Colombia:Visa Requirements

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Colombia Visa Requirements Map

Colombia: Visa Requirements

Visa requirements may change. Always verify the latest information through official government sources.

Visa-Free Entry Requirements

  • Visa-exempt travelers must present a valid and current passport or another travel document accepted by Colombian authorities upon entry to Colombia. Accepted documents may include ordinary passports, diplomatic, official or service passports, special passports issued for stateless persons and refugees, valid temporary travel documents, and identity documents accepted under relevant regional agreements.
  • A fixed period of passport validity required for border entry applicable to all travelers is not specified on the central official entry page. The document must be valid and usable on the travel date. The number of blank pages required in the passport is also not definitively specified in the central official source. The requirement for a biometric or machine-readable passport for all travelers is not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • During immigration control, a return ticket or onward ticket to the next country and, if necessary, proof of financial means to cover travel expenses may be requested. A fixed minimum bank balance or daily expenditure amount applied at border entry is not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • The traveler's identification details, travel itinerary, flight information, and accommodation details in Colombia may be requested during immigration control. The Check-Mig form can be completed starting 72 hours before travel up to one hour before the flight; it is described on the central immigration page as an optional pre-registration that expedites procedures, not mandatory.
  • Visa-exempt short-term travelers may be granted a Passport Entry Permit at border control. This permit is not a visa on arrival. It is not applied for in advance, is issued as a result of the border officer's inspection and interview, is free of charge, and may initially grant the right to stay for up to 90 calendar days.
  • In appropriate cases, the stay may be extended by applying for a Temporary Stay Permit. The total stay within the same calendar year, continuously or intermittently, may not exceed 180 days. The extension application must be submitted online at least five business days before the current entry permit expires.
  • The extension application requires submission of the online application form, a copy of the valid passport or accepted identity document as a single PDF file, the valid entry permit, and documents supporting the purpose of the initial entry. Migración Colombia may request additional documents or, exceptionally, an in-person application. The standard extension fee for 2026 is 150,000 Colombian pesos. The processing time announced after payment is three business days.
  • Travelers who will engage in a paid or income-generating activity must obtain a visa appropriate for the activity, regardless of the visa-free entry right.
  • Minor travelers must have a valid travel document. If the child is traveling with a parent or legal representative, a document proving family connection or representation authority may be requested. In cases where the child travels alone, with one parent, or with a third party, exit and parental consent rules may apply separately according to the conditions of the journey.
  • The hotel reservation itself, travel health insurance, and a general vaccination certificate are not listed on the central immigration entry page as universally required documents for all visa-exempt travelers. However, the border officer may request additional information or documents regarding the purpose of travel, accommodation plan, financial capacity, and intention to return.

