passport issuance rather than visa or entry requirements for Americans.
What Is Not Known
The court case over the previous passport model remains unresolved. The tribunal's provisional suspension concerns the prior agreements, but no final judgment on their legality has been reported.
The final long-term operator is unknown. The government says it will prepare a new ordinary public tender, but no final tender winner or complete timetable has been announced.
The exact corporate composition requires clarification. Reports consistently identify Thomas Greg & Sons and Thales DIS Colombia, but some describe the consortium as having three companies without naming the third participant in all accounts.
The exact duration is described inconsistently. Reports variously call it a 13-month arrangement, a 15-month contract, or a service ending on December 17, 2027, after up to 20 business days of implementation.
The exact signing and announcement time is unavailable. Reports establish the date and Bogotá location but not the precise clock time.
The contract's final expenditure is not yet known. COP 240,352,447,851 is a maximum ceiling, not necessarily the amount ultimately paid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will passport fees increase for Colombians?
No. The government said passport fees paid by citizens will not increase under the new contract. An ordinary passport remains COP 195,600 (US$62) and an executive passport COP 335,400 (US$107).
Can Colombians in the US still apply for passports at consulates?
Yes. The Foreign Ministry said service will continue normally at Colombian consulates abroad. Reported delivery times at consulates are eight working days, subject to exceptional transport or mobility conditions.
Is Thomas Greg & Sons the permanent passport operator again?
No. The government described the contract as a temporary solution lasting until December 17, 2027. A new ordinary public tender is planned, but no final winner or complete timetable has been announced.
Sources: Colombian Foreign Ministry, Administrative Tribunal of Cundinamarca, Colombian Finance Ministry.
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This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief