What U.S. Embassy in Colombia does

The U.S. Embassy in Colombia is the official diplomatic mission of the United States government in Colombia, established in 1822 and operated under the U.S. Department of State. Headquartered in Bogotá at Carrera 45 No. 24B-27 with a Consular Agency in Barranquilla, the embassy oversees 53 U.S. government agencies coordinating bilateral relations. Its leadership currently sits with Chargé d'Affaires John T. McNamara, who issued public statements as recently as July 9, 2025, and previously with Chargé D'Affaires Hugo Guevara (a.i.). Headcount is reported in the 1001-5000 range, and the mission operates as a government_state_entity owned by the federal government rather than a commercial enterprise.

The embassy delivers three primary service lines. First, consular services include U.S. passport issuance and renewal (with fees ranging from $30 for a passport card renewal to $165 for a first-time adult passport book), Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA), non-immigrant and immigrant visa processing, notarial services, and 24/7 emergency assistance for U.S. citizens. Second, educational and cultural exchange programs operate through a community-based distribution network including Bi-National Centers (hosting 32,500 English students per month), the global 600-center American Spaces network, EducationUSA advising centers, and named programs such as Fulbright, Youth Ambassadors, the Community College Initiative, the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) with 1,000+ fellows since 2015, the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) implemented through Sergio Arboleda University, and English Language Programs that have reached 10,000+ teachers and 45,000+ students since 2007. Third, trade facilitation operates through the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service and the U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service (which supports bilateral goods and services trade totaling an estimated $53.5 billion in 2022) alongside SelectUSA's investment promotion activities.

The business model is government-funded rather than commercial; service fees are statutorily set by the Department of State and collected in support of operations rather than as profit-generating revenue. Marketing channels include STEP enrollment alerts, ShareAmerica content, the Exchange Alumni community portal, official social media accounts, embassy.gov content, and press releases. Distribution runs through two in-person consular locations augmented by a global digital infrastructure and an ecosystem of partner universities, NGOs (Partners of the Americas, NAFSA), and autonomous cultural institutions. The mission is identified as an active operating entity with an explicit Travel Advisory Level 3 reflecting civil unrest and kidnapping risk in country.

Name

U.S. Embassy in Colombia

Legal name

U.S. Embassy in Colombia

Website

https://co.usembassy.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

1822

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The U.S. Embassy in Colombia is the official U.S. diplomatic mission in Bogotá, operating since 1822 under the Department of State to deliver consular services (passports, visas, CRBA, emergency assistance), educational exchange programs (Fulbright, YLAI, AWE), and trade facilitation supporting $53.5 billion in bilateral trade.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Diplomatic and Consular Services

NAICS

National Security and International Affairs (928), International Affairs (928120), International Affairs (92812), National Security and International Affairs (9281)

SIC

Foreign Governments (8888), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Diplomatic Missions & Embassies (Bilateral Relations) (BPAIAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Diplomacy, Cultural Diplomacy & Strategic Communications (BPAIAIAE), Consular Services & Citizen Assistance (BPAIAIAB), Economic & Trade Diplomacy (Commercial, Investment, Sanctions Policy) (BPAIAIAF), Visa, Immigration Liaison & Travel Document Policy (Foreign Affairs) (BPAIAIAL), Bilateral Development & Aid Agencies (HLAJAKAB)

Keywords

• Consular services
• Visa processing
• Diplomatic mission
• Educational exchange
• Trade facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Bogotá

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Consular Fee Services: Government services funded through consular fees including passport applications ($65-$195 USD), visa fees, and notarials. These are statutory fees mandated by the Department of State for processing official documents and services.
2. Trade Promotion Services: Facilitation of bilateral trade relations between U.S. and Colombian businesses through U.S. Foreign Commercial Service and U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service offices, supporting export opportunities and investment climate development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The U.S. Embassy in Colombia operates as an official diplomatic mission of the United States government, delivering consular services to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals in Colombia. Core activities include visa adjudication, passport and citizenship services, emergency assistance, educational and cultural exchange programs, and bilateral trade and diplomatic engagement.

