Colombia has over 15 types of visitor visas. We provide up-to-date 2023 information on how to obtain a Colombia visitor visa (Colombia V visa). 

Colombia offers many different categories of visas, which we looked at in our guide to Colombian visas and enable you to stay in the country for a year or more. In addition, Colombia changed its visa rules in mid 2022. Most noteworthy, the new visa rules went into effect on October 21, 2022.

One of the changes with the new Colombia visa rules in 2022 was the addition of different visitors visas, such as the visa for Digital Nomads. In addition, the category change of the M student visa.

Citizens of several countries including the Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States do not need a visa to enter Colombia as a tourist for up to 180 days.

However, if you are a tourist from Canada, you used to have to pay an entry fee of 201,000 pesos. But 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.

A Colombian “tourist” visa isn’t a formal visa. It’s just a stamp in your passport. Furthermore, a “tourist” visa can be extended by 90 days at any Migración Colombia office in the country. We also have covered how to extend a tourist visa in Colombia.

Several Medellin Guru readers have asked questions about the Colombia visitor visa. So, we have this article updated for 2023 with details about the Colombian visitor visa.

Colombia Visitor Visa (V Visa) – 25 Types

The Colombia visitor visa (V visa) can be granted for 16 different activities as follows:

  1. Carry out direct transit in one of the airports of Colombia and destined to a third country. This is similar to one option of the previous TP-2 visa.
  2. Visit Colombia for leisure, tourism or cultural interest purposes. This is similar to the previous TP-11 visa.
  3. Conduct business management, including: business negotiations, market studies, plans or procedures of direct investment and constitution of commercial society, negotiation, conclusion of contracts or commercial representation.
  4. Participate in an academic exchange program, advance training in art or trade, or undertake different studies such as Spanish classes or in a primary, secondary or undergraduate higher education program. 
  5. Attend medical consultation, intervention or treatment.
  6. Carry out administrative and/or judicial proceedings before entities or authorities in Colombia. This is similar to one option of the previous TP-8 visa.
  7. Enter and work in Colombian jurisdictional waters as a boat crew member or offshore platform. This is similar to one option of the previous TP-2 visa.
  8. To carry out seasonal agricultural work under programs established by the government.
  9. Participate in an event as a lecturer, exhibitor, artist, athlete, jury, contestant or logistical staff.
  10. Perform an internship.
  11. To work in a religious ministry or as a missionary of a spiritual entity duly recognized by the Colombian State.
  12. To enter and remain in the country as a volunteer or student in religious training or to conduct theological studies in an institute or church organization.
  13. Volunteer in development cooperation projects or in the promotion and protection of human rights.
  14. Perform audiovisual production or digital content.
  15. Working remotely for foreign companies from Colombia.
  16. Perform journalistic coverage or stay temporarily as a foreign media correspondent.
  17. To provide technical assistance to a legal entity in Colombia.
  18. Hold a position in a Colombian branch of a company with a presence abroad, by virtue of inter-corporate transfer of personnel.
  19. Coming as a foreign government official or foreign government trade representative, on a mission that does not imply accreditation to the Colombian government.
  20. Visit Colombia under holiday-work programs agreed by Colombia with other States through treaties in force.
  21. For internship activities in companies established in Colombia.
  22. To work temporarily in Colombia under a contract to render services, work, or labor.
  23. For productive, innovation or research activities oriented to the adoption or adaptation of technologies that complement or develop products, processes or services that contribute to strengthen the country’s competitiveness.
  24. For foreigners who receive a periodic and variable income from a creditable legal source.
  25. Cases and circumstances not provided for in Resolution 5477, on an exceptional basis and upon assessment by the Visa and Immigration Authority.

New Visa Resolution Impacts

Has the visa process changed in Colombia due to the new Resolution 5477?

According to ExpatGroup, the visa agency we partnered with, tells us that with the new resolution, the government has introduced new application requirements, in addition to the change of category of some visas, such as the M visa for rentista or annuity, which is now a visitor visa, or the R visa for parent of Colombian child, which is now an M visa.

