What is a Tourism Permit?
The Tourism Permit - commonly referred to as “Tourist Visa”, “Passport Stamp” or “Passport visa”, is a special permit or allowance issued by Migración Colombia to foreigners who are visiting the country for a short time to perform touristic or cultural activities.
Nationals of countries exempt from short-stay visas can stay in the country for up to 180 days in the calendar year (January 1 - December 31). Upon entering the country, these foreigners receive an Entry and Stay Permit (PT - Tourism Permit), Integration and Development (PID), or Permit for Other Activities (POA) modalities.
This permit is stamped in the passport and is commonly referred to as a “tourist visa.” However, it should not be confused with the V - Tourism Visa.
The maximum time given is 90 days each time they enter the national territory. If the foreigner has already stayed in Colombia for more than 90 days during the calendar year - January 1 to December 31 - then the permit will be granted for the remaining time to complete the maximum allowed time of 180 days.
Migración Colombia may grant extensions of stay to foreigners who intend to extend their stay, having used an Entry and Stay Permit (PIP), without exceeding one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days (continuous or discontinuous) within the same calendar year.
For the granting of any temporary stay permit (PTP) or extension of stay, the foreigner must prove that they have a valid entry and stay permit (PIP).
Carry out the process on time
The important thing to consider is the application time. It must be made within five (5) business days before the expiration of the Entry and Stay Permit (PIP) granted. If not done within this term, the application will be rejected.
Every application for a Temporary Stay Permit (PTP) or Stay Extension is recorded at 08:00 hours on the next business day after the application is filed.
When the passport, travel document, or identity document of the foreigner has an expiration date shorter than the term allowed for the Stay Extension, this will be granted only up to the day the validity of the travel document presented upon entry into the country ends.
The Temporary Stay Permit or Stay Extension will be granted for each (PIP), therefore, the Stay Extension will not proceed when the foreigner has a valid extension.
Process for issuance
- Click “here” to fill out the Single Procedure Form, “Formulario Único de Trámites”.
Once you access the Single Procedure Form, you should select the option TEMPORARY STAY PERMIT TO EXTEND STAY.
Select the nearest Migratory Services Facilitation Center (CFSM)
Now you can access the data form and enter personal information (the citizen must be careful when entering their data and check for errors):
In the EMERGENCY INFORMATION section, it is necessary to enter the details of the person (family member or close friend, guardian, etc.) whom the immigration service will contact in any emergency situation that the foreign citizen may have during their stay in the country:
In the FILES section, you must attach the passport and entry stamps, joined in PDF format. Click on “add file” and then on “UPLOAD”.
Before finalizing the Single Procedure Form (FUT), you must approve the consent of the entered information which will be verified by Migración Colombia. First, enter the letters and numbers that appear in the CAPTCHA and click on “ACCEPT”
As a response to the completion of the form, you will access a screen where the procedure registration number or unique procedure code appears, which must be noted.
- You will receive a confirmation email of the procedure to your email.
- After a few hours, you will receive an email of “PRE APPROVAL”, with a User code, a password and a link to make the payment there:
- Make the payment for the cost of the extension is 125,000 Colombian pesos and keep the payment receipt.
If the person attached the documents, they were correctly verified, and payment was made by one of the corresponding means, or they went to a service point and their application was approved, then on the next business day after approval, they will receive in their email the Temporary Stay Permit Certificate, thus legally approving the extension request to stay in Colombia.
IMPORTANT: In the form, where it says: Do you have an email and authorize the sending of information related to your procedures? Mark YES and indicate your email. Otherwise, the procedure will continue in person, and you will not receive any notifications in your email.
- In case the extension is pre-approved, you must make the corresponding payment for the rights of the procedure, as indicated in the email provided when filling out the Single Procedure Form (FUT).
- If the payment for the procedure is not made within the stipulated time, the application will be considered withdrawn.
Costs
- 2023 Rate: 125,000 pesos ($), except for Ecuadorian nationals and those from the European Union, who will not have to pay anything.
Delivery Time
The estimated time for a Temporary Stay Permit (PTP) or stay extension to be issued is up to three (3) business days, counted from the date of payment for the procedure rights.
When you receive your extension, it will look like this:
