Visa Requirements
Tourist Visa
US citizens do not need a visa for tourist travel to this country, but a valid US Passport is required with at least 6 Months validity remaining and 3 blank visa pages.
International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever if arriving from an infected area within 5 Days.
Entrance and Permanency Permit
For all countries that have a visa waiver agreements with Colombia. The permit is for foreign visitors staying for short periods (less than 45 days) when a visa is not required. This permit allows the visitor to enter into Colombia and may be extended up to 180 days per year.
Applicant is required to appear in person at the consulate’s office either when submitting the documentation or when approved visa is ready for pick-up. No exceptions.
The visa can be obtained for visitors with the following purposes:
- Journalists and Reporters
- Commercial or Management activities
- 3. Academic Activities
- Job Interviews
- Medical Treatments
- Sports, Scientific, and Cultural events
- International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever if arriving from an infected area within 5 Days.
Foreign visitors for Urgent Technical Services must present upon arrival:
- Letter from employer in the US stating the name of position of the applicant, detailed purpose of trip, and the promise that the employer will accept full financial and moral responsibility including travel expenses and the return of the applicant to the country of residence. This letter must be in English and Spanish and it must be notarized. Apostilles for each version must also be attached (The maximum stay is 45 days. If the traveler needs more time, he or she will be required to obtain a work visa prior to travel).
- Valid Passport
Business Visa
Personal presentation is required.
US Passport with at least 6 Months validity remaining and 3 blank visa pages
2 copies of the informational pages of the passport
3 color passport type photos
2 application forms completed and signed
International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever if arriving from an infected area within 5 Days.
Link for visa application http://www.cancilleria.gov.co/en/procedures_services/visas
Please go to the website and make sure you apply for the correct type of visa.
Personal presentation is required. In the event that the end of the process (stamping the visa on the passport) will be finished by a third person with a power of attorney (must be translated and notarized and with the seal of apostille), granted before the corresponding authority he/she must present himself to the Visa office with his National ID Card and the corresponding documents.
It is discretionary of the Government of Colombia, based on the principle of sovereignty, to authorize the entrance and the permanence of foreigners in the national territory.
Letter from your employer in the US stating the name and position of the applicant, detailed purpose of trip, and company’s compromise to assume full financial responsibility for the applicant’s expenses, including return airfare back to the United States. This letter must be translated into Spanish and both versions (English and Spanish) must be notarized. An Apostille issued by the Secretary of State (not older than 6 months), authenticating each notarized version, must also be attached.
Proof of legal existence of the foreign US Company. This is an original “Certificate of Corporate Existence,” issued by the “Secretary of State”, from the state in which the company was incorporated. This certificate must be updated (issued within the last six months) and legalized by the Colombian Consulate who has jurisdiction over that State.
Certificate of Record Search. This is a police clearance certificate showing applicant’s criminal record (if any) and is known as a “Certificate of Record Search.” This certificate must be updated (issued within the last six months), translated into Spanish and both versions (English and Spanish) must be notarized and certified with an Apostille from the Secretary of State of the state where it was issued. This certificate is required only if you do not hold a current Colombian visa.
Applicant is required to appear in person at the consulate’s office either when submitting the documentation or when the approved visa is ready for pickup. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Work Visa
AS ABOVE
“Health Certificate showing that applicant has been vaccinated against yellow fever. International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever This certificate is required ONLY if the applicant is traveling to any of the following Departamentos (States) in Colombia: Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Bolivar, Boyacá, Casanare, Caqueta, Cauca, Guaviare, Magdalena, Meta, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Santander, Vaupés or Vichada.
Work Contract in original form and a copy. The contract must include a clause with the company’s compromise to assume full financial responsibility for the traveler (and family) expenses, including his return to the country of origin or last country of residence. Note: It may be waived if an Administrative Act (Act Administrativo) and/or Legal Relationship Agreement (acuerdo de vinculación) is presented.
Diploma(s) and/or academic certificates duly validated by ICFES (Colombian Institute for the Fomentation of Higher Education), Professional license or documents showing experience or qualification of traveler duly authenticated.
Colombian Ministry of Work’s certificate indicating company’s current proportionality between national and foreign workers for the position hired.
To register your trip with the US Embassy click here: https://travelregistration.state.gov
Processing Instructions:
Processing time at the consulate is 48 hours for US Citizens and US residents. Other nationalities may take up to 2 weeks.
Iratex Passport & Visa can help with the obtaining of Apostilles and the legalization of the Certificate of Existence.
Fees
Business Visa Fee: $150.00 (US Citizens Exempt.)
Work Visa Fee: $205.00
COLOMBIA TEMPORARY STUDENT VISA (TE)
It is issued to individuals who wish to study in Colombia as a regular academic student in an elementary, middle, or high school institution; as a student of an institution for higher education in virtue of an exchange student program, or in any other program at a public or private institution recognized by the National Government of Colombia. This vixa allows multiple entrances and it may be issued for up to one year. It may be renewed in Colombia until the completion of the applicant’s studies. This visa DOES NOT allow the applicant to work. When the program requires the student to have a labor practice, the visa may state occupaiton “practicante” previously certified by the educational institution.
REQUIREMENTS
Valid Passport with at least 3 available pages and valid for a minimum of 6 months.
Two (2) passport copies, including the information pages as well as all used pages.
Two (2) original visa application forms, completed and signed.
Three (3) color passport-type photographs.
Original of the Admission Certificate from the Colombian Institution. This certificate may be a copy of the registration certificate or a fully certified copy of the agreement between educational institutions in the case of an exchange student. A Colombian Public Notary must notarize it and it must be certified with an Apostille.
Proof of legal existence of the Educational Institution in Colombia. This is a certificate known as CERTIFICADO DE PERSONERIA JURIDICA in Colombia. A Colombian Public Notary must notarize it and it must be certified with an Apostille attached.
Proof of Financial Solvency. Bank statements of the last three months, certificates of income, income tax or any other financial documents of the applicant or affidavit of support from parents or person paying for applicant’s studies and related expenses while in Colombia. If a scholarship is financing the studies, a certification from the International Organization or State or Private insitution stating this fact is required.
In the case of a minor, authorization to stay in Colombia and assignation of a tutor issued by the minor’s parents is required. This letter must be translated into Spanish if originally issued in a language other than Spanish. Both versions (English and Spanish) must be notarized and certified with an APOSTILLE.
Consular Fee: $40.00 (Exempt for US citizens).
NOTES:
Applicant is required to appear in person at the consulate’s office either when submitting the documentation or when the approved visa is ready for pick-up. No Exceptions.
Documents notarized by a Notary Public must be certified with an APOSTILLE from the Secretary of State or the state where it was issued.
For US citizens, the visa takes 3 working days to be processed. For non-US citizens, it might take up to two (2) weeks, and is subject to the approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affiars of Colombia for certain nationalities.