cédulas

Cédula is a term used in Spanish-speaking countries to denote a small document in the form of a card or certificate issued by a government or an authorized body. The word derives from Latin cedula meaning a little note or seal. In everyday use, cédula most commonly refers to an identification document.

In many countries, a cédula is the national identity card or a citizen’s registration document. Colombia uses the cédula de ciudadanía as the primary ID; Chile uses a cédula de identidad; Venezuela and the Dominican Republic commonly refer to their national ID as cédula de identidad. In Argentina, the term has historically appeared in reference to the Documento Nacional de Identidad, while contemporary usage centers on DNI rather than cédula. In some places, the cédula also serves as a voter registration card or is issued as part of civil registration.

Beyond identification, cédula can denote professional or administrative credentials. The phrase cédula profesional is widely used in some countries to denote a professional license or credential, such as in Colombia. Other official records may be described as cédula, including certificates of registration or permits issued by authorities.

In finance, cédula may describe certain debt instruments or securities, such as mortgage- or credit-related notes issued under specific regulatory regimes, with the exact form and naming varying by country.

Because the term is used differently across regions, the precise meaning of cédulas depends on the national context and the issuing authority.