Who Doesn’t Need A Visa?

Any national from another country in South America. Nationals from other South American nations can get into Colombia with an ID card.

Also, citizens from the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and European nationals from the Schengen region.

Who Does Need A Visa?

Most notably, citizens from China and India will require a visa to enter Colombia upon arrival.

In the image above:

• Red = Colombia

• Yellow = ID card for entry

• Blue = No visa required

• Grey = Visa required

If in doubt, you can check the consulate website to see if you need a visa to enter Colombia.

How To Apply For A Colombian Visa

If you require a visa to enter Colombia, begin your visa application at least a month before you travel. This will allow sufficient time for your visa to be approved.

The easiest way to apply for a Colombian visa is by completing the online application form, which you can find here.

How Much Does A Colombian Visa Cost?

Obtaining a Colombian visa will cost you.

First, you must pay an application fee before submitting your application. This application fee is approximately $52.

If and when your visa application is approved, you'll need to pay a second fee to obtain it. This second fee is approximately $82.

Passport

Before being granted entry to Colombia, border control will check your passport. Your passport must be valid for at least six months before beginning your adventure in Colombia. If this is not the case, border control will deny you entry into Colombia.

Proof Of COVID Vaccination

As of Dec 14th, 2021, all foreign travelers entering Colombia must provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19.

The Colombian government also requires that the final dose of your COVID-19 vaccination be administered at least 14 days before your arrival in Colombia.

The Colombian government will accept vaccination cards or digital certificates for vaccines recognized by the WHO to prove your vaccination status.

Either of these will need to include:

• Your full name

• Records of when you were vaccinated

• Which vaccine you were administered

• The number of doses administered

Whether you're for vaccination or against it, this is the reality we now live in.

The bottom line is this: Unvaccinated foreign nationals who are not holders of permanent resident visas will not be allowed to enter Colombia.

proof On Onwards Travel

Being able to show proof of onward travel beyond Colombia is a requisite before being granted entry to the country. However, authorities don't always enforce this.

Proof Of Adequate Funds For your trip

Like proof of onward travel, showing you have adequate funds for your trip to Colombia is required by law. Though it is a law that isn't always enforced by authorities. Generally speaking, a recent bank statement showing upwards of $1500 will be enough to satisfy authorities.

What Is Proof Of Onwards Travel?

Officially, South American nations demand that you have a pre-booked onwards flight out of the country you intend to travel in. They'll also expect that your pre-booked flight is at some point before the expiration of your tourist visa. That's the letter of the law.

In reality, border control won't always ask you to supply proof of onward travel. It depends on who stamps you into Colombia and what kind of day they're having.

On some occasions, you'll need to provide proof of onward travel. On other occasions, you won't. Generally speaking, though, you're a lot less likely to be asked to supply proof of onwards travel if:

• Taking a domestic flight within Colombia

• Entering Colombia via a land border

In any case, you should have proof of onward travel to hand.

What Do You Need?

When we talk about onward travel, we refer to a flight out of the country.

But many won't be leaving Colombia by plane, instead opting to catch a bus into neighboring Ecuador.

In some cases, border control will accept a bus or coach ticket into Ecuador as proof of onward travel, but only rarely. As we've already established, it depends on who's stamping you into Colombia.

In any case, the very last thing you want is to be rushing to book a flight out of Colombia to get into the country in the first place. It isn't worth the stress.

So, what are your options?

Showing Proof Of Onwards Travel

Wing it and Hope for the Best

Nope. Not worth the stress.

Buy the cheapest Onward Flight you can find Before Arriving in Colombia

The best option for those who want to do things prim and proper. Actually buying an onward flight is the least stressful option.

Head to Skyscanner and find the cheapest flight out of Colombia.

Bonus points if you can find a refundable ticket to cancel as soon as you get into the country.

The only reason not to do this is cost. In most cases, backpackers live on a shoestring budget, and booking a flight out of the country may be uncomfortable – especially if the ticket is not refundable. Luckily, there is a more wallet-friendly solution.

use an Onward Flight Website

In recent years, there has been a growing trend toward using websites that allow you to 'rent' a flight ticket with a 48-hour cancellation window.

Expect to be charged around $10 for the privilege, but do your homework on the company to ensure they're legit.

In our opinion, some of the best companies offering these services are:

• Onwardticket.com

• Best Onward Ticket

• Onward Flights

Renting a flight ticket is the best option for the wallet-conscious. However, it is no substitute for the peace of mind afforded by booking a proper flight.

Fake it to Make it

Good Photoshop skills? Perhaps you're dipping your toes into the digital nomad lifestyle as a freelance designer.

In that case, editing a document to look like—wait. Absolutely not. This is so illegal.

Renewing Your Visa

Traveling through Colombia, you may fall in love with the country. You wouldn't be the first, and you won't be the last.

You may end up wanting to stay for longer than your 90-day tourist visa permits.

The good news is extending your tourist visa by up to 120 days is possible. However, the maximum time per calendar year a tourist visa gets you in Colombia is 180 days.

There are two options for renewing your tourist visa. The first option is to head to the nearest Migracion Colombia office and do it in person. The second is to use the online service.

If you are renewing your visa, we recommend doing so two weeks before your current tourist visa expires, just to be on the safe side.

You need to provide the authorities with a couple of things to renew your visa:

• A copy of your passport

• A copy of your Colombia tourist stamp

• Proof of onward travel

Renewing your tourist visa is free if your passport is from a Schengen country in Europe. Otherwise, you'll need to pay a 99,000 COP fee to extend it.

Border Runs

Don't want the faff, or the fee, of extending your tourist visa? There is another way! Border Hopping.

Border hopping is as simple as it sounds. Or rather, as simple as crossing borders allows it to be.

Step 1: Leave Colombia

Step 2: Re-enter Colombia

Voila! Your 90-day tourist visa has been renewed. Remember, you can only stay in Colombia for 180 days per calendar year.

Overstay Penalties

Staying in Colombia longer than your tourist visa allows will land you a hefty fine.

Fines for overstaying in Colombia start at 380,000 COP. However, they can extend to a whopping 5,000,000 COP if you really overstay your welcome.

If you have overstayed in Colombia, you must make arrangements to leave the country promptly. After securing your ticket out of Colombia, head to the nearest migration office and request a 'Salvoconducto.'

A Salvoconducto is a temporary permit that will ensure you're legally allowed to stay in Colombia until the date of your freshly arranged departure. Acquiring a Salvoconducto is going to cost you 60,000 COP. 

To obtain one, you'll need to visit your nearest migration office with the following:

• A copy of your passport

• A copy of your most recent Colombia tourist visa stamp

• A debit card to pay the fine for overstaying as well as the cost of the Salvoconducto permit

• Proof of your recently arranged onward travel out of Colombia

As a side note, you can not request a Salvoconducto more than 15 days before your arranged departure from Colombia.