Colombia Airport Transit Visa – How to apply and Fees

What happens when you’re taking a trip to a country and must stop in Colombia for a connecting flight? Do you need a Colombia airport transit visa then? What is the use of a transit visa? How long can you stay in Colombia with it?

Colombia is a country in the Northern part of South America. It shares borders with Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, the Pacific Ocean, and the Caribbean Sea. Colombia is known for many things, including street culture, coffee, fantastic vegetation, etc. In addition, they share a lot of international relations with other countries, especially their fellow South Americans. These relationships are apparent in their lenient travel policies and visa arrangements.

This article covers the airport transit visa and how it works in Colombia. We explore what conditions could cause you to need a Colombia airport transit visa. You can also find out how to get one and what it will take to get it.

About Colombia Airport Transit Visa

A Colombia visa is a travel document that authorizes you to enter the Republic of Colombia for a specified time and specified reasons. The time and logic associated with the visa determine the amount of freedom a foreigner has in the country; that is, how long they can stay and what activities they can carry out while there.

In that vein, a Colombian airport transit visa is a visa for foreign nationals traveling through Colombia; that is, foreigners going to a different country need to stop at a Colombian international airport and take a connecting flight to that country.

12 South American States

EU/EEA/EFTA

Colombia Airport Transit Visa Eligibility

We’ve established that the Colombia airport transit visa is for those traveling to a different country through Colombia. However, there are groups of individuals who don’t need a transit visa to stop over at Colombian airports. Here are some conditions associated with the Colombia airport transit visa;

• Citizens of 99 Colombia visa-exempt countries DO NOT NEED an airport transit visa. Some of these countries include; all EU, EEA, and EFTA countries, all 12 other countries in South America, Albania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Russia, Australia, most North American countries (United States, Canada, Mexico, etc.), the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vatican City, etc.
• Foreign nationals on transit who don’t intend to leave the airport’s international area DO NOT NEED a transit visa.
• You WILL NEED a visa if you intend to leave the international area and go through immigration authority checks.
• If the flight to your final destination will take off in 24 hours or less, you don’t need a Colombia transit visa. However, if it will take longer, you have to get one.
• Finally, if you’re a citizen of Cuba or a Palestine passport holder, you need a Colombia airport transit visa to enter Colombia whether or not you’re staying up to 24 hours.

If you intend to leave the international area of the airport or stay for more than 24 hours, you’ll have to apply for a Colombian short-stay visa (or Type V visa) on the grounds of transit. The visa is valid for 30 days (for multiple entries).

Application Requirements for Colombia Airport Transit Visa

When you apply for a Colombian Airport transit visa, you need certain documents. Note that these documents should all be in Spanish for them to be accepted; if they’re not, find a certified translator to do it for you. In addition, your application will be made online, so you need to scan these documents into PDF format.

#1. National Passport

Your national passport is a document your home country’s government issues to you for international travel. This document identifies you as a citizen of your country wherever you go, and you must always have it when you travel abroad. It will also hold your Colombian visa; hence, they must ascertain that the document is valid.

For a national passport to be valid, it must be no older than ten years, must not be defaced, and must have at least two blank pages for your passport. In addition, while applying, you must upload the main page of the passport, any page containing your last entry/exit day from Colombia.

#2. Passport-Sized Photograph

Another document you’ll have to upload is a passport-sized photograph. The said passport has to be very recent (preferably no more than three months old), showing your whole face and ears. It must also have a white background and a 3cmx4cm dimension.

#3. Proof of Funds/Accommodation (if applicable)

Here, you need to provide a hotel reservation or proof of enough funds to book the reservation, depending on how long you’ll stay in Colombia while waiting for your next flight.

#4. Destination Country Visa

Since you’re applying for a transit visa, you should prove that you’re admissible into your destination country. The most acceptable forms of proof are the destination visa (which should be attached to your passport) and your connecting flight tickets.

#5. Others

Before you begin your application procedure, you should endeavor to contact the embassy first and find out if there are any extra documents required for your country. If there are, get them as well.

How to Apply for Colombia Airport Transit Visa

Applying for a Colombia Airport Transit Visa is not as difficult as in many other countries. This is because the initial part of the Colombia visa application happens online, and you can do it from the comfort of your home. Before applying, ensure a stable internet connection and an internet-enabled device.

Once you’ve secured the device and the connection, follow these steps;

#1. Prepare Your Documents

The first step is preparing all the documents listed above as part of the application requirements. Then, if you don’t have them as soft-copy documents, translate them to Spanish and scan them. They must all be in PDF format, or they will be rejected. Your passport, however, should be in JPG format and must not be larger than 300kB in size.

#2. The Online Application Form

Now, you can begin filling out the online application form for the Colombia airport transit visa. Once you open this link, try not to be slow with it because it runs in sessions, and each session lasts about 30 minutes. After then, you may have to restart the process. This step of the application process involves the following;

• Providing all the details that the form requests of you; ensure you fill out everything correctly as filling incorrect details can cost you the visa
• Uploading your pre-scanned documents
• Choosing your preferred payment method for the visa fee; i.e., online or at the Colombian embassy
• Selecting which embassy you are applying to; that is, the one in your home country, where you will go to get the visa

After applying, you will receive a confirmation notification via email. This confirmation would contain the visa application number you can use to pay online if you choose that option while applying. You can also use the number to track your application status.

#3. Verdict

After a few days, you should receive a notification confirming whether your Colombia transit visa has been approved or denied. Then, you can head to the embassy to collect your visa if you’ve been approved. When you go, carry your national passport and original copies of all the documents you applied with. Furthermore, if you choose the cash payment option, go to the embassy with the cash and make the payment there.

Visa Fees and Processing Time

The Colombia airport transit visa takes about five days to process. After that, the embassy should get back to you in no more than three days. After that, you should expect to wait about eight days for your visa confirmation. However, you can apply up to a month before your travel date to cover delays.

The nominal Colombia transit visa fee is $52. However, this could differ depending on what country you’re applying from. Ensure you confirm the amount from the embassy when you contact them.

Frequently Asked Question

#1. How long can I stay in Colombia without a visa?

Depending on your country, you can stay up to 90 days without a visa. However, if after 90 days and you still need to stay a bit longer, you may be able to apply for a 90-day extension.

#2. What happens if I stay too long in Colombia?

The authorities could track and deport you if you stay too long in Colombia. You could also be banned from coming to Colombia for a time and asked to pay a fine.

#3. Can I work with a Colombia transit visa?

No, you cannot. If you want to work in Colombia, you must get a job before coming and applying for a Colombia work visa. You will also need to apply for a temporary residency permit.

#4. How long does it take to get a permanent residency permit in Colombia?

To get a Colombia permanent residency permit, you need to have spent about 3 to 5 years in Colombia on a temporary residency permit.

#5. Where can I get my Colombia visa?

You can get a Colombia visa at any of the Colombian embassies or consulates closest to you, but you may have to apply online, depending on which kind of visa you want.

Conclusion

As mentioned in this article, the Colombian airport transit visa is only necessary if you intend to spend more than 24 hours waiting for your connecting flight or if you want to leave the airport’s sterile area. If you don’t, you can book a flight to Colombia and join the next flight from there.