fbpx
Visa Mistakes Common Colombian Visa Mistakes How to Avoid Them - FB
Many foreigners make mistakes when applying for visas in Colombia. We provide an update on the most common Colombian visa mistakes and how to avoid them.

10 Common Colombian Visa Mistakes: How to Avoid Them – 2024 Update

Many foreigners make mistakes when applying for visas in Colombia. We provide a 2024 update and look at nine of the most common Colombian visa mistakes and how to avoid them.

I have lived in Colombia for many years and successfully applied for four different visas. During this time, I have talked to several foreigners who made mistakes when applying for Colombian visas.

In addition, I have talked to several visa agencies in Colombia about the most common Colombian visa mistakes they have seen.

These visa mistakes are usually due to not knowing the visa rules in Colombia or perhaps knowing the rules but not keeping track of time.

Several of the most common Colombia visa mistakes can be avoiding by using the visa services of a visa agency.

Here are nine common Colombian visa mistakes in no particular order, updated for 2024.

1. Waiting Too Long to Get an Extension on the Tourist Visa/Permit

This has been a very common mistake. Colombia offers instant tourist visas to citizens of many countries for 90 days. These “tourist visas” are really just a stamp in your passport and aren’t visas.

But it is normally quite easy to extend a Colombian tourist visa to enable staying in Colombia for a maximum of 180 days in a year, and we have an up-to-date guide to extending a Colombia tourist visa

When you enter Colombia as a tourist, an immigration official will stamp your passport. Normally, the official will write that it is good for 90 days, but this is at the official’s discretion and occasionally may be shorter.

Many websites incorrectly call this a “tourist visa, but it isn’t a visa. It is a tourist permit that is just a stamp on your passport. It isn’t a visa, and Colombia has many types of visas that require visa applications.

The current tourist rule is that you can stay in Colombia as a tourist for a maximum of 180 days in a calendar year (January 1 to December 31). In addition, you can’t stay for more than 180 consecutive days.

Colombia tourist visa stamps in a passport
Colombia tourist visa stamps in a passport

For example, if you arrive on January 1, 2024, you must depart on the 1st of April. But you could leave Colombia and come back next year, 2025, with a “tourist visa” stamp for another 90 days that can be extended for another 90 days. 

If you overstay your tourist time limit, you must pay a fine before leaving the country. If you overstay, you must go to Migracion Colombia less than 15 days before your departure and ask for a “salvoconducto”.  In our guide to Colombia tourist visas, we look at what do to when overstaying your tourist visa.

So, when you enter Colombia with a tourist visa, you should keep track of the validity of the stamp in your passport. If you plan to renew, you should do this over a week before the expiration date.

2. Not Obtaining Health Insurance When Applying for a Colombian Visa

Colombia requires health insurance when applying for Colombian visas for all visitors visas and for some migrant visas such as retirement and investment. 

World-class healthcare is available in Colombia
World-class healthcare is available in Colombia

Many Medellin Guru readers have asked about the health insurance needed for visas. The insurance broker we partnered with offers a relatively inexpensive travel insurance policy from ASSIST CARD that meets the health insurance requirement for Colombian visas.

Assist Card

Assist Card

Health Insurance for Expats in Colombia 🇨🇴
(28 Reviews)

3. Not Registering a Colombian Visa and Applying for a Cedula Within 15 Days

Once you receive an email approval of a Colombian visa, you have 15 calendar days to register your visa with Migración Colombia and apply for a Cedula de Extranjeria (Colombian ID for foreigners). If you received your visa at a consulate, you will have 15 calendar days after you arrive in Colombia to register your visa.

It is especially relevant to register your Colombian visa within the allowed time frame. If not, you will be liable for a big fine of up to seven times the minimum monthly salary in Colombia. The minimum salary in Colombia is $1,300,000 COP per month in 2024, so the fine is up to 9,100,000 COP pesos in 2024.

Medellin Guru Visa Service

The visa agency we partnered with has helped 1.377 Medellin Guru reader

In addition, only visas of greater than three months’ duration require a cedula. Shorter-duration visas still need to be registered with Migración Colombia but don’t require a Colombian cedula ID.

