Colombia offers tourist visas to citizens of many countries for 90 days. A tourist visa can be extended by 90 days for a total of 180 days. Follow our guide to extending a tourist visa, updated for 2024.
Colombia offers instant tourist visas to citizens of many countries that are good for 90 days. These “tourist visas” are really just a stamp in your passport and aren’t really visas. And it is quite easy to extend a Colombian tourist visa to enable staying in Colombia a maximum of 180 days in a calendar year.
Over 90 countries have citizens who can enter Colombia without a visa and receive a “tourist visa” stamp. These countries include Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, Russia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States, plus over 80 more.
However, if you are a tourist from Canada, you used to have to pay an entry fee of 201,000 pesos. However, this entry fee didn’t apply to Canadians over the age of 79 or younger than 14. Also, this entry fee for Canadians was eliminated on May 1, 2019.
When you enter Colombia as a tourist, an immigration official will always stamp your passport and write that it is good for 90 days. The number will be shorter only if you have consumed the time of stay in Colombia, and the time you have to stay in the country is the remaining days of those 180 maximum days. In this case, you will not be able to request an extension.
I have lived in Medellín for several years with visas. Before this time, I had tourist visa stamps and extended these several times. This article has been updated on the online process of renewing a Colombia “tourist visa” stamp. There is no longer the need to go to a Migracion Colombia office to renew a “tourist visa” stamp unless you have problems online.
Many websites incorrectly call this a "tourist visa" but it isn't really a visa. It is a tourist permit that is just a stamp in your passport.
It isn’t a visa and Colombia has many types of visas that require visa applications.
Note the above photo shows two 90-day Colombian tourist permit stamps in a passport.
However, instead of extending your tourist visa stamp, there are over 20 different types of Colombian visas. We have a comprehensive guide to Colombian visas.
How Long Can You Normally Stay as a Tourist in Colombia?
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 days consecutively, even if this is across two years. This 180 day limit is the time you actually spend in Colombia including arrival and departure days. This count isn’t the time stamped on your passport on the tourist permit stamp, it’s your actual time spent in Colombia.
For example, if you arrive on November 1, 2023, you will have to depart at the end of February 2024, even though you were in Colombia for less than six months in 2023. But you could leave Colombia for 24 hours and come back with a “tourist visa” stamp for another 90 days in 2024, as this resets the “tourist clock.”
There is no penalty for applying early for a tourist visa/permit extension. The 90-day visa extension is added to the day your current tourist stamp expires, not the day you apply. However, there is a penalty for starting late.
How to Extend a Colombia Tourist Visa
One way to extend your “tourist visa” stamp is to simply leave the country and return with a new one. Another is to extend a tourist permit online while in Colombia.
If you are in Colombia, you used to need to go to a Migracion Colombia office to renew a tourist permit. This is no longer the case. You can renew a Colombia tourist permit online without going to a Migracion Colombia office.
Migracion Colombia usually rejects renewals if it is more than about 10 days before your tourist visa expires, so we recommend submitting your extension in this time range before your tourist visa expires.
However, many Medellin Guru readers have encountered problems applying for and paying for tourist visas online. So, they had to go to a Migracion Colombia office.
Medellin Guru partnered with a visa agency that offers the service of extending the tourist visa stamp.
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What to Do If You Overstay Your Tourist Visa?
If you overstay your tourist time limit, you will have to pay a fine before leaving the country. If you overstay, we recommend that you pay the fine at the Migracion office within at least three days before your departure so you aren’t delayed at the airport. Fines reportedly start at 1,300,000 pesos and go up depending on how long you overstay.
If you overstay your tourist “visa” by less than six months, you can pay your fine, leave Colombia, and will still be able to re-enter Colombia with a new tourist visa in the same year (as long as under the 180-day tourist rule). If you overstay by more than six months, you technically qualify for deportation and will need to leave Colombia immediately.
