Can I Really Stay Beyond My 180 Days as a Tourist? Salvoconducto Guide

A Salvoconducto is an exceptional, temporary permit issued by Migración Colombia that allows a foreign citizen to either remain legally in the country or prepare for their departure. What Is a Salvoconducto? (Decreto 1067 of 2015)

The legal foundation for this permit is established under Decree 1067 of 2015, which defines the Salvoconducto as a temporary document issued by Migración Colombia upon request when an applicant meets specific criteria. The regulations divide these permits into two main categories depending on the applicant's legal situation: the SC-1 (issued to exit the country) and the SC-2 (issued to remain in the country).

**Salvoconducto to Exit the Country (SC-1) ** The SC-1 Salvoconducto is granted when a foreigner must settle their affairs and leave Colombia. This typically applies to individuals who have fallen into an irregular immigration status after paying any corresponding administrative fines, those facing deportation or expulsion, or individuals whose visas or entry permits have been formally canceled. It also applies when a visa application is denied by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería), or when an authorized period of stay expires due to proven force majeure events that prevented the person from leaving on time.

In practice, the most frequent scenario for an SC-1 occurs when a foreign citizen overstays their legal permit, completes the required sanction process, pays the administrative fine, and receives a period of up to thirty calendar days to exit the country cleanly.

**Salvoconducto to Remain in the Country (SC-2) ** On the other hand, the SC-2 Salvoconducto is designed for foreign nationals who need to maintain legal stay while resolving an ongoing administrative or judicial process. This category applies to individuals who are applying for a new visa or requesting a visa change, those who must remain in the country under conditional release or by judicial order while their legal status is decided, individuals waiting for an administrative decision, and those seeking refugee or asylum status alongside their families. The most common application of the SC-2 happens when an applicant’s current permit or visa is close to expiring while they are actively waiting for a decision on a new visa application submitted to Cancillería. In these cases, the SC-2 offers a legal extension of up to thirty calendar days.

**Requirements and Filing for Your First SC-2 ** To formally request your first SC-2 Salvoconducto, you must first schedule an appointment through Migración Colombia's official scheduling portal and complete the online single application form (Formulario Único de Trámites - FUT). On the day of your appointment, you must present yourself in person at the selected regional immigration office with your complete physical folder. Your application folder must include:

• A valid copy of your passport bio page. • A copy of your latest entry stamp (PT) or tourist extension permit (Permiso Temporal de Permanencia - PTP) showing that your legal authorized stay is about to expire. • Proof of your active visa application submitted to Cancillería, including the official confirmation receipt and the current status page showing that your application is under review. • The completed Formulario Único de Trámites (FUT) filing confirmation.

During your in-person appointment at Migración Colombia, the attending officer will review your documents and require you to pay the government fee of 88,000 COP (2026 fee — subject to official annual adjustment). Once the payment is completed, the officer will issue your formal Salvoconducto printed on official security paper and deliver it to you in hand, while simultaneously sending a digital copy to your registered email address. This document legally authorizes your stay in the country for an additional thirty calendar days.

**The Practical Reality: How Local Offices Interpret the Law ** Although the decree sets national rules, in daily practice, Migración Colombia regional offices apply different criteria when deciding whether to issue an SC-2 for the first time. For instance, experience shows that the Migración Colombia office in Medellín holds a strict interpretation. They generally consider that the SC-2 provision applies strictly to foreigners who already hold an active, unexpired visa that is being renewed, rather than tourists who are waiting on a pending visa decision that has experienced administrative delays. Conversely, other regional offices, such as those in the Coffee Region (Eje Cafetero), take a broader approach. They view the SC-2 as fully applicable for tourists as long as the applicant remains in regular status (their current tourist permit has not yet expired) and presents a valid justification, such as an active visa process currently under review by Cancillería. Therefore, staying beyond your 180 tourist days is indeed possible in Colombia, provided that you have an active visa application under review and your current legal stay is still valid when you apply.

**Can I Request a Second Salvoconducto for Another 30 Days? ** If your visa processing time extends past the initial thirty-day period granted by your first Salvoconducto, it is possible to request an exceptional 30-day extension. This extension is particularly useful when Cancillería’s visa analysis takes longer than expected and your first Salvoconducto is about to reach its end. However, this secondary step follows a distinct procedure.

While Migración Colombia receives the application, the actual authorization for a second Salvoconducto must come directly from Cancillería. To initiate this process, you must submit a formal written request to Migración Colombia, detailing the specific reasons why the extra thirty days are required, alongside your complete personal details, contact number, physical address, and email.

Once received, Migración Colombia assigns a formal filing number (radicado) and transfers the case to Cancillería. Over the following one to two weeks, Cancillería evaluates the request and notifies Migración Colombia whether the additional period is authorized. Following this review, Migración Colombia will send an official notification to your email with Cancillería’s response. If approved, the notification will specify the exact date and time you must attend in person at the local Migración Colombia office to pay an additional 88,000 COP government fee and receive your extended Salvoconducto printed and signed.

**Protecting Your Legal Status with Capital M Law ** While extending your stay in Colombia for up to sixty additional days is legally achievable, the outcome depends on careful timing and dealing with inconsistent interpretations across different immigration offices. Acting before your current legal permit expires is essential to avoid unnecessary penalties or irregular status. At Capital M Law, we analyze your specific timeline, prepare the formal documentation, and manage your filings before Migración Colombia and Cancillería to ensure your stay remains completely legal. If you need professional legal assistance to regularize your stay or apply for a Salvoconducto, schedule a consultation with our legal team today and let us guide you through the process.