France ETIAS Requirements for Colombians
Beginning in November 2023, Colombian passport holders will be required to apply for and receive an ETIAS for France before they travel. The European Travel Information Authority System was approved for implementation by European authorities following a rash of terrorist activity in Europe and was designed to add an extra layer of security to the continent, all the while ensuring an easy and straightforward application process designed and optimized for simplicity and speed.
Whether the reasons for traveling are for business or for personal reasons, the ETIAS will grant Colombian citizens up to 90 days of stay in France and the other member states of the Schengen Zone within a period of 180 days. The ETIAS acts as a visa-waiver, not a traditional visa, which means there is no need to visit a consulate or embassy before traveling. All that is required is to provide certain personal details and information during the online application process.
ETIAS France requirements from Colombia
The ETIAS for France for citizens from Colombia is comprised of an online application form, which will request a variety of pieces of personal information that is then cross-referenced for any inconsistencies with the information that the European authorities already have on hand.
Many of the sections will ask for simple details such as your first and last name, your passport number, the expiration date of your passport, contact details and your place of birth. However, there will also be sections that are more in-depth, asking you to provide detailed information about your security history as well as your medical history. It is important to double-check each section for accuracy as any inconsistencies, even if entered accidentally, can result in the delay or rejection of your ETIAS application.
Documents for travel to France for Colombians
Colombian citizens applying for the ETIAS for France do no need to worry about collecting a large number of documents prior to beginning their application. The only document that is required is a valid Colombian passport. The passport must have a minimum of three months of validity past the intended last day of stay in France in order to be accepted. Therefore, if you see that your passport is set to expire soon, it will be necessary to apply for and receive a new passport before submitting your application for an ETIAS.
Medical info for Colombians travelling to France
There are currently no vaccines required to visit France for citizens traveling from Colombia. However, it is always best to check the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website prior to your trip to double-check that there have been no updates regarding potential health risks.
It is also a good idea to get health insurance for the duration of your trip which has coverage for France and any other countries in the Schengen Zone that you might be visiting. It is possible that in the event that you require medical attention during your stay and you cannot pay for the treatment in cash, then you may be denied care. There is also something called a “Feuille de Soins” that you can fill out for later reimbursement from insurance.
Should you carry prescription medication, do so in the original plastic containers with the prescription on the bottle to avoid problems. In the event where you require medical attention, the numbers to dial are 15 and 122.
ETIAS France application from Colombia
In addition to the requirements stated above regarding the ETIAS application form for France, there are a few other details that applicants will need to provide. Each application is accompanied by a non-refundable fee, which must be paid either via debit or credit card. Also, each applicant must have a valid email address as the visa will be sent via email. Should your application be denied or should authorities require any additional information regarding your application, they will communicate with you via email.
Once you have been approved for the ETIAS, you must print out a hard copy and carry it with you to your port of entry with your passport. The typical turnaround time is around 72 hours, though it is often much shorter than that.
For all the latest information regarding the France ETIAS please consult this page. If you have further questions, check out our F.A.Q. page here.
Do I need a visa to travel to Colombia?
Famed for its warm and welcoming atmosphere and its plethora of jaw-dropping national parks, sun-soaked beaches and dynamic cities, Colombia is fast becoming one of South America’s most popular travel destinations, drawing footloose backpackers and family vacationers in droves.
Adding to the appeal, visa requirements for Colombia are fairly straightforward, with visa-free travel available for a large number of countries, plus a simple online visa application process for other nationalities.
As anywhere, requirements can change without warning, so it’s always important to double-check the latest guidance from your local Colombian embassy, but here are the most important things you need to know about visas for Colombia.
Who needs a visa to go to Colombia?
Travelers from 102 countries and territories, including the USA, Canada, the UK, New Zealand and Australia and most countries in the EU and EEA, can enter Colombia visa-free as tourists. Upon arrival, visitors from countries on the approved list receive a passport stamp granting a stay of up to 90 days.
There are a few conditions. You’ll need a minimum of six months left on your passport before it expires and you may be asked to show proof of an onward ticket for travel out of Colombia at the end of your stay. Officials may also request evidence of a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you’re entering from another South American country.
As part of current Covid-19 travel requirements, you must also complete the Check-Mig immigration form on the Migración Colombia website. It’s available in English, Spanish and French, and the form must be filled out between 24 hours and one hour before departure for Colombia.
When leaving Colombia, there’s a chance you may be charged an exit tax of COP130,000 (US$35) at the airport. This tax is normally included in the cost of flight tickets, but you should confirm this when checking in for your inbound flight.
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There isn’t too much red tape standing in the way of relaxing on Colombia’s beaches or hiking on its majestic volcanoes © Guillermo Ossa / Shutterstock
Which countries need a visa for Colombia?
Citizens of most nations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East (plus some other countries) are not eligible for visa-free access and must apply in advance for a visitor visa to enter the country. There’s a full list of countries and territories whose citizens require a visa on Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
Applications for tourist visas should be filed online and the cost varies depending upon your nationality and the country where you are located when applying. Expect to pay around COP310,000 (US$82) for the visa, which is usually valid for a stay of up to 180 days. Make sure you have all of your documents ready before you begin the application process online – the website times out after 30 minutes, deleting any progress you’ve made up until that point.
