Entry to Colombia

How to enter Colombia

Visas

Citizens of some countries need to present a tourist visa that must be processed at the Colombian embassies or consulates abroad. In the following link you can verify if you require a visa or not.

Check the countries that require a visa.

It also reviews the Airport Tax Conditions

Other types of visas

Remember that there are different types of visas for those who are not traveling to Colombia for tourist purposes. If this is your case, you can check the requirements for study visas at Student Visa.

If what you need is a work visa, please consultWorker Visa.

Colombia also offers a visa for digital nomads valid for up to 2 years. Discover all the advantages that this country offers you at Visa for Digital Nomads.

Find out about the application process for the different visas to Colombia at Visa Processing.

Entering Colombia

When entering Colombia, you must take into account some important recommendations. In this section, you will find information related to the entry of your luggage, the regulations for the entry of foreign currency and temporary imports.

During your stay in our country, you should also keep in mind the emergency numbers and the entities that watch over your safety and well-being. In this page we provide you with all this information.

Airport Tax

It is the value charged to passengers for the use of airport facilities. It is mandatory for the passenger to pay the value in the provision of scheduled and non-scheduled commercial air transportation services.

For further information, please contact the Airport Services Department. Telephone numbers: + 57 (1) 425 1000, + 57 (1) 425 1000, + 57 (1) 425 1000 ext. 2588 and 2083.

Contact the airline, some airlines already include this cost in their fares.

To know the value and conditions of the airport tax, please visit Airport Tax Conditions

Luggage

When entering Colombia, passengers may bring two types of baggage: accompanied baggage and unaccompanied baggage.

Accompanied baggage

This is the luggage that the traveler brings into the country at the time of entry. It may consist of personal effects and permitted items.

Unaccompanied baggage

It is the one that enters the country before or after the arrival of the traveler. It must be consigned in the traveler's name.

If part of the baggage has already been or will be brought in as cargo, it must be declared on the Baggage and Money Declaration form, and the customs officer must be informed before leaving the customs area. Otherwise, the shipment will be processed for ordinary nationalization. Baggage entering thirty days before or ninety days after the date of the traveler's arrival must pay a 15% tax.

Cash and merchandise inflows

In addition to their personal effects, every traveler is entitled to bring money and goods into Colombia. Whether or not these are duty free depends on the following conditions:

US$ 10,000 or its equivalent in any currency. If the amount carried exceeds this amount, it is necessary to declare such income to the corresponding customs authorities.

Family and personal use items in non-commercial quantities up to US$ 1,500. These items are duty free and must be brought in as accompanied baggage.

Articles for domestic use, sporting goods, or those related to the traveler's art, profession or trade, in a maximum of 3 of each type, up to US$ 2,500. These goods must pay a 15% tax and the traveler must comply with a minimum stay abroad of 5 days. This may enter as accompanied or unaccompanied baggage.

The entry of patrimonial goods from other countries (cultural, historical, artistic or ecological goods, among others) must be reported to the customs authorities. It should be clarified that, with regard to ecological products, there are specific procedures and regulations, so that reporting to the customs authority is not sufficient for their entry into the country.

Entry of merchandise by minors

Minors may only bring in goods up to a value equivalent to 50% of the quotas indicated herein.

Items or goods that cannot be entered under this modality:

Railway vehicles and equipment or automobiles

Airships or aerodynes, balloons, airships and gliders

Boats or any floating craft or their parts

Weapons, ammunition and explosives

Transportation material, such as tires and spare parts for cars or machinery

Exceptions:

Bicycles

Wheelchairss

Children's cars

Example: If the traveler has been abroad for more than five days, the quota is up to US$ 4,000. This includes household goods, sporting goods and those items that are specific to the traveler's art or craft. You may enter up to 3 units of each, not exceeding the quota of US$ 4,000, of which US$ 1,500 are duty free. The remaining US$ 2,500 will pay 15% tax (only once a year). Therefore, it is important to always carry the invoice of the items purchased to verify their value.

Foreign currency income

Travelers entering Colombia are entitled to carry total amounts not exceeding US$ 10,000 or its equivalent in other currencies, including Colombian legal currency in cash, and are required by law to declare them on the Baggage and Money Declaration Form.

The traveler may enter the country, as long as he/she does not exceed the amount established by law:

Foreign currency in cash

Foreign currency in securities representing foreign currency

Foreign currency negotiable instruments

Pet transportation

The traveler, after arriving in Colombia and filling out the DIAN form where he/she registers the entry of the pet, must go to the ICA Port Health Office at the airport with the following documents and accompanied by the pet for the respective inspection and subsequent authorization for entry into the country.

Health certificate with a maximum of eight days of issue, signed by a veterinarian.

Certificate of current vaccinations.

For the entry of dogs and cats into the country, the ICA requires an international veterinary certificate guaranteeing that the animal has not shown symptoms of rabies for 48 hours prior to shipment.

For domestic flights, an internal movement guide must be requested upon presentation of a current vaccination certificate issued by a veterinarian.

For more information, call + 57 (1) 425 1000 Ext. 2297 - 2330, or visit Pet Transportation.