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Who needs a tourist visa for Colombia? If you are a citizen from theUnited States, Canada, UK, Ireland, Germany, or Austrailia, and have a passport, and are not planning on staying more than 90 days then you will not need a tourist visa to be issued before you travel to Colombia. If your not carrying a passport from the United States, Canada, UK, Ireland, Germany, or Austrailia click here to verify if you need a tourist visa. If you are planning on staying in colombia longer, investing,conducting business, or traveling to Colombia for reasons other than tourism you should get a visa for Colombia. Click here to see the requirments to obtain a Colombian Visa. Please read our notes below on this page regarding changes to Visas and do not hesitate to send emails directly to James @ ColombiaVisas.com for questions regarding Colombian Resdiency visas in English.

Please keep in mind that there exist no certification for lawyers in Colombia to practice immigration law. Due to this there many inexperienced lawyers which take on immigration work which do not have experience, even when it comes to simple retirement visas, and legalization of documents from other countries. Our company, Visas y Tramites Internacionales provides services for many immigration, civil and criminal lawyers both inside and outside of Colombia, so you have come to the right place! For RESDENCY VISAS in Colombia contact James Lindzey at (1) 305-767-2766 (USA), or (57) 313-390-7109 (COL). click here for types of visas in Colombia.



Colombia Visa Residency News for Foreigners Living in Colombia:
1) The Colombian Investment Visa - Now requires a $200,000 USD investment to qualify when investing in Real Estate (bienes raiz). Visit Paradise Realty (click here) for more information on Colombian Real Estate investments, title research, and commercial construction projects. Paradise Realty was featured in the New York Times in 2010 International Real Estate section.

2) SOLE PROPRIETOR / BUSINESS ASSOCIATE Visa- If you have capital to invest think about opening a consulting business, or converting part of your existing home into a business to qualify for a start up business visa. For as litle as 53.5 million pesos (30k USD aprx) invested in a business you can qualify for a residency visa. Click contact us and ask James Lindzey for more information regarding opening a business in Colombia.

3) Married and Divorced from a Colombian Recently? Please keep in mind that you should immediately leave the country after you get a divorce. Legally speaking your visa becomes expired the day your divorce is registered by the court or local notary public. If a divorce is being filed in your name you should leave when the lawyers or notary is going to file the divorce, or before if possible, the sooner the better. Plan ahead.

Applying for a New Marraige Visa in Colombia after a Divorce - may not keep you in Colombia if you did not leave Colombia when you got your divorce. Of course they may be flexible depending on your situation, however many people have been forced to leave for 6 months and apply for the visa from outside the country after paying a fine so they can leave the country.

4) In July of 2009 new Colombian decretos where put into affect which affect Colombia Visa Policy (decretos are regulations on how the Ministry of Foreign Relations runs its operations). So in 2010 we saw the MInistry of Foreign Relations begin to enforce, verify or ask for new documents, and change certain visa qualifications. Changes without notice to visa approval policies may come from the highest level or a lower level such as the worker reviewing an idividual application. *Remember different locations such as embassies and consulates may and do vary policies slightly when approving visas.)

5) Getting Married in Colombia? Some people come to Colombia and marry their fiance and then get a marraige visa without leaving the country. Other people do this so they can take their loved one home on a marraige visa to the United States for example. Keep in mind for a Colombian to marry another Colombian it is very easy, but for a foreigner you will be required to bring several documents which have passed through the international legal document processing steps, please see the 4 steps to document legalization below. You will also be required to show a document which proves you are single, *certificado de soltero. This is not the same as a divorce certiifcate. We offer assistance and guide people through this process. For more information please contact us through our contact us page. Click Here. Do to an increase in marraige fraud cases in Colombia, the Ministry of Foreign Relations in Bogota is calling many newly married people into Bogota for interviews. Although not nearly as intense as a USA marraige visa, they are varying the length of times issued on visas for odd couples, sometimes only giving visas out for 6 months, requiring quick renewals. Normal looking couples are getting longer 3 year visas. (updated April-01-2011)

6) K-3 Marraige and K-1 Fiance Visa Tips for the United States: Remember if you are marrying a person to take to the United States the K-1 FIANCE VISA IS FASTER than getting married and applying for the K-3 MARRAIGE VISA. However, a United States Citzen who is a resident in Colombia AFTER AUGUST 2011 now may NOT qualify for an express marraige application, PREVIOUSLY REFERED TO AS DIRECT CONSULAR FILING. The USCIS ABOLISHED direct consular filings for K1 AND K3 visas in August 2011..

K1 AND K3 VISA PROCESSING TIMES: Average processing times by the USCIS, and the local United States Embassy in Bogota to get approved for the K1 Visa varies between 4 months and 7 months, about 5 months on average. A K3 Visa has had an average time of 1 year, BUT in 2012 their new filing procedures and we are waiting to see how the averages play out this year. However the K3 Visa is not being used much, now people are going more direct for residency in a slightly different route of paper work applying for CR1 Visas using the I-130..The only excetion to this is if an amerian is living here more than 6 months as a resident, the it can be done in as little as 2 MONTHS. Don´t let lawyers or anyone else tell you it is faster, These are the Colombian K1 and K3 visa processing times for Colombia. Click Here to contact James Lindzey or Colombian expert on K1, K3, and CR-1 visas.

