Question about the Tourist Permit Shuffle

Hi ChineduOpara, good question — this situation is more common than it seems among digital nomads in Colombia. 👇

In principle, you can request an extension of your tourist permit without leaving the country, but it all depends on your immigration history and the exact number of days you've accumulated in the last 12 months. Colombian Immigration usually analyzes this before approving or denying the extension.

Keep in mind that the system isn't always predictable, and in some cases, if they perceive an intention to seek "hidden residency" with multiple extensions, they could deny the request or even restrict future entries.

There are also immigration options other than the tourist permit that would allow you to avoid these frequent departures and have more peace of mind during your stay. If you'd like, I can advise you, free of charge, on the most convenient criteria and timeframes for your case.

@ChineduOpara

I think there is a strong chance they will give you the extension and you won't have to leave until April. The worry I presume is that your time under the DNV in 2025 will count against you or otherwise affect their decision on the extension? I for example have entered in Dec. each of the last 4 years and they always extend me up to 180 days online with no fuss. I don't have your DNV situation though. But if they were counting that against you, you would have been refused entry when you returned Oct. 9 because you had already exceeded 180 days in 2025. Actually It seems like you were treated the same as any other visitor with a 90 day entry and therefore you should get another 90 when you apply.

@El Jer

Exactly.  With my first DNV, I let it expire, left, and came back as a tourist..  my DNV time isn't counted. AFAIK, the "180 day" rule is specifically for tourist status.

Just to play things safe, I shall plan on stepping out to Ecuador at the end of December, and coming back in Jan. I have never been to Ecuador so it's worth spending the $$ to get that new stamp/experience.

@CCV Soluciones Migratorias

Hello, thanks for the response. I will message you directly about OTHER migration/visa questions,  if you don't mind.

@ChineduOpara

You can stay until your 90 dsys is due and then get the 90 day extension.

However it gets complicated if you extend int the new    year. Might not get thef full 90 days. Only the days in 2026, which I gues thast would be 9.

Thats mroe or less what Migraciones here in Manizaes told me.

Better make an appointment with Migraciones and ask that  or askt he lawyer that did your last visa.

I am in the same boat  but I cant get an extension in January because I am on my  second extension

Sent  query to Langon.Havent checked if.they replied yet

Best of luck

@CCV Soluciones Migratorias

You are only allowed one extension on a passport stamp. Period

No.multiple extensions

@El Jer

Thats interesting kinda contradicts what Migracione in Manizales told me. Theoretically according to them your extensiom would be equal to the time you were in Colombia with a passport stamp.in the new year..i.e. 90 minus days you were in Colombia  in December

UPDATE.

I was in a similar situation.

Came in from a trip on September 20th  got 90 day stamp good to Decembr 18th.

I was trying to plan when to leave so I asked both Langon and the local immigration office what would happen if I applied for extension before the 18th of Dec.

Both said they would not give me the 90 day extension. Immigration said they would only give  give me the Days remaining in 2025, so I would have to leave on January 3 or 4th. Langon seemed to think I would have to leave on the 31 and comeback first or 2nd of January.

I was confused   so tried to get my extension early, 3 weeks before.

It was refused, and turns out not because I applied to early,  but because the " system" did not take my visa   which I had until April 16 , 2025 into account.

So I went back into the migracion office, explained the situation  they " rejigged" the system, and I reapplied with my passport biopage and visa as attacments to the FUT.

Well, I got my extension,  with the full 90 days, unti March 18 2026. Both Langon and the Migracions office were wrong.

Lessons here:

1.Dont worry about extending 90 day passport stamp at the end of the year. If you havent gone  over  180 days ( withot a Visa ) in the current year, they will likely extend you the full 90 days into the following year.

2.Apply early  at least 3 weeks before. Dont listen to the recommendations some lawyers or agents give about waiting until 10 days before.

3. The system apears to look at your movimientos Migratorio  but not visas you had during the year. If you had a visa during the year, when making the FUT for the extension, attach the visa as well as your passport bio page.

4. Regardless of 3., above  assume the system wil screw up and you  will have to go into the local Migracion office with all your documents and proof of legitimacy . I recommend you make a cita for 3 business days after you send in the FUT in  case this happens. You can always cancel if things turn out okay.

@nico peligro

UPDATE:

I did a basic "border run" to good ol' boring ol' Panama City (December 31st - Jan 2nd). When I came back into Colombia (via CLO airport, by the way), I was given the usual 90 days.

So, in March I will apply for an extension, hopefully I get it so I can achieve all my goals (and sell all my stuff) before officially ending my 3-year-long attempt to get residency in Colomba. It's been quite the journey!

@ChineduOpara

How was Panama and would you consider staying there?  I hate that they are an ally of the U.S. hahaha.

@ChineduOpara
How was Panama and would you consider staying there? I hate that they are an ally of the U.S. hahaha. - @Digitarius

I've been to Panama City twice... both for border runs 😊 Both times, I found it "OK", with better development, better buildings and much better apartment designs than in Colombia. However, as you can imagine, the country is significantly more expensive than Colombia. On average, the cost of living in Panama is around 85% of that of the USA, so I could not make it my base. Plus there isn't much to do anyway.

@Digitarius

You will be  looking at shitier and shitier shitholes if you   wanna only stay in countries that arent ," allies" of the US

It is what it is. And I am no MAGA   by any stretch of the imaginación,   just stating reality.

Allies of the US are now Hungary, North Korea, El Salvador...and that's about it. The US desperately wants to be a friend of Russia but Putin continuously *** Trump's mouth and he just keeps coming back for another helping.

TDS is a mental illness, you need to get checked out.

@El Jer

What hyperbole