How To Get Colombia Tourist Or Visitor Visa
The Colombia tourist or visitor visa is for foreigners who want to visit Colombia for the purposes of tourism or leisure. The visa is issued to most foreigners upon arrival free of cost and can be renewed periodically. The tourist visa does not allow foreigners to work, operate a business, or live permanently in Colombia. Foreigners who come to Colombia to study Spanish can also get the visitor or tourist visa.
The Colombia tourist or visitor visa is not a formal visa for most foreign visitors. Most of the foreigners who visit Colombia receive a stamp in their passports which grants them a 90 day stay in Colombia. This temporary stay in Colombia can be extended for another 90 days. The maximum number of days a foreigner can stay on Colombia as a tourist is 180 days in a calendar year.
In order to extend this stay, a foreigner can leave Colombia for a while or renew his or her tourist visa at a local Migración Colombia office. If you stay in Colombia for more than 180 days, then you will have to pay a fine prior to leaving Colombia.
Now, the Colombia tourist or visitor visa is known as a visitor (V) visa. The Colombian Government charges 52 dollars for the application fee, and 82 dollars for the actual visa.
5 Most Popular Colombian Visas
After you visit Colombia you may find that you want to stay longer than 180 days in a year. Keepin mind that you can get 180 days in a year as a tourist. Typically many countries can enter with a 90 tourist permission, which can be extended in country for another 90 days at your local Migracion Colombia office, or online at their website https://www.migracioncolombia.gov.co/. Our office also helps with the tourist visa extention process if you need help. As an alternative to the Colombian tourist visa you might consider one of the most popular visas listed below, or look at our complee list of Colombian Visas (click here). Colombia has three categories of visas, and over 20 visas in all. The Colombian Visa office has become very strict over the last year with the administration of presidente Duque of Colomiba. Every foreigner must have health insurance and a very strong Colombia visa application.
1. Colombian Pension Visa:
Colombian pension visa is a 1-3 year visa and to qualify you should receive receive $3,900,000 pesos per month. This is a migrant visa with no work privilege and is one of the easiest visas to obtain.
2. Colombian Property Investment Visa:
3. Colombian Marriage or Civil Union Visa:
Commonly referred to as the marriage visa, you may obtain this visa by being married or entering into a common law relationship with a Colombian national. This visa has work privileges, and after 2 years may be converted to permanent residency.
4. Colombian Business Owner Visa:
This visa requires a bit of work to get the visa, but if you really plan on owning and operating a business in Colombia this is a great option. Colombia is a business friendly country for foreign investors. You will need to create a company, make a foreign investment into your business account, and have a good business plan ready to explain to the Colombian visa officials.
5. Colombian Student Visa:
This is an excellent visa for persons who wish to study spanish or perhaps obtain a diploma from a university or technical school in Colombia. The student visa is given out as a visitor visa for non degree programs such as Spanish for Foreigners. If you are in a degree program, or looking for a visa as an exchange student then you would apply for an M (migrant) visa.
Recommended Reading: Colombia Visa Guide
Related Topics of Interest for You:
What Documents Are Required For Colombia Tourist Or Visitor Visa?
There are some general requirements for foreigners who do not carry a passport from the countries mentioned above. For such foreigners, the requirements for tourist visa or visitor visa are the following:
Passport Photocopy:
A photocopy of the first page of your valid passport showing your biographical data. The photocopy can be either in color or black and white.
Proof of Legal Entry:
A photocopy of the page of your passport showing last stamp of entry or departure of Colombia.
Photocopy of Previously Issued Visa:
If you’ve had a previous Colombian visa such as a retirement visa, then a photocopy of this visa. Photocopies of previously issued TP or M visas are needed if you are applying on the basis of length of time holding of these visas.
Passport photo:
Passport style face photo with a white background, sized at 3 cm width X 4 cm height, maximum size of 300 kb jpg file for online application.
In addition to the general requirements, here the specific documents that are required when applying for Colombia tourist or visitor visa.
Bank statementse:
Six months of bank statements prior to the Colombia visa application. Please note that the minimum salary in Colombia is 1,000,000 pesos per month in 2022. For dependents such as a child, wife, husband, or parent, a commitment letter must be accompanied with the bank statements of sponsor.
Health Insurance:
You must show health insurance for the duration of your visa. Travelers’ health insurance or IPS basic government health insurance from providers like SURA.
Please note that if you do not have a bank account with the minimum required balance then you can get a sponsor. However, people that are considered adults may have problems getting approved for a visa if they do not have a bank account balance required, unless it is a family member who is paying for the trip, and traveling with them. Young adults may be an exception such as personas who are University age, or in their 20s.
Although not officially acknowledged Colombia is like many other countries and does block entry from more applicants who are in high risk or from countries which are not economically stable.
For visitor visas that are personal or with the support of a natural person must include the following supporting documents:
Letter Of Support:
Letter signed by the applicant or by the person endorsing the application that includes: Full identification of the applicant or the person endorsing the visa (as it appears in the passport or citizenship card), explanation of the connection to the foreigner, reason for the trip and statement of economic responsibility for accommodation and travel expenses of the person or the foreigner.
For visitor requesting visa with the support of one or more legal entities, the application must include the following documents:
Endorsement Letter:
A letter signed by the legal representative of the legal entity or company, which contains a full identification of the legal entity, contact information, complete identification of the foreigner visiting Colombia, explanation of the activity that the foreigner intends to carry out, indicating the program to be carried out, its duration and planned agenda.
Letter of Economic Responsibility:
Declaration of economic responsibility for the expenses incurred by and during the stay of the foreigner in Colombia.
