Colombia Business Visa - Definitive Guide

As a business person with investments in different countries, there are times when you would have to travel abroad for certain business errands. If you have a business to look after in Colombia, you will need a business visa to Colombia in order to be able to do business-related activities in the country. With this permit, you will be able to attend business conferences, a business meeting for a branch of your own organization or a sister company, or attend client meetings and other business errands. It is a type of Visitor (V) visa and the validity offered by this particular type is visa is of 90 days initially which can later be extended as well as per the need.

The process to apply for the Colombia business visa for Indians is to be done through the online procedure. Although, there are certain things that you need to check a few things. You need to have a valid passport and other documents demanded by the embassy. You must check if your purpose matches the requirements put forth by the Colombia Immigration. The process for the application is mainly online. It involves various sub-procedures before finally obtaining the E-visa. The procedure is listed as follows:

1. Visit the official website of the Embassy of Colombia and select the visa section.
2. Fill out the application form for Columbia business visa online.
3. Select the visa category as business and attach scanned copies of the required documents.
4. Submit the form online to the embassy.
5. Pay the Acknowledgement fees as per the request of the Columbia Immigration.
6. Wait for the documents to get verified and approved.
7. Next step is to attend the interview for final verification.

When you are filling out the application form, you must make sure to provide the correct and accurate information as per the documents that you have attached and the details on your passport. If in case any false or incorrect unverifiable information is provided, there are chances that the visa application may become inadmissible or get rejected. Such a visa rejection will affect your future applications for any visa to Colombia or any other country. Therefore, before applying, you must make sure that you know how to fill the form and what information is appropriate for what section.

To apply for a business visa, you have to match the eligibility criteria for the application. The requirements for the business visa are given as follows:

• You must have proof of business ownership and purpose of visit

• You must have proper proof of your business enterprise to show it to the authorities.
• If you have been invited to a business conference or to attend a business or client meeting, an invitation letter from the company must be provided to the embassy.
• You must meet the health requirements

• You must be healthy enough to travel to Colombia.
• You must perform a medical test before travelling to the country and provide a relevant documentary proof.
• You must be within the age limit to be able to apply for a work permit.
• You must meet the character requirements
• You must be of good character and have genuine intentions behind working in Colombia.
• You need to provide a relevant documentary proof for the same as well (if asked) in the form of a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).
• You must have sufficient funds

• You must possess or have access to sufficient funds to be able to cover your stay and other expenses in Colombia.
• Bank statement or any equivalent document is to be submitted as well as proof of the same.

There are different kinds of documents required as per the purpose of the visit. The general Columbia business visa requirements are listed as follows:

• An original passport valid for at least 6 months ahead of the date of travel.
• Visa application form, completely filled
• Coloured photographs as per the photo specifications
• A cover letter with all the required details
• Confirmed flight tickets
• Proof of accommodation - invitation letter, hotel reservation, etc.
• Proof of sufficient funds - bank statement or any other equivalent document.
• Income Tax Returns proof
• Proof of identification and nationality - PAN card, Adhaar card
• Letter of recommendation from the organisation where the applicant is working.
• Copy of valid older visas (if any) - USA, UK, Schengen, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Chile.

Note: The documents like bank statements, ITR, and other official documents must be translated into Spanish by certified translators and should have an apostille sticker as well if instructed by the Columbia Immigration, Bogota or the Embassy of Columbia, New Delhi.

• Two copies must be provided
• Photo size: 1.5 inches x 2.5 inches.
• Coloured copy must be provided.
• The face must cover about 60-70% of the frame. 
• Head should well-centred.
• The picture must not be older than 6 months.
• The background must be white
• Neutral expressions
• Glasses are not permitted.
• Headgears are not allowed except for religious reasons.
• Clothing shouldn’t match the background.

The time for processing is dependent on several factors like the workload at the embassy, the number of entries required, whether there is a need for urgent processing and several others. The processing time required for the issuance of a Colombia business visa is about 4 to 5 business days. However, this time span will differ as there are certainly other factors that affect the processing time. If you consider the time needed for the visa from the date of online registration which will include the time needed for the interview and the approval of the documents, the period can go up to 30 calendar days.

The fee for a business visa to Colombia is paid in two instalments. First, an acknowledgement fee is paid at the time when you are applying online by filling out the application form. The second instalment is paid after the documents have been approved and you have an appointment with the embassy for an interview. The total cost will vary depending on the type of visa.

After the completion of the application process, 

• You can wait for the approval of the documents and the application form. 
• An interview will then be conducted before the final verification. The interview is conducted at the Embassy of Columbia, New Delhi.
• After the interview, the rest of the processing is done and the E-visa will be processed by the Columbia Immigration and sent to the registered email ID of the applicant. 
• Only the approved applications will be later processed to finally obtain the E-visa.
• If there are any other requirements to be fulfilled or if there are any mistakes in the application, the embassy or the agency must be informed.
• If there are any changes related to the application, for instance, change in marital status or birth of a child, you must inform the embassy/agency.
• You can even check the status of the application and the processing in the meantime. 
• If there is a change of plans, you can withdraw the application.
• The visa fee is generally not refundable.

Since the business visa to Columbia is an electronic visa, it is quite easy to access the status of the visa processing. In order to check the status, you can visit the embassy website and go to the page of status check and fill out the required details and track where has the processing reached. You can even check when you have to attend the interview and how long will it take for the final E-visa.

After the successful submission of the visa application form and receiving business E-visa for Colombia, there are certain measures that are to be taken. You must -

• Before you travel

• Make a note of the visa expiry date, as well as the number of entries permitted. You must not stay in the country beyond this period.
• You should travel to Colombia within the validity of your visa.
• Make sure to carry a copy of your passport and other travel documents while you are in the country.
• Issue health insurance and travel insurance from a certified company.
• At the Border

• Get your documents checked and your passport verified.
• Consult the airport authorities for any kind of assistance required.
• Check your visa copy for other guidelines and rules to be followed.
• When you enter Colombia

• Ensure not to get involved in any kind of employment. You can, however, do volunteer work.
• The business visa does not permit you to employ the residents or reside in the country.
• It is a permit that allows you to only perform business and business-related operations in the country. You are still permitted tourism.
• The tourist prohibited areas must be stayed out of.
• Make sure you don’t overstay and apply for the visa extension in time.