Planning a trip to Colombia and wondering whether you need a visa? For most travellers from Western countries, the process is straightforward. Colombia allows tourists from dozens of countries to enter visa-free for up to 90 days. But there are a few critical steps — including an online pre-registration called Check-Mig — that many travellers miss. Here is everything you need to know before you fly.
Before You Travel Checklist
- Travel insurance: VisitorsCoverage travel insurance - covers medical emergencies, trip cancellation, and travel delays
- Complete Check-Mig: Register at apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co within 72 hours before your departure flight
- Valid passport: At least 6 months’ validity beyond your planned departure date
- Onward ticket: Airlines and some border agents may ask for proof of return or onward travel
- Yellow fever card: Required if arriving from or transiting through an endemic country (parts of Africa, Brazil, or Peru)
Who Can Enter Colombia Visa-Free
Colombia offers visa-free entry to citizens of over 100 countries for stays of up to 90 days per calendar year. Nationals of the following countries do not need to apply for a visa in advance:
Americas: United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela, Paraguay, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and most other Caribbean nations.
Europe: All EU member states, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and most Balkan countries.
Asia-Pacific: Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Israel.
Middle East and Africa: Most Gulf Cooperation Council nationals are visa-free. Check Migración Colombia’s official list if your country is not listed here, as the list is updated periodically.
Visa-free entry is stamped in your passport on arrival. The border agent will typically grant you between 30 and 90 days — if you want the full 90, ask politely when your passport is being processed. The stamp determines your legal limit, not an assumed default.
Check-Mig: The Pre-Registration You Cannot Skip
Since 2022, Colombia has required all international travellers arriving by air to complete the Check-Mig (Migración Colombia) pre-registration form online before boarding. This applies even if you are a visa-free traveller.
How to complete it:
- Visit the official Migración Colombia Check-Mig portal and select “Check-Mig”
- Complete the form within 72 hours before your departure flight
- Enter your passport details, travel dates, accommodation address in Colombia, and health declaration
- Submit and save the confirmation email or QR code
- Airlines may ask to see the confirmation at check-in
The form is free and takes around 5 minutes. Skipping it can result in being denied boarding by the airline. If you are arriving by land border from Ecuador, Venezuela, Panama, or Brazil, Check-Mig requirements may vary — confirm with Migración Colombia before you cross.
Countries That Require a Visa
Citizens of China, India, Russia, and most African, Middle Eastern (outside Gulf states), and Southeast Asian countries require a visa to enter Colombia. Common visa categories include:
- Visitor visa (type V): Short stays for tourism, business, or study — up to 180 days
- Migrant visa (type M): For those with Colombian family ties, investment in Colombia, or formal employment
- Resident visa (type R): Long-term residency for retirees, investors, and others with strong ties to Colombia
Apply through the Colombian consulate or embassy in your home country, or via the online portal of Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería). Processing times vary but typically run 5 to 15 business days. The standard tourist visa application fee is approximately USD 52 as of 2026.
Extending Your 90-Day Stay
If you want to stay longer than your initial stamp allows, you can apply for an extension (prorroga) at a Migración Colombia regional office. Extensions are possible up to 90 additional days, bringing your maximum stay to 180 days per calendar year.
Extension process:
- Visit a Migración Colombia office in person before your current stamp expires
- Bring your passport, a copy of your passport photo page, and proof of financial means (bank statement showing funds, roughly USD 500 minimum)
- Pay the extension fee — approximately COP 221,000 (around USD 55 as of 2026)
- The new stamp is added to your passport, usually same day
Major Migración Colombia offices are located in Bogotá (Calle 100), Medellín, Cali, Cartagena, and Santa Marta. In popular tourist towns like Salento or Villa de Leyva, you will need to travel to the nearest city. Extensions cannot be done online — in-person attendance is required.
Calendar year reset: Colombia’s 90-day allowance resets on January 1st, not on a rolling 12-month basis. If you entered Colombia in late November, used 30 days, left, and returned in January, the counter resets. This makes Colombia attractive for long-term travellers who want to structure their visits around the calendar year.