7) How to verify your Colombia Tourist Visa Time: granted in the Country at the airport. Look for the stamp if you did not get a tourist visa outside of Colombia. Many visitors receive a stamp at the airport when they enter, and written in this stamp by the agent is a number usually between 30 and 60 days. if you have a visitors visa before entering the country then this does not apply to you. There is no way to extend past 180 days in a calendar year. At the end of the year you can get 180 days more of time in the country, however you must leave when 180 consecutive days are accumulated without leaving the country.

8) Bogotà Ministry Processing Times: 1) The ministry of foreign Relations in Bogota is now taking 1 to 2 days to process Colombian visas once received. 2) They are also limiting the number of visas submitted on a daily basis by messengers, which will add aprx. 1- 5 more days depending on the volume of applications at current time. 3) On the last day of the month they are delaying visa processing due to internal end of month processes they must comply with. (updated March-31-2011) 4) The Ministry of Foreign Relations was answering the phone lines and responding to tens of thousands of calls every month, but they have shuffeled their staff sometime in late 2010 to attend to record numbers of foreigners staying in Colombia. We have reached a new epoca here in Colombia and the propaganda is all to true, "The only risk in Colombia, is wanting to stay in Colombia!" (updated April-01-2011)

9) Renewing Colombian Passports: The Ministry of Foreign Relations in Bogota is now not renewing passports that have more than 1 month of valid time remaining on the Visa. You should however begin collecting required documents at  least  2 months ahead of time, but not more than 3 months, because documents are only valid for 90 days in the eyes of the Colombian legal system. (updated March-31-2011)

10) Work Visas, and Education Visa Service Resume for Colombians: Beginning April 4, 2011 or work and studient visa services for more than 30 countries for Colombians is back in effect, including amount the most popular countries requested such as the United States, Austrailia, China, Mexico, Spain, Canada and Brazil. As we are proud to announce that Adriana Cardona and Jhonatan Cardona have finished their Colombiano visa training programs.

11) Colombia VIsas Price Increase: Beginning April 29, 2011 the Ministry of Foreign Relations has increased prices on all visas by $50 USD. Visas that have the visa fee waived now have a $50 USD processing fee. This for example makes the pension visa, and business visa consular fees 50 dollars. This again is due to the high number of Colombians Staying in the Country. (Updated May 2, 2011)

12) American Spouse Residency Visa: Express American Direct Consular Filing for Americans who are Colombian Resdients will only be available until July 19, 2011. The Embassy has indicated this service will not be available from this date on, or until futher notice. After this all applications will be routed through the United States Visa Processing centers once again. (Updated June 9, 2011)

13) Living Abroad Income Tax Waiver for USA Citizens: United States Citizens income tax exemption for up to $91,500. If you are a U.S. citizen or a resident alien of the United States and you live abroad, you are taxed on your worldwide income. However, you may qualify to exclude from income up to $91,500 of your foreign earnings Just click here to read more on the IRS website:
Foreign Earned Income and Housing: Exclusion – Deduction (click here for more info) (Updated July 26, 2011)

14) What types of visas can i change to if I am in Colombia on a Tourist visa without having to leave the country? Colombia Marraige Visa, Retirement Visa, Education Visa, Parent of Colombian Child Visa, Medical Treatment Visa, and Education Visa are visas which do not require you to leave the country. All work and business related visas must first be applied for out of the country at a Colombian consulate or Colombian Embassy. Work and business Visa renewals can be done with Visas y Tramites internacionales without needed to leave the country or go to Bogotà. Contact James Lindzey directly regarding Colombian visa questions at James@ColombiaVisas.com. (Updated August 23, 2011)

15) K3 Spouse Visas for the United States: Filing instructions have changed for the I-130 Family member immigration form. Currently applicants must send at least 3 packages via mail to complete the process. 2 packages get sent to the lock box location for your state, and the thrid package goes to the embassy just before your interview. Never send in original documents to processing centers when you process your visa application. Be sure to always make copies of everything. (Updated January 25, 2011)

16) K1 and K3 Visa Financial Support Guidelines: To see the poverty guidelines immigration uses to determine i f you make enough money to support your family, (wife/fiance, and/or children) click here. I-864P USCIS Poverty and minimum Income Guidelines for USA Residency Immigration. (Updated January 25, 2011)

17) Medellin Chamber of Commerce: New applications for businesses for foreigners creating companies while overseas require company constitutions and power of attorney to be sent with apostille. The Chamber of Commerce of Medellin is not receiving documents legalized at the Colombian Consulates or Embassies for this process. The Ministry of Foreign Relations in Bogota has stated that the Chamber of Commerce in Medellin should accept documents legalized by the Colombian Embassy. For more information on opening Businesses in Colombia please contact James@ColombiaVisas.com. (Updated January 25, 2011)

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