Colombia Visa: Requirements, Types, Fees & How to Apply
Start your applicationIt depends on your passport. Most nationalities can enter Colombia visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism or business, but must complete pre-arrival registration. A visa or registration does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.
Colombia visa at a glance
- Government fee
- $0 — no fee for pre-arrival registration
- Official processing
- Confirm with the Embassy of Colombia
- Validity / stay
- Common validity
- Visa types
- 3
Do you need a visa for Colombia?
Visa-required nationalities must obtain a tourist visa or business visa before traveling. Confirm the current requirement with the Colombia consulate/embassy for your nationality before booking. The pre-arrival form can only be completed within 3 days prior to date of arrival (including the day of arrival) to Colombia.
Colombia visa types
- Pre-arrival registration
- Entry requirement for visa-free travelers — Up to 90 days
- Tourist visa
- Tourism, leisure, sightseeing — Common validity
- Business visa
- Business meetings, conferences — Common validity
Who is eligible
Whether you need a visa for Colombia depends on your nationality:
Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the embassy or consulate responsible for your country of residence.
Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the embassy or visa authority responsible for your country of residence.
Visa-exempt nationalities can enter Colombia visa-free for up to 90 days with pre-arrival registration.
Visa-required nationalities need a tourist visa or business visa.
Documents required for a Colombia visa
What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.
- Valid passportPre-arrival registration · Valid passport.
- Return or onward travel ticketPre-arrival registration · Return or onward travel ticket.
- Proof of accommodationPre-arrival registration · Proof of accommodation.
- Travel details for pre-arrival registrationPre-arrival registration · Travel details for pre-arrival registration.
- Valid passportTourist visa · 6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages.
- Completed and signed visa application formTourist visa · Completed and signed visa application form.
- Recent passport photoTourist visa · Recent passport photo.
- Proof of travel itineraryTourist visa · Proof of travel itinerary.
- Proof of accommodationTourist visa · Proof of accommodation.
- Proof of financial meansTourist visa · Proof of financial means.
- Valid passportBusiness visa · 6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages.
- Completed and signed visa application formBusiness visa · Completed and signed visa application form.
- Recent passport photoBusiness visa · Recent passport photo.
- Business letter from your companyBusiness visa · Business letter from your company.
- Invitation letter from the Colombian hostBusiness visa · Invitation letter from the Colombian host.
- Proof of financial meansBusiness visa · Proof of financial means.
Colombia visa fees and processing time
- Government fee
- $0 — no fee for pre-arrival registration
- Expedify processing fee
- Not applicable
- Validity / stay
- Common validity
- Official processing
- Confirm with the Embassy of Colombia
Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.
How to apply for a Colombia visa
The official route, step by step.
Confirm you need a visa
Check the Colombia visa-exemption list for your nationality. If you're exempt, you don't need this process.
Get the current form and checklist from the Embassy of Colombia for your country. Requirements differ by country
use their list, not a generic one.
Gather your documents
see the checklist in Required documents for a Colombia visa above.
Submit your application
online where available, or in person at the embassy or authorized visa center. Pay the government visa fee.
Wait for processing
confirm the official ETA with the embassy. Apply at least 7-10 days before travel. Don't book non-refundable flights until approved.
Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued
Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued.
Applying yourself vs. with Expedify
The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.
Research
- Apply yourself
- Check Colombia's requirements yourself
- With Expedify
- We confirm what you need for your route
Document check
- Apply yourself
- Common errors cause refusals
- With Expedify
- Pre-reviewed before submission
Appointments
- Apply yourself
- You book and attend yourself
- With Expedify
- We prepare your application and guide you
Status tracking
- Apply yourself
- You check the embassy portal
- With Expedify
- We track and notify you at every step
Government fee
- Apply yourself
- Same
- With Expedify
- Same — passed through at cost, no markup
At the border: what to expect
A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into Colombia is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.
Entry requirements
- Valid passport with your visa or exemption stamp.
- Return or onward travel ticket.
- Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
Conditions of stay
- Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than your visa's maximum.
- A tourist visa is not a work permit — no employment.
- No full-time study on a tourist visa.
- Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Common reasons a Colombia visa is refused
Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.
Incomplete or inconsistent documentation
documents that don't match your application form.
Insufficient financial means
evidence that doesn't clearly cover your trip.
Unclear travel purpose
an itinerary that doesn't explain where you're going and why.
Weak ties to your home country
limited evidence you'll return after your stay.
Frequently asked questions
Colombia visa questions, answered.
More for your Colombia trip
How we reviewed this page
Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review
About this service
Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.