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Colombia·Visa & entry

Colombia visa requirements and entry rules

Standard visa-free allowance, e-visa or visa-on-arrival options, mandatory pre-arrival cards, customs notes, and the practical entry mechanics. The country safety guide's Getting In chapter covers the per-nationality detail.

Safe Trip Score
61Heightened risk
Visa & entry is a reference surface, not a single sub-score
Headline
90 days visa-free (extendable to 180)

Pre-arrival card

Check-Mig (mandatory, free, within 72 hours)

Official portal

https://www.migracioncolombia.gov.co/

Specifics

  • Visa-free for U.S., Canadian, EU, UK, Australian, Japanese, most Latin American.
  • Cash above USD 10,000 declared on entry/exit.

By passport nationality

Headline rule for the nine most-trafficked passport groups. Always confirm on Colombia’s immigration portal before booking; visa policy changes frequently.

  • US passport
    Visa-free
    Up to 90 days
    Pre-arrival: Check-Mig
    • Visa-free 90 days, extendable to 180.
  • UK passport
    Visa-free
    Up to 90 days
    Pre-arrival: Check-Mig
    • Visa-free 90 days.
  • EU passport
    Visa-free
    Up to 90 days
    Pre-arrival: Check-Mig
    • Visa-free 90 days for EU passport-holders.
  • CA passport
    Visa-free
    Up to 90 days
    Pre-arrival: Check-Mig
    • Visa-free 90 days.
  • AU passport
    Visa-free
    Up to 90 days
    Pre-arrival: Check-Mig
    • Visa-free 90 days.
  • IN passport
    Consular visa required
    Up to 90 days
    Pre-arrival: Colombian consular visa
    • Consular visa via Colombian consulate.
  • BR passport
    Visa-free
    Up to 90 days
    Pre-arrival: Check-Mig
    • Visa-free 90 days.
  • JP passport
    Visa-free
    Up to 90 days
    Pre-arrival: Check-Mig
    • Visa-free 90 days.
  • CN passport
    Consular visa required
    Up to 90 days
    Pre-arrival: Colombian consular visa
    • Consular visa required.

Practical guidance

For most short-stay tourists

The headline rule for Colombia is 90 days visa-free (extendable to 180). US passport-holders specifically get visa-free for up to 90 days, with Check-Mig required pre-arrival. See the by-passport block above for your specific nationality.

Pre-arrival documentation

Colombia requires Check-Mig (mandatory, free, within 72 hours) before boarding. Airlines check this at the gate; without it you will be denied boarding even if your visa is in order. Allow at least 72 hours for processing in case the portal queues, longer if you are travelling on a national holiday in Colombia.

When to apply

For visa-required nationalities, apply at least 4 to 6 weeks before departure. Visa-on-arrival and e-Visa systems process in 1 to 7 days typically but can stall around major holidays or political events; do not book non-refundable travel against a pending application. Colombia’s official portal is www.migracioncolombia.gov.co; only apply through that portal or through your nearest Colombia embassy or consulate. Third-party visa services charge for what the government provides at cost.

Common rejection reasons

Passport with under 6 months validity from intended exit date. Fewer than two blank visa pages. No confirmed onward or return ticket. Travel insurance not naming Colombia explicitly (Schengen-style coverage minimums apply for many European destinations). Prior visa overstays anywhere, especially in neighbouring countries. Most rejections cite one of these five rather than a substantive concern about the traveller.

Related for Colombia

More on Colombia

Read the Colombia visa and entry requirements chapter →

Colombia’s transformation since the 2016 FARC peace process has made it one of the more rewarding destinations in Latin America: a country with reformed cities (Medellín in particular has become a global tourism case study), a strong coffee-region and Caribbean-coast tourism economy, and a growing reputation for solo-traveller hospitality. The structural risks are concentrated and real: the FARC-dissident and ELN insurgent zones in specific border departments (Catatumbo, Cauca, Nariño, Arauca, Caquetá, parts of Chocó) that carry Do-Not-Travel-equivalent advisories, the Venezuelan-border sensitivity, the persistent scopolamine drug-spike risk in nightlife, the express-kidnap (paseo millonario) baseline that has declined but not disappeared, and high-altitude considerations in Bogotá. This guide unpacks the entry mechanics, the regional risk map that separates “safe and rewarding” from “genuinely off-limits,” the scopolamine and nightlife discipline, the healthcare landscape, and the practical contacts that shape a Colombian itinerary.

Frequently asked about Colombia

Do I need a visa to travel to Colombia?

The headline rule is: 90 days visa-free (extendable to 180). Specific allowance depends on your passport nationality; the by-passport block on this page covers the 9 most-trafficked passports (US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, India, Brazil, Japan, China). Always confirm on Colombia's official immigration portal before booking, visa policy changes frequently.

How long can I stay in Colombia on a tourist visa?

90 days visa-free (extendable to 180). Check-Mig (mandatory, free, within 72 hours) is required pre-arrival. For per-passport specifics see the block above. Overstaying carries fines and re-entry bans across most jurisdictions.

Can I extend my visa once I'm in Colombia?

Most countries allow a one-time extension via the local immigration office for an additional 30 to 90 days, processed within 7 to 14 working days. Colombia's policy varies; the safety guide's Getting In chapter covers it where applicable. Apply at least 2 weeks before your existing visa expires.