Hassle-Free Colombia Tourist Visa Application
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Colombia is a tourist’s paradise in South America. Home to stunning beaches, a tropical climate, and forests, Colombia is also infused with natural parks, world heritage sites, and a beautiful culture to enjoy. Thus, if you are planning to visit the country with your loved ones, you have just made the perfect holiday plan.
Nonetheless, to ensure a smooth and hassle-free trip throughout your stay in the country, you need to make your visa arrangements well in advance. So read the article to learn about the essential points regarding Colombia Visas for Indians.
Yes, all Indian citizens need a visa to visit Colombia. Whatever the purpose of your visit to the country, you can enter the jurisdiction of Colombia only with a Colombian visa for Indians. The Colombian Embassy will then take some time to process your visa application by assessing the purpose for which you would like to visit the country and verifying the supporting documents provided by you.
Before you opt for your Colombia visa application, you must know about the eligibility criteria that you need to satisfy. So, go through the following list of eligibility criteria you must consider:
You must be an Indian citizen and hold a valid Indian passport.
You must have an Indian passport, which should be valid for at least 6 months after your arrival in Colombia.
You have the supporting documents to show your hotel bookings in the country.
You must provide medical documents to meet the health requirements.
You must have strong reasons to visit Colombia.
You must be able to bear your expenses in the country.
You must provide travel insurance papers.
There are mainly three main types of Colombia visas for Indians, which are categorised based on the varied purposes of visit, as stated below:
Indian nationals can apply for a Colombia Tourist visa for Indians who would like to travel to Colombia for tourism purposes. This type of visa can be both single-entry and multiple-entry.
You are able to temporarily reside in Colombia if you have a Colombia Resident Visa. There are several types of visas granted in this category. It is primarily intended for those who wish to work, invest, or study in the country for an extended period of time. The length of your stay in the country will depend on the reason for your visit.
A migration visa for Colombia is a permit to live in the country permanently. This type of visa contains permanent residence and movement permits and is valid for a lifetime. However, the validity may change under certain circumstances.
You must be aware of the validity periods of every type of Colombian visa before you apply for one so that you can plan your trip accordingly. Thus, given below is a table featuring the validity details about the Colombia visa types:
Colombia Visa Types | Validity of Visa | Duration |
Tourist Visa | 180 days | 90 days |
Resident Visa | As per the purpose of the visit | 90 days or per the purpose of the visit |
Migration Visa | Permanent | Permanent |
The processing time for a Colombia e-visa for Indians can be up to 10-15 working days. Even though it is quite a short time to process visa applications, the time required can exceed. Nevertheless, you need to keep checking the official website of Colombia's visa application to stay updated on the processing time.
However, you can also speed up the process by paying an additional fee, which will reduce the time required to 5 business days. Since the processing period can vary due to several circumstances, applying for the visa in advance is always good to avoid any last-minute hassle.
Colombia visa costs for Indians are calculated based on several factors, which include the duration of your stay in the country, the type of visa you are applying for and the purpose of your visit.
So, check the table below mentioning the Colombia visa fees for Indians according to the types of visas available:
Type of Visa | Validity | Duration | Fees for Indians |
---|---|---|---|
Tourist Visa | 180 days | 90 days | Rs. 3,756.90 |
Resident Visa | As per the purpose of the visit | As per the purpose of the visit | Fees may vary as per the purpose of the visit |
Migration Visa | Permanent | Permanent | Rs. 22,958.86 |
Please note that the fees for each type of Colombia visa for Indians, as mentioned above, are based on the current conversion rate and, hence, are subject to change.
The documents necessary for visa application differ according to the type. Nonetheless, there are also a few standard documents which are compulsory for all types. Check the pointers below for Colombia visa requirements for Indian citizens, both general and visa type-specific documents to include.
You must have a valid Indian passport that should be valid up to a minimum of 6 months after you arrive in Colombia. It must have two blank pages for visa stamps, and it should not be damaged or ripped from anywhere.
You should have copies of your recent passport-size photos with a white background, where 80% of your face needs to be visible, showing your ears. Also, the photo should be without wearing any glasses or religious headgear.
Supporting documents for your hotel confirmation or accommodation in Colombia.
Travel insurance papers.
Given below are the documents required for a Colombia tourist visa for Indians:
A cover letter describing your itinerary for the entire stay in the country.
Your bank statements for the last six months.
Confirmed round-trip flight tickets.
The documents required for a Colombia resident visa are as follows:
A health certificate from a licensed physician.
Supporting documents to showcase your financial stability to bear your expenses in Colombia.
A good conduct certificate from the Police authority of your country.
An invitation letter from the employer in Colombia, if applicable.
Educational certificates and related documents of the academic institution in Colombia.
Given below are the documents required for a Colombia migration visa for Indians:
A duly filled migration visa application form for Colombia.
