Short-stay visas for Colombia

Entry requirements overview for Colombia

Before traveling to Colombia, every foreign national should confirm that their passport is valid for at least six months beyond their intended arrival date and contains at least one blank page for an immigration stamp, as required by Migración Colombia. Meeting these two conditions is a baseline, not a guarantee of entry.

One requirement that applies to all international travelers, regardless of nationality, is the Check-Mig pre-registration form. This mandatory digital form must be completed between 72 hours and 1 hour before your scheduled departure. Airlines check for the confirmation at check-in, and system outages have been known to occur, so completing it at least 24 hours in advance is strongly advisable. The form is available through the Migración Colombia digital portal.

An onward or return flight ticket is also required at both check-in and the immigration counter. This must show a departure from Colombia before your permitted stay expires. A physical printout or an offline digital copy is recommended, since cellular service in arrival halls can be unreliable.

Colombian authorities do not enforce a fixed daily budget requirement, but immigration officers may ask for bank statements or other evidence of financial solvency to confirm you can support yourself for the duration of your visit.

Good to know:

Canadian citizens must pay a "Platinum Control and Verification" entry fee of COP 270,000 (USD 73) upon arrival, as established under Resolution 0599 of February 2026. Travelers under 14 or over 79, those transiting for fewer than 24 hours, and passengers whose final destination is San Andrés are exempt from this fee. Nicaraguan citizens traveling without a valid visa face a separate reciprocal entry fee of USD 10.

Visa-free entry to Colombia

Citizens of over 100 countries can enter Colombia for short-term visits without applying for a visa in advance. On arrival, eligible travelers receive an Entry and Stay Permit, known in Spanish as a Permiso de Ingreso y Permanencia (PIP), stamped directly into their passport. This initial permit authorizes a stay of up to 90 days.

The visa-free permit covers tourism, leisure, and short business meetings. It does not allow the holder to generate income from Colombian sources or take up formal employment within the country.

The total time a visa-free traveler may spend in Colombia is capped at 180 days per calendar year, across one or multiple stays. This limit applies cumulatively: every day spent in the country counts toward the annual total regardless of how many separate trips are made. US, UK, Australian, and Canadian citizens are among those eligible for this visa-free entry arrangement.

Types of short-stay visas in Colombia

Travelers whose nationality is not on the visa-exempt list, or who need to stay beyond the terms of a visa-free permit, must apply for a formal visa before traveling. Colombia's visa system is administered by the Cancillería (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and organizes short-stay categories as follows.

The Visitor Visa (Type V) is the standard category for nationalities that are not visa-exempt. It covers tourism, attendance at academic events, business consultations, and medical treatment, among other purposes. It can be issued with a validity of up to two years, but the maximum consecutive stay per entry is 90 days, and the annual total across all entries remains capped at 180 days.

The Digital Nomad Visa (Visa V Nómadas Digitales) is a specialized category introduced for individuals employed by foreign entities who wish to work remotely from Colombia. Valid for up to two years, this visa is an option for those who have exhausted the 180-day visa-free limit and need a legal status that accommodates remote work income from abroad. The application fee is USD 52.

For travelers passing through Colombian airports without clearing immigration, a transit visa is generally not required, provided the layover lasts fewer than 24 hours, and the traveler does not enter the immigration control area. Travelers who do pass through immigration, even briefly, are subject to standard entry requirements.

If your plans extend beyond the short-stay framework altogether, Colombia offers Migrant (M) category visas for workers, residents, and other long-term purposes, which fall outside the scope of this article.

Visa application process in Colombia

All Colombian short-stay visa applications are submitted electronically through the centralized Cancillería visa portal. There is no requirement to visit an embassy or consulate in person. Applicants complete an online form, upload supporting documents exclusively in PDF format, and pay the application fee online by credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or through the Colombian PSE banking system.

The standard application study fee for a Visitor Visa (Type V) is USD 52. Processing takes between 5 and 30 business days, so applying at least 30 to 60 days before your intended travel date is strongly recommended. Applying too far in advance carries a risk: the validity period begins on the date of issuance, so a visa obtained several months early may expire before your trip starts.

