COURTESY
(Art. 22 of Decree 4000 of 2004)
Courtesy Visas are issued to foreigners wishing to enter national territory by the Internal Work Group assigned by the Ministry of Foreign Relations for a duration of (1) one year and by Diplomatic Missions or Consulates for a duration of up to ninety (90) days, granted to foreigners who meet one or several of the following conditions:
- Persons of recognized international prestige because of their special intellectual, professional, cultural, academic, scientific, political, entrepreneurial, commercial, social, sports or artistic excellence, or when it is considered advantageous to the Colombian State.
- Foreigners who wish to enter as part of exchanges, programs or activities relating to the areas mentioned in the foregoing numeral and who are sponsored by public or private entities or institutions.
- Officials, experts, technicians or employees of international bodies with which the issue of this visa has been established under a current treaty.
- To permanent foreign spouse(s) or partner(s) of Colombian officials in the service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the immediate blood relations of such officials.
- A foreign national of a state with which Colombia has executed a treaty which is in force to facilitate the immigration of entrepreneurs, legal representatives, directors, executives or persons of special importance on business trips.
- Qualified foreign professionals and technicians for the purpose of work, students, student-trainees, teachers, lecturers and translators who enter Colombian territory under current cooperation treaties in which Colombia is the party State or who are sponsored by the “Mariano Ospina Pérez” Colombian Credit Institute for Educational and Technical Studies Abroad, ICETEX, or when he/she provides proof of involvement in cultural exchange programs or activities.
- Foreign holders of diplomatic passports who enter the country temporarily to carry out non-diplomatic activities.
- Foreigners who are visiting Colombia on an invitation from an Embassy established in national or concurrent territory or by an international organization.
- Foreign spouses or permanent partners of diplomatic officials accredited in this country and the immediate blood relations of the former or the latter.
- Foreigners entering as an international judge of master’s degree or doctoral theses or as a lecturer, expert, specialist or university professor whose purpose is academic strengthening within the framework of undergraduate programs, specialized higher education, master’s or doctoral courses or as guests to take part in research strengthening processes and/or activities, or as a person of recognized international prestige invited to participate in projects and programs promoting the transfer of knowledge and new technologies in different disciplines.
- Foreigners who form part of technical and artistic teams and actors and actresses participating in the production of films or other audiovisual productions to be presented or filmed in Colombian territory, as well as foreigners participating in co-productions with Colombia. Written applications for Courtesy Visas must be presented at the Ministry of Culture, its Cinematic Department or the governmental entity acting in its stead.
General requirements
- Presentation of visa application form DP-FO-67, completely filled out and signed by the foreign applicant and not by an intermediary.
- Valid passport or travel document, in good condition with a minimum of two blank pages.
- Two (2) recent 3x3 cm identical full-face photographs, in color and against a white background.
- Copy of the biographical details page of the passport and of the page showing the most recent Colombian visa, if any, and stamp of arrival or departure from Colombia, as appropriate.
Specific Requirements
- Documents accrediting any of the capacities or conditions referred to in article 22 of Decree 4000 of 2004, as amended and added to under Decree 2622 of 2009.
- Document signed by the interested entity or organization requesting a courtesy visa to be issued to the foreigner, stating the activity to be undertaken in Colombia and its duration.
- Documents issued abroad, which must have an apostille or be legalized before a Colombian consul, as the case may be.
- Any document in a language other than Spanish must have an official translation into Spanish, signed by the translator and duly legalized or with an apostille.
Cost: None
Place issued: Colombian Consulates abroad. Directory
See procedure in: See procedure at: Sistema Único de Información de Trámites - SUIT (Single Information Procedures System),
Place of issue: Colombian consulates abroad. Addresses at: www.cancilleria.gov.co
