General Visa Application Rules

This is the essential information common to any visa application, regardless of the type of visa you are applying for. Whether you are applying for an Investor Visa, Business Owner Visa, Digital Nomad Visa, Retirement Visa, or similar, you must follow this process in all cases.

Currently, these rules are outlined in Resolution 5477 of 2022, which serves as the general regulation for visa applications and requirements. This law came into effect on October 22, 2022. Before this date, all visa applications were governed by Resolution 6045 of 2017.

Principles of Colombian Visa Applications

Digital Process

According to this regulation, all visa applications must be submitted online. This is not optional—it is mandatory to complete the visa process through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' website. This means there are no offices to visit for inquiries, nor is it possible to mail physical documents as a general rule (exceptions apply).

Upon Request

This means that visas are issued only upon application. There is no such thing as automatic visa approval, regardless of your circumstances.

Reciprocity

This principle, widely recognized in international law, means that Colombia treats foreign nationals the same way Colombians are treated abroad. For example, Ecuadorian citizens in Colombia should receive the same treatment Colombians receive in Ecuador.

Discretionary Faculty

This refers to the legal authority granted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make certain decisions regarding visa approval, denial, or cancellation at its discretion, without needing to provide a detailed explanation. This discretion allows immigration officials to act in the best interest of national security, public order, and other state considerations.

Legality

As part of a legal system influenced by French law, all authorities and individuals are bound to comply with written laws.

1. The Photo

This requirement is often underestimated, as people tend to leave it for the last minute. The photo you submit will appear on your electronic visa upon approval. Authorities require that this photo meet the following specifications:

✅ Recent, in color, with a white background: Recent means you cannot reuse the photo from your current passport or previous visa. You must take a new one. (If you take this photo yourself on your phone, you can make the background completely white on this website).

✅ No hair or accessories covering the head or face (no glasses, piercings, necklaces, or earrings).

✅ Face must be looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression.

✅ Full, centered head.

✅ Both eyes must be open.

✅ Size must not exceed 300 KB.

Here is an example of how the visa photo should look.

Este es un ejemplo de cómo debe ser la foto para la visa.

2. The Passport

You must provide a photocopy of the main page (showing your personal data) of your passport.

Your passport must be valid for at least six (6) months beyond the date of your visa application. If your passport's validity is less than six months, you must renew it before submitting your application.

3. Entry Stamp, Extension, Previous Visa, or Safe-Conduct

If applying from Colombia, you must show proof of your current legal status in the country.

In most cases, this requirement is met by attaching your latest Tourism Permit (Entry Stamp), provided it does not expire during the visa processing period (30 days). If you have extended your stay, you must also submit your Tourism Permit Extension.

In other cases, if you already have a previous visa, you should attach it.

If you have overstayed or your current visa is about to expire, you must visit Migración Colombia to pay a fine through an administrative process and obtain a Safe-Conduct for visa application, attaching it to your submission.

There are two types of Safe-Conduct: 1. For leaving the country and 2. For applying for a visa. You need the latter.

If applying from your home country, you do not need to attach any of the above documents.

If applying from a third country (neither Colombia nor your home country), you must attach your residence visa for that third country.

The Visa Process

All visa applications follow the same process, even if it is your second or third visa. This is because Colombian law does not allow visa renewals; you must submit a new application each time.

The process includes the following steps:

Document collection and preparation;
Submission of the form;
Payment of the visa study fee;
Response to additional information requests;
Payment of the visa issuance fee;
Visa registration and Foreigner ID (Cédula de Extranjería).

0. Document Collection and Preparation

The first step in any visa application process is gathering and preparing documents.

The requirements vary depending on the type of visa you are applying for.

After meeting the general requirements for all visas, you need to verify the specific category of visa you are applying for and gather the documentation required for that category.

For instance, for a Digital Nomad Visa, besides your passport, photo, and entry stamp, you will also need a verification letter, health insurance, and your bank statements for the last three months.

1. Submission of the Visa Application Form

Applications are submitted online via this link.

You can find a step-by-step guide (in Spanish) at this link.

You will need to provide personal information (education, current job, address, etc.), family details, your migration history in Colombia, and whether you have applied for or held a Colombian visa before. Be transparent and avoid typing errors.

In the last section, you will upload your documents. Remember: all documents combined cannot exceed 5 MB. Compress them accordingly.

Do not submit more than 35 pages. Ensure none of your PDFs are encryption-protected; if they are, remove the protection.

2. Make the First Payment

After submitting your application, you will receive an email with a unique identification number (keep this number, as you will need it to track your visa status or modify your application, if necessary).

The same email will provide instructions for paying the visa study fee, which varies depending on the visa category you are applying for.

You must pay the fee within ten (10) calendar days of submitting the form. If you do not pay within this period, your visa application will be considered abandoned, and you will need to apply again.

3. Responding to “Requests” (Additional Information Requests)

The authorities may request additional information regarding your visa application to clarify your documents or gather further details deemed necessary for "protecting national security."

It is important to respond to these requests as quickly as possible, attaching the additional required documents. For this reason, you should have all required documents, with proper formalities (notarization, apostille, translation, etc.), ready at the time of submission. Authorities may provide a short deadline for submitting missing documents, which might not be sufficient to gather them on short notice.

Failure to respond to the requests can result in your visa being denied or deemed inadmissible. However, most cases are considered inadmissible rather than outright denials.

Keep in mind: If your visa is denied, you will need to wait six months before applying for any Colombian visa again, and the next application must be submitted from your home country. If your application is deemed inadmissible, you can reapply immediately but will need to pay the study fee again.

To respond to an authority request, return to the same form you used for your initial application, re-enter your passport details, and fill out the "Application Record Number" field with the unique identification number you received in your initial submission.