If you overstay, you will need to go to Migracion Colombia less than 15 days before your planned departure and ask for a “salvoconducto.” This is essentially a temporary permit that allows you to be in Colombia even though your tourist visa has expired. In addition, a salvoconducto is only good for 15 days or 30. And you will need to show this to Migracion at the airport when you leave.
When you go to Migracion Colombia for a salvoconducto, you need the following:
- Your passport.
- Copy of the page of your current passport with your personal data/photo.
- Copy of your most recent Colombia tourist visa stamp.
- Credit or debit card to pay the fine and cost of the salvoconducto.
The salvoconducto costs 74,000 pesos, and the fine starts at 1,300,000 pesos and can go as high as over 6 million pesos. But if you have overstayed for less than three months, I have heard from a few foreigners that the fine can be less than 2,000,000 pesos.
How to Extend a Colombia Tourist Visa Online in Medellín or Colombia
You should be able to renew a “tourist visa” stamp online here, but many readers have encountered problems with the online tourist visa extensions.
First, select Formulario Único de Trámites (FUT) and then Choose the “Permiso Temporal de Permanencia para Prorrogar Permanencia” option and make sure to use the Spanish version (the English version has problems).
You will be requested the following to upload your attachments in PDF format.
Migracion Colombia in Medellín told me that you need the three items below:
If you don’t have proof of onward travel, you could book a refundable ticket on Expedia that is refundable within 24 hours and print to PDF the confirmation email. Here are steps to get a refundable ticket on Expedia.
And for families there are additional requirements for children:
PDF file sizes are limited to 1 MB. You can compress PDF files using the IlovePDF website, or you can combine PDF files into one file using CombinePDF.
If you run into problems with an online tourist visa extension, try another browser. Several readers have reported that Firefox works best.
After submitting the tourist permit renewal application, you should receive a response in 1 to 2 business days. If approved, you will need to pay the 125,000 pesos fee, which is free if you are from a Schengen country in Europe.
You will receive instructions about how to pay in your approval email. You can pay online, at a Banco Occidente bank, or at a Migracion Colombia office. Reportedly, there may be some “web maintenance” issues if you pay online with a credit card.
If your application has a problem, you may be able to solve it by calling toll-free at 01800 0510454. In addition, you can ask for someone speaking English.
After you have been approved and paid, you will receive a PDF indicating that your tourist permit has been extended. You will need to print this and keep it with your passport. If you are able to renew online successfully, there is no need to go to the Migracion Colombia office.
Some readers have shared that they submitted their tourist extension application and got an email with a “Número de solicitud” but never received any more emails — not a rejection nor an approval — even after a few days. In this case, you will need to print off the email with your número de solicitud and go to a Migracion Colombia office.
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Medellin Guru partnered with an insurance agent to offer Colombian insurance services to foreigners including health insurance, auto insurance, homeowners’ insurance, travel insurance and life insurance.
Making an Appointment with Migracion Colombia
If you have problems renewing a “tourist visa” stamp online and can’t resolve the problem, you must visit a Migracion Colombia office, which is located in every major city in Colombia.
Before going to a Migracion Colombia office, you need to make an appointment. Appointments are now required and can be scheduled online here.
Also, keep in mind that Migracion Colombia is closed on national holidays and the weekends.
When you confirm your appointment, make sure to write it down or take a photo of the confirmation page.
How to Apply for an Colombia Tourist Visa Extension at Migracion Colombia
You used to be able to apply for tourist visa extensions at Migracion Colombia offices but this is no longer an option. This is what was needed when applying at a Migracion Colombia office before the pandemic:
- Your passport.
- Copy of the page of your current passport with your personal data/photo.
- Copy of your most recent Colombia tourist visa stamp.
- Your appointment confirmation number (if you made an appointment), print it out.
- Proof of onward travel. This is a copy of a ticket for departure from Colombia. And this can be a copy of a flight confirmation email. It should have your full name, dates and an itinerary showing departure from a Colombian city to a city outside of Colombia.