Furthermore, we have a detailed and up-to-date guide to applying for a cedula extranjeria in Colombia.

The bottom line is that it’s important to register your visa and apply for a cedula within 15 business days of approval (or 15 days from arriving in Colombia if issued at a consulate).

The visa agency we partnered with has helped many foreigners obtain visas including digital nomad visas, retirement visasmarriage visasstudent visasinvestment visas, work visas, resident visas and beneficiary visas.

Most popular Colombian Visas - Update 2024
Most popular Colombian Visas - Update 2024

4. Staying Outside Colombia Too Long When You Have a Colombian Visa

If you have a Colombian visa, it permits multiple entries into Colombia. However, Colombian visas also restrict how long you can leave Colombia without returning to Colombia.

For example, with a migrant visa (M visa) such as a retirement, work, or marriage visa, if you are out of Colombia for a contiguous duration of more than six months without returning to Colombia, the visa expires and is no longer valid.

For a resident visa (R visa), if you are out of Colombia for a contiguous period of more than two years without returning to Colombia, the visa expires and is no longer valid.

In the past year, I have talked to several different expats who didn’t know about this restriction. These expats left Colombia for too long and found that their visas had expired and were no longer valid when they returned.

So, these expats had to incur the expenses of re-applying for the visa they already had but let expire due to being out of Colombia too long. This demonstrates that tracking your time outside of Colombia is important if you have a visa.

expatgroup.co
Closed

expatgroup.co

Services specialized for foreigners in Colombia 🇨🇴
(126 Reviews)

5. Using Old Documents for the Visa Application

Any document submitted with a Colombian visa application must be dated within three months of the application.

So, if you have an old official copy of a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or other document, you can’t use it.  You need a recent copy.

Why? In Colombia, some documents like birth certificates are living documents that change when you get married or get divorced. In Colombia, a long-form birth certificate will be added when you marry. So, you can find out if someone is married in Colombia from their birth certificate.

Countries that are party to the Apostille Convention, source by Fallschirmajager
Countries that are party to the Apostille Convention, source by Fallschirmajager

If you are in Colombia, it can be a pain to collect documents in your home country. But you can ask friends or family in your home country to help you obtain documents or contact a visa agency who can help you to get them.

6. Using Documents Without an Apostille for the Visa Application

Any documents issued by a foreign country need an apostille for a visa application in Colombia.

In domestic law, an apostille is comparable to a notarization. The apostille certifies a document’s validity for use in a foreign country.

To be eligible for an apostille, a document must be issued or certified by an officer recognized by the authority that will issue the apostille. In the U.S., the authorities that issue apostilles for state documents like birth certificates and marriage certificates is the Secretary of State of each state in the U.S.

Apostille from Australia, photo by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia
Apostille from Australia, photo by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia

Apostille from Australia, photo by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia

Also, if a country is not party to the Apostille Convention or Treaty, you will need to get the document notarized before a public notary and go to the Colombian consulate to sign it before a Colombian Consul. For example, Canada is one country that is not a party to the Apostille Convention.

You can see a list of countries that are party to the Apostille Convention on Wikipedia.

In addition, some companies provide apostille services to help get apostille for documents. The visa agencies in Colombia can also help get apostilles for documents.

US Apostille Service

  • Authentication with US Notary
  • Apostille certification (Digital)

If the document requires official translation into Spanish, there will be an additional charge.

7. Not Getting an Official Translation for Documents Not in Spanish

Documents submitted as part of a Colombian visa application that are not in Spanish need to be translated to Spanish for a Colombian visa application.

This translation needs to be done by an official translator who will print the translation with the date of the translation.

In addition, all the visa agencies in Colombia provide services to translate documents with official translators. Here you can find a great official translation service.

You can opt for a visitor visa and discover the beauty of Colombia
You can opt for a Colombia visa and discover the beauty of Colombia

8. Applying for or Renewing Visas with Insufficient Time in Advance

Remember to apply for or renew a Colombian visa at least one or two months in advance. We now recommend renewing visas two months in advance in case problems arise. 

Some categories of visas can take much more time. And a retirement visa may require additional documentation. 

