Colombia: A list of countries in the Western Hemisphere and Europe that do not require visitors' visas for Colombian nationals

The following list was compiled from the May 2001 issue of TIM: Travel Information Manual (TIM), published by 14 member airlines of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The letter "x" after the name of a country indicates that visas are required for Colombians.

Please note that regarding visa exemptions, the Bogota office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) provides information identical to that provided by TIM for the for the following countries: (Americas) Argentina, Aruba, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico Panama, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela; (Europe) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey UK, Yugoslavia. The other countries on the list below are not indicated on the list provided by IOM. However, with regard to Paraguay, the Bogota office of the IOM indicates that a visa is not required for Colombians.

With regard to the Cuba, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Russia, Switzerland and Venezuela, the IOM simply states that a visa is required, and makes no mention of diplomatic, official, service or special passports.

WESTERN HEMISPHERE:

1. Antigua and Barbuda x

2. Argentina Exemption "for touristic purposes only" with normal Colombian passports (unlimited entries of three months each time without visa renewable for a period of three months); stay of maximum 90 days for holders of Colombian diplomatic, service or official passports

3. Aruba Exemption for a maximum stay of 14 days.

4. Bahamas Exemption for a maximum stay of 14 days, "provided holding multiple U.S. entry visas or travelling through the U.S.A."

5. Barbados Exemption for a maximum stay of 90 days

6. Belize Exemption for a maximum stay of 30 days for holders of Colombian diplomatic or official passports

7. Bermuda x

8. Bolivia Exemption for "a touristic stay of 90 days (extension possible which can be arranged by the local immigration offices)"

9. Brazil Exemption for "holders of normal [Colombian] passports for a touristic stay of max. 90 days (one extension possible)"; unlimited stay for Colombian diplomatic passports; 90 days for official passports (unless accredited to Brazil, in which case exempt for period of accreditation)

10. Canada x

11. Cayman Islands x

12. Chile Exemption for a maximum stay of 90 days for touristic purposes, 90 days renewal possible (passport not necessary for holders of Colombian national identity cards who are Colombian nationals and who are not coming for study, immigration or "under commercial contract")

13. Costa Rica Exemption for a maximum stay of 30 days, extension can be arranged on arrival

14. Cuba Exemption for holders of Colombian diplomatic and official passports (please see the third paragraph of this Response, above)

15. Dominica x

16. Dominican Republic x

17. Ecuador All nationals exempt for a maximum stay of 90 days per year (passport not required for holders of Colombian national identity cards)

18. El Salvador Exemption for a maximum stay of three months

19. Falkland Islands x

20. French Guiana x

21. French West Indies x

22. Grenada x

23. Guatemala Exemption for Colombians holding U.S. Green Cards only

24. Guyana x

25. Haiti x

26. Honduras Exemption for holders of Colombian diplomatic, official and special passports

27. Jamaica x

28. Leeward Islands (Anguilla and British V.I.) x

29. Mexico x

30. Montserrat x

31. Netherlands AntillesExemption for a maximum stay of three months, with sufficient means of support and ticket out of Netherlands Antilles, unless under guarantee of a company operating in the Netherlands Antilles

32. Nicaragua x

33. Panama Exemption for "holders of a stamped visa or a tourist card ("Tarjeta de Turismo") issued by the airport office of the airline en route against payment of USD 5.00 or equivalent" and holding a ticket out of Panama and not travelling on business.

34. Paraguay x (IOM states visa not required – please see the second paragraph of this Response, above)

35. Peru Exemption for a maximum stay of 90 days, possible to apply for 30 day extension

36. Puerto Rico (same as U.S.A.)

37. St. Kitts- Nevis Exemption for three months, possible to apply for extension

38. St. Lucia x

39.St.Vincent and the Grenadines x

40. Suriname Exemption for 30 days for holders of Colombian diplomatic, service or official passports

41. Trinidad and Tobago Exemption for three months

42. Turks and Caicos Islands x

43. Uruguay Exemption for three months (passport not necessary for holders of Colombian national identity cards)

44. USA x

45. Venezuela Exemption for holders of Colombian diplomatic passports (please see the third paragraph of this Response, above)

46. Virgin Islands (USA) x

EUROPE

1. Albania x

2. Armenia x

3. Austria Exemption for a stay of three months

4. Azerbaijan x

5. Belarus x

6. Belgium x

7. Bosnia-Herzegovina x

8. Bulgaria x

9. Croatia x

10 Cyprus Exemption for a stay of three months. "Extension of stay is possible for unlimited periods, provided applicants have sufficient funds for their maintenance. Application to be submitted to the Immigration Officer, Ministry of the Interior"

11. Czech Republic Exemption for 90 days for holders of Colombian diplomatic or official passports (please see the third paragraph of this Response, above)

12. Denmark x

13. Estonia x

14. Finland x

15. France x

16. FYROM (Macedonia) x

17. Georgia x

18. Germany Exemption for a three-month touristic stay

19. Gibraltar Exemption for holders of Colombian diplomatic passports travelling on duty

20. Greece x

21. Hungary Exemption for three months for holders of Colombian diplomatic and official passports (please see the third paragraph of this Response, above)

22. Iceland x

23. Ireland x

24. Israel Exemption for three months

25. Italy Exemption for 90 days, extension possible by arrangement with local authorities

26. Kazakstan x

27. Kyrgyzstan x

28. Latvia x

29. Luxembourg x

30. Malta x

31. Moldova x

32. Netherlands x

33. Norway x

34. Poland x

35. Portugal x

36. Romania Exemption for 90 days for holders of Colombian diplomatic or service passports (please see the third paragraph of this Response, above)

37. Russia Exemption for 90 days for holders of Colombian diplomatic, official or service passports (please see the third paragraph of this Response, above)

38. Slovakia x

39. Slovenia x

40. Spain Exemption for a maximum stay of three months, possible to apply for extension

41. Sweden x

42. Switzerland Exemption for three months for holders of Colombian diplomatic, service or special passports (please see the third paragraph of this Response, above)

43. Turkey x

44. Turkmenistan x

45. Ukraine x

46. United Kingdom x

47. Uzbekistan x

48. Yugoslavia x

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

International Organization for Migration (IOM), New York Mission. 7 May 2001 (forwarding information provided by the IOM's office in Bogota, Colombia).

Travel Information Manual (TIM). May 2001. Amsterdam: TIM.