Those of us who have the pleasure of being born in this piece of land called Colombia value and know the wonders and benefits this country offers. Even amidst evident needs, serious social problems, and other current issues, we enjoy life with a smile, something characteristic of this country, a protagonist of Magical Realism, perfectly exemplified by the works of Gabriel García Márquez.
The dilemma for foreign citizens when they arrive in our country is deciding whether to stay, leave once their objectives are met, or, if they fall in love with it, stay permanently. For all these options, Migración Colombia has a solution.
Foreigners in Colombia
Those of us who hold Colombian nationality have free entry, transit, and freedom of exercise within the borders of the territory. However, foreign citizens visiting Colombia do not have these faculties, so upon entering the national territory, they must undergo a legalization process to ensure that from the moment of entry, their stay is: 1. Conditional and 2. Determined for specific periods of time.
Is Colombia a country with open doors for foreign citizens?
It could be said that Colombia is a country with open doors. Or at least that’s what we constantly express. But this is not always true, and in terms of “open” doors, many clarifications would have to be made regarding the meaning and scope of the word. It is better for immigration lawyers to explain it to you.
Almost all migrants arriving in Colombian territory must face the same dilemmas, with the exception of some nationalities whose entry is extremely simple and well-received. This is the case for Americans and South Koreans, with whom we have cultivated strong bonds of international trust due to historical or economic relations between our countries.
Meanwhile, some of the nations with complicated or restricted entry include our Venezuelan brothers, Chinese citizens, or those from African nations, among some other Western Asian countries.
How to enter Colombia as a foreigner?
These solutions are the Colombian visas granted to foreign citizens in Colombia, so they can fulfill their purposes in the adventure of traveling to this country. For each of the intentions with which our foreign visitors arrive, there is a specific visa proposal to process, which will grant them the necessary faculties to achieve those intentions. By way of explanation of Migración Colombia’s regulatory content, some of the main options available to foreign visitors will be presented.
Visas for Foreigners in Colombia
Type V Visa - Visitor
This visa is suitable for visiting the national territory for leisure, tourism, or cultural interest. These visas are intended for foreigners who wish to visit Colombia once or multiple times, or to stay temporarily in the country without establishing permanent residence. This visa allows the holder to carry out, among other activities:
Airport transit, tourism, business management, academic exchange and studies in art or trades and postgraduate degrees, medical treatment, administrative and/or judicial procedures, crew member on a vessel or offshore platform, participation in events, internships or practical training, volunteering, audiovisual and/or digital production, journalistic coverage, temporary service provider, intra-corporate personnel transfer within the framework of existing international instruments, foreign government official or commercial representative, work-holiday program, and courtesy.
Some of these visas may be granted for a validity period of up to 2 years, taking into account the activity proposed by the foreigner in Colombia. The following visas are distinguished within this type.
Type M Visas - Migrant
Individuals in the following conditions may apply for this visa: Spouse or permanent partner of a Colombian national; parent or child of a Colombian national by adoption; migrant under the Mercosur Agreement; refugee; work; entrepreneur; independent professional or activity; religious; primary, secondary, high school, and undergraduate students; real estate investor; retiree or annuitant; and the most complex of all in this category, shareholder of a Colombian company.
All Type M – Migrant Visas
They cover beneficiaries from the primary family nucleus of the holder, meaning their spouses or partners in proven marital unions, parents, and children, although it should be noted that the student visa is the only one that does not enjoy this benefit.
Type R – Resident Visas
These are the ideal visas for those who aspire to establish or fix their permanent domicile in Colombia. The ways to obtain them are:
- By having renounced Colombian nationality.
- Being a parent of a Colombian national by birth;
- Accumulated length of stay.
- Direct foreign investment.
These are the visa options that the Colombian State offers to those individuals who wish, or must, face the dilemma of being a foreign citizen in Colombia, which is:
Aspiring to live in Colombia, entering the national territory, or returning from wherever they came.
Some are relatively simple to obtain, but those that grant more faculties or benefits tend to be considerably more complicated.
Remember that for your visa or permit procedures, we have the best immigration lawyers in Colombia.