If you didn’t prepare copies beforehand, a small shop near the Migracion Colombia office in Medellín can make copies for about 500 pesos each.
When you arrive at Migracion Colombia, you present yourself at the counter with your appointment information, where someone will verify you have the proper documentation to extend your tourist visa. If so, you will be told to sit and wait to be called by name by an immigration official.
You needed to pay for the tourist permit extension at Migracion Colombia with a credit or debit card. American Express and Diners Club are not accepted. Only Visa or MasterCard are accepted. The cost of extending a tourist visa increased to 125,000 pesos in 2024, or this is free for citizens from Schengen countries in Europe.
How to Get to Migracion Colombia in Medellín
Here is a list of the Migracion Colombia offices in the five largest cities in Colombia.
- Bogotá – Calle 100 # 11B-27
- Medellín – Calle 19 # 80A-40, Barrio Belén
- Cali – Avenida 3 norte # 50N-20
- Cartagena – Carrera 20 B # 29-18, Barrio pie de la Popa
- Barranquilla – Carrera 42 # 54-77, Barrio El Recreo
A complete list of Migracion Colombia can be found here. In Medellín, the Migracion Colombia office is located in Belén and is listed on the Migracion Colombia website with the address Calle 19 # 80A-40.
However, this address is the old entrance, and the guard there will direct you to the other side of the building. The new entrance location is actually on Calle 19A.
Using a Visa Agency if Needing a Visa for Longer Than 180 DaysIf you are in Colombia and
If you are in Colombia and want to apply for a tourist visa stamp, but you don’t want to travel or want to stay longer than 180 days, you can use a visa agency to obtain a tourist visa stamp extension or a visa.
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.
- Bilingual team.
- Office in El Poblado in Medellín.
- Competitive price compared to other visa services.
The Medellin Guru visa service partnership has helped many foreigners with their immigration matters.
Successfully Aproved Visas
Through this service we have helped
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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 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'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:
- Colombia Visa Guide: Ultimate Guide How to Get a Colombian Visa
- How to Obtain a Colombian Visa with Up-to-Date Info – an overview of all the Colombian visas
- Popular Colombian Visas for Foreigners: Which Visa is the Most Popular?
- Coronavirus Impacts on Colombian Visas and Tourist Visas
- Visa Agencies: A Guide to Visa Agencies in Medellín and Colombia
- 9Common Colombian Visa Mistakes: How to Avoid Them
We have looked in detail at the nine most popular Colombian visas used by foreigners:
- Digital Nomad Visa
- Retirement visa
- Marriage visa
- Investment visa
- Business Visa
- Resident visa
- Work visa
- Student visa
- Visitor visa
Also, we have looked in detail at three additional Colombian visas, which are less popular for foreigners:
- Rentista visa (annuity visa) – for foreigners with a fixed income
- Beneficiary visa – for relatives of visa holders
- Expertise visa – for professionals
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.
The Bottom Line: How to Extend Colombia Tourist Visa (Tourist Stamp)
Colombia makes it relatively easy to stay in the country for up to 180 days each calendar year with just a “tourist visa” stamp, as the “tourist visa” or tourist permit extension, which are even easier to get than in the past as the extension can be done online.
The visa processes change frequently in Colombia. If you experience something different than the Colombian tourist visa extension process outlined above, please let us know in the comments below. We intend to keep all of our visa articles up-to-date.
In addition, “How to extend a Colombia tourist visa?” is a common question expats visiting Medellín ask. So, we included this question in our Medellín frequently asked questions (FAQ) list.
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Editor’s note: Updated on February 28, 2023, with updated information on extending the tourist stamp in 2023.
Editors note: updated on June 29, 2023, with new images.
Editors note: updated on August 24, 2023, with new links of Migración Colombia.
Editor’s note: updated on May 9 with current information for tourist stamp extension 2024.