In addition, remember that you need time to collect and order the documents needed for the visa application. Getting official documents from another country with an apostille and translation can take weeks.

If you don’t start this process with sufficient time in advance, it is possible to apply for and pay for a Salvoconducto, which is an emergency extension given in specific situations. But it’s better to start the visa process far enough in advance so you don’t need to do this.

Also, don’t forget about renewing passports. We have a guide to renewing U.S. passports in Colombia, and our partner expatgroup.co has the American Passport Renewal service too.

9. Not Including All the Required Documents for a Colombia Visa Application

A common error with Colombian visa applications is that they do not include all the required supporting documents. We have an entire series of articles about Colombian visas, which include lists of the required documents for each visa type.

Keep in mind that the list of required documents for visas can change over time. For example, Colombian visas now require an international medical insurance policy. This is a new requirement. On the Medellin Guru website, we keep our Colombia visa articles up-to-date.

Medellin Guru Insurance Service

The insurance agency we partnered with has helped 1.377 Medellin Guru readers

Also, when applying for a Colombian visa, it is important to ensure that the application has correct information. Incorrect details on the visa application, such as the name, passport number, or date of birth not appearing as it does in the passport, are common for self-submitted visa applications.

While it may seem obvious, some people use information such as a nickname on a visa application that is inconsistent with the name on official documents or identity proof.

10. Not providing the FBI background check in advance if you are a U.S. Citizen

Previously, in Resolution 6045 of 2017, it was the Ministry’s task to verify the background check (Article 38). However, with the entry of the new resolution in 2022, the applicants also must provide the Background Check for the visas that require it as a mandatory document. Also, the government can request additional documentation for any visa category under discretionary authority, including criminal records. Even if your visa doesn’t require the Background Check as a mandatory requirement, if the Chancellery requests it, you must provide it as soon as possible.

Here is proof that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is requesting the FBI Background Check for the Digital Nomad visa application process, even if it wasn’t a specific requirement by law from the beginning.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Additional Requirement
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Additional Requirement

expatgroup.co can help you obtain your FBI Background Check from Colombia, taking your fingerprints in its office in Medellin. They can make the process for you and receive your FBI Certificate valid for your visa. If you want their professional help, click on the green button below, and we’ll send you to our partner as a referral from Medellin Guru with no additional cost.

FBI Background Check Service

  • Filling out the FBI form
  • Fingerprinting (Medellín)
  • International shipment to USA
  • FBI criminal record certificate
  • Authentication of the certificate through a public notary in the USA
  • Apostille certificate
  • Official translations into Spanish

Using a Visa Agency to Obtain a Colombian Visa

If you are in Colombia, you can use a visa agency to obtain a Colombia visa. A visa agency can handle the online application and ensure you have the required paperwork.

Medellin Guru has partnered with what we believe is the best visa agency in Medellín to offer Colombia visa services. Features of this service include:

  • Online chat – get visa questions answered fast.
  • Online quotes – get immediate visa quotes.
  • Office in El Poblado in Medellín.
  • Competitive price compared to other visa services.
medellin guru visa service

Successfully Aproved Visas

1
after launching our partnership with expatgroup.co

 

Through this service we have helped

1
Medellin Guru readers with their immigration processes

Digital Nomad

0

Retirement

0

Marriage

0

Permanent Partner

0

Beneficiary

0

Student

0

Investment

0

Resident

0

Business

0

Tourism

0

Rentist

0

Work

0
100
American Passports Renewed
68
Tourism Stamp Extension

We reviewed all the Colombia visa agency services in Medellín and found one agency that offers a more efficient visa service with more features and more comprehensive communications including online chat, WhatsApp, video call, email and phone plus a low price and a convenient office in El Poblado.

Our visa partnership is an affiliate relationship (like the Amazon affiliate program). If you use our visa partner, Medellin Guru receives a small commission and you support the website. This is at no additional cost to you. The price remains the same whether you use a button or affiliate link on this website or not.

Furthermore, the partner visa agency offers visa services anywhere in Colombia. So, if you are located in another city in Colombia, you can use this service.

