Colombia
Check-MIG Colombia
Colombia
Travel requirements
Colombia visa policy

Colombia Visa Policy

Colombia visa policy imposes visa restrictions on foreign nationals to protect the country and local citizens.

The visa policy of Colombia works in three ways: there are countries whose citizens can apply for a visa online, countries where applicants must go to a foreign mission to get a regular visa to Colombia, and those who have visa-free access.

The most effortless way to get a Colombia visa is to apply for an electronic visa. The Colombia eVisa application process is speedy and entirely online. This facilitation applies to citizens from almost 100 countries all over the world.

Nationals from 46 countries that are not eligible for a Colombian eVisa can get a regular visa to Colombia by attending the nearest embassy or consulate. A personal visit is also required if a traveler intends to have a long-term stay.

It is extremely important to examine the Colombia visa policy, but do not forget about other entry requirements. For example, one cannot enter the country without a valid Check-MIG – an obligatory authorization form that must be completed online within 24 hours of travel.

Who can enter Colombia?

All travelers meeting the Colombia entry requirements can visit the country. The conditions to be allowed into Colombia may vary greatly depending on the visitor’s age and nationality.

Even though visa-exempted tourists do not need a visa, they still should get their passports stamped with a PIP-5 Entry Permit by an immigration control officer.

Make sure to study all available information to avoid any pitfalls.

Entry requirements for Colombia

All persons entering Colombia must have a passport that doesn’t expire for at least 6 months from arrival and a Check-MIG submitted within 24 hours prior to boarding an inbound or outbound flight.

Most nationalities also need a visa, so check the visa policy of Colombia to know whether you should obtain a Colombian visa or have visa-free access.

The majority of COVID-19 requirements are still in effect. All travelers over 18 years old must have proof of full vaccination. Alternatively, visitors can show a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of boarding or a negative antigen test taken within 48 hours of boarding.

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is an obligatory document for visitors aged 1 year or over arriving from Angola, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda. It is also mandatory for travelers who have transited through a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission for more than 12 hours.

It is allowed to enter Colombia only through an official border crossing. If you do not, you may be fined or jailed.  Also, there are currency restrictions for entry and exit: you can have a 10,000 USD maximum.

Documents checklist for entering Colombia

See which documents you should present to the immigration officer at the Colombia entry point:

  • a passport with at least 6 months validity and one blank page
  • an approved Colombia visa
  • Check-MIG form
  • an onward/return ticket
  • proof of full vaccination/negative PCR test
  • yellow fever vaccination certificate (if coming from certain countries or visiting certain national parks)
  • child’s birth certificate and authorization from the absent parent(s) or legal guardian (for children exiting Colombia without parent/guardians)
  • travel insurance (recommended).

Note that Colombia’s travel requirements are subject to change. It is highly recommended to get in touch with your local Colombian embassy to get the most recently updated information.

Visa types and available entry permits

Visitors without visa exemption can get a short-term visa for Colombia in two ways: by applying online and attending an embassy or consulate personally.

Electronic visa

Eligible citizens are able to apply for a Colombian visa online. An eVisa to Colombia is available in two options: as a single-entry and a multiple-entry permit for tourism and leisure.

The application process for Colombia eVisa couldn’t be easier: complete a few steps, and the visa is yours. Provide your details in the form, attach proper documentation, and make an online payment.

The approved Colombia electronic visa comes directly to the applicant’s email address, so the entire procedure is completed remotely.

Check-MIG

The Colombia Check-MIG is a mandatory travel authorization for entering and exiting Colombia. It is not a visa but has a similar application process to an eVisa. Applicant must put their personal, travel, and health information into the online form and cover the fees.

Check MIG was implemented for health reasons to keep both foreigners and locals safe. It must be completed within 24 hours before your travel. Note that you need two Check MIG forms (one for entry and the other for exit). The Colombia visa must be obtained separately (if required).

Regular visa

A regular visa requires applicants to come to a consulate or embassy and lodge an application at the office in person. It takes more time than applying for an eVisa to Colombia, but it is the only option for some nationalities.

First, it is necessary to gather the proper documents for the Colombia tourist visa and make an appointment at the embassy. During the visit, you will have a visa interview. If it is successful, you will be granted a Colombia visa.

