Colombia Visa Rules How to Spend More Time in Colombia
It happens to many a traveler you head to South America on a normal backpacking trip, with an end date in sight and a return flight home. Suddenly though, you find yourself in a place you can’t imagine leaving and going home doesn't seem like such a good idea anymore. For me that place was Colombia.
If you do end up falling in love with Colombia, or any of the other countries in South America, you will have to navigate the oh-so-annoying long term visa process. Here are my tips on surviving the process in Colombia after two years of doing it.
The Tourist Visa Rules
Colombia Tourist Visa
First, it’s good to understand the standard tourist visa rules since you are likely to first enter the country on this sort of visa. The government agency in Colombia that use to be in charge of issuing visas has actually been completely replaced over the last year or so. DAS Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad was shut down many say due to corruption and replace by Unidad Administrativa Especial Migracion. This change was very, very good for foreigners for a number of reasons, but mainly because it made the whole tourist visa process a bit more predictable.
It use to be that arriving in Colombia, any place besides Bogota, got you a 30 day tourist visa. In Bogota you would be given 60 days and if you were incredibly lucky, you could ask and receive 90 days. Now, whether you arrive by plane or overland, you will most likely receive 90 days without even having to ask for it.
Staying Long Term
So your 90 days in Colombia is almost up and you don’t want to leave? You have a few options for staying longer.
Colombia The Only Risk is Wanting to Stay”
The easiest and most common option is to simply extend your tourist visa. The law in Colombia actually states that foreigners, from most countries, can stay in Colombia for a maximum of 6 months every year. After your initial 3 months is up, you can visit a Unidad Administrativa Especial Migracion office (still referred to by many as a DAS office) and renew your visa for another 3 months. The process is pretty straightforward – you have to deposit a set amount of money in a specific bank account before going to the immigration office. The amount and account number changes occasionally so it is best to go to the office, get the information, pay at the bank, and then come back for the actual extension. Once you have the bank receipt, you fill out a few forms, have your fingerprints taken, and eventually you are given another 90 days. The whole process can be done in less than a day.
Crossing the Colombia Ecuador Border
Alternatively, you can also just hop across the border to Venezuela or Ecuador or sail to Panama and back. When you reenter Colombia, you will be given another 90 days again. This is a more expensive option but great if you have the time and want to see a bit more of South America.
Want to stay even longer? You can also apply for a student visa pretty easily which will allow you to stay for a full calendar year. Immigration lawyers in Colombia often push this option, even to people with no interest in studying, because it is so easy. Many Spanish schools set up classes just for expats using this visa and the visa is similar in price to an extended tourist visa (though a bit more complicated due to additional paperwork and school fees).
Couple Travel Tips
Always check your visa as soon as the officer stamps it in your passport. They typically give 90 days but have been known to give as little as 20.
Overstaying your visa in Colombia is a serious issue and I’d strongly suggest avoiding it. Occasionally you will get lucky and just get a fine but I had one friend physically deported and banned from Colombia for overstaying a month.
If you are leaving Colombia and traveling to Panama by boat, be sure you give your passports to the captain the day before. There isn’t a immigration office at the port and it can take a day or so to get officially “checked out” of the country. The captains will usually handle the immigration part for you the day before you sail.
It happens to many a traveler you head to South America on a normal backpacking trip, with an end date in sight and a return flight home. Suddenly though, you find yourself in a place you can’t imagine leaving and going home doesn't seem like such a good idea anymore. For me that place was Colombia.
If you do end up falling in love with Colombia, or any of the other countries in South America, you will have to navigate the oh-so-annoying long term visa process. Here are my tips on surviving the process in Colombia after two years of doing it.
The Tourist Visa Rules
Colombia Tourist VisaFirst, it’s good to understand the standard tourist visa rules since you are likely to first enter the country on this sort of visa. The government agency in Colombia that use to be in charge of issuing visas has actually been completely replaced over the last year or so. DAS Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad was shut down many say due to corruption and replace by Unidad Administrativa Especial Migracion. This change was very, very good for foreigners for a number of reasons, but mainly because it made the whole tourist visa process a bit more predictable.
It use to be that arriving in Colombia, any place besides Bogota, got you a 30 day tourist visa. In Bogota you would be given 60 days and if you were incredibly lucky, you could ask and receive 90 days. Now, whether you arrive by plane or overland, you will most likely receive 90 days without even having to ask for it.
Staying Long Term
So your 90 days in Colombia is almost up and you don’t want to leave? You have a few options for staying longer.
Colombia The Only Risk is Wanting to Stay”
The easiest and most common option is to simply extend your tourist visa. The law in Colombia actually states that foreigners, from most countries, can stay in Colombia for a maximum of 6 months every year. After your initial 3 months is up, you can visit a Unidad Administrativa Especial Migracion office (still referred to by many as a DAS office) and renew your visa for another 3 months. The process is pretty straightforward – you have to deposit a set amount of money in a specific bank account before going to the immigration office. The amount and account number changes occasionally so it is best to go to the office, get the information, pay at the bank, and then come back for the actual extension. Once you have the bank receipt, you fill out a few forms, have your fingerprints taken, and eventually you are given another 90 days. The whole process can be done in less than a day.
Crossing the Colombia Ecuador BorderAlternatively, you can also just hop across the border to Venezuela or Ecuador or sail to Panama and back. When you reenter Colombia, you will be given another 90 days again. This is a more expensive option but great if you have the time and want to see a bit more of South America.
Want to stay even longer? You can also apply for a student visa pretty easily which will allow you to stay for a full calendar year. Immigration lawyers in Colombia often push this option, even to people with no interest in studying, because it is so easy. Many Spanish schools set up classes just for expats using this visa and the visa is similar in price to an extended tourist visa (though a bit more complicated due to additional paperwork and school fees).
Couple Travel Tips
Always check your visa as soon as the officer stamps it in your passport. They typically give 90 days but have been known to give as little as 20.
Overstaying your visa in Colombia is a serious issue and I’d strongly suggest avoiding it. Occasionally you will get lucky and just get a fine but I had one friend physically deported and banned from Colombia for overstaying a month.
If you are leaving Colombia and traveling to Panama by boat, be sure you give your passports to the captain the day before. There isn’t a immigration office at the port and it can take a day or so to get officially “checked out” of the country. The captains will usually handle the immigration part for you the day before you sail.
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