Medellin Guru Visa Service

The visa agency we partnered with has helped 1.377 Medellin Guru reader

New entrance to Migracion Colombia in Medellín, on Calle 19A
New entrance to Migracion Colombia in Medellín, on Calle 19A

Getting a Colombian Cedula

After you have successfully received your Colombian Visa you normally have a maximum of 15 calendar days to register your visa with Migración Colombia to get a Cedula de Extranjeria (Colombian ID for foreigners). Or if you received your visa at a consulate, you will have 15 calendar days after you arrive in Colombia to register your visa.

Especially relevant, it is very important to register your Colombian Beneficiary visa within the allotted time frame. If not, you will be liable for a big fine of up to seven times the minimum monthly salary in Colombia. The minimum salary in Colombia is $1,300,000 COP per month in 2024. So, the fine is up to 9,100,000 COP pesos in 2024.

Due to being photographed and fingerprinted this must be done in-person at a Migración Colombia office.

To register your visa and apply for a cedula this must be done at one of the Migración Colombia offices. You can find Migración Colombia offices in major cities in Colombia.

  • Barranquilla – Carrera 42 # 54-77, Barrio El Recreo
  • Bogotá – Calle 100 #11B-27
  • Cali – Avenida 3 norte # 50N-20
  • Cartagena – Carrera 20 B # 29-18, Barrio pie de la Popa
  • Medellín – Calle 19 #80A-40, Barrio Belén (the entrance is on the other side of the building on Calle 19A)

A complete list of the Migración Colombia offices is found here. In addition, we have a guide to applying for a Cedula Extranjeria in Colombia.  

Dual citizenship is possible
Dual citizenship is possible

Dual Citizenship

After having an migrant (M) retirement visa for five years you are eligible to receive a resident (R) visa. And after having an R visa for five years you can apply to become a citizen of Colombia.

Also, you won’t have to give up your existing citizenship. Colombia permits dual-citizenship, as does the U.S. and many other countries.

Once you become a dual citizen with Colombian citizenship, you will no longer need to deal with visas anymore. Also, you will be able to travel to a few counties as a Colombian citizen without a visa such as Russia, which require a visa for U.S. citizens.

Also, if you have Colombian citizenship, this benefits you with the Mercosur trade block. Nationals of Member States (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) and Associated States (Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru) do not need a passport or visa to travel around the region, with only a national identity card required. 

In addition, the Mercosur Agreement grants the right to residence and work for citizens with no requirement other than nationality. Citizens of the Member States and Associated States that are part of the agreement enjoy a facilitated procedure for applying for a residence visa, as long as they have a valid passport, birth certificate and a negative certificate of criminal record.

To become a citizen, Colombia requires a citizenship test, just like the U.S. does. You will be required to pass a test related to Colombian history, geography and the constitution. Also, a basic Spanish oral test is required. Those who have a bachelor’s degree from a Colombian university or are over 65 years old are exempt from these tests.

Medellin Guru's Comprehensive Visa and Passport Series

The Colombian visa changes that went into effect in October 2022 were significant. So, on the Medellin Guru site, we have a comprehensive series of visa articles that are kept up-to-date and should answer most visa questions. These articles include:

We have looked in detail at the nine most popular Colombian visas used by foreigners:

  1. Digital Nomad Visa
  2. Retirement visa
  3. Marriage visa
  4. Investment visa
  5. Business Visa
  6. Resident visa
  7. Work visa
  8. Student visa
  9. Visitor visa

Also, we have looked in detail at three additional Colombian visas, which are less popular for foreigners:

In addition, we have a guide to Colombia tourist visas and how to extend a tourist visa. Also, we have a guide to renewing U.S. passports in Colombia and a guide to obtaining a Colombian passport.

Furthermore, we provide information about travel insurance that meets the insurance requirement for Colombian visas. And we have a guide to how apply for a cedula extranjeria in Colombia and a guide to using notaries in Medellín and Colombia. Finally, Medellin Guru has partnered with a visa agency to offer Colombia visa services.

All of our Colombia visa articles are up to date (2023) and constantly receive updates in 2024.