Countries and regions which require a visa for entry into Colombia

Check the lists of countries to know whether you need a visa according to the visa policy of Colombia:

E-Visa

  • AfghanistanAfghanistan
  • ArmeniaArmenia
  • AngolaAngola
  • BangladeshBangladesh
  • Burkina FasoBurkina Faso
  • BahrainBahrain
  • BurundiBurundi
  • BeninBenin
  • BotswanaBotswana
  • BelarusBelarus
  • CongoCongo
  • Central African RepublicCentral African Republic
  • Republic of the CongoRepublic of the Congo
  • Ivory CoastIvory Coast
  • CameroonCameroon
  • ChinaChina
  • CubaCuba
  • DjiboutiDjibouti
  • AlgeriaAlgeria
  • EgyptEgypt
  • EritreaEritrea
  • EthiopiaEthiopia
  • GabonGabon
  • GhanaGhana
  • GambiaGambia
  • Guinea BissauGuinea Bissau
  • GuineaGuinea
  • Equatorial GuineaEquatorial Guinea
  • HaitiHaiti
  • IndiaIndia
  • IraqIraq
  • IranIran
  • JordanJordan
  • KenyaKenya
  • KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan
  • CambodiaCambodia
  • KiribatiKiribati
  • ComorosComoros
  • North KoreaNorth Korea
  • KuwaitKuwait
  • LaosLaos
  • LebanonLebanon
  • Sri LankaSri Lanka
  • LiberiaLiberia
  • LesothoLesotho
  • LibyaLibya
  • MoroccoMorocco
  • MadagascarMadagascar
  • MaliMali
  • MyanmarMyanmar
  • MongoliaMongolia
  • MacauMacau
  • MauritaniaMauritania
  • MauritiusMauritius
  • MaldivesMaldives
  • MalawiMalawi
  • MalaysiaMalaysia
  • MozambiqueMozambique
  • NamibiaNamibia
  • NigerNiger
  • NigeriaNigeria
  • NicaraguaNicaragua
  • NepalNepal
  • NauruNauru
  • OmanOman
  • PakistanPakistan
  • Sierra LeoneSierra Leone
  • SenegalSenegal
  • SomaliaSomalia
  • SyriaSyria
  • SwazilandSwaziland
  • ChadChad
  • TogoTogo
  • ThailandThailand
  • TajikistanTajikistan
  • Timor LesteTimor Leste
  • TurkmenistanTurkmenistan
  • TunisiaTunisia
  • TongaTonga
  • TuvaluTuvalu
  • TanzaniaTanzania
  • UkraineUkraine
  • UgandaUganda
  • UzbekistanUzbekistan
  • VietnamVietnam
  • VanuatuVanuatu
  • YemenYemen
  • South AfricaSouth Africa
  • ZambiaZambia
  • ZimbabweZimbabwe
  • SeychellesSeychelles
  • RwandaRwanda
  • Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia
  • SudanSudan
  • South SudanSouth Sudan
  • PalestinePalestine
  • Sao Tome and PrincipeSao Tome and Principe
  • Cape VerdeCape Verde

Regular visa

  • AnguillaAnguilla
  • American SamoaAmerican Samoa
  • ArubaAruba
  • Aland IslandsAland Islands
  • BermudaBermuda
  • Cocos IslandsCocos Islands
  • Cook IslandsCook Islands
  • Christmas IslandChristmas Island
  • Falkland IslandsFalkland Islands
  • Faroe IslandsFaroe Islands
  • GeorgiaGeorgia
  • French GuianaFrench Guiana
  • GibraltarGibraltar
  • GreenlandGreenland
  • GuadeloupeGuadeloupe
  • GuamGuam
  • Cayman IslandsCayman Islands
  • Northern Mariana IslandsNorthern Mariana Islands
  • MartiniqueMartinique
  • MontserratMontserrat
  • New CaledoniaNew Caledonia
  • Norfolk IslandNorfolk Island
  • NiueNiue
  • French PolynesiaFrench Polynesia
  • Caicos IslandsCaicos Islands
  • TokelauTokelau
  • British Virgin IslandsBritish Virgin Islands
  • MayotteMayotte
  • United States Virgin IslandsUnited States Virgin Islands
  • Turks and Caicos IslandsTurks and Caicos Islands
  • South Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
  • Saint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Pierre and Miquelon
  • Isle of ManIsle of Man
  • GuernseyGuernsey
  • Saint MartinSaint Martin
  • Saint HelenaSaint Helena
  • ReunionReunion
  • Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
  • JerseyJersey
  • CuracaoCuracao
  • British Indian Ocean TerritoryBritish Indian Ocean Territory
  • Saint BarthelemySaint Barthelemy
  • Sint MaartenSint Maarten
  • BonaireBonaire