Once approved, the electronic visa is sent directly to the applicant's registered email address. No physical sticker or embassy collection is needed. The Digital Nomad Visa follows the same online application process and carries the same USD 52 study fee.

If your passport expires while a valid electronic visa is still active, you do not need to reapply. However, you must request a visa transfer (traspaso de visa) through the Cancillería portal to link the visa to your new passport number before traveling. Traveling with both the expired and new passports without completing this transfer risks boarding issues.

Required documents for a Colombian visa

The document requirements for a formal Visitor Visa (Type V) application are consistent across nationalities. All files must be uploaded in PDF format through the Cancillería portal. The standard required documents are:

• A scanned copy of a valid passport showing at least six months of remaining validity beyond the intended travel dates, plus clear copies of any previous Colombian entry stamps if applicable
• A recent digital passport-sized photograph (35x45mm) taken against a solid white background, with a neutral expression and no accessories obscuring the face
• A confirmed onward or return travel ticket specifying a departure date before the visa's permitted stay expires
• Proof of accommodation: a confirmed hotel reservation or a formalized invitation letter from a host residing in Colombia
• Evidence of financial solvency: typically three to six months of bank statements in the applicant's own name, showing sufficient funds for the duration of the trip
• A travel health insurance policy with a minimum coverage of USD 30,000, including coverage for repatriation of remains

Bank statements must be in the applicant's own name. If a third party is financing the trip, a notarized sponsorship declaration is required alongside that person's financial documents. Applications submitted with third-party accounts and no formal sponsorship letter are routinely rejected.

At the border in Colombia

When approaching the immigration counter, have your physical passport and the Check-Mig confirmation email accessible. Officers routinely ask about the purpose of your visit, the address where you will be staying, and your planned departure date. Having a printed copy or an offline screenshot of your onward flight reservation is advisable, as airport Wi-Fi is unreliable in arrival areas.

Customs declarations are mandatory for travelers carrying foreign currency of USD 10,000 or more. Failure to declare amounts at or above this threshold risks immediate seizure of the funds. Colombian customs also prohibit the entry of unregistered agricultural products and animal products; luggage is frequently screened by X-ray on arrival.

Extending your stay in Colombia

Travelers who entered Colombia under a 90-day visa-free permit can apply for a single extension of up to 90 additional days, bringing the maximum continuous stay within one visit to 180 days. This extension is called a Permiso Temporal para Prorrogar Permanencia (PTP) and must be requested online through the Migración Colombia online system approximately 10 to 15 calendar days before the original permit expires. Waiting until the last day is not recommended, as processing generally takes 1 to 5 business days and confirmation arrives electronically.

Under Resolution 0599 of February 2026, the standard fee for a stay extension is COP 150,000 (USD 41). This fee is waived for citizens of Schengen member states and Ecuadorian nationals, though the extension request itself remains mandatory regardless of fee exemption.

Retain the electronic confirmation of your approved extension: it serves as the equivalent of a physical passport stamp and may be requested by airlines or border officials when you depart. For travelers who prefer in-person assistance, regional Migración Colombia offices in Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali can help, though appointments are required.

It is important to note that extending a single stay does not increase the annual 180-day cap. Even with an approved extension, the total days spent in Colombia across the calendar year cannot exceed 180.

Visa runs and border rules in Colombia

A common misconception is that leaving Colombia briefly and re-entering resets the permitted stay counter. It does not. The 180-day annual ceiling is cumulative and applies to every day spent inside the country throughout the calendar year, regardless of how many separate entries are made. The count resets at the start of each calendar year on January 1.

Border control actively tracks cumulative days. Travelers who repeatedly approach the 180-day threshold face detailed questioning at the immigration counter and a significant risk of entry denial. Colombian immigration officials can and do classify frequent short-trip patterns as an attempt to live in the country while evading a proper residency visa, which can lead to refusal of entry.

If you have already reached your annual 180-day limit, the appropriate path is to apply for a longer-term visa category rather than attempting another border crossing. The Digital Nomad Visa, the Visitor Visa (Type V), or a Migrant (M) category visa may apply depending on your circumstances.

