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Colombia immigration has evolved and become one of the hardest countries to deal with when processing a visa. There many time lines to keep an eye on and you can become illegal or end up spending thousands of dollars on visa applications if your not watching all the time lines.

If you need more help checking out requirements i recommend https://www.colombiavisas.com

Here’s the full visa timeline flow (clean + ordered) with the tourist limit added at the top:

1. 180 Days – Tourist Limit (Per Year)
   • Most nationalities can stay up to 180 days total per calendar year in Colombia (initial 90 + extension 90).
2. 90 Days – Document Validity Window
   • Apostilles, background checks, bank letters, etc. are typically valid for 90 days.
3. Submit Visa Application (Within those 90 days)
   • All documents must still be valid at the time of submission.
4. ~30 Days – Initial Processing / Study Period
   • Government reviews your application.
   • May request additional documents (RFI).
5. +30 Days – Secondary Study Period (if requested)
   • Additional review if you submit extra documents.
6. Visa Approved → 10 Days to Pay
   • You have 10 calendar days to pay the visa fee after approval.
7. Visa Issued (Electronic Visa PDF)
   • Visa becomes active after payment.
8. 15 Days – Register Visa + Get Cédula de Extranjería
   • Register with Migración Colombia
   • Apply for your foreign ID within 15 days.
9. Critical Reminder: Applying for a visa does NOT stop your tourist day count—you can still overstay while waiting.