Obtaining a Colombia visa
Obtaining a Colombia Visa

The Bottom Line: 9 Common Colombian Visa Mistakes – How to Avoid Them

In this article we looked at nine of the most common Colombian visa mistakes made by foreigners. These mistakes are usually due to not knowing the visa rules in Colombia or perhaps knowing the rules but not keeping track of time.

Several of the most common Colombia visa mistakes can be avoiding by using the visa services of a visa agency. While I was able to obtain three visas on my own in the past, I now recommend using a visa agency, as you can avoid a trip to Bogotá and benefit from the experience of a visa agency.

Medellin Guru Social media

Be part of our community. Find out about news, participate in events and enjoy the best of the city.

Medellin Real Estate 2023 Property Buyer's Guide for Foreigners

This blog offers comprehensive insights into purchasing real estate in Medellín for foreigners, detailing the procedural steps and typical closing...

Read More
Assist Card Why is the Best Health Insurance for Colombian Visas

Are you planning a trip to Colombia? The right health insurance is crucial, especially when applying for a Colombian visa....

Read More
Medellin Guru-Visa Service Providing Colombia Visa Services

Explore Medellin Guru's Visa Services for seamless guidance on colombian visas. Our expert partner expatgroup.co offers comprehensive assistance for expats,...

Read More
Travel Insurance Meets the Health Insurance Requirement for Colombia Visas

Colombia requires health insurance when applying for visas, and we look at inexpensive travel insurance that meets the requirement, updated...

Read More

Last Business-Directory

expatgroup.co offiice in El Poblado, Medellin - The best Visa Agency in Colombia

expatgroup.co is a dedicated team of professionals, who provide quality visa services to meet the needs of the expatriate community.

Read More

Modern and spectacular Studio, available for rent in one of the best locations in the city, where you will be...

Read More

Health travel Insurance for expats in Colombia,AssitCard is multinational company dedicated to the provision of international assistance services with worldwide...

Read More

Real estate legal services for foreigners in Colombia: Transferring funds into Colombia, legal analysis and property background check, sales agreement,...

Read More

48 thoughts on “10 Common Colombian Visa Mistakes: How to Avoid Them – 2024 Update”

    1. Gabriel March 8, 2021

      Forgot to mention that I applied on the Migración Colombia website.

      https://www.migracioncolombia.gov.co/prorroga-de-permanencia

    2. Gabriel March 8, 2021

      Hi Jeff,

      Thanks for the article.

      I just want to share that visa extensions are available online. I applied for my 90-day extension in January 2021 and it was approved.

    3. Quick question…I arrived on November 13th and was planning on leaving on Feb 9th to Brazil (less than 90 days) but hey just stopped flights to Brazil…Can I stay up to 3 months in this new Calendar year without needing to request an extension or do I need an extension to stay past February 9th (my 90 day limit since November)? Planning on leaving for Brazil a month later when they open flights again…thanks!

    4. Hiba Iqteit January 22, 2021

      Hi Jeff, thanks for the super helpful article! Quick question – I tried renewing my tourist stamp 10 days before it expired then again 3 days before and now 2 days before. I still have not heard anything from migracion colombia and not sure what to do. I am in Bogota.

      • Recommend that you ask the visa agency we partnered with – click on the link – https://expatgroup.co/english/visasincolombia/ and there is a chat during business hours.

      • The Visa agency Jeff mentioned can’t help you with this I’m afraid.

        As long as you made a picture of the date and confirmation number which you see after filling in the online form I wouldn’t worry too much. That seems to me enough proof that you filled in the form in time. Migracion is extremely slow lately so it wouldn’t surprise me if you receive the extension by email later than the expiry date of your current 90 days permission…

        • The visa agency does tourist visa extensions for clients and can say how long it is taking them plus they have contacts at Migracion.

        • Desyn you are wrong. The visa agency does tourist visa extensions as Jeff says and knows how long it takes plus they have much experience.

    5. Ciaran Farrell August 31, 2020

      Hi,

      Thank you for your article. I am curious about my situation and what I should do as the context is very specific with COVID. I entered Colombia on February 24th 2020 and got a stamp that authorized me to be here for 90 days. I have not extended the visa since entering the country as I was informed that the whole process was frozen. However,now with my flight back to Europe planned for the 14th of September, I would like to be sure that I will not encounter any problems regarding my prolonged stay.

