Colombia Entry Requirements and Restrictions

Colombia Entry Requirements and Restrictions are the set of rules that all visitors to Colombia must follow in order to enter the country without any issues. These requirements specify documentation to obtain prior to the planned trip as well as additional restrictions implemented due to the coronavirus pandemic. Among the most essential documents that every traveler must have is a valid passport and a visa for Colombia. 

Colombia visa policy determines what types of visas are required depending on the traveler's nationality, planned duration of stay, and travel purpose. A number of travelers from different countries can apply for a visa for Colombia online. Those who are not listed as eligible for a Colombia electronic visa, also known as a visitor visa, will need to visit a Colombian embassy or consulate in person. 

Moreover, the Colombian immigration policy states that foreign citizens planning a relocation or/and undertaking employment in Colombia or/and staying in the country for long-term will need to obtain a relevant permit or visa. 

Currently, international travelers can enter Colombia by air, land, or sea. However, amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, they need to meet certain entry requirements, which may differ depending on factors like the traveler’s age and vaccination status.

Please note that the Colombia entry rules may change at short notice, so make sure you are familiar with the most up-to-date information.

Read more about the current Colombian travel and entry requirements and ensure your smooth access to Colombia.

Important Update! On 4th May 2023, the Colombian Government lifted the COVID-19 vaccination requirement. Travelers currently still need to complete the Check-MIG form before entering or leaving Colombia. Read more here.

Who can enter Colombia?

At the moment, both vaccinated and unvaccinated foreign travelers are allowed to travel to Colombia. Non-vaccinated travelers can arrive by air or land, while cruise passengers must be vaccinated against Covid-19 to enter Colombia’s territory.

Documents check-list for entering Colombia

All citizens and residents of Colombia must have:

• a valid passport
• a completed Check-MIG form
• PCR/antigen test taken 72/48 hours before travel

All foreign travelers to Colombia must have:

• a valid passport
• a completed Check-MIG form
• a return ticket (preferably an airline ticket)
• a Colombian visa (if applicable)
• Covid-19 vaccination certificate (if vaccinated)
• PCR/antigen test taken 72/48 hours before travel (if unvaccinated)
• travel insurance with Covid-19 coverage (optional)

Testing, vaccination, and quarantine requirements

Testing Requirements

Fully vaccinated travelers

If you have received the complete Covid-19 vaccination regimen, generally, you are allowed to cross the Colombian border without a test. Nevertheless, if you plan to enter Colombia by sea, you must provide a negative PCR test report performed within 72 hours before the planned entry to the country or an antigen test taken 48 hours earlier.

Not fully vaccinated or unvaccinated travelers

Foreign travelers who have already started their vaccination scheme, but have not completed it, have received their final vaccination dose less than 14 days prior to travel, or are non-vaccinated, will need to provide a negative PCR test that must be taken within 72 hours or antigen test performed 48 hours before boarding.

Vaccination Requirements

Colombia allows entry for both vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers. Vaccinated travelers can submit the certificate confirming that they have received one of the Covid-19 vaccines approved by the WHO or the UN, including:

• Johnson & Johnson
• Pfizer-BioNTech
• Moderna
• Astra Zeneca
• Sinopharm
• Sinovac/Coronavac
• Covaxin
• Sputnik V
• CanSino

The minimum time that must elapse since receiving the second vaccination dose is 14 days in order to be recognized as fully vaccinated.

Important: If you plan to enter Colombia by ship, you must be fully vaccinated!

Acceptable proof of COVID-19 vaccination may have a printed or electronic form and must include:

• first and last name
• ID type and number
• vaccination date
• vaccination manufacturer’s name
• number of administered vaccinations

Quarantine Requirements

Currently, travelers to Colombia, regardless of their vaccination status, do not need to quarantine after arrival in Colombia.

Traveling from Colombia

All travelers leaving Colombia must remeber to fill out the Check-MIG form 24 hours before departure (1 hour before at the latest).

Passengers who leave Colombia and wish to return to their home countries or continue their further trip to another destination should arrive at the Colombian airport 3 hours before departure. They also need to wear masks from the moment of entering the airport, during the entire flight until arrival at their port of destination.

