Okay, let me tell you about my little adventure getting a Colombian visa. It all started when I decided, pretty much on a whim, to take a trip to Colombia. Beautiful country, I heard, so why not?
First things first, I hit up the internet to see what I needed to do. Turns out, the easiest way to get a visa is to apply online. No need to go to some consulate or mail a bunch of papers. Thank goodness for that, because who has time for all that hassle? So, I went straight to the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. That’s where the magic happens.
Once I was on the site, I started filling out the online application. It asked for the usual stuff – name, passport details, travel dates, you know, the basics. I made sure to double-check everything because I didn’t want any silly mistakes messing up my plans. After filling in all the info, I attached a digital copy of my passport photo and a scan of my passport’s main page. Easy peasy.

Next up was the payment. They wanted the visa fee upfront, which I paid with my credit card. Once that was sorted, I submitted my application and got a confirmation email. That email was like gold dust – it had a reference number that I could use to track my application status. So, I kept it safe and sound.
Now, here’s the thing about waiting for the visa to process. The website said it could take a few days, but they also mentioned it might take up to 15 working days or more for other types of visas. Luckily, I was just applying for a tourist visa, so I figured it wouldn’t take too long. I kept checking my email like a hawk, hoping to see that approval come through.
Waiting Game
- Day 1: Nothing. But it was just the first day, so I wasn’t too worried.
- Day 2: Still nothing. Started to get a bit antsy.
- Day 3: Checked again. And again. Nada.
- Day 4: Finally, an email! But it was just an update saying they needed more info. Turns out, I had missed a small section in the application. My bad.
- Day 5: Resubmitted the application with all the correct info this time.
- Day 6: Boom! Got the approval email. Visa granted!
After getting the visa, I did a little more digging and found out about something called “Check-Mig”. It’s like a pre-registration thing you do before you enter or leave Colombia. You fill out this form online, and it makes the whole immigration process smoother. So, I did that too, just to be on the safe side.
In the end, the whole process was pretty straightforward. Sure, there was a bit of waiting and a minor hiccup with the application, but it all worked out. Getting that Colombian visa opened up a whole new world of adventure, and I can’t wait to explore it. If you’re thinking of visiting Colombia, don’t let the visa process scare you. It’s really not that bad, and the reward is definitely worth it.