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. Airport Transit
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. Tourism
Visit Colombia for leisure, tourism or cultural interest purposes. This is similar to the previous TP-11 visa.
3. Business
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. Student
5. Medical Treatment
6. Administrative or Judicial Procedures
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. Crew Member or Crew Man
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. Seasonal Farm Worker
To carry out seasonal agricultural work under programs established by the government.
9. Event
Participate in an event as a lecturer, exhibitor, artist, athlete, jury, contestant or logistical staff.
10. Religious
To work in a religious ministry or as a missionary of a spiritual entity duly recognized by the Colombian State.
11. Religious Student or Volunteer
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.
12. Volunteer
Volunteer in development cooperation projects or in the promotion and protection of human rights.
13. Large Format Film or Documentary Production
Perform audiovisual production or digital content.
14. Digital Nomad
Working remotely for foreign companies from Colombia.
15. News Coverage
Perform journalistic coverage or stay temporarily as a foreign media correspondent.
16. Permanent correspondent
To work in Colombia as a permanent press correspondent for a foreign media.-
17. Technical Assistance
To provide technical assistance to a legal entity in Colombia.
18. TLC Entrepreneurs
To facilitate the mobility of entrepreneurs or business people, in application of commitments acquired by Colombia in the framework of Free Trade Agreements signed and in force with other States.
19. Unaccredited Officer
Coming as a foreign government official or foreign government trade representative, on a mission that does not imply accreditation to the Colombian government.
20. Vacation and Work
Visit Colombia under holiday-work programs agreed by Colombia with other States through treaties in force.
21. Work Practice
Perform an internship.
22. Service Provider Work or Labor
To work temporarily in Colombia under a contract to render services, work, or labor.
23. Promotion of Internationalization
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. Rentista/Rentier
For foreigners who receive a periodic and variable income from a creditable legal source.
25. Unforeseen Cases
Cases and circumstances not provided for in Resolution 5477, on an exceptional basis and upon assessment by the Visa and Immigration Authority.
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.
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.
Medellin Guru Visa Service
The visa agency we partnered with has helped 1.189 Medellin Guru reader
expatgroup.co
Requirements for a Colombia Visitor Visa
Documents required for the Colombia visitor visa depend on the type of visitor visa. All visitor visas require:
Having an international health insurance policy is a new visa requirement in 2023 for all visitor visas
Medellin Guru Insurance Service
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.
For visitor visas that are personal or with the support of a natural person must include:
For visitor visas requested with the support of one or more legal entities, the application must include the following requirements:
Other documents required for a visitor visa vary depending on the activity and include:
Medellin Guru Insurance Service
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.
Using a Visa Agency for a Colombia 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.
expatgroup.co
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.
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:
- 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?
- Visa Agencies: A Guide to Visa Agencies in Medellín and Colombia
- 9 Common Colombian Visa Mistakes: How to Avoid Them
We have looked in detail at the seven most popular Colombian visas used by foreigners:
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 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.
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 Elefun.
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.
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.
Medellin Guru Visa Service
The visa agency we partnered with has helped 1.189 Medellin Guru reader
Editors note: update on February 27, 2023 with updated information regarding new visa rules.
Editors note: updated on June 28, 2023, with new images.
20 thoughts on “How to Obtain a Colombia Visitor Visa – 2023 Update”
Hello, I have a question. Is there a way to go to a Colombian consulate in the United States and ask which visa would be most applicable to my situation? I have asked several different visa agencies but get conflicting information. Also, for a temporary work visa, do you know how long they could give this visa for? Would I only be permitted to be in the country for 180 days, or could it be up to 2 years without leaving? Thank you.
For a work visa would be for one year but can be renewed. See our article about a work visa – https://medellinguru.com/work-visa/
Also, click on this link to get to the visa agency we partnered with where you can get a visa quote – https://expatgroup.co/english/visasincolombia/ and there is a chat available online at the bottom right during business hours.