Overstaying consequences in Colombia

Remaining in Colombia beyond the authorized period on your permit triggers a formal sanction process. Overstay fines are calculated using Colombia's Tax Value Unit (UVT), which is set at COP 52,374 for 2026. Minor overstay infractions carry penalties ranging from 26.31 to 210.50 UVT, translating to fines of between COP 1,377,960 and COP 11,024,727 (approximately USD 374 to USD 2,998). Fines are non-negotiable and calculated based on the number of days overstayed.

Before leaving the country, anyone who has overstayed must regularize their status at a regional Migración Colombia office. This involves paying the fine and obtaining a Safe Conduct pass (Salvoconducto SC-2), which costs COP 88,000 (USD 24). Arriving at the airport without a pre-approved Salvoconducto will result in being detained by immigration officials and missing your flight.

Repeated overstays or a refusal to pay imposed fines can lead to formal deportation and an entry ban of at least five years. The process involves no negotiation: the only compliant path for anyone who has overstayed is to visit a Migración office, settle the fine, obtain the Salvoconducto, and then proceed to depart.

Frequently asked questions

Can I work on a tourist entry permit in Colombia?

No. A tourist entry permit and a Visitor Visa (Type V) both prohibit generating income from Colombian sources or taking up paid employment locally. If you work remotely for a foreign company, the Digital Nomad Visa (V-TP-11) is the appropriate category. Performing unauthorized local work can result in the cancellation of your permit and deportation.

How early should I apply for a short-stay visa?

Applying 30 to 60 days before your intended travel date is a reasonable window. The Cancillería takes between 5 and 30 business days to process a Visitor Visa (Type V). Applying too far in advance carries a risk: the visa validity period begins on the date of issuance, so the visa may expire before your trip if submitted months early. Gather all documents in PDF format before starting the application to avoid delays.

Can I switch from a tourist permit to a longer-term visa while in Colombia?

Yes. You can apply for a Migrant (M) visa or another long-term category through the Cancillería portal while you are still legally in Colombia under a tourist permit. The application must be submitted and approved before your current authorized stay expires. You cannot begin activities restricted to the new visa category, such as local employment, until the new visa is fully approved.

Do I need to book flights and a hotel before applying?

Yes. A confirmed onward or return flight ticket and proof of accommodation are both required for formal visa applications and may be checked at the border on arrival. Without these documents, your application is likely to be rejected. Hotel reservations and flight bookings should match each other in terms of travel dates.

What is the difference between visa validity and permitted stay?

Visa validity is the period during which you can use the visa to enter Colombia, which may extend up to two years for a Visitor Visa. Permitted stay is the maximum number of consecutive days you can remain in the country per entry, which is capped at 90 days. Holding a two-year visa does not entitle you to two uninterrupted years in Colombia: each entry is still limited to 90 days, and the annual total across all entries cannot exceed 180 days.

Can I reset my 180-day limit by doing a border run?

No. Leaving Colombia for a few days and returning does not reset the annual 180-day maximum. The limit applies cumulatively across the entire calendar year and resets only on January 1. Immigration officials track total days spent in the country and will deny entry if you attempt to exceed the annual ceiling within the same year.

Do children need their own Check-Mig form?

Children can be added to a parent or legal guardian's Check-Mig form rather than submitting a separate registration. However, every child must hold their own valid passport and meet all standard entry requirements independently. Accurate entry of the child's passport details in the dependents section of the parent's form is essential.

What happens if my passport expires while my visa is still valid?

A Colombian electronic visa remains valid even if the passport it was issued under expires. You must request a visa transfer (traspaso de visa) through the Cancillería portal to link the visa to your new passport before traveling. Failing to complete this transfer before departure can cause boarding issues with airlines. The transfer process is handled entirely online and involves a small processing fee.

Is the Check-Mig form required for domestic flights within Colombia?

No. The Check-Mig pre-registration form applies exclusively to international flights entering or departing Colombia. For domestic travel between Colombian cities, you only need to present a valid passport or official identification to the airline before boarding.

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