Before embarking on a trip around Colombia and enjoying the warm hospitality of the locals, the beauty of its landscapes and the vast cultural offerings of cities like Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, Cali or Barranquilla, it's important to consult the entry country's entry requirements first.

 

Before traveling

Visas

Citizens of certain countries need to present a tourist visa to gain entry. These can be processed at the Colombian embassies and consulates abroad. You can check if you need a visa or not in the link below.

Check countries requiring visas at https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/tramites_servicios/visa/requisitos.

You can also consult Resolution 1128 of 2019: https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/sites/default/files/resolucion_1128_de_2018.pdf.  

 

Other types of visas 

Remember, other types of visas may be required for persons traveling to Colombia for reasons other than tourism. If this is your case, you can check the requirements for study visas at https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/tramites_servicios/visa/m-estudiantes. 

If you're looking for a work visa, go to https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/tramites_servicios/visa/m-trabajador. 

 

Entering Colombia

Entry

For entry into Colombia, you should bear certain important recommendations in mind. In this section, you'll find information on bringing in luggage, regulations regarding entry with foreign currency and short-term imports. During your stay in our country, you should also keep on hand the numbers to call for emergency services and for our security and healthcare entities. We will provide you with all of these details right here on this page.

 

Airport tax

This is the fee charged to passengers for use of the airport facilities. It is mandatory for passengers to pay this fee for use of both chartered and non-chartered commercial airline services. For further information, please consult the Airport Services Authority. Telephones: + 57 (1) 425 1000, + 57 (1) 425 1000, + 57 (1) 425 1000 ext. 2588 and 2083. Fax: + 57 (1) 413 9459 or contact your airline. Some airlines include this fee in their fares.

For information on the fee and the terms and conditions of the airport tax, visit http://www.aerocivil.gov.co/atencion/participacion/Proyectos%20de%20normatividad/Proyecto%20-%20Ap%C3%A9ndice%202%20RAC%2014%20-%20Cobro%20tasas%20aeroportuarias.pdf. 

 

Luggage

When entering Colombia, passengers can bring two types of luggage: accompanied luggage and unaccompanied luggage. 

 

Accompanied luggage

This is the luggage that visitors bring with them when entering the country. This can be made up of personal effects and permitted items.

 

Unaccompanied luggage

This is luggage that enters the country before or after the visitor's arrival. This type must be labeled with their name. 

If part of your luggage has entered or is scheduled to enter by freight, this must be declared on the Luggage and Moneys Declaration, and the customs officer must be informed before leaving the customs area. Otherwise, the delivery will be processed as a standard nationalization. Luggage entering thirty days before or ninety days after the visitor's date of arrival, must pay a 15% tax.

 

Bringing in money and goods

In addition to their personal effects, each visitor is entitled to bring money and goods into Colombia. Whether or not these are tax-free will depend on the following conditions:

  • Maximum of US$ 10,000 or equivalent in any other currency. If the amount is greater than this limit, it must be declared to the corresponding customs authorities.

  • Items for family or personal use in non-commercial amounts up to US$ 1,500. These items are tax free and must enter the country as accompanied luggage.

  • Items for domestic, sports, art, professional or work-related use by the traveler, up to a maximum of 3 items of each type, with a value of up to US$ 2,500. These items must pay a 15% tax and the traveler must have been outside the country for a minimum stay of 5 days. These items can enter as accompanied or unaccompanied luggage.

  • The entry of heritage items from other countries (cultural, historical, artistic or organic goods, among others) must be reported to the customs authorities. Please note that, in relation to organic goods, there are specific procedures and regulations in place and reporting to the customs authorities is not sufficient to ensure their entry into the country.

 

Minors bringing in goods

Minors are only permitted to bring in goods up to the equivalent of 50% of the limits stated above.

Items or goods that cannot be brought in under this modality:

  • Vehicles and material for railways or motor vehicles

  • Aircrafts or aerodynes, balloons, airships and gliders

  • Boats or any kind of floating artifact or part thereof

  • Weapons, ammunition and explosives

  • Transport materials, such as tires and spare parts for carriages or machinery

  • Exceptions: bicycles, wheelchairs and strollers

  • For example: If a traveler has been abroad for more than five days, the maximum is up to US$ 4,000. This includes items of domestic use, sporting goods and goods of an artistic or professional nature. The traveler can bring in up to 3 units of each one, without exceeding the limit of US$ 4,000, of which US$ 1,500 are tax free. The remaining US$ 2,500 will pay the tax of 15% (payable once only per year). In light of the above, it is important to always bring the receipt for goods purchased to verify their value.

 

Bringing in foreign currency

Travelers entering Colombia are entitled to bring total amounts no greater than US$ 10,000 or foreign currency equivalent, including legal Colombian currency in cash, and are required by law to fill out a Luggage and Moneys Declaration Form.

Travelers may bring the following into the country, provided it does not exceed the legal limit:

  • Foreign currency in cash

  • Foreign currency in the form of cashable securities

  • Foreign currency negotiable instruments

 

Traveling with pets

After arriving in Colombia and completing the DIAN form, registering the pet's entry, the traveler must proceed to the ICA Port Health Office in the airport with the following documentation and bring the pet for inspection and subsequent authorization in order to gain entry into the country.

  • Health certificate signed by a veterinarian within the last eight days.

  • Current certificate of vaccination.

  • In order to bring dogs and cats into the country, the ICA office requires an international veterinarian certificate that guarantees that the animal has not presented symptoms of rabies in the 48 hours prior to embarkation.

For domestic flights, an internal travel guide must be requested, once the current vaccination certificate issued by a veterinarian is presented. 

For further information, call + 57 (1) 425 1000 Ext. 2297 – 2330, or visit https://www.ica.gov.co/noticias/ica-reglamenta-salida-entrada-mascotas-colombia.