      Do you know if I am still here legally at this point or if I need to clarify my situation?

      Thank you very much for your help,

      Ciaran

    6. Brian Feld August 9, 2020

      Hi Jeff,

      Thank you very much for setting up this blog. I will be traveling to Colombia for work soon and the info here has been very helpful.
      I’m planning to apply for my visa from the US and I need my documents translated from English to Spanish. Do you know how can this be done here? As far as I know, there’s no such thing as a “certified translator”.

      Thank you very much,
      Brian

      • They are likely less strict on using a “certified translator” when applying for visas in consulates in the U.S.

    7. Hi Jeff, do you know the requirements for M visa for being out of Colombia?
      For example, this year I spent few weeks out of Colombia in March and all the rest time was in Colombia.
      So, in August it will be 180+ in total in Colombia.
      Will it be fine if I’ll go out in August and will return in December?

      • With an M visa if you leave for more than six months consecutively without returning to Colombia your visa loses its validity like any other migrant (M) visa. But this is currently not being enforced due to no international flights to Colombia. When flights resume they will likely start to enforce again.

    8. Isidor Chait June 8, 2020

      Hi Jeff,
      I have a question, if anyone can give me a good advice on liquidation claim, with my house keeper for past 3 years .
      Never had this kind of situation before and we never had a contract. if anyone had the same and want to share your experience , please let me know, THANk You.

    9. Euan Duncan May 23, 2020

      Hi Jeff, many thanks for all the information you post here. I made one of the common mistakes above, my application was sent back with the status ‘Required’, I uploaded the extra documents and sent it back. On the website it said ‘Application Payment Already Received’ as I paid when I submitted everything the first time. However I received an automatic email saying that I had to pay the application fee.

      I’m guessing that it’s just an automatic email and there is no need to apply again, but do you know for sure? I would phone them to ask, but it seems as though the offices are completely shut during quarantine.

      Thanks again,
      Euan Duncan

    10. Kenny Bryant February 24, 2020

      Jeff, I have a marriage visa and I work in the U.S. I know that I can’t stay outside of Colombia over 6 months at a time so I am planning regaular visits. My question is how long do I need to stay in Colombia on my visits? Thanks

      • I was told by a lawyer recently you can return for a day and you can leave again. A marriage visa is multiple entry.

    11. Hola Jeff
      Been carefully tracking time out of Colombia on the calendar.
      Halfway thru the 5 years toward qualifying for RE VISA

      Would now be a good time to request a Migratory Movement certificate, to be sure I’m in good standing? (and good experience to go thru the process)

      saldos

    12. Hey Jeff, Thank you so much for the useful tips. I am just wondering about your friends who had migrant visa and realized that it was no longer valid upon arrival in Colombia. Did they have to return back to country of origin to re-apply for a visa? Or they could just pay a fine, and re-apply on the spot? Just curios, cause I’ve been out of the country for 5 months now, and am planning to return back to Colombia soon-ish.

      • If the visa is no longer valid, would enter Colombia as a tourist. And then could apply for a new visa while in Colombia.

        • Just another question, if you can help me out… I have a visa type – servicio titular. I’ve been trying to find out under which category it falls into, V, M or R. Do you happen to know? or its a separate category of its own. I’m trying to find out how long I can stay outside the country before my visa becomes invalid?

    13. Thank you, your posts are very informative and concise. Do you know, with a M (Visa) can you return to Colombia and leave back out in a week will reset the 6 months (180) days out of Colombia rule?

      • Yes, for a M visa the six-month limit clock for being out of Colombia resets when you return to Colombia.

        • Thank you!

          • Erika July 1, 2021

            Hi Jeff, good day! My husband and I are visitors here in Colombia and we are currently holding an R visa that is valid for 2 years. A friend of ours who is holding the same visa and validity just recently left the country was asked to pay for tax at the airport for “overstaying” because he was here for more than 180 days despite having an R visa with 2 years validity. He was asked to pay 94.000 during check in. My husband and I are leaving soon too, so we wanted to understand why our friend was charged. By the way, we were here in Colombia for 1year and 4 months.

