Colombia: Whether a Colombian who has not finished high school and is outside Colombia can finish high school upon returning to his country and thus avoid a year of combat duty that he would have to serve as a non-graduate conscript

The information that follows was provided by a consular official at the Embassy of Colombia in Ottawa, during telephone interviews on 1 and 10 December 2003. This adds to the information provided in COL41616.E of 24 June 2003, COL40372.E of 5 November 2002.

A Colombian abroad who has not finished high school and has a valid military service card can return to Colombia and resume his studies there, without having to perform military service upon arrival.

Normally, a temporary military card is first issued at age 17, and renewed or replaced at age 18, when the bearer's eligibility for conscription is determined by recruitment authorities (see COL42258.E of 15 December 2003). A person can be deemed eligibile for conscription by recruitment authorities only while in Colombia when his military card is renewed. If the young man has had his military service card issued while abroad, or was issued a card in Colombia but travelled abroad before undergoing screening for conscription eligibility, he would have to renew the card every year until his eligibility screening takes place, or until he establishes grounds for permanent exemption from military service.

This means that Colombian males outside Colombia can register for military service and receive from consular authorities a temporary military service card renewable on a yearly basis; the temporary military service card can be issued to a Colombian abroad regardless of his status in that country (e.g., resident or non-resident). However, a permanent military service card can be issued abroad only to those who are permanent residents of that country and married, 30 years of age or older, or otherwise permanently exempt from military service.

Upon his return to Colombia, the person bearing a temporary military service card is expected to approach a recruitment centre when the card's temporary validity period expires. The person is then screened for conscription eligibility and deemed to be either exempt from service or eligible for conscription. If the person is eligible for conscription but studying, he may obtain a postponement of his enlistment while his studies continue. Some persons manage to postpone – due to travel, studies or other reasons – their conscription eligibility screening or their inclusion in a draw for conscripts (see COL42258.E) until they marry or reach 30 years of age, either of which render them permanently exempt from military service.

Persons who have not completed high school and are called to serve must perform 18 months of service; high school graduates called for service must serve for 12 months. The place and type of assignment each would get, such as deployment in areas that see frequent combat, depend on the needs and circumstances of the police or military force in which they serve.

Please refer to COL42258.E for additional information on military service eligibility, obligations and exemptions.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Embassy of Colombia, Ottawa. 10 December 2003. Telephone interview with a consular official.
_____. 1 December 2003. Telephone interview with a consular official.