Colombian Court Suspends Agreements for Passport Production, but Delivery Continues

Two agreements to develop the Colombian passport model, signed during the Petro government, were temporarily suspended by Colombia's Administrative Court in Cundinamarca. However, the court emphasized that appointments, application receipt and passport delivery will continue without disruption. The suspended agreements, number 001 of 2025 and CI-005 of 2026, were meant to coordinate operations between the Colombian National Printing Office and the Portuguese public company Casa da Moeda.

The court's preventive, temporary and reversible order is not a final ruling on the agreements' legality or validity, but rather a measure to ensure the uninterrupted provision of the service. Citizens are free to attend their appointments, submit required paperwork and receive their passports. The court also clarified that it does not permit office closures or general cancellation of procedures.

Foreign Minister Omar Bula reassured the public that passport production remains uninterrupted and urged Colombians to remain calm. He also advised citizens abroad not to rush to consulates in fear of service interruptions. The court ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, its Revolving Fund, the National Printing Office and other relevant entities to promptly implement measures to maintain operations during the suspension, which could include administrative, budgetary, contractual, operational, technological and logistical steps.

Within 20 business days, the involved entities must submit a comprehensive report detailing their current implementation status of the new passport issuance model. This report must outline activities performed during the 2025 agreement development, list implemented phases, committed actions and updated schedules for pending system stages.