Colombia Tourist Visa - Definitive Guide

At the time of travelling to any country, you will need a permit to be able to enter the nation. Even for tourism, there are certain formalities that you need to take care of while planning a tour to any country. The most important and mandatory one is the issuance of a tourist visa. Without one, you will not be able to enter Colombia. This falls under the higher category of Visitor (V) visa. With this visa, you can tour the country, visit your family and friends in the country, be a part of an exhibition or a concert and others. It is an electronic visa or E-visa which is processed and received online. The validity offered by this visa is of 90 days. It may be extended as per the requirement.

Prior to the application process for a tourist visa to Colombia, you must go through the eligibility criteria for the same. 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 tourist visa as per the guidelines.
3. Select the visa category as tourist 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 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.

There are certain parameters and criteria that must be met before carrying on with the application process. The parameters will help you understand the requirements of the visa and the process involved. Some of the pointers are given as follows:

• You must possess proof of purpose of visit
• If you are visiting your acquaintances, you must have an invitation letter from the resident in Colombia.
• You must visit for tourism only, or visiting acquaintances and not searching for or taking up any kind of employment.
• 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. Mainly, there is a list of common documents that are needed in the process anyway. The Colombia tourist visa requirements are given 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.
• Letter of invitation (if applicable)
• Copy of valid older visas (if any) - USA, UK, Schengen, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Chile.

Note: The documents like bank statements, ITR, invitation letter, 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 processing time required for the issuance of a Colombia tourist 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 tourist 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.

The processes may take time and you will feel an urge to check the status. To do so, you can visit the website of the Embassy of Colombia with the details of your application and check the status. The process is not quite complicated as the Colombia tourist visa is an E-visa. The status is presented in different levels.

After the completion of the process, the visa will be sent to you on your registered email ID. Even after getting a valid permit, you will still have to follow certain formalities and a protocol. After the issuance of the visa, you must be careful about your actions as there are chances that with bad conduct, the visa may get cancelled. There are rules and regulations that are to be followed as well. Some of the pointers are listed as follows:

• 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.
• Obtain the entry stamp on your passport.
• 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 tourist prohibited areas must be stayed out of.
• Make sure you don’t overstay and apply for a visa extension in time.