As a general rule, foreign nationals who are not exempt from visa requirements for short visits and who visit the country on short-term visits without receiving any salary or compensation in Colombia may request a V visa for business travel. This category of visa applies to a foreign national who must carry out business negotiations, market studies, direct investment plans or procedures, incorporation of a commercial company, negotiation, execution of agreements, or commercial representation. This kind of visa is valid for a term of up to two years with multiple entries and authorizes a stay of up to 180 consecutive or nonconsecutive days in a 365-day term. As a general rule, a foreign national entering Colombia under a V visa cannot reside or receive a salary or compensation in Colombia and is not allowed to apply to be a beneficiary.
Foreign nationals that come to work on issues connected to any kind of free trade agreement involving Colombia may also enter by means of a V visa. Normal government fees are waived for nationals of South Korea, Japan, Spain, Ecuador and Peru.
The V visa may also be granted to foreign nationals who intend to enter Colombia to do the following:
- Perform activities as a journalist, reporter, cameraperson or photographer
- Perform commercial or business activities, such as meeting business contacts and attending business meetings or training
- Attend academic activities, such as seminars, conferences, presentations or any other unconventional studies
- Attend scientific, cultural or sports activities
- Participate in interviews within recruitment processes
- Work as digital nomad from Colombia
The V visa under this category may be granted for a term of up to two years with multiple entries. The term of stay in Colombia for a foreign national holding the V visa will depend on the activity to be performed in the country. The V visa can be requested in a personal capacity or with the support of an individual or legal entity domiciled in Colombia, depending on the type of subcategory requested. Foreign nationals interested in obtaining this type of visa may not live or establish their residences in Colombia. Depending on the activity to be performed in Colombia, foreign nationals holding this visa could eventually receive salaries or any kind of compensation for the activities performed in Colombia.
The V visa requirement may be waived for foreign citizens with nonrestricted nationalities. For these citizens of certain countries, the UAEMC can issue a PT, provided the foreign national has neither a labor nor commercial relationship with the Colombian sponsor and will not receive any kind of remuneration in Colombia (compensation or salary). The PT allows foreign nationals with nonrestricted nationalities to enter Colombia and engage in one of the following activities, provided the foreign nationals do not have a labor relationship with any local entity: (i) rest activities (ii) medical treatment or (iii) participation in or attendance at cultural, scientific, sports, convention or business events. It will also be granted to foreign nationals who intend to enter the country by integrating tourist groups in maritime transit on cruise ships and arriving at seaports and who will reboard the same ship, whether they require a visa or not.
This permit can be valid for up to 90 calendar days within the same calendar year (i.e., between 1 January and 31 December). This permit can be extended before the initial 90 calendar days expire by requesting a PTP from the UAEMC, which grants up to 90 additional calendar days within the same calendar year.
The PT does not allow the foreign national to enter multiple times. As such, the foreign national must request a PT each time they enter the country by submitting the required documents to UAEMC officials at the airport.
Before conducting business-related activities, the PT must be sponsored by an entity domiciled in Colombia. The entity must extend an invitation letter to the foreign national.
Visa waiver benefits are available to citizens of Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, the Federal State of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Grenada, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, the Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Kazakhstan, Korea, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saint Lucia, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Visitor visa requirements are waived for citizens of Hong Kong SAR, the Military Order of Malta, Taiwan, and Nicaragua (who can demonstrate that they are from the Autonomous Region of the North Caribbean Coast and the Autonomous Region of the South Caribbean Coast).
This visa waiver also applies to citizens of Cambodia, India, Mainland China, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam who either (i) hold a residence permit issued by a member state of the Schengen Area or the US or (ii) hold a Schengen visa or US visa with a validity of 180 days or more when entering Colombia.