Visa-exempt countries

  • AndorraAndorra
  • United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates
  • AlbaniaAlbania
  • ArgentinaArgentina
  • AustriaAustria
  • AustraliaAustralia
  • AzerbaijanAzerbaijan
  • Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina
  • BarbadosBarbados
  • BelgiumBelgium
  • BulgariaBulgaria
  • BoliviaBolivia
  • BrazilBrazil
  • BahamasBahamas
  • BhutanBhutan
  • BelizeBelize
  • CanadaCanada
  • SwitzerlandSwitzerland
  • ChileChile
  • Costa RicaCosta Rica
  • SerbiaSerbia
  • CyprusCyprus
  • Czech RepublicCzech Republic
  • GermanyGermany
  • DenmarkDenmark
  • DominicaDominica
  • Dominican RepublicDominican Republic
  • EcuadorEcuador
  • EstoniaEstonia
  • SpainSpain
  • FinlandFinland
  • FijiFiji
  • MicronesiaMicronesia
  • FranceFrance
  • United KingdomUnited Kingdom
  • GrenadaGrenada
  • GeorgiaGeorgia
  • GreeceGreece
  • GuatemalaGuatemala
  • GuyanaGuyana
  • Hong KongHong Kong
  • HondurasHonduras
  • CroatiaCroatia
  • HungaryHungary
  • IndonesiaIndonesia
  • IrelandIreland
  • IsraelIsrael
  • IcelandIceland
  • ItalyItaly
  • JamaicaJamaica
  • JapanJapan
  • Saint Kitts and NevisSaint Kitts and Nevis
  • South KoreaSouth Korea
  • KazakhstanKazakhstan
  • Saint LuciaSaint Lucia
  • LiechtensteinLiechtenstein
  • LithuaniaLithuania
  • LuxembourgLuxembourg
  • LatviaLatvia
  • MonacoMonaco
  • MoldovaMoldova
  • MontenegroMontenegro
  • Marshall IslandsMarshall Islands
  • MacedoniaMacedonia
  • MaltaMalta
  • MexicoMexico
  • NetherlandsNetherlands
  • NorwayNorway
  • New ZealandNew Zealand
  • PanamaPanama
  • PeruPeru
  • Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea
  • PhilippinesPhilippines
  • PolandPoland
  • San MarinoSan Marino
  • SurinameSuriname
  • El SalvadorEl Salvador
  • TurkeyTurkey
  • TaiwanTaiwan
  • United StatesUnited States
  • UruguayUruguay
  • Vatican CityVatican City
  • Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesSaint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • VenezuelaVenezuela
  • SamoaSamoa
  • QatarQatar
  • SingaporeSingapore
  • PalauPalau
  • PortugalPortugal
  • SwedenSweden
  • SlovakiaSlovakia
  • SloveniaSlovenia
  • RussiaRussia
  • Brunei DarussalamBrunei Darussalam
  • Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago
  • RomaniaRomania
  • ParaguayParaguay
  • Solomon IslandsSolomon Islands
  • Antigua and BarbudaAntigua and Barbuda

Entry requirements for children

The Colombian travel rules for children are pretty much the same as for adults, except for the fact that minors do not have to present proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test to enter Colombia’s borders.

However, there are special exit requirements for underage travelers who leave the country alone, without both parents or a legal guardian.

To avoid international child abduction, Colombia requires to present some documents when exiting its territory: a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate and a written, signed, and notarized authorization from the absent parent(s) or legal guardian.

If a parent is deceased, it is necessary to provide a notarized copy of a death certificate. If one parent has sole custody of the child, they may show a custody decree instead of the other parent’s written authorization.

Transit information

To transit through Colombia, one must meet the COVID-19 requirements: have a certificate of full vaccination or a valid negative PCR test/antigen test.

It is necessary to get a visa for Colombia even if the only purpose of your travel is transit unless you satisfy these conditions:

  • your stay in Colombia is less than 24 hours;
  • you are not going to leave the airport transit area;
  • you have an onward ticket to your next destination and a valid visa (if required).

Cuba citizens or passengers holding the Palestinian “authority” passport are not eligible for Colombia visa exemption.

Important information

  • Foreigners can come to Colombia provided they meet the entry requirements.
  • A Colombia visa is required unless a person is from a visa-exempt country.
  • It is possible to apply for a Colombian visa online or by attending a consulate in person.
  • A valid passport, Colombia Check-MIG form, and onward ticket are mandatory for every traveler.
  • Full-aged persons must be fully vaccinated and have a negative PCR/antigen test.
  • Some visitors may need additional documents, such as a yellow fever vaccination certificate, a child’s certificate, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do I need a visa to travel to Colombia?

If you do not hold a passport from a visa-exempt country, it is necessary for you to obtain a visa before traveling to Colombia. Review Colombia visa requirements for more comprehensive information.

What are the types of visas available for Colombia?

Colombia visa policy specifies two types of visa: an electronic visa which is available online and a regular visa, obtainable at the embassy. Check the list of eligible countries to know which visa is required for your nationality.

Can I get a Colombia visa on arrival?

No. At the moment, Colombia does not offer visas upon arrival, so you must apply for an electronic visa or a regular visa ahead of time.

What are the requirements for going to Colombia?

All international travelers coming to Colombia must meet COVID-19-related requirements, register a Check-MIG Colombia, have a valid passport, an onward ticket, and a Colombia visa. You may also need some additional documents.

Do I need a visa to transit through Colombia?

You do not need a transit visa if your visit's duration is less than 24 hours and you stay within the airport transit area. However, Cuba and Palestinian Authority passport holders must apply for a visa even if they fulfill the aforementioned conditions.

What are the requirements for children traveling to Colombia?

While underage visitors do not have to meet COVID-19-related regulations, all other Colombia entry requirements are mandatory. Children departing the country without parents or legal guardians also need to show additional documentation.