Entry/Exit Requirements

All U.S. citizens who do not also hold Colombian citizenship must present a valid U.S. passport to enter and depart Colombia. U.S. citizens traveling to Colombia do not need a Colombian visa for a tourist stay of 90 days or less. Travelers entering Colombia are sometimes asked to present evidence of return or onward travel, usually in the form of a plane ticket. The length of stay granted to travelers is determined by the Colombian immigration officer at the point of entry and will be stamped in your passport. Before the visa expires, travelers may request an extension of up to 90 days. Extensions may be requested by visiting an office of the Colombian immigration authority (Migración Colombia) after arrival in Colombia. Fines are levied if a traveler remains in Colombia longer than authorized, and the traveler cannot leave Colombia until the fine is paid. Any traveler possessing a Colombian visa with more than three months’ validity must register the visa at a Migración Colombia office or on-line within 15 days of arrival in Colombia or face fines.  The Migración Colombia office in Bogota is located at Calle 100 and Carrera 11B-29, telephone (571) 511-1150.  This office is open from Monday to Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Fridays from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

For current visa information and further specific guidance on Colombian entry requirements, including information about Colombian visas, contact the Colombian Embassy at 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 387-8338; or the nearest Colombian consulate.

The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Colombia.

Special Entry/Exit Instructions for U.S. Citizens Born in Colombia: Be aware that any person born in Colombia or of Colombian parentage may be considered a Colombian citizen, even if never documented as such.  According to Colombian law, all Colombian citizens—regardless of dual citizenship—MUST present a Colombian passport to enter and exit Colombia. Colombian citizens traveling with non-Colombian passports frequently have been prevented from departing the country until they obtain a Colombian passport.  Colombian citizens who naturalized as U.S. citizens before 1990 are deemed to have lost their Colombian citizenship as of the date of naturalization and do not need to show a Colombian passport, but Colombian Immigration authorities suggest that these passengers travel with proof of their date of naturalization. Be aware as well that all U.S. citizens, regardless of dual citizenship, must present a valid U.S. passport upon returning to the United States.  Persons who are both U.S. and Colombian citizens MUST travel between these countries with both passports, presenting the Colombian passport upon departing Colombia and the U.S. passport upon arrival in the U.S.

Additional Exit Requirements for Minors: To prevent international child abduction, Colombia has implemented special exit procedures for Colombian children under 18 who depart the country alone, without both parents, or a without a legal guardian.  These procedures also apply to U.S. citizen children if they are dual nationals or if they are legal residents of Colombia.  The procedures can be complex and time-consuming, especially if the absent parent is outside Colombia, so advance planning is essential.

When exiting the country, a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate, along with a written, signed, and notarized authorization from the absent parent(s) or legal guardian must be presented.  The authorization must be notarized by a Colombian authority and explicitly grant permission for the child to travel alone, with one parent, or with a named third party.  If a parent is deceased, a notarized copy of a death certificate is required.  If one parent has sole custody of the child, that parent may present a custody decree instead of the other parent’s written authorization.  In cases where a Colombian citizen or dual national child has been adopted in a U.S. Court, the adoption decree must be legalized (Exequatur) by the Colombian Supreme Court.

If the documents originated in the United States, they must first be translated into Spanish and then signed in front of a Colombian consul at a Colombian consulate.  Upon arrival in Colombia, the documents must be presented to the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for certification (apostille) of the consul’s signature.

Alternatively, the documents may be translated into Spanish, then notarized by a notary public in the United States, and the notary’s signature certified by the competent authority in the U.S. state where the notary is licensed.  The notarized document, translation, and certification (apostille) should be presented to immigration officers at the airport when the child travels.

If the documents originated in Colombia and are written in Spanish, only notarization by a Colombian notary is required.  For documents originating in countries other than the United States or Colombia, please inquire with the Colombian Embassy serving that country.

In cases where the absent parent refuses or is unable to provide consent, the other parent can request assistance from Colombia’s child protective service, Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar (ICBF).  In appropriate cases, ICBF will investigate and may issue a document that will allow the child to travel without both parents’ consent.  This process may take a significant amount of time and is not within the control of the U.S. government.

Entering the Country by Road: U.S. citizens traveling overland must enter Colombia at an official border crossing. If you’re taking a bus to Colombia, make sure prior to boarding that your bus will cross the border at an official entry point.  Failure to do so may result in a fine or even a jail sentence.  If you plan to enter Colombia over a land border, be sure to read the information on Traffic Safety and Road Conditions below.  We strongly advise U.S. citizens against entering Colombia overland; the border areas of Colombia with Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Brazil and Venezuela are off-limits to U.S. government personnel unless specific authorization is granted.

Exit Tax: No arrival tax is collected upon entry into Colombia, but travelers leaving by plane must pay an exit tax in cash at the airport.  Most airlines include all or a portion of this fee in the cost of your airline ticket.  Check with your airline beforehand to find out how much you will have to pay at the airport.  According to Aeronautica Civil, the Colombian authorities in charge of civil aviation and airport taxes, the exit tax is divided in two categories: 1) the Tasa Aeroportuaria of 86 USD and 2) the Timbre Aeroportuario of 37 USD.  These fees are updated annually and posted on the Aeronautica Civil website.  In some instances, an additional administrative fee of 15 USD may be charged.  Some foreign travelers who have been in Colombia for less than 60 days have obtained an exemption from this tax by taking their documents immediately upon arrival to the Aeronautica Civil desk in the El Dorado international terminal and requesting the exemption.

Lost or Stolen Passport: If your U.S. passport is lost or stolen in Colombia, you must obtain a new one before departing the country.  You must then present the new passport, along with a police report describing the loss or theft, to a Migración Colombia office.  Information about obtaining a replacement passport in Colombia is available at U.S. Embassy Bogota’s website. The Embassy in Bogota or the U.S. Consular Agency in Barranquilla will provide guidance on contacting Migración Colombia when you apply for your replacement passport.

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website.  For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page.