Colombia Visa for Tourists: A Complete Guide

Colombia has a liberal visa policy offering visa exemption to most nationalities. The rest are eligible to apply for Colombia e-Visa or a sticker visa from the Colombian embassy.

Colombia e-Visa application process is entirely online and a printable electronic visa is issued. The only issue being the visa fee is quite steep and it needs to be paid in two payments. 

Nationals from Cambodia, China, India, Macau, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam holding a valid US or Schengen visa do not require a separate visa for Colombia.

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Colombia Visa Policy for Tourists

Colombia has a liberal visa policy offering visa-exemption to about 100 countries. Citizens of these countries can stay in the country for up to 90 days on each visit. Most of these nationalities are also allowed to extend their stay for addtional 90 days. The total stay allowed is 180 days in one calendar year.

Remaining countries are eligible to apply for Colombia e-Visa. Colombia e-Visa process is entirely online. But the processing time can be up to 30 calendar days. The fee must be paid in two installments, one at the time of submitting the application and another when the visa is issued.

Though the traditional sticker visa is available, most Colombian consulates force you to apply for e-Visa.

Citizens of 27 countries require a visa to transit through Colombian international airports. Using the transit visa, they can only transit “airside” for up to 24 hours.

Minimum passport validity required to enter Colombia

Passport must be valid for the entire duration of stay in Colombia and must have at least 1 blank page for entry and exit stamps. Though a passport valid for duration of stay is sufficinet, it’s recommended to have at least 6 months validty at the time of entering Colombia

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Visa Exemption (VISA-FREE)

Eligibility

Citizens of the following countries are eligible to enter Colombia VISA-FREE.

1. Albania
2. Andorra
3. Antigua and Barbuda
4. Argentina
5. Australia
6. Austria
7. Azerbaijan
8. Bahamas
9. Barbados
10. Belgium
11. Belize
12. Bhutan
13. Bolivia
14. Bosnia and Herzegovina
15. Brazil
16. Brunei
17. Bulgaria
18. Canada
19. Chile
20. Costa Rica
21. Croatia
22. Cyprus
23. Czechia
24. Denmark
25. Dominica
26. Dominican Republic
27. Ecuador
28. El Salvador
29. Estonia
30. Fiji
31. Finland
32. France
33. Georgia
34. Germany
35. Greece
36. Grenada
37. Guatemala
38. Guyana
39. Honduras
40. Hong Kong
41. Hungary
42. Iceland
43. Indonesia
44. Ireland
45. Italy
46. Jamaica
47. Japan
48. Kazakhstan
49. Latvia
50. Liechtenstein
51. Lithuania
52. Luxembourg
53. Malta
54. Marshall Islands
55. Mexico
56. Micronesia
57. Moldova
58. Monaco
59. Montenegro
60. Morocco
61. Netherlands
62. New Zealand
63. North Macedonia
64. Norway
65. Oman
66. Palau
67. Panama
68. Papua New Guinea
69. Paraguay
70. Peru
71. Philippines
72. Poland
73. Portugal
74. Qatar
75. Romania
76. Russia
77. Saint Kitts and Nevis
78. Saint Lucia
79. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
80. Samoa
81. San Marino
82. Serbia
83. Singapore
84. Slovakia
85. Slovenia
86. Solomon Islands
87. South Korea
88. Spain
89. Suriname
90. Sweden
91. Switzerland
92. Trinidad and Tobago
93. Türkiye
94. Ukraine
95. United Arab Emirates
96. United Kingdom
97. United States
98. Uruguay
99. Vatican City (Holy See)
100. Venezuela

Allowed duration of stay

Visa-Exempt nationals are allowed to stay up to 90 days on each visit. Except for Hong Kong, all Visa-Exempt nationals are allowed to extend their stay for an additional 90 days. Total stay cannot exceed 180 days in a calendar year.

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Visa Exempt with Strong Visas

Citizens of the following 9 countries are allowed to enter Colombia VISA-FREE, if they hold a US or Schengen visa or residence permit and meet certain conditions

Eligibility

1. Cambodia
2. China
3. India
4. Macau
5. Myanmar
6. Nicaragua
7. Taiwan
8. Thailand
9. Vietnam

Required visas or residence permits

• A valid used or unused multiple-entry Schengen visa (C or D type only) or permanent residence permit from any Schengen country (or)
• A valid used or unused multiple-entry US visa (except for transit C1) or green card.

Conditions

• The visa or residence permit must be valid for at least 6 months on the day of arrival.

Allowed duration of stay

The above 9 nationalities holding US or Schengen visas or residence permits are allowed to stay up to 90 days on each visit.

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Colombia e-Visa

Eligibility

The following nationalities are eligible to apply for Colombia e-Visa.