Overstay Penalties
Overstaying your visa in Colombia is treated seriously. Penalties include:
- Fines: Approximately COP 96 per day overstayed (as of 2026), assessed when you depart at the airport or land border
- Deportation: For significant overstays, Migración Colombia can issue a deportation order
- Re-entry ban: Deportees may be barred from returning to Colombia for 3 to 10 years depending on the circumstances
Border agents check entry stamps carefully on departure. We recommend tracking your days from the date stamped in your passport, not the date you believe you entered. If you are close to your limit, pay for the extension rather than risk a fine or deportation.
The Digital Nomad Visa
Colombia introduced a dedicated digital nomad visa (Visa de Nómada Digital, type V) to attract remote workers. This has become one of the most practical long-term visa options for freelancers, employees of foreign companies, and content creators who want to base themselves in Medellín, Bogotá, or Cartagena for an extended period.
Requirements:
- Proof of remote work: employment contract with a foreign company or contracts with foreign clients
- Monthly income of at least 3x Colombia’s national minimum wage — approximately COP 3,900,000 or around USD 900 per month as of 2026
- Valid health insurance covering Colombia
- Clean criminal record from your home country (apostilled)
- Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the visa period
Key details:
- Duration: Up to 2 years
- Renewable: Yes, from within Colombia
- Does not permit working for Colombian companies or clients directly
- Applications are submitted online through Cancillería de Colombia
The digital nomad visa has processed smoothly for most applicants who submit complete documentation. Common rejection reasons include income documentation that does not clearly show the foreign source of funds, or health insurance policies that exclude Colombia. We recommend using a visa service or immigration lawyer (expect to pay approximately COP 400,000 to 700,000 for professional assistance) if your employment situation is non-standard.
Passport Requirements
Colombia requires your passport to be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned departure date. Airlines enforce this at check-in — a passport expiring in 3 months will likely get you denied boarding regardless of your nationality.
Bring a physical copy of your passport’s photo page and the entry stamp page. These are routinely requested when checking into accommodation, renting a vehicle, or registering a local SIM card.
Land Border Entry
Colombia shares land borders with Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama (by sea/air only — no official road crossing), and Brazil (by river, limited crossings). The main practical crossings are:
- Colombia-Ecuador: Ipiales (Colombia) / Tulcán (Ecuador) — busy, well-serviced
- Colombia-Venezuela: Currently restricted and conditions change frequently — check current advisories before attempting this crossing
- Colombia-Brazil: Leticia / Tabatinga — accessible by river from Manaus
Check-Mig requirements apply at land borders as well. Bring sufficient cash — USD or Colombian pesos — as banking infrastructure at remote crossings can be limited.
Practical Tips Before You Travel
Check the current list: Visa exemption lists are updated. Always verify your nationality’s status on the official Cancillería de Colombia website or the Migración Colombia portal before booking flights.
Proof of onward travel: Immigration officials at Bogotá’s El Dorado Airport or Medellín’s José María Córdova Airport may ask to see a return or onward ticket. Budget travellers using open-ended itineraries should have a printout ready or be prepared to explain their plans.
Yellow fever vaccination: If you are arriving from or transiting through a yellow fever endemic country (parts of Africa, Peru, Brazil), Colombia requires proof of vaccination. Carry your yellow card.
Customs limits: You may bring up to USD 10,000 in cash without declaring it. Amounts above this must be declared on arrival. Colombia has strict rules on undeclared cash and goods above the duty-free threshold (approximately USD 500 in goods).
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is worth sorting at the same time as your visa - it covers medical treatment, emergency evacuation, and trip cancellation if your plans change before departure. We recommend VisitorsCoverage for straightforward policies that cover most nationalities travelling to Colombia. A quote takes under five minutes and single-trip cover typically starts from around $30 for a two-week stay.
Plan Your Trip
✈️ Book your flights to Colombia 🛡️ Get travel insurance 📱 Stay connected with an eSIM 🚗 Rent a car