The visa agency we partnered with has helped many foreigners obtain visas during the pandemic including retirement visas, marriage visas, student visas, investment visas and resident visas.

Applying for a Colombia Visitor Visa (V Visa)

Applying for a Colombia Visitor Visa (V Visa)

How to Apply for a Colombia Visitor Visa

You can apply for a Colombia visitor visa online. In addition, you can obtain Colombian visas at Colombian consulates around the world. In the U.S., Colombia has consulates located in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, Newark, New York, San Francisco and Washington DC.

The Colombian visa process is fairly easy as it’s done online. You can apply for a Colombia visa online here. This application will require scans of all required documents in PDF files plus the photo in jpg format. In addition, a detailed guide for applying online is found here.

Visas in Colombia are issued by the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. Since the coronavirus, all visas are issued electronically, so you do not have to travel to Bogota for the stamp.

I successfully obtained three Colombian visas that I applied for my own in the past that were good for a total of five years. But the biggest challenge with doing a Colombian visa yourself is not benefiting from the experiences of a a visa agency, which has processed hundreds of visas and knows exactly what is needed for each type of visa.

Also another big benefit of using a visa agency is that they help you gather all the information and documents necessary for the visitor visa application. The cost of the service includes immigration advice, visa application, visa registration, and application for a foreigner identification card.

So, for my latest visa received in 2018, a Colombia resident visa, I used a visa agency. And I found the experience painless and now highly recommend using a visa service over doing a Colombia visa application yourself. The bottom line is with a visa agency you are less likely to run into problems and you can avoid a trip to Bogotá.

Requirements for a Colombia Visitor Visa

Documents required for the Colombia visitor visa depend on the type of visitor visa.  All visitor visas require:

  • Photocopy of the first page of your passport with a minimum validity of six months where your personal data is displayed.
  • Photocopy of the page of your passport with the last stamp of entry or departure of Colombia is located.
  • If you’ve had a previous Colombian visa, a photocopy of this visa.
  • Passport style face photo with a white background, sized at 3 cm width X 4 cm height, maximum size of 300 kb jpg file for online application.
  • Mandatory health insurance policy that covers Colombian territory, all risks, death, and repatriation

Having an international health insurance policy is a new visa requirement in 2023 for all visitor visas

Use the Medellin Guru Insurance Service

For visitor visas that are personal or with the support of a natural person must include:

  1. Present written communication from the applicant and / or the natural person who supports the visa application that clearly contains the following content:
  • Full identification of the applicant and the natural person who supports the request.
  • Explanation of the relationship or link existing between the foreigner and the natural person supporting the request.
  • Explanation of the activity that the foreigner intends to carry out in the national territory (details, participants, duration and location).
  • Declaration of economic responsibility for the expenses inherent to the displacement and stay of the foreigner in the national territory.
  1. Accredit liquidity of the applicant and / or of the natural person who supports the request through bank statements of the 6 months prior to the request.

For visitor visas requested with the support of one or more legal entities, the application must include the following requirements:

  1. Letter signed by the legal representative of the legal entity, which contains the following information:
  • Full identification of the legal entity indicating the NIT in case of being incorporated in Colombia and contact information.
  • Complete identification of the foreigner.
  • Explanation of the activity that the foreigner intends to carry out in the national territory, indicating the program to be carried out, its duration and planned agenda.
  • Explanation of the relationship or type of link with the foreigner for whom the visa is requested and of the special qualification or expertise, if any.
  • Declaration of economic responsibility for the expenses inherent to the displacement and stay of the foreigner in Colombia.
  1. When the legal entity supporting the request is private and incorporated abroad, a certificate of existence, incorporation or constitution and legal representation or document must be provided.
  2. Accredit liquidity of the legal entity through bank statements corresponding to the 6 months prior to the request. In the case of a public entity, this is not needed.

Other documents required for a visitor visa vary depending on the activity and include:

To study or enroll in training as a student (#4 type of visitor visa and this is the type of visa to study Spanish):

  • Certificate of admission or enrollment in an educational institution authorized in Colombia, to carry out studies of academic exchange, studies in art or crafts and / or postgraduate studies, where there is a minimum hourly intensity of (10) hours per week.
  • Resolution of existence and legal representation of the institution where you are enrolled.

