# Colombian passport contract legal disputes

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/colombian-passport-contract-legal-disputes
> Updated: 2026-09-10T14:43:09.000Z. Sources: 14. Developments: 3.

Legal challenges have emerged regarding a contract for the production of new Colombian passports involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Imprenta Nacional, and the Casa da Moeda de Portugal. Investigations by the Inspector General’s Office identified serious irregularities, including a lack of financial planning and the incorrect classification of the Portuguese entity as a foreign public entity rather than a private company. Officials also noted that the Imprenta Nacional lacked the technical capacity to manage the contract, which was estimated to cost 1.3 trillion pesos.

The Administrative Tribunal of Cundinamarca has since ordered the provisional suspension of key agreements related to the new issuance model, specifically Convenio Interadministrativo Específico No. 001 of 2025 and CI-005 of 2026. This judicial measure follows a popular action citing concerns over “improvised planning” regarding the custody, distribution, and personalization of passports, as well as unfulfilled schedules and a lack of verifiable data regarding technological infrastructure and personnel. The action also questions the long-term financial planning of agreements that commit public resources through 2036 without explicit approval from the Superior Council of Fiscal Policy (Confis).

To prevent service interruptions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested judicial authorization to utilize an existing inventory of 600,000 passport booklets. Officials, including Foreign Minister Omar Bula and Interior Minister Rodrigo Lara, estimate this reserve should guarantee operational coverage for at least four months, providing a three-month transition period. Meanwhile, the National Printing Office has ordered the Portuguese firm to temporarily halt shipments.

## Claims

- The Colombian Government ensured that passport issuance will not be interrupted (corroborated by 5 sources)
- The Tribunal Administrativo de Cundinamarca ordered the provisional suspension of two key agreements (Convenio Interadministrativo Específico No. 001 of 2025 and CI-005 of 2026) related to Colombia's' (corroborated by 4 sources)
- The Tribunal Administrativo de Cundinamarca gave a deadline of 20 business days for entities to submit a detailed report (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Canciller Omar Bula stated there is an inventory of approximately 600,000 passports (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The Tribunal Administrativo de Cundinamarca noted unfulfilled schedules and contradictory institutional reports (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The Tribunal Administrativo de Cundinamarca clarified that the agreement with Portugal's Casa da Moeda was not suspended (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-10: Colombia seeks judicial approval to use 600,000 passport booklets

Colombia's Foreign Ministry is seeking judicial permission to use 600,000 existing passport booklets following a court suspension of new passport model agreements due to fiscal planning concerns.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombia-seeks-judicial-approval-to-use-600000-passport-booklets

### 2026-09-03: Colombia court suspends key contracts in new passport model

A Colombian court has provisionally suspended two contracts related to the new passport production model due to planning and transparency concerns, though officials say issuance will continue uninterrupted.

10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombian-tribunal-suspends-new-passport-issuance-agreements

### 2026-08-31: Colombian passport contract faces suspension over legal irregularities

The Colombian Inspector General's Office has sought to suspend a 1.3 trillion peso passport production contract due to legal irregularities and lack of financial planning.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombian-passport-contract-faces-suspension-over-legal-irregularities

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Cite as: Colombian passport contract legal disputes. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/colombian-passport-contract-legal-disputes