E-Visa Application Requirements

  • Colombian visa applications are made electronically through the official online system of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The application form is completed online, required documents are uploaded to the system, and the approved visa is sent to the applicant's email address as an electronic visa.
  • The applicant's passport, travel document replacing a passport, or Laissez-Passer issued by a recognized authority must be valid for at least six months on the application date. The document must be in good condition and have blank pages that can be used for affixing a visa sticker if necessary. The number of blank pages required is not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • A legible copy of the biographical page of the passport or travel document containing personal information must be uploaded. If the applicant applies from within Colombia, the most recent entry stamp, electronic entry record, entry permit, or valid secure passage document must also be submitted.
  • A person applying from outside Colombia must direct the application to the Colombian consulate responsible for their current legal place of residence. If applying from a country of which they are not a citizen, a document showing their legal stay or residence status in that country is requested.
  • Documents must be uploaded in PDF format and legible. The photograph must be recent, in color, clear, and high-resolution; taken against a white background, face forward, with a neutral expression and eyes open. Hair, hat, accessories, or any other element must not obstruct the face or head's appearance. The photograph must be in JPG format and no larger than 300 KB. The exact pixel size of the photograph and how recently it must have been taken are not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • Supporting documents other than passports and travel documents must, as a rule, have been issued no more than three months before the date the application is recorded in the system. For official documents with a longer validity period, the document's own validity period may be taken into account.
  • Documents issued in foreign countries must be apostilled or legalized according to the relevant rules. Documents in languages other than Spanish must be officially translated into Spanish unless an exception is granted. Illegible, altered, incomplete, or contradictory documents may result in the application not being accepted or being rejected.
  • For minor applicants, a birth certificate, civil registry certificate, court order, or equivalent document showing parenthood, guardianship, or legal representation authority must be submitted. In the visa request signed by both parents or legal representatives, the person responsible for the child's care in Colombia must be indicated. If the responsible person is not a parent or legal representative, a written declaration of acceptance of responsibility by that person is also required.
  • The competent authority may request from the applicant the originals of documents, additional financial or professional documents, criminal record, explanatory letters, or other supporting documents. The applicant may be called for an online or in-person interview. It is not definitively specified in the central official source that fingerprints or other biometric data will be universally taken for all visa applications.
  • After the application is recorded, the processing fee must be paid within 10 calendar days following the creation of the payment reference. Failure to pay within this period may result in the application being considered withdrawn. The processing fee is not refundable even if the application is rejected or not accepted.
  • After the complete application and processing fee are received, the decision period is a maximum of 30 calendar days. The period may be extended when security, identity, or document verification with other institutions is required. Failure to respond within the time given for additional document requests may result in the application being considered withdrawn.
  • When the application is approved, the visa issuance fee must be paid within 10 calendar days. The electronic visa is sent to the registered email address within a maximum of 10 business days after payment of the issuance fee. A request to correct a material error on the visa must be made within 15 calendar days from receipt of the electronic visa.
  • A mandatory minimum period for how long before travel the initial visa application must be made is not definitively specified in the central official source. The application must be made sufficiently early, taking into account the normal 30-day decision period, possible additional document requests, and the preparation time of the electronic visa.
  • Colombian visas are, as a rule, multiple-entry and allow multiple entries and transits within their validity period. The total validity of the visa, the permitted duration of stay per entry, and the right to work vary according to the chosen visa category and purpose of travel.
  • Carrying the electronic visa in printed form is not mandated in the central official source. However, the traveler must be able to access a verifiable electronic visa document during travel. Visa issuance does not guarantee entry to Colombia; the final entry decision is made by the competent immigration officer at border control.