Then proceed to the upload section and attach the required documents.

4. Visa Approval and Registration

Under the visa regulation (Resolution 5477 of 2022, Art. 13), authorities have up to 30 days to approve, reject as inadmissible, or deny your application.

If your visa is deemed inadmissible, you may reapply immediately. If your visa is denied, you must leave the country within 30 days and wait six months to reapply from your home country.

You will receive an email notifying you of the decision. If approved, the email will contain a payment link for the issuance fee. You must pay this fee within 10 days; otherwise, the application will be archived, and the visa denied.

After payment, you will soon receive another email with your visa in PDF format. Print it and store it safely.

Once you have obtained your visa, it is mandatory to register with Migración Colombia as a foreigner and obtain a Foreigner ID (Cédula de Extranjería). This is also necessary to open a bank account or contract local services (TV, internet, etc.).

5. Visa Registration and Foreigner ID (Cédula de Extranjería)

Once you receive your visa, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will notify you that you have 15 calendar days to register your visa and obtain a Foreigner ID with Migración Colombia.

To do this, you must schedule an appointment with the nearest Migración Colombia office, selecting the "Cédula de Extranjería" option. For the appointment, you must bring:

Your printed visa
A copy of your passport
Your original passport
Government fee payment of $267,000 COP (for 2024) for issuing the ID Additionally, complete the Foreigner ID application form, available here. At the end of the form, a "FUT" number will be generated, which you must provide to the Migración officials.

At the appointment, they will take your fingerprints and photo, and afterward, they will inform you when you can pick up your ID. You can find more information about the Foreigner ID at this link.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I travel while my visa is in process?

If you are in Colombia and applying for your visa locally, the responsible office will always be "Bogotá," as this is the only option to select in the form.

If you have applied for your visa within Colombia, it is strongly recommended not to travel outside the country during the processing period. This is because the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' jurisdiction is geographically tied to your location when you apply.

If you are in your home country, you may apply at a Colombian Consulate. However, Colombia often has multiple consulates in one country, so ensure that the consulate you choose has jurisdiction over your geographical area.

For example, a U.S. citizen in Los Angeles, California, applying for a Retirement Visa must select the Consulate of Colombia in Los Angeles (https://losangeles.consulado.gov.co/consulado/circunscripcion) as the responsible office in the form.

Traveling to another country or to Colombia during your application process can result in the government declaring your application inadmissible due to jurisdiction issues.

Additionally, the government may require an in-person interview. If you are in Colombia, but your application is being processed in Los Angeles, the visa is likely to be denied or deemed inadmissible.

For these reasons, it is recommended to remain in the location where you submitted your visa application for the 30-day processing period or until you receive a response.

Can I apply from a country other than Colombia or my home country?

Yes, it is possible to apply for a visa from a third country, different from Colombia and your home country. However, to apply from this third country, you must prove to the Colombian visa authorities that you have resident status in that third country.

If you are only visiting or touring in that third country, you cannot apply for a visa from there, according to Article 8 of Resolution 5477 of 2022:

ARTICLE 8: SUBMISSION OF THE VISA APPLICATION. All visa applications must be made through the digital platform available on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/tramites_servicios/visa, providing the corresponding requirements.

Can I apply for a second visa using the same documents I used for my previous application?

According to visa regulations, documents submitted for visa applications cannot be more than three months old at the time of submission. Therefore, even if the required documents are the same, they must be updated for each application to meet the three-month validity rule.

Can my visa be denied even if I meet all the requirements?

Yes, the discretionary authority of the Colombian government allows visa officials to deny a visa even if all requirements are met. According to Article 19 of Resolution 5477 of 2022:

The Discretionary Authority grants the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the ability to approve, deny, or revoke visas based on its judgment. This ensures the Colombian state's sovereignty and control over its immigration policies.

Additionally, this authority allows the Ministry to revoke a visa or request an in-person interview to continue the application process.

It is important to note that this discretion guarantees the Colombian government's sovereignty over granting or denying visas, and no appeal or review process is available for visa denials.

In our experience, visa denials are rare when all requirements are met.

What are the common reasons for Colombian visa denials?

The most common reasons for visa denials include:

Inconsistencies in activities planned in Colombia: This is more common than it seems. It often occurs when a foreigner has applied for different visa categories in the past, intended for different activities in Colombia. Example: A foreigner previously held a Retirement Visa but now applies for a Digital Nomad Visa. The Retirement Visa is meant for enjoying a pension in Colombia and does not permit work. Visa officials, aware of the previous visa information, may deny the Digital Nomad Visa if they perceive a contradiction in the foreigner’s intended activities in Colombia.- Falsified or altered documents: During the document review, officials may identify falsified or altered documents. A visa will be denied immediately if any falsification is detected. Submitting falsified or altered documents is not only grounds for denial but also a criminal offense in Colombia.
Repeated irregular stays in Colombia: If visa officials notice repeated violations of Colombian immigration laws, such as overstaying the allowed period multiple times, they may decide to deny the visa.
Discretionary authority: As mentioned above, Colombian sovereignty allows officials to randomly select certain foreign nationals for visa denial without providing specific reasons.

Can I take legal action if my visa is denied?

The only limitation to the Colombian government’s discretionary authority in visa decisions is the violation of fundamental human rights.

If a visa denial affects rights such as family unity or due process, you may file a tutela action, which is a fast-track legal claim to request a judge to protect the affected fundamental rights.

Example: A marriage visa is denied under discretionary authority, separating a foreign father from his Colombian wife and two children for six months. The children need their father’s presence due to their age. The foreign national and their family can file a tutela action to request reconsideration of the decision, arguing that the denial violates the fundamental right to family unity.