1. Afghanistan
2. Algeria
3. Angola
4. Armenia
5. Bahrain
6. Bangladesh
7. Belarus
8. Benin
9. Botswana
10. Burkina Faso
11. Burundi
12. Cabo Verde (Cape Verde)
13. Cambodia
14. Cameroon
15. Central African Republic
16. Chad
17. China
18. Comoros
19. Congo, Dem Rep of
20. Congo, Rep of
21. Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
22. Cuba
23. Djibouti
24. Egypt
25. Equatorial Guinea
26. Eritrea
27. Eswatini
28. Ethiopia
29. Gabon
30. Gambia
31. Ghana
32. Guinea
33. Guinea-Bissau
34. Haiti
35. India
36. Iran
37. Iraq
38. Israel
39. Jordan
40. Kenya
41. Kiribati
42. Kosovo
43. Kuwait
44. Kyrgyzstan
45. Laos
46. Lebanon
47. Lesotho
48. Liberia
49. Libya
50. Macau
51. Madagascar
52. Malawi
53. Malaysia
54. Maldives
55. Mali
56. Mauritania
57. Mauritius
58. Mongolia
59. Mozambique
60. Myanmar
61. Namibia
62. Nauru
63. Nepal
64. Nicaragua
65. Niger
66. Nigeria
67. North Korea
68. Pakistan
69. Palestine
70. Rwanda
71. São Tomé and Príncipe
72. Saudi Arabia
73. Senegal
74. Seychelles
75. Sierra Leone
76. Somalia
77. South Africa
78. South Sudan
79. Sri Lanka
80. Sudan
81. Syria
82. Taiwan
83. Tajikistan
84. Tanzania
85. Thailand
86. Timor-Leste
87. Togo
88. Tonga
89. Tunisia
90. Turkmenistan
91. Tuvalu
92. Uganda
93. Uzbekistan
94. Vanuatu
95. Vietnam
96. Yemen
97. Zambia
98. Zimbabwe

eVisa validity and duration of stay

Colombia e-Visa (Type-V) is issued for 3 months and multiple-entry. You can stay up to 90 days in each visit.

Documentation required

The following documentation is required

1. Digital passport photo (JPG)
2. Passport data/ID page (PDF)
3. Visa or residence permit (if living in a country other than the country of your passport) (PDF)
4. Cover letter with day-by-day itineary (PDF)
5. Bank statements from the last 6 months (PDF)
6. Round trip flight tickets (PDF)

e-Visa fee

Colombia eVisa fee must be paid in two payments. 

• Fee for visa study: $58 USD
• Fee for visa issuance: $100 USD
  

Visa study: First visa fee called “visa study” of $58 USD must be made at the time of submitting your Colombia visa application.

Visa issuance: The second visa fee called “visa issuance” of $100 USD must be made after your visa is approved.

Processing time

Colombia e-Visa processing time is up to 30 calendar days.

Application procedure

You must apply for your Colombia e-Visa on the official Sistema Integral de Trámites al Ciudadano (SITAC) website. 

At the end of your e-Visa application submission, a registration code is displayed. This registration code is also emailed to you for records. You must retain this registration code. It’s required for application status tracking and inquiries. 

After submission, the application will ask you to make the payment. This is your first visa fee payment for “visa study”.

After your e-Visa is approved, you will be notified to make your second e-Visa fee payment. Once the payment is made, you will receive an electronic visa to your email. You will have to print this and present it on your arrival in Colombia. 

Refer to my step-by-step guide on how to apply for Colombia e-Visa for instructions and screenshots to to complete the application, track the status and receive your approved e-Visa.

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Colombia Transit Visa

Citizens of these below 27 countries require a visa to transit through Colombian international airports.

1. Afghanistan
2. Angola
3. Bangladesh
4. Burkina Faso
5. Cameroon
6. Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
7. Egypt
8. Eritrea
9. Ethiopia
10. Gambia
11. Ghana
12. Haiti
13. India
14. Iran
15. Kenya
16. Lebanon
17. Mali
18. Nepal
19. Nigeria
20. Pakistan
21. Sierra Leone
22. Somalia
23. Sri Lanka
24. Sudan
25. Syria
26. Tajikistan
27. Uzbekistan

Using the transit visa, these nationals can only transit “airside” for up to 24 hours. For “landside transit” a proper visitor visa is required.

Transit visa also be applied on the Colombia e-Visa portal. The fee is almost as same as applying for a tourist e-Visa.

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Entering and leaving Colombia

Entering Colombia by air

At your first port of entry in Colombia, you will pass through immigration and customs.

If holding an e-Visa, make sure you present a print of your e-Visa to the officer.

You will be asked about your purpose of travel and the number of days you plan to stay in Colombia. The number of days you are allowed to stay may not always be marked on your entry stamp. It is assumed that you can stay up to 90 days. In doubt, ask to make sure you can stay 90 days.

As always, carry proof of onward ticket and accommodation booking. If you are traveling on a one-way ticket, you can get an onward ticket from Best Onward Ticket.

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Leaving Colombia by air

On exit, you will pass through the passport control. Your entry stamp will be verified and a new exit stamp will be issued in your passport.

You will not be asked any questions while exiting the country unless you overstayed your visa. Just account for some additional time for the exit process.

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