How Long Can You Stay in Colombia as a Tourist? (2026 Guide)

You land in Bogotá, fall completely in love with Colombia, and suddenly 90 days feels nowhere near enough.

Good news: you have more options than you think.

Whether you’re a first-timer trying to understand Colombia’s tourist rules or a long-term traveler looking to stretch your stay, this guide covers everything — from your standard 90-day entry to extensions, long-stay visas, and what happens if you overstay.

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⚡ At a Glance

• Standard tourist stay: 90 days on arrival
• Maximum tourist stay: 180 days per calendar year (Jan 1–Dec 31)
• Extension available? Yes — apply for a PTP (Permiso Temporal de Permanencia) for an extra 90 days
• Overstay fine: Starts at ~1,400,000 COP (~$340 USD)
• Want to stay longer? Digital Nomad Visa, Retirement Visa, and other long-stay visas exist
• Do you need a visa to enter? Most US, UK, and Canadian citizens do not

1. How Long Can You Stay in Colombia as a Tourist?

Most tourists from the US, UK, Canada, and the EU get 90 days on arrival — no visa required.

You don’t fill out any forms in advance.

Immigration stamps your passport at the airport, and you’re good to go.

That 90-day clock starts the moment you set foot in Colombia, including your arrival and departure days.

📌 Pro Tip: Colombia counts the actual days you spend in the country, not the date stamped in your passport. Keep track of your entry and exit dates carefully.

2. Can You Extend Your Stay? Yes — Up to 180 Days

Here’s where it gets interesting.

Colombia allows you to extend your tourist stay by an additional 90 days, bringing your total to a maximum of 180 days in a single calendar year (January 1 to December 31).

The extension is called a PTP (Permiso Temporal de Permanencia), and it’s applied for through Migración Colombia.

You cannot stay more than 180 consecutive days either, even if those days span two calendar years.

📌 Pro Tip: Apply for your PTP at least 5 business days before your 90-day stamp expires — if you miss that window, your application will be rejected.

3. How to Extend Your Tourist Stay (Step-by-Step)

This is easier than it sounds.

Here’s exactly what you need to do:

1. Go to the official Migración Colombia portal at apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co
2. Select “Permiso Temporal de Permanencia” (PTP) under the type of procedure
3. Fill out the online form — have your passport and entry stamp details ready
4. Pay the government fee — approximately 143,000 COP (~$35 USD) for most nationalities
5. Wait for approval — typically 1–3 business days, though Medellín’s office can take up to 3 weeks; smaller cities like Manizales process it in 1–2 days

You’ll receive your PTP digitally by email — print it and keep it with your passport.

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4. The 180-Day Rule: What You Need to Know

This is the rule that trips most people up.

You get a maximum of 180 days per calendar year as a tourist — full stop.

That 180 days is cumulative across all your trips to Colombia within the same year.

So if you enter Colombia in October and use up 90 days, then come back in January of the new year, your 180-day clock resets.

A few things to be clear on:

• The 180-day limit is counted from January 1 to December 31
• You cannot exceed 180 consecutive days, even across two years
• Days are counted based on actual time in Colombia, not what’s stamped in your passport

5. What If You Want to Stay Longer Than 180 Days?

Colombia has several visa options for longer stays.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the most popular ones:

Visa Type	Best For	Max Stay	Approx. Cost
Digital Nomad Visa	Remote workers / freelancers	Up to 2 years	~$55 USD application fee
Retirement Visa (Pensionado)	Retirees with pension income	Up to 3 years	~$55 USD application fee
Student Visa	Language learners, students	Duration of studies	~$55 USD application fee
Marriage/Partner Visa	Married to or partnered with a Colombian	Up to 3 years	~$55 USD application fee

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The Digital Nomad Visa

The Colombian Digital Nomad Visa (Visa V Nómadas Digitales) is one of the most sought-after options for remote workers.

You can stay for up to 2 years and legally work remotely for foreign employers.

The minimum income requirement is roughly three times Colombia’s minimum wage — around $1,100 USD/month.

One important note: this visa does NOT allow you to work for Colombian companies or clients.

📌 Pro Tip: If you plan to stay over 183 days in a calendar year — even on a Digital Nomad Visa — you may become a Colombian tax resident. Talk to a local tax advisor before making that call.

6. What Happens If You Overstay?

Don’t let this happen to you.

Colombia takes overstays seriously, and the fines escalate fast.

Here’s the breakdown of overstay penalties:

Overstay Duration	Fine (COP)	Approx. USD
1–30 days	~1,400,000 COP	~$340
31–60 days	~2,000,000 COP	~$490
61–90 days	~3,000,000 COP	~$730
91–120 days	~4,000,000 COP	~$975

If you overstay by less than 6 months, you can pay the fine, leave Colombia, and re-enter — as long as you’re still within the 180-day annual limit.

Overstay beyond 6 months? You risk deportation.

The bottom line: just extend your stay legally — it costs about $35 USD and takes a few days.

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7. Border Hopping — Does It Reset Your Days?

This is a common digital nomad strategy, and it used to work more reliably than it does now.

Technically, crossing into Ecuador, Peru, or Panama and re-entering Colombia starts a new tourist entry stamp.

However, Migración Colombia tracks your cumulative time in the country, and immigration officers have the discretion to deny entry if they believe you’re circumventing the 180-day rule.

If you’re planning long-term stays, the safer, smarter move is to apply for the proper long-stay visa rather than relying on border hops.

📌 Pro Tip: Always carry printed copies of your onward travel bookings and proof of funds when re-entering Colombia — this makes the border process much smoother.

Is It Worth Extending Your Stay in Colombia?

Absolutely — if Colombia has its hooks in you (and it usually does), extending is 100% worth it.

The PTP process is genuinely straightforward, costs less than a nice dinner out, and gives you another 90 days in one of the most vibrant, affordable, and beautiful countries in South America.

If you’re eyeing a longer future in Colombia — as a remote worker, retiree, or long-term expat — the visa options are solid and the costs are reasonable compared to other countries in the region.

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FAQ: How Long Can You Stay in Colombia as a Tourist