visa types

Post new topic

Grapucine New member

Member since 19 January 2025

GrapucineNew memberYesterday 19:42:06

Hey, I am glad to meet you here

I will arrive in Colombia in May and I wonder what type of visa I should ask and where to ask.

My naive plan was to ask a touristic visa at the entrance of the country (I suppose there is a request form to fill at the immigration checking desk) and to ask my future employer a visa to work. Then I realized that could be a little bit more complicated than that.

First, I’ve read you need a visa to apply for a job and there are several visas to work in Colombia (TP12, TP4, maybe others ?).

Second reason : I am not sure yet what type of structure I want to apply in or provide services for. I plan to work as scientific animator with associations, research institutes, companies… I might create a one-person business at some point (if so, that would be the subject of another post much later !).

Someone has any suggestion for the visa I should ask before or at the entrance of the country and how to manage changes later if needed ?

Thanks and see you !

Grapucine

ChineduOpara Serial expat

Member since 08 August 2021

ChineduOparaSerial expatToday 02:52:09

337

@Grapucine

If you're coming from the USA, no special visa is required. You can stay for 3-6 months as a tourist, explore, research, and then decide if you want to come back and if you want to apply for a longer-stay visa.

nico peligro Serial expat

Member since 18 September 2020

nico peligroSerial expatToday 10:24:51

782

https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/tramites_servicios/visa

Read away

You can change language to ENGLISH

nico peligro Serial expat

Member since 18 September 2020

nico peligroSerial expatToday 10:30:36

782

What country are you from and what makes you think you can make a reasonable living in Colombia where minimum wage is $400 US a month, unemployment is close to 12%, Spanish fluency is cumpulsory and most work/ business relations are based on personal contacts/ connections?

Grapucine New member

Member since 19 January 2025

GrapucineNew memberToday 13:07:06

@nico peligro

Hello Nico,

Thank you for your reply.

I do have connections (my boyfriend from Costa Rica has a 3-years contract in Cali + I have colleagues in research institutes) but I am trying not to rely only on them.

I am not fluent but I am refreshing my Spanish and take weekly courses since more than two months to be able to understand and speak Spanish at my entrance.

I know what unemployment is, especially in my discipline, even in France where I am from, and that’s why I am concerned about the activity I could have once settled, and why I want to find out more now about visa types.

To answer you honestly, I know it won’t be easy, but the more I prepare and try things, the more I get the chance to enjoy my living reasonably.

See you,

Grapucine

South American Voyager Contributor

Member since 11 January 2022

South American VoyagerContributorToday 15:24:05

102

@ Grapucine - Frankly speaking you would have better chances of "selling ice cubes to Eskimos in Alaska" than being a "scientific animator" in Cali!

Seriously have you been to Colombia yet? Let alone Cali? Do you have any idea whatsoever about the caleno culture, the city, the economic conditions, the instability of Cali, the poor education, the high unemployment, the universities, etc. etc.

The only option you have for your training as a scientific animator in Cali or any other Colombian city for that matter would be a DN/Digital Nomad working online for European/Canadian and US companies so suggest you look into this.

Good luck!

Articles to help you in your expat project in Colombia

Leisure activities in Colombia
Both visitors and those who stay long term in Colombia will have no shortage of things to do. Colombia's rich ...
How to drive in Colombia
Any foreigner entering Colombia on a tourist visa is permitted to drive with the valid driver licence from their ...
Phones and internet in Colombia
Keeping in touch with friends and family is a top concern no matter where you are living. In order to stay in ...
The healthcare system in Colombia
Healthcare is a primary concern for anyone moving abroad and future expats will be happy to learn about the ...
Accommodation in Colombia
As long as you know what to expect, finding and securing accommodation in Colombia isn't too difficult. Demand ...
Relocating to Colombia
Moving is stressful and requires good planning. A shipping company will greatly reduce the stress of moving your ...
I Speak Colombian ? Words And Phrases That Will Help You Better Understand Colombia
Probably the best thing about speaking Spanish in Colombia is that you can don’t have to really learn the ...
Finding work in Colombia
Though the economy in Colombia is continuing to grow, it can be difficult for foreigners to find work. That said, ...