Hi Jeff, I have a question. If I am in Colombia for 179 days, leave for 1 week and then return, does that restore the migration clock and give me another 90 days because I have a new tourist visa now? Or am I only allowed to stay in Colombia 180 days in 1 year?
You are limited to 180 days in a year as a tourist – see out popular article about the tourist visa, clock only resets in a new year – https://medellinguru.com/tourist-visa/
Jeff! Tengo una pregunta. So basically, I can be on the tourist visa for 6 months, go to another country for 1 week and then return here for another 6 months on a new tourist visa? Cheers! Love your vlog.
Hello Sir I’m From India And It’s My 1st International Trip And I want to visit Colombia for 7 days will I able to get Visa and what documents I’ll required Sir Please Reply
Hello Jeff, very good information. I have a question about the Requirements, the second one says: “Photocopy of the page of your passport with the last stamp of entry or departure of Colombia is located.” but what if the visitor has never been in Colombia and they want to visit Colombia for the first time? They do not have that stamp of entry or departure of Colombia.
May you please explain that specific requeriment? Thank you.
If you are applying for a visitor visa in a consulate outside of Colombia and haven’t been to Colombia before, obviously this is not needed.
It is required if you are applying for a visitor visa while in Colombia.
My return flight was on April 20, 2020 and so was the end of the second 90 day visa. I usually arrive mid-October and leave mid-April (6 months) of the year after. This year my return flight was cancelled du to the Corona virus and so was the second one purchased on may 30 th and I’m still in Colombia since. Could your agency get me any kind of visa extension to be legal ? Do I need one ?? As of September there’s no guaranty Ill get a flight right away back to Canada.
Now first can I return to Colombia as usual in October 2020 ?? Also can I just stay here and get some kind of humanitarian extension till mid-October and back to normal ?? Could I go (If possible) Just go to Ecuador for example and enter again in October 2020. I’m really at lost ! As a Canadian, can that be possible ??
I’m listening to any positive suggestion from your experienced part. Can the agency be of any help ?
PS: Real happy that I have discovered your site. We can count on it to get accurate info. Thank you so much!
Tourist visa extensions are still not available on the Migracion website and Migracion offices are closed. You can contact the visa agency we partnered with if you want more details by clicking on this link – https://expatgroup.co/english/visasincolombia/ and there is a chat at the bottom right where you can ask questions during business hours and sometimes after hours.
On March 11 my 90 day tourist permit expired despite the fact that I had sent at least 4 of the on-line forms to them prior to the lockdown. I have retained all of the correspondence sent by me and an email saying all business would be conducted through my email address. Nothing. I went by Feb 4 and was told to do the process on line. I sent my lawyer by the offices on March 5 and they would not speak to her about my situation. I could go on. Now I have a humanitarian flight on June 11 and no extension of my tourist visa permit to show at the airport. When do you expect the Migracion office will open? Any advice on how to simplify the issue when I get to the airport? Thanks
No word on when Migracion office will open. You likely won’t be penalized for overstaying a tourist visa during the quarantine – see our guide to visa process changes due to the quarantine – https://medellinguru.com/colombian-visa-process-changes/
We recommend getting to the airport early. We have heard the lines can be long for getting into the airport and checking in for humanitarian flights.
When will the Colombia Migracion offices reopen?
Jeff, thank you so much for your recommendation. Your blog is very informative, and you’re done a really good job with all the posts about the new visa regulations, whenever you need to renew your visa, please contact me at Cali Capital.
Thanks this is very helpful information.
Great info, but as I am in the process of applying for a visa for myself and my family as beneficiaries, I would like to let you all know that it is no longer possible to directly apply in person in Bogota. All requests have to be filed online, and only if your personal presence is required in Bogota, you will receive a formal invitation by email to present yourself for an interview.
Thanks, the article is updated.
Thank you very good information
Thanks for the useful information and keeping your visa posts up to date. Every other site I have seen has out of date Colombia visa information.
Excellent work, Jeff. Very useful info. Thanks for posting.
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