The controversy over the requirements to be an ambassador or consul in Colombia reignited after the Government of Gustavo Petro put up for consideration a draft decree that dismantles the requirements for academic training, professional experience and technical knowledge to access these high diplomatic positions.
The proposal establishes that only Colombian nationality by birth and a minimum age of 25 years will be required, a modification that caused strong rejection among foreign service organizations.
The Union of Diplomatic and Consular Career Officials (Unidiplo) and the Diplomatic and Consular Association of Colombia (Asodiplo) expressed their “deep dismay and strong rejection” in front of the document that would modify paragraph 2 of article 2.2.2.4.10 of Decree 1083 of 2015. According to these entities, the elimination of minimum requirements not only affects the historical professionalization of the foreign service, but also opens the door to an increase in political appointments in the last months of the government.
Both organizations indicated that this change is in addition to the recent Resolution 10142 of 2025, which eliminated the requirement for knowledge of a second language for non-career ambassadors.
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For diplomats, these decisions constitute a “serious institutional setback” that affects the international representation of the country and puts at risk the rights of millions of Colombians abroad who depend on the management of consulates and diplomatic missions.
The associations warned that central consuls general handle highly sensitive matters, such as repatriations, legal assistance, immigration procedures, consular protection and notarial services, functions that require specialized technical knowledge. For this reason, they warned that the eventual suppression of suitability criteria could result in serious failures in serving the Colombian community.
In response, Unidiplo and Asodiplo announced that they will initiate legal actions to defend the diplomatic career, reiterating their call to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to strengthen, and not weaken, the institutionality of the foreign service.
From Cali, President Petro defended the measure, recalling that the direction of foreign relations is a constitutional power of the head of state. He even pointed out that “Any son of a worker can be an ambassador”insisting that his government seeks to democratize access to these positions traditionally held by elites.
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