Visa Requirements for Colombian Citizens

Colombian citizens can visit 104 countries visa-free or with visa-on-arrival in 2025. The most significant benefit is visa-free access to all 29 Schengen countries for up to 90 days within a 180-day period, including Spain, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. Popular visa-free destinations also include Mexico (180 days), Russia (90 days), Turkey (90 days), Singapore (30 days), Philippines (30 days), and all South American countries. For South American travel, Colombians can use their cédula de ciudadanía instead of a passport.

The US B1/B2 tourist and business visa costs $185 (approximately COP 777,000) for Colombian applicants. This is a non-refundable application fee paid before scheduling your visa interview at the US Embassy in Bogotá or the Consulate in Barranquilla. Current interview wait times are 45 to 90 days, so apply well in advance of planned travel.

The UK Standard Visitor Visa costs £127 (approximately COP 673,000) for Colombian citizens applying for stays up to 6 months. VFS Global charges an additional service fee of around COP 95,000. Priority processing is available for £500 extra (5 working days) or £1,000 for Super Priority (next working day). Applications are submitted through VFS Global centers in Bogotá, Cali, or Medellín.

Colombian citizens do not need a Schengen visa. Colombians can travel visa-free to all 29 Schengen countries for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This includes Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, and 21 other European nations. Simply present your valid Colombian passport at the border. Note: ETIAS authorization may be required starting in 2025, which will cost €7 (approximately COP 31,500) and is valid for 3 years.

Standard visa requirements for Colombians include: valid passport with 6+ months validity and 2 blank pages, recent passport-size photographs (specifications vary by country), bank statements (extractos bancarios) for the last 3 to 6 months showing sufficient funds, employment letter (carta laboral) or business registration (RUT and Cámara de Comercio), confirmed flight itinerary and hotel bookings, travel insurance, declaración de renta for the past 2 to 3 years, and a cover letter explaining travel purpose.

The US B1/B2 visa approval rate for Colombian applicants is approximately 70% to 75% based on recent fiscal year data. This is lower than some other nationalities due to historical immigration patterns. Approval rates are higher for applicants with strong ties to Colombia, previous international travel history (especially to Schengen countries), property ownership, and stable employment with documented income.

No, Colombian citizens cannot get a visa on arrival in Dubai or the UAE. Colombians must apply for a UAE tourist visa in advance through airlines, travel agents, or the ICP Smart Services portal. The 30-day tourist visa costs approximately AED 350 (COP 400,000). Processing takes 3 to 5 business days. Some airlines like Emirates offer visa facilitation services for their passengers.

Colombian applicants face higher rejection rates for US visas (approximately 25% to 30%), UK visas (around 20%), and Canada visas (approximately 35% to 40%). Common rejection reasons include insufficient financial documentation, unclear travel purpose, weak ties to Colombia, and incomplete applications. Having previous travel history to visa-free destinations like Europe significantly improves approval chances.

To maximize visa approval chances: apply at least 8 to 12 weeks before travel, provide 6 months of bank statements showing consistent income and savings, include declaración de renta for the past 3 years, show property ownership (certificado de libertad y tradición) or other assets in Colombia, document previous international travel stamps (especially to Schengen countries), provide a detailed day-by-day travel itinerary with confirmed bookings, and include a compelling cover letter explaining your travel purpose and ties to Colombia.