Consular Visa Application Requirements

  • Applicants residing outside Colombia who need to obtain a visa in advance must initiate their procedure entirely online and direct the application to the Colombian consulate responsible for their legal residence address. If the application is made from a third country, a valid residence permit, visa, entry record, or another document proving legal stay may be requested.
  • The application processed through the consulate is not a separate paper visa system. The application, document upload, examination, and visa issuance procedures are carried out through the official electronic system; the consulate is the authorized evaluation authority for applications abroad.
  • The category-specific documents to be submitted vary according to the chosen Visitor, Migrant, or Permanent Residence visa and the purpose of travel. There is no single universal document checklist applicable to all visa applicants. The applicant must comply with the specific conditions published for the chosen visa activity together with the general electronic application conditions.
  • For a Visitor Visa for tourism purposes, a written declaration identifying the applicant and describing the purpose, participants, duration, schedule, and locations of the planned activity must be submitted.
  • If the application is made upon invitation, an invitation letter must be submitted containing the inviting person's contact information, physical and electronic address, relationship with the applicant, duration of stay, and financial responsibilities undertaken. The invitation letter must include a handwritten signature and fingerprint. The inviting person must provide information about foreigners previously supported, commit to ensuring the invitee's departure from the country, and inform the competent authorities in case the permitted stay period is exceeded.
  • For a tourism visa, financial capacity must be demonstrated through the applicant's bank account statements for the last six months. The average monthly income must be equivalent to at least 10 times the Colombian legal monthly minimum wage in effect on the application date. Additional income, employment, or company documents may be requested depending on the applicant's circumstances.
  • The applicant must provide health insurance valid in Colombia for the entire planned stay. The insurance must cover risks of accident, illness, birth or maternity, disability, hospitalization, death, and repatriation. The minimum monetary coverage amount that the insurance must have is not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • Flight reservation or ticket reservation for entry into and exit from Colombia must be submitted. It is not definitively specified in the central official source that a hotel reservation is a separate and universally required document for all tourism visa applications; however, the accommodation place and addresses where activities will take place must be stated in the travel plan.
  • The Visitor Visa for tourism purposes may only be used for rest, tourism, or cultural interest activities and does not grant the right to work. The visa may be valid for up to two years. The permitted stay is a maximum of 180 days, continuously or intermittently, in each 365-day period from the visa issuance date, and this limit cannot be extended.
  • According to the 2026 tariff, the standard processing fee for the Tourism Visitor Visa is 56 USD or 44 EUR, and the issuance fee is 52 USD or 40 EUR. The standard total is 108 USD or 84 EUR. Stamp duty and different tariffs based on nationality, reciprocity rules, or special exemptions are not included in these amounts.
  • For payments within Colombia, PSE, authorized bank channels, Servibanca ATMs, and eligible credit or debit cards may be used. The accepted payment method for applications abroad varies according to the relevant consulate and the country where the application is made.
  • The visa authority may evaluate the applicant's regular income, stable employment, property, family ties, residence status, and intention to return at the end of the trip. Each of these elements should not be considered separate mandatory documents for all applications; it should be taken into account that the consulate may request additional documents according to the circumstances of the application.

Transit Visa Requirements

  • The application for an Airport Transit Visitor Visa must be made online in accordance with the general electronic visa application conditions. The applicant must submit a valid travel document, a copy of the biographical page, a digital photograph, and documents showing legal stay in the place of application.
  • Specific to the transit visa, tickets or verifiable reservations for flights arriving in Colombia and continuing from Colombia to a third country must be submitted. The applicant must demonstrate that they are admissible to the final destination country and, if the final country requires a visa, present a valid visa.
  • This visa may only be used for transfers in the direct or sterile transit area of the same international airport. The transit period is a maximum of 24 hours. The traveler may not enter Colombia by passing through immigration control during transit nor transfer to another airport.
  • The Airport Transit Visa may be valid for a maximum of 30 days and may allow multiple transits within this period. No dependent visa is issued under this visa.
  • According to the 2026 tariff, the standard processing fee for the Airport Transit Visitor Visa is 56 USD or 44 EUR, and the issuance fee is 52 USD or 40 EUR. The standard total is 108 USD or 84 EUR. Stamp duty, exemptions, and special tariffs based on reciprocity are not included in these amounts.
  • A separate minimum insurance coverage, fixed financial capacity amount, or mandatory minimum period before which the application must be made for a transit visa are not definitively specified in the central official source. The exact pixel size of the photograph and the number of blank pages required in the passport are also not definitively specified in the central official source.
Population
53,936,226(2026 est.)
Official language
Spanish; regional official languages: Indigenous languages and Creoles in their territories
Government type
Presidential republic
Continent
South America
Capital
Bogotá
Currency
Colombian peso
Area
1,141,748 km²
Phone code
+57

Colombia: Key Destinations

Bogotá, the capital and largest city, serves as the primary international gateway to Colombia. Medellín and Cali are other major urban centers with significant air connections.

Cartagena offers colonial architecture and Caribbean beaches, while the Coffee Triangle showcases lush landscapes and coffee culture. The Amazon region and Pacific coast provide unique natural experiences.

Travelers often begin in Bogotá and then connect to Medellín or the Caribbean coast via domestic flights. Buses are a popular option for overland travel between major cities and regions.