How To Get A Colombian Student Visa

Thank you to Angela Atkins for submitting the detailed step-by-step process below.  The information is accurate at the time of publishing, and subject to change.  Be sure to verify the steps as you go.

If you arrive in Colombia as a tourist, and decide to stay longer, you can take Spanish classes and extend your stay for up to 12 months on a student Visa.

How To Get A Colombian Student Visa

Note: The school that you enroll with must be eligible to apply for Visa’s. Mostly Universities are approved. You need to study a minimum of 10 hours/week.

Step One: Enroll with approved school.
Step Two: Complete forms and make all necessary photocopies.
Step Three: Get registration form notarized (signed by official).
Step Four: Take all documents and passport to Ministry of Immigration in Bogota or pay an Agency.
Step Five: Take all necessary documents to DAS within 15 days of obtaining Visa.

Forms You Need for Immigration:

– Official application for the Visa and why you want one.
– Copy of Passport and copy of tourist visa entry stamp page.
– 2x photos: Must be a white background and size 3×3.
– Certificate of administration from the school/University you will be studying at — this needs to be notarized at a notaria cinco –– see below.
– Certificate of authentication from the school — to show that school is registered to apply for Student Visas.
– Print out of your bank statement showing the amount you have to live on while in Colombia.

Visa costs: 80,000 COP

Take it to all to the Ministry or an agency.

NOTE: To get the Visa, you need to go to the Ministry of Immigration in BOGOTA.

You can do all the above from Medellin – it costs a little extra. There are some agencies that can do all the sending and Visa organizations for you. You supply all the necessary documents (photocopies ect) they check through it all, and send it off with your passport. It takes about 5 days.

2 Agencies in Medellin:

– TLICOLOMBIA: www.tlicolombia.com
Calle 16A Sur #48B,La Aquacatala, Medellin, Colombia. Ask for Natalie

Costs: 300,000 COP

– International Document Management: www.inter-col.com

Notaria Cinco

The Certificate of registration (from the university) must be notarized (ie. Signed by an official). You will need to find a Notaria Cinco. It is like a registry office for all official business (getting married, etc).

Upon showing your certificate and asking “para autenticar esto por favor,” your form will be stamped and dated, and then you sign and fingerprint it (with your index finger).

Costs:  2,800 COP

You then take it to the official to sign.

For DAS

After you receive your Visa, you have 15 days to find a DAS (Department of Security) to get your official ID card. Failure to do this within 15 days results in a massive fine.

Deposit 139,800 COP into the account in Banco De Bogota.
Empresarial Fondo Rotatorio D.A.S
Nro. 43491140-0

You will need to bring:

– Original deposit slip, and 2 photocopies.
– Application form.
– 2x photocopies of your passport.
– 2x photocopies of your Visa.
– 2x photocopies of your entry stamp.
– 3x passport photos with a blue background 3X4.
– 2x copies of the blood test results to show your blood type.
– Copy of acceptance of registration certificate from your university.

To Study at UPB in Medellin (Univeridad Pontificia Bolicariana)

Course name: Programa de Español para extranjeros ESPEX- Spanish Program for Foreigners.
At  UPB: Building 6, level 1-Centre for languages
Ask for Gustavo Jaramillo Cardona.
He’s the co-coordinator and has all the necessary forms you will need to fill out.

What you need for UBP Medellin:

– 2x Passport photocopies.
– 50% of the course amount you intend on studying for. For example, if you want a 6 month visa, you need to pay 3 months worth of the course fees. (Note: if you pay for more than 120 hours you get a 10% discount.)
– Copy of Travel Insurance Certificate.