Product overview

The U.S. Embassy in Colombia provides a comprehensive suite of consular services organized as distinct operational units: Consular Services (passports, visas, CRBA, notarial services, emergency assistance), Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs (Fulbright, Youth Ambassadors, CCI, YLAI, AWE, English Language Programs, EducationUSA, BridgeUSA), and Commercial Services (U.S. Commercial Service, Foreign Agricultural Service, SelectUSA). These services are delivered through the Embassy in Bogotá and the Consular Agency in Barranquilla, targeting American citizens in Colombia, Colombian citizens seeking U.S. travel/immigration, students, entrepreneurs, and businesses seeking trade opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Visa Services
• Passport and Citizenship Services
• Emergency Assistance for U.S. Citizens
• Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Bilateral trade totaling $53.5 billion in 2022
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EducationUSAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducationUSA is the official U.S. higher education advising network with local centers worldwide. The embassy provides access to EducationUSA resources and refers prospective international students to these centers for guidance on studying in the United States.
• 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration between U.S. Department of State, Partners of the Americas, and NAFSA: Association of International Educators. The Innovation Fund awards grants to higher education institutions that partner together to foster education cooperation and provide students with exchange opportunities. Launched May 2011 as the White House's premiere education initiative for the Western Hemisphere.
• Partners of the AmericascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization that is a key implementing partner in the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund, working with the U.S. Department of State to increase educational mobility in the Western Hemisphere.
• NAFSA: Association of International EducatorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of International Educators collaborating on the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund to foster education cooperation across the Americas.
• Sergio Arboleda UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn Colombia, AWE (Academy for Women Entrepreneurs) is implemented by the Sergio Arboleda University Entrepreneurship Center. The program includes access to the DreamBuilder online platform, directed lessons in administration, and connections to networks of entrepreneurs and mentors.
• U.S. Foreign Commercial ServicecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPart of the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration offering companies expertise in international trade. Provides assistance through more than 100 U.S. offices and 70 international offices including Colombia. Contact: [email protected]
• U.S. Foreign Agricultural ServicecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLinks U.S. agriculture to the world to enhance export opportunities and global food security. Has a global network of 98 offices covering 177 countries staffed by agricultural attachés. Contact: [email protected]
• SelectUSAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFacilitates job-creating business investment into the United States. Since inception, SelectUSA has facilitated more than $78 billion in investment, creating/retaining over 95,000 U.S. jobs. Works with U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service to facilitate investment.
• Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYLAI is a U.S. Department of State program that empowers entrepreneurs and innovative civil society leaders. Since 2015, more than 1,000 YLAI Fellows from Canada, Latin America, and Caribbean have expanded their leadership through fellowships at businesses in the United States. Implemented in partnership with businesses and organizations across the U.S.
• Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWE is an initiative funded by the U.S. government to support women entrepreneurs globally. In Colombia, implemented by Sergio Arboleda University. The program supports women's economic opportunities and directly supports the U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality.
• Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated in 1985 by Secretary of State George P. Shultz as a joint venture between the Department of State and U.S. private sector. Objectives include establishing liaison between security officials, providing information on overseas security environment, and recommending methods to mitigate risks to American private sector interests worldwide.
• American SpacescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of 600 open-access cultural centers overseen by the Office of American Spaces at the U.S. Department of State's Educational and Cultural Affairs bureau. Centers include American Corners, Binational Centers, and American Centers providing resources about the United States.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• TLScontact: Visa service outsourcing company that partners with governments to handle application intake and logistics. Adjacent service provider operating in a similar consular-services value chain as the embassy, though commercial rather than governmental.
• VFS Global: Private outsourcing vendor that operates visa application centers on behalf of multiple governments, including visa services for the U.S. in select markets. Adjacent/ecosystem participant that supports consular service delivery infrastructure similar to what the embassy manages directly.

Direct peers

• U.S. Embassy in Mexico: U.S. diplomatic mission in Mexico with similarly large scale of consular, trade, and exchange activity. Comparable in service mix, regulatory authority over visa/passport issuance, and integration with U.S. commercial and agricultural service offices.
• U.S. Consulate General in Ciudad Juárez: A large U.S. consular post providing passport, visa, and American Citizen Services analogous to the Barranquilla Consular Agency. Comparable in service mix and operational structure, though at a different scale.
• U.S. Embassy in Argentina: U.S. embassy in another major South American economy, providing identical consular, educational exchange, and trade promotion services. Comparable in mandate and program structure to the Colombia embassy.
• Embassy of Colombia in the United States: The mirror Colombian diplomatic mission in the U.S., performing reciprocal consular, trade, and cultural services for Colombian citizens in the U.S. and U.S.-Colombia relations. Direct counterpart in scope and bilateral function.
• U.S. Embassy in Brazil: Another large U.S. diplomatic mission in South America offering the same full suite of consular, trade, and educational exchange services. Most directly comparable in mandate, agency footprint, and program portfolio to the Colombia embassy.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Department of State: The parent U.S. government agency that funds, directs, and sets policy for all U.S. embassies worldwide. Comparable as the umbrella organization governing the Colombia embassy's operations, budget, and strategic priorities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/usdos.colombia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/usembassybogota
• Instagraminstagram.com/exchangeourworld
• Xx.com/USEmbassyBogota

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about U.S. Embassy in Colombia