Immigration Info

1 Immigrating to Colombia

Visiting Colombia will require a valid visa for entry and departure. If you are a dual citizen then a Colombian visa will also be required. Upon entry the immigration officer will stamp your visa with the number of days you plan on remaining in the country and extensions are available from the Colombian Immigration Authority. If you fail to acquire an extension a fine will be levied.

2 Residency

Residency in Colombia has not evolved to simply allow pensioners to qualify for residency based on their income. There are however 17 categories of residency that can allow visitors to stay in Colombia for extended periods and can lead to permanent residency. Temporary residency will allow you to stay in Colombia from a short period of time and up to two years. Determining which residency will be the best for you will have to be carefully determined. The aid of a lawyer is very important for the process and will save you time more so than money as the qualification process can sometimes be lengthy and applying for the wrong type of residency will result in starting all over again in a new category.

The most common documentation you’ll need to apply for any type of residency includes a valid visa for the time of residency, a health certificate from a physician, a criminal record check, and additional passport photos, marriage certificates if applicable and birth certificates. Some documentation will need to be translated to Spanish and other documentation may need to be notarized. Your residency type will clearly outline the documentation you’ll be required to produce. For investors residency you’ll need to provide documentation for a qualifying dollar amount and you’ll be required to open a bank account in Colombia. For business travelers a letter from your employer may be necessary stating the purpose of your business in Colombia.

Some of the above documentation may take a while to obtain so starting well ahead of time in your own country may be necessary. You can start the residency process in your country as well by visiting one of the Colombian Consulates or the Colombian Embassy. You’ll be able to get an application and start on the needed paperwork including a physician’s health certificate. The health certificate should address the concerns of the Colombian government and will be outlined in the application. Criminal background checks can also take some time so get started early.

3 Embassies and Consulates

There will be an American Embassy in Colombia just as there is a Colombian Embassy and Consulates in America. Both are present to help with emergencies as well as needed information. As a visitor to Colombia you should know the location of your country’s Embassy in case a problem arises. Residency and visa questions can be addressed at these locations also.