TOURIST/VISITOR VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR COLOMBIA
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Please note that, visa information stated here is just a guideline. Only the information given by Colombian Migracíon is up-to-date, official and correct.
The majority of foreign visitors to Colombia do not require a visa to enter the country. Colombian immigration grants a free 90-day visitor permit upon arrival. Do be aware that a return ticket out of Colombia is a requirement for all visitors.
Those citizens who do not qualify for entry without a visa will need to apply for one at the Colombian Embassy nearest to them.
Visa Waiver:
Colombia exempts a group of 102 nationalities and territories from the Visitor (V) visa for short stay visits (stays of less than 90 days).
Nationalities exempt from Visitor (V) visa for short stay:
**China is to be added to this list in the near future.
In the meantime, until this is confirmed, all Chinese nationals require a visa for entry to Colombia.
| Albania | Antigua and Barbuda |
| Andorra | Argentina |
| Australia | Austria |
| Azerbaijan | Bahamas |
| Barbados | Belgium |
| Belize | Bhutan |
| Bolivia | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Brazil | Brunei |
| Bulgaria | Canada |
| Chile | Costa Rica |
| Croatia | Cyprus |
| Czech Republic | Denmark |
| Dominica | Dominican Republic |
| Ecuador | El Salvador |
| Estonia | Fiji |
| Finland | France |
| Georgia | Germany |
| Greece | Grenada |
| Guatemala | Guyana |
| Holy See (Vatican) | Honduras |
| Hungary | Iceland |
| Indonesia | Ireland |
| Israel | Italy |
| Jamaica | Japan |
| Kazakhstan | Latvia |
| Liechtenstein | Lithuania |
| Luxembourg | Malta |
| Marshall Islands | Mexico |
| Micronesia | Moldova |
| Monaco | Montenegro |
| Morocco | Netherlands |
| New Zealand | North Macedonia |
| Norway | Oman |
| Palau | Panama |
| Papua New Guinea | Paraguay |
| Peru | Philippines |
| Poland | Portugal |
| Qatar | Republic of Korea |
| Romania | Russia (Federation) |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | Saint Lucia |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
Samoa |
| San Marino | Serbia |
| Singapore | Slovakia |
| Slovenia | Solomon Islands |
| Spain | Suriname |
| Sweden | Switzerland |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Turkey |
| Ukraine | United Arab Emirates |
| United Kingdom | United States of America |
| Uruguay | Venezuela |
*Canada
Canadian citizens do not require a visa, however, there is a special tax of CAN$85, per person to be paid upon arrival by credit or debit card.
The fee is waived for travellers under 14 or over 79.
There is a designated Migracíon line at the airport for this purpose.
Passports from special territories are exempt from the Visitor (V) visa for short stay:
Hong Kong – SAR Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China
Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
Passport Exemptions:
Nationals of countries of the Andean Community of Nations (CAN) and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) are exempt from the passport requirement and may enter Colombia as tourists for short stays using their National Identification Document as a valid travel document.
For more information, please check the following link:
https://www.migracioncolombia.gov.co/entidad/ingreso-can-y-mercosur
Even though you may not require a visa, it is still very important you check with your local consulate or embassy for the most up-to-date visa and passport requirements.
All other citizens of countries not on the list above need to submit a visa application to visit Colombia.
Passport Requirements
For citizens of ALL countries entering Colombia, your passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months after your travel dates.
For example, if you are traveling to Colombia in March, your passport must be valid through September of that year.
We strongly recommend making copies of your passport. Keep your original passport locked away in the safe of your hotel and carry a photocopy of your passport with you during your travels.
The first temporary visitor’s visa must always be processed at Colombian consulates abroad.
You must have a passport or equivalent document, valid for at least six (6) months at the time of applying for the visa, in good condition and with blank pages.
Complete the online visa application form available on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
Formulario de solicitud de visas Cancillería de Colombia
Provide the requirements that correspond to each type and category of visa. For greater ease, see the step-by-step instructions described in the video tutorial for the visa application form beforehand.
Cost of visa applications:
The cost of a Colombian visitor visa depends on the type of visa and the applicant’s nationality. The fees are non-refundable and must be paid by credit or debit card.
Fees for a tourist visa
- Study fee: Typically around US$50
Non-refundable - Visa issuance fee: Typically around US$100
Payable at time of issuance of visa
Total cost: Typically around US$150
Visa validity
The maximum number of days a foreigner can stay in Colombia as a tourist/visitor is 180 days in a calendar year.
90 days is given initially upon entry to Colombia.
You can extend your visa at a local Migración Colombia office.
Health and vaccines
To safeguard against setbacks during your stay in Colombia, it is helpful to consider some general health and vaccination recommendations.
Vaccines
Currently, no vaccines are required to gain entry to Colombia, except for the yellow fever vaccine. This is now required for all visitors to the state.
Please note that if you wish to visit tourist sites such as the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park, the Tayrona National Park or the different Amazon reserves, it is always required for visitors to be properly vaccinated against yellow fever.
This is particularly relevant when returning to your home country. Without the vaccine certificate, you could be liable for quarantine. Remember that this vaccine must be administered at least 10 days prior to traveling to these destinations.
Other recommended vaccines, but not mandatory, include immunization against Hepatitis A and Typhoid fever. The same applies to Malaria pills, which are advisable if visiting the rainforest regions, where we would also recommend the use of insect repellent and mosquito nets.
Medication and Health care services
If you take medication, it is essential that you bring your prescription with you so that you can purchase it at a pharmacy or drugstore, if needed. Remember to always keep handy any related documentation regarding any special health condition you may have that would need to be considered in the event of an emergency.
We would also highly recommend that, before traveling, you take out international medical insurance to ensure full cover should you need medical attention. Another key tip for you to follow in any part of the country, no matter what the climate, is to use high-factor sunscreen and stay well hydrated at all times.
Keep in mind that in certain regions, it is recommended that you only consume bottled mineral water. You will have no problem finding bottled water at any local store. Lastly, if you have any food allergies, make sure you always ask about the ingredients used in the meals you order.
Local currency
The Colombian peso is the country’s legal tender. It is generally identified with the abbreviation COP and you will find that the official peso symbol ($) is used locally.
The current exchange rate is about 4,000 COP to US$1.
A wide selection of banknotes and coins is used. You will find 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 peso coins and 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000 peso banknotes, highlighting Colombia’s wealth and diversity. There will be ATMs accessible in the main cities, but remain mindful of your surroundings when withdrawing cash.
You can pay for your purchases in cash, or with debit or credit cards.
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