Also, once you have a Visitor (V) visa you reportedly can no longer apply for another visa while in Colombia. To apply for another visa when you have a Visitor student visa you have to go to a foreign consulate in country of origin or country of residence.

To attend medical consultation, intervention or treatment or accompany the person attending (#5 type of visitor visa), provide a certificate issued by the health care institution.

To carry out administrative and / or judicial proceedings before entities or authorities in Colombia (#6 type of visitor visa above), provide a certificate of the entity or authority before which the procedure will be carried out.

To enter and work in Colombian jurisdictional waters as a boat crew member or on an offshore platform (#7 type of visitor visa), provide a copy of the crew member’s notebook and the permits of the Colombian maritime, port and fishing authority, as applicable.

Using a Visa Agency for a Visitor Visa

If you are in Colombia, you can use a visa agency to obtain a Colombia visitor visa. A visa agency can handle the online application and ensure you have all the required documentation, and you benefit from the visa agency experience.

Medellin Guru 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 was launched in March 2019. And in 47 months, 630 visas were successfully received by clients including over 104 visitor visas.

Also, our visa service renewed 68 American passports in Bogotá using our passport renewal service. In addition, 57 clients extended tourist visas using our tourist visa extension service.

So, in total we had 755 clients of the Medellin Guru visa service in 47 months.

In addition, many more visas are in process – short, medium or longer term, depending on client needs.

Use the Medellin Guru Visa Service

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, videocall, 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 visa agency we partnered with offers visa services anywhere in Colombia. So, if you are located in another city in Colombia you can use this service.

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 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.

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

Especially relevant, it is very important 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 $1,160,000 COP per month in 2023. So, the fine is up to 8,120,000 COP pesos in 2023.

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.  

Medellin Guru’s Comprehensive Visa and Passport Series

The Colombian visa changes that went into effect in mid-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 seven most popular Colombian visas used by foreigners:

  1. Retirement visa
  2. Marriage visa
  3. Investment visa
  4. Resident visa
  5. Work visa
  6. Student visa
  7. 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 were updated in early 2022 to ensure they are up-to-date and are being updated again in 2023. In addition, all visa articles on this website will be kept up-to-date as new details are disclosed.

Obtaining a Colombia Visitor Visa (V Visa)

Obtaining a Colombia Visitor Visa (V Visa)

The Bottom Line: Obtaining a Colombia Visitor Visa (V Visa)

Colombia’s visitor visa is relatively easy to get and there are several types of visitor visas.

One of the most common visitor visas issued to foreigners is a student visa to study Spanish at a school such as student  OLSA International.

The visa agency we partnered with has helped over 104 Medellin Guru readers obtain visitor visas. Click on the blue button below and that will take you to a page of the visa agency where you can obtain a quote and ask questions using a chat.

Use the Medellin Guru Visa Service

Visa costs in Colombia are lower than in many other Latin American countries. Additionally, the Colombian visa process is simplified with online applications and is relatively quick.

 

Editors note: updated on February 25, 2019 with information that the Colombian entry fee charged to tourists from Canada will be eliminated on May 1, 2019.

Editors note: updated on August 8, 2019 with information that the Visitor student visa for studying Spanish in Colombia in most cases is only being granted for a maximum of six months.

Editors note: updated on March 11, 2020 to add a new visitor visa requirement, which is an international health insurance policy. 

Editors note: updated on March 30, 2020 with Colombian visa process changes due to coronavirus and the quarantines in Colombia.

Editors note: updated on April 4, 2020 with information that the health insurance policy required for a student visa should have at least $35,000 USD in coverage.

Editors note: updated on July 3, 2020 with information that the national quarantine in Colombia has been extended to July 15 and added information about inexpensive travel insurance that meets the health insurance requirement for this visa.

Editors note: updated on August 22, 2020 with current information regarding the quarantine impact on the Colombia visa process for Colombia visitor visas.

Editors note: update on January 20, 2022 with current information with visa client information.

Editors note: update on February 27, 2023 with updated information regarding new visa rules.

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