Colombian visa requirements

Tourist Visa

Colombian visa Requirements

For most countries in Europe and from the U.S., you can get a tourist visa for 60 days or less when entering Colombia. I strongly urge you to have a return ticket or you may be refused entry. At times, they may grant you longer than 60 days, up to 90, but this is at the discretion of the immigration officer processing your visa at the airport when you arrive.

Extensions may be granted at the DAS (Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad) Extranjeria.

If you stay longer than 60 days, there is an exit/ departure tax of up to US$53 when leaving by plane.

Please check with the Colombian consulate or embassy in your own country to ensure that you do not need a visa but in general, it is a straightforward procedure when you arrive at the airport. I have never been denied entry in the 9 years I've been visiting.

One word of advice is to be polite, especially when going to the DAS. The officers there don't respond well to cocky foreigners but are more than welcoming and helpful if are courteous. Makes sense really.

Other Visas

I went through the application procedure in order to acquire a residents visa from San Francisco and the process was long and messy.

They made an enormous amount of mistakes at the Colombian consulate in San Francisco and were misinformed. The dates were constantly pushed back for when we would acquire the visa and the whole process took 4-5 months.

When we finally arrived in Medellin at the airport, this with the intention of living here full-time, we were told by the immigration officer that both our visas were no longer valid. i.e. that particular type of visa had been discontinued.

We eventually cleared up the mess with the DAS here in Medellin who were arrogant and also, equally misinformed.

This is presumably an extreme case but all in all, I hate the incompetent Colombian bureaucracy - it honestly does not work and all boils down to the human element. Eventually, someone will most likely help you out and the problem will be solved but none of it will make much sense.

Good luck applying for a Colombian visa!

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