    14. Hi Jeff, thanks for keeping your information so up to date. I have a question that’s slightly different, about getting the Colombian visa in the States. My family and I are moving to Bucaramanga as teachers and have visas applied for and approved through our employer there. Our next step in getting the visas actually put into our passports. I believe in the past you had to visit a consulate in person for this, but they told me I could mail them to the consulate via FedEx. I’m having trouble getting information about the process of actually mailing the passports in a way that gets them the correct attention with the consulate. Since this seems to be a new process, I’m having a hard time finding anyone who has actually mailed their passports, rather than take them in person. We’re hoping to avoid a cross country flight mid-summer which is why we’re looking into the mail option. Do you know of anyone who has had luck mailing a passport to the consulate in the states or any Visa agencies located in the States that can help with this?

      • Hi Katie, I haven’t talked to anyone who has mailed to a Colombian consulate but I have talked to several that have gone to consulates to apply for visas.

      • Dear Katie
        I have mailed to Consulate before but they take longer (ie, sit on it)

        Its always better going in person, you get immediate processing and response
        (I realize it requires a flight – for me, it was 45 minutes by train)

        good luck

    15. Minke June 6, 2019

      Hi Jeff! Thanks for your information.
      I struggle to understand something,
      If you want to go for an M6, you need to open a bank account with the required saldo on it first as 1 of the steps to obtain an M6 visa.

      But then, for opening an account, you need to have your cedula. Which only can be given AFTER you have your visa.
      How does this work then? ?
      ?
      Thanks for your time,
      Minke

      • I understand you can open a brokerage account at Alianza Valores with a passport.

        I recommend clicking on the blue “Use the Medellin Guru Visa Service” button in the article and you can ask questions about the M6 visa directly with the visa agency using the chat box at the bottom right of the screen.

    16. Stephen May 22, 2019

      What about for student visas? What’s the maximum amount of time you can leave the country every year?

    17. Robert May 19, 2019

      Thanks for the helpful article. This should be required reading for anyone visiting Colombia or planning to get a Colombian visa. I didn’t know about the time restrictions for leaving Colombia with a Colombian visa.

    18. geoffrey May 19, 2019

      Jeff one of your previous articles says that:
      “According to Resolution 6045, Article 22, the “R” visa will be valid indefinitely. And according to Article 25, the validity period of the “R” visa label is five years. At the request of its owner, this document may be renewed for equal periods by a visa transfer procedure.”

      I’m a bit confused on this. It seems to be something of a contradiction between Article 22 and Article 25. Is it that the Visa is valid indefinitely and that after 5 years there is no need to re-apply and a Visa transfer is all that’s required?

      • Yes, the resident “R” visa is reportedly valid indefinitely but the visa stamp in your passport is only good for five years. I will ask a visa agency for clarification what is involved in renewal of the visa stamp and update the article.

        • geoffrey May 19, 2019

          Right, worth an inquiry. A new 5 year visa stamp could be placed in a passport that doesn’t have 5 years left on it. Renewing the passport would then require yet another visa stamp so how would that work?

          • If you renew a passport and if the old passport still has a valid visa, you carry both passports. The valid passport and the old passport with the valid visa. I have talked to many expats that do this.

    19. geoffrey May 19, 2019

      Important stuff here. I didn’t know that with the Resident visa I could be out of Colombia for up to two years. When my present Migrant visa expires I’ll be eligible the Resident visa. I have been thinking in terms of 6 months and planning accordingly.

    20. geoffrey May 19, 2019

      Ovoid or Avoid?

      • Thanks for catching the typo, corrected.

      • Hi Jeff,

        Thanks so much for this.

        What determines whether the M-6 Visa is granted for 1,2 or 3 years?

        I have recently been granted 1 year, but was expecting 3.

    21. abdullah May 19, 2019

      Jeff,

      Thank you for the important information about the common visa mistakes.

    Add a Comment

    Your email address will not be published.

    4 × four =

    Join the networking group in Colombia on Facebook and Whatsapp Channel