Certificate of Legal Existence:
If the legal entity supporting the visa request is private and incorporated abroad, a certificate of existence, incorporation and legal representation document must be provided. The legal entity must verify it ability to support the stay of the foreigner by showing bank statements corresponding to the 6 months prior to the request. In the case of a public entity, this is not needed.
For visitor requesting visa with the intent of enrolling as a student or to study Spanish at a local university, the application must include the following documents:
Proof of admission:
Admission or enrollment certificate in an educational institution authorized in Colombia, to carry out studies of academic exchange, studies in art or crafts or postgraduate studies. There is a minimum hourly intensity of (10) hours per week.
Proof of existence:
A certificate or letter proving legal representation of the institution where a visiting student is enrolled.
Please note that foreign students wishing to study Spanish in Colombia are granted the visitor (V) student visa or a period of 6 months. Also, once you have a Visitor (V) visa you can no longer apply for another visa while in Colombia. To apply for another visa when you have a Visitor student visa you have to go to a foreign consulate in another country.
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To Apply for Colombia Tourist or Visitor Visa?
Remember every Colombia visa application is a presentation of who you are and why Colombia thinks you should visit. The visa official needs to believe you will not overstay your tourist visa before they will give it to you. Sometimes persons can just go to consulate 1 time, and an electronic visa may be issued to travel. Usual approval times by consulates is 3-5 business days after the interview. Total processing time is usually 2 weeks.
An invitation letter or vacation travel package must be provided. Accepted but not necessary initially, as well as the plane tickets or hotel reservation. It is important to keep in mind that you can always send additional documents and to make it with high advance time because consulates can take 2 to 3 weeks before calling for an interview.
Applying for Visitor Visa from abroad
A Colombia visa applicant who wishes to live, work, and study in Colombia can apply for a Colombia work visa online. In addition, any Colombian visas can be obtained at any Colombian consulates around the world.
Do I Need A Tourist or Visitor to Enter Colombia?
If you are carrying a passport from one of the following countries, then you DO NOT need a visa to enter Colombia and you only need a valid passport.
The Colombian visa application process is fairly easy as it can be completed entirely online. You can apply for a Colombia investment visa online Tramites Visa . This application will require scanned copies of all required documents in Adobe PDF format along with your passport photo in JPEG format. In addition, a detailed guide for applying online can be found here.
If you are in another country outside of Colombia, then you have to go to nearby Colombian consulate in that country so that you can get the visa added to your passport at a Colombian consulate. Once your Colombian investment visa has been approved and added to your passport, you are ready to travel to Colombia as a migrant and an investor.
Applying for Tourist or Visitor visa from Colombia
Once you receive online visa approval, if doing this in Colombia, you need to travel to Bogotá to get the visa in your passport. Visas in Colombia are issued at the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores office in Bogotá. Their office is located at Avenida 19 # 98-03, Torre 100 Building, 3rd Floor. It’s open from 7:30 am until noon.
The major challenge with getting a Colombian visa yourself is dealing with a government bureaucracy, making a trip to Bogota and not understanding the laws properly if you are not fluent in Sanish.
This is where you can benefit from the services of an experienced visa agency such as Visas by James. A visa agency such ours is your best bet when it comes to obtaining visa for you. An experienced visa agency which has processed hundreds of visas and knows exactly what is needed for each type of visa is exactly what you need.
Another big benefit of using a visa agency is that they offer services to courier your passport to Bogotá to get the visa put in your passport. So, you can avoid a trip to Bogotá. The cost of a visa service including the service to courier your passport to Bogotá can even be cheaper than the cost of a trip to Bogotá.
Why Use Our Visa Agency For Getting Colombia Tourist or Visitor Visa?
Since 2005, our visa agency Visas by James has obtained hundreds of visas for foreigners who wish to study, work, invest, and live in Colombia. We are the oldest expat visa business in Colombia. We also have more attorneys in office than any other visa agency in Colombia. In addition to our visa services we offer a full range of legal and accounting services to our clients. By having a legal and accounting firm work on your application, we are able to handle any surprises or last minute requests by immigration officials.
Our Story
James Lindzey the owner of Visas by James has worked as a private investigator and paralegal in the United States from the 90s until he moved to Colombia in 2005. James arrived in Colombia in 2005 and started doing visas for expats in 2007.
In addition to our visa services our agency offers a full range of legal and accounting services to our clients. We are able to assist better in document collection services in the United States because of James legal experience in the United States.
More About Our Visa Services
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Testimonials from a current and former clients who got a Colombian visas successfully.
Worked with James and Cristina on buying first property in Colombia. They were very knowledgable in Colombia law and banking. Went the extra mile to guide us thru the process of transferring foreign funds, reviewing/advising purchase documents, and walking us thru the maze of legalities. Invaluable, and in dual languages! Thanks to them the process was completed in less than one month!
I had James take care of the renewing of my US passport and all went very well I did not have to go to Bogota and all was completed with a new passport in a little over 2 weeks !! Highly reccomend.
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About Colombia Legal & Accounting SAS and its associates; Reliable, Trustworthy, Pristine, Honesty, Management, Punctual. That’s all you need to know to put yourself in their professional hands.
Our main office is located in Medellin, Colombia near Parque Lleras in El Poblado. We have representation in Bogota, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale. Our main office address is Cra 39#5A-95, Oficina 709, Edificio Avangarde. We accept walk in appointments but its always nice if you can let us know ahead of time so we can schedule a time. Areas codes in Colombia have changed. To reach our office please call (57) 604-444-6634.