Before the trip, they should check on the entry and health requirements applicable to their destination country. These are subject to frequent changes at short notice.

Traveling to Colombia

Apart from all the necessary documents, i.e., completed Check-MIG, Covid-19 vaccination proof, and/or negative test, all passengers whose flights take more than 2 hours must have multiple face masks and replace them throughout a trip.

Since travelers over 60 years of age or those suffering from various comorbidities are more vulnerable to Covid-19 symptoms, they are highly recommended to use an N-95-type mask during their flight.

Entry Rules for Children

Children aged 17 and younger are exempt from showing the vaccination proof or Covid-19 negative test results in order to enter Colombia.

Local Covid-19 and travel restrictions

As of May 1, under new directives, facemasks are no longer mandatory in most indoor public spaces, in municipalities with at least 70 % of the double-vaccinated population and where 40% of the population received a booster shot.

The facemasks will remain mandatory in public transportation, health, and education centers, as well as in municipalities with relatively low Covid-19 vaccination rates. What is more, wearing facemasks outdoors is no longer mandatory, except for municipalities where the rate of the vaccinated population is below 70%.

Moreover, the requirement to provide vaccination proof to enter restaurants, massive events, and clubs has also been lifted across the country.

Transit through Colombia- rules during the Covid-19 pandemic

To transit through Colombia on your way to another travel destination, you need to meet the standard Covid-19 and entry restrictions applicable to all travelers arriving in Colombia.

For further information on specific tranist requirements through Colombia, you should contact your airline. Depending on the airline you plan to fly with, these rules may differ.

Colombia visa requirements

Visa-free travel

Colombia allows visa-free entry for short stays not exceeding 90 days. Nationals of around 100 different countries can enter Colombia without obtaining a visa for their trip. Those exempt travelers who arrive in Colombia will have to receive a PIP-5 Entry Permit stamp in their passport. This stamp confirms that they are allowed to stay in Colombia for maximally 3 months.

The visa-exempt travelers can also prolong their stay for 3 months without leaving Colombia. The Colombian authorities allow travelers to stay in Colombia visa-free for not more than 180 days within one calendar year. However, if a traveler needs to stay in Colombia longer, the relevant visa will be mandatory for a more extended period.

Colombian visas

If you are not a national of a visa-exempt country, you will need to get a visa before traveling to Colombia. Depending on the travel purposes and length of planned stay in Colombia, individuals may need to obtain different visas. Citizens of over 40 countries must obtain the visitor visas issued at the Colombian embassy or consulate.

Some nationalities can start the visa application process online, gather the necessary documents, and visit the nearest Colombia embassy or consulate to end the visa formalities.

Those applicants who are not eligible for the online visa application should directly contact the Colombian diplomatic post for more information.

Please note! Every holder of the Colombian visa whose validity exceeds 90 days is required to register the visa at a Migración Colombia office or online. The registration must take place within 15 days from the date of arrival in Colombia. Failure to do it may result in being fined.

Colombia Check-MIG

Due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Colombian authorities introduced an additional travel document mandatory for everyone entering or leaving Colombia. The Check-MIG form must be completed within 24 hours before the planned entry to Colombia or maximally up to 1 hour before travel.

Check-MIG Colombia is a single-entry document, which means that every time you wish to enter or leave Colombia, you will need to complete the new form.

The Check-MIG form was introduced in September 2020 with the aim to ensure the safety of both international arrivals, border officials, and Colombian citizens. The form requires a traveler to provide all essential information. The Colombian officials can quickly contact an infected person and take other protective measures to minimize the risk of further spread of Covid-19.

Important note: The Check-MIG Colombia is not the equivalent of the Colombian visa. If you are a citizen of a country that is not a member of the visa waiver program, apart from the Check-MIG, you will also need to obtain a visa to enter Colombia hassle-free.

Travel Insurance

Colombia does not require its visitors to purchase travel health insurance before a trip. Nevertheless, all travelers to Colombia are highly recommended to get travel insurance with Covid-19 coverage. It is a very smart move that can save you a lot of money and protect you during your entire stay in Colombia.

When looking for the perfect insurance, consider your particular travel plans and try to choose the policy that best fits your travel needs.