Documents showing strong reasons for your migration.
An employment letter, if required.
Education certificates and other academic transcripts, if applicable.
A good conduct certificate from the Police authority of your country.
A health certificate from a licensed physician.
Given below are the photograph requirements to apply for a Colombia visa:
Minimum of two copies of your recent passport-size photograph taken within the last 3 months of your visa application.
The photo should be a coloured one.
The background of the photo should be white.
The photo should be a neutral one without a smiling face or any expressions.
Dimensions of the photo should be 35mm x 45 mm.
Your clothing in the photograph should not match the background.
Must keep a gap of at least 6 mm between the frame and the top of the head.
80% of your face should be visible in the photograph without any glasses or religious headgear.
Note: You may be asked to produce some additional documents as per circumstances.
Follow this step-by-step guide below to understand the application process for a Colombia visa for Indians:
Step 1: Visit the Colombia official visa portal
Step 2: Select your visa category.
Step 3: Fill in other details as asked
Step 4: Scan all the copies of the required documents.
Step 5: Send the form to the embassy visa email.
Step 6: Pay the acknowledgement costs as required.
Step 7: Validate all the information you put before proceeding.
After you submit the visa application form, you need to schedule your interview with the Embassy as instructed by the authorities. You can also track the status of your visa from the Colombian official visa portal by entering your credentials, such as your application reference number, email ID, etc.
Once your visa application is approved, you can download the visa from their official visa portal, or you may need to visit the visa application centre to collect it.
No, individuals travelling from India are not allowed to get a Colombia visa on arrival for Indians. However, you must note that visa policies can change, and hence, it is important to stay updated about the same from sources like the Colombia Embassy or the official website before making any travel plans.
Go through the following points to have an idea about the reasons for which application for Colombia visa for Indians can get rejected:
When a candidate has any criminal record, it creates strong grounds for the rejection of a visa application for Colombia instantly.
If you provide invalid or incomplete information in your visa application form, your application can also be rejected for that.
It can create a strong ground for your visa rejection if you do not meet the health requirements criteria due to poor health conditions.
If you do not have enough funds to survive in Colombia, your visa may also be rejected.
Follow the tips mentioned below if your Columbia visa for Indians gets rejected after applying:
Tip 1: You can always reapply for a Colombia visa for Indians within 15 days of its rejection. You can follow the same procedure to reapply for a Colombian visa by ensuring that you do not repeat the same mistakes.
Tip 2: You must be careful about following the latest guidelines for visa application as per the Colombian Embassy and provide all the required documents along with your recent photograph.
Tip 3: You also need to provide a completed visa application form without blank spaces or invalid information. Make sure to double-check all the information you fill in before submitting it.
Tip 4: You can also consider connecting with the Colombian Embassy or Consulate in India within 15 days of your visa rejection to learn about the reasons for your visa's rejection. You can note these reasons so that you don't have to repeat them once you proceed to reapply.
To sum it up, Colombia is a nation that is filled with magic and culture wherever you see it. When you are planning to visit the country with your loved ones, it is going to be one of the best trips of your life. Hence, it is essential for you to make all the travel arrangements on time, including your visa application and not compromise your financial stability.
Besides, get yourself a travel insurance plan for your international gateway to Colombia. Travel insurance helps approve your visa and lets you enjoy your trip throughout with financial stability.
It is important to remember that even if you get a shorter period for visa processing, you need to apply for your Colombia visa at least 2 months before your due travel date. This way, you can avoid any circumstances that may cause delays in approving your visa application.
All Indian nationals are required to have a valid visa for Colombia in order to enter the country. However, you may be exempted only if you have a US or Schengen visa with a minimum validity of 180 days at the time of the trip. You can also be exempted if you have a residence permit in a Member State of the Schengen countries or the United States of America.
Even though it is not mandatory, it is highly recommended that you have travel insurance for a hassle-free international trip. This is because travel insurance can provide you with financial coverage for unforeseen circumstances like loss of baggage, funds, flight cancellation, etc., or any medical emergencies that may happen during your trip. Thus, you should opt for reliable travel insurance with comprehensive coverage that suits your preferences.
You can track the status of your Colombian visa on the official Colombian visa portal. If your visa is approved or rejected, you will be informed there or via mail.
You can extend your stay in Colombia by writing an application for a visa extension to the Immigration Agency of Colombia. You need to apply a few days before your visa expires, and only on crucial grounds can your extension be approved.
No. Colombia visa fees for Indians are non-refundable, and your fees will not be refunded if your visa application is rejected.
Yes, you must visit the Colombian Embassy for your visa interview round with the Embassy authorities. You also need to provide your biometric information, like fingerprints and retina scans, on the day of your interview.
Disclaimer: The information mentioned on this page is compiled from different websites and government sources. The information may be updated from time to time. Hence, please refer to the respective government websites and verify before making any visa-related decisions.