Citizens of Cambodia, China, India, Macau, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam can enter Colombia visa-free for up to 90 days if they have an existing short-stay visa or residency permit issued by the USA or any Schengen Area country. This document must be valid for at least 180 days beyond the date of your arrival in Colombia.
Some nationalities can stay in Colombia up to 180 days, exploring everywhere from Medellín and Bogotá to the Caribbean coast © sunsinger / Shutterstock
Can I extend my Colombian tourist visa?
If you’re a citizen of a country that has visa-free access to Colombia, you can extend your stay by an additional 90 days by applying for an extension online (in Spanish) or at the offices of Migracíon Colombia (including in Bogotá, Medellín, Cali and Cartagena). If you have a 180-day visa, this cannot be extended, as this is already the maximum stay allowed.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused delays to the processing of visa applications, so the process of extending your entry stamp must be completed at least two weeks before your existing stamp expires. You will need to provide photocopies of the information page of your passport and your Colombian entry stamp and proof of a booking for onward travel within the next 90 days to support your application.
Extending your tourist stamp allows you to spend a maximum of 180 days in total in Colombia in any 12-month period. Extending costs COP103,000 (US$27) for most nationalities, but it’s free for citizens from a Schengen Area country.
You may want to extend your initial entry stamp to maximize the time spent on Colombia’s gorgeous beaches © DC_Colombia / Getty Images
Visa requirements for working in Colombia
A temporary worker’s visa, known as a migrant (M) visa or M-5 is available for travelers who can prove they have a job lined up with a Colombian employer. This class of visa has a duration of up to three years, and your Colombian employer will need to provide several financial documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to support the process, including bank statements and proof of tax payments.
You can apply for this class of visa from abroad or while you are in the country on a tourist visit, making it easier to attend interviews with a local employer. While you can leave and enter the country on a working visa, it will expire if you leave Colombia for longer than six consecutive months.
It’s not a cheap process, however. Expect to pay COP196,000 (US$52) for the application process, and a further COP670,000 (US$230) once it has been approved. You can apply online, although you may be required to show documents in person at your local consulate or embassy – there’s a full list on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
If your application is successful, you’ll receive an electronic visa via email, which can be shown to border officials upon arrival and exit from Colombia. There is no legal requirement to have the visa printed in your passport unless you’re staying in Colombia for more than three months; however, it’s highly recommended that you get a copy printed at your local consulate as there’s always the possibility that passport officials may demand to see a physical copy.
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ETIAS Visa Waiver for Colombians
After the end of 2022, Colombian citizens traveling to Europe, and specifically the Schengen Area, are required to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver. Unlike a traditional visa, it doesn’t allow for an extended stay and there are strict rules concerning work and study. On the flip side, the application process is quick and easy, and it only requires a valid passport and some basic traveler information.
The ETIAS Visa Waiver Program
The ETIAS waiver program applies to all countries within the Schengen Area and is a necessary process for all Colombians visiting this region. Countries within the Schengen Zone essentially operate under the same border control laws and ETIAS is the system that allows visa-exempt travelers to visit these countries.
What are the Requirements for Colombian Citizens?
To apply for an ETIAS visa waiver you need a valid Colombian passport and will also be asked to submit some basic contact details.
You can complete an online application form via the official website and once you have been given travel authorization, it will be valid for up to 3 years, or until your passport expires.
The process is mostly automated, and your information will be checked against several international databases to determine whether you are a risk or not.
If you have any serious crimes on your record or there have been any previous issues with your travel documents, you may face some problems with your ETIAS application. If not, it should be straightforward, and you will receive travel authorization confirmation by email.
Who Needs an ETIAS?
All Colombian citizens need an ETIAS visa waiver before they can travel to Schengen countries. It’s not just for Colombians, either, as the program targets travelers from 60+ other nations, including those in South America and North America.
Is it Just for One Country?
When you complete the ETIAS application, it will ask you about the first country that you intend to visit. However, the visa waiver is not limited to that country and it can be used to access all other nations within the Schengen Zone.
For example, you can travel to Spain in the first instance and then hop on a train to France, before seeing some of Germany, Austria, Belgium, and the Czech Republic.
One of the great things about visiting mainland Europe is that you’re always a short train journey away from seeing other countries and cultures and as long as you don’t spend more than 90 days in the region (within a 180-day period), you won’t be in breach of the agreement.
What’s the Difference Between the Schengen Area and the European Union?
There are 26 member states in the Schengen Area, including 22 members of the European Union and all four members of the European Economic Area. The European Union and the Schengen Area are not interchangeable and while most countries are in both, there are some notable exceptions.
For instance, Ireland is part of the European Union but not the Schengen Area, which means your ETIAS won’t apply there. The UK is a member of neither while Norway is part of the Schengen Zone but not the European Union.
Can Colombians Travel to Italy and Spain?
Italy and Spain seem to be popular destinations for Colombian travelers and as they are part of the Schengen Agreement, the ETIAS applies to both of them.
As soon as you complete the online application process and receive your travel authorization, you will be able to visit both Italy and Spain. You can even move between them, although as they don’t share a land border, that’s not as easy as it sounds.
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Source https://www.etiasfrance.com/requirements/colombians/
Source https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/visa-requirements-for-colombia
Source https://europe-visa.com/etias-eligibility/etias-visa-waiver-for-colombians/
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