PassportSouth Africa

Colombia: do South Africans need a visa?

South Africans need to apply online for an e-visa before travel to Colombia. You can stay up to 90 days per visit, and you can apply to extend.

Visa required, applied for online (electronic visitor visa, type V). South Africa is absent from Colombia's visa-exempt list (Resolución 5488 de 2022 as amended by Resolución 8558 de 2025). Cancillería's reciprocity table marks Sudáfrica 'SI' for a visa for short visits. South Africans are also NOT among the nationalities that can use a valid US or Schengen visa instead.1291510

Colombia is one of 51 countries where South Africans apply online before travelling. See them all.

Before you travel

Purpose of visit

V visa for tourism and other short visits (business, events and so on are separate V subcategories). The tourism V visa does not allow work. No separate transit visa is needed if you stay airside.315

Confirmed on an official government source

Passport validity

Not published by official sources

How to apply

Apply online at Cancillería's portal (tramitesmre.cancilleria.gov.co, reached via cancilleria.gov.co). You need a letter explaining the trip, 6 months of bank statements showing monthly income of at least 10 Colombian minimum salaries, health insurance, flight bookings, a 3x4 cm photo and a passport scan. Fees from 1 April 2026 (Resolución 3969 de 2026): study fee US$56 plus issuance fee US$138 (US$194 total). GSA: 10-15 working days after payment, and payment is due within 10 working days of applying. Visa valid up to 1 year.34510

Confirmed on an official government source

Where South Africans apply

Online. The case is handled by the Embassy/Consulate of Colombia in Pretoria: 177 Dyer Road, Hillcrest Office Park, Woodpecker Place, 2nd Floor, Hillcrest, Pretoria. Tel +27 12 362 3106, cpretoria@cancilleria.gov.co. Mon-Fri 09:00-13:00.610

Confirmed on an official government source

Travel insurance

Health insurance covering accidents, illness and repatriation is a requirement of the V tourism visa application. No minimum amount is published.3

Confirmed on an official government source

Return or onward ticket

Flight bookings for entry and exit are required for the visa application.3

Confirmed on an official government source

Proof of funds

Bank statements for the last 6 months showing monthly income of at least 10 legal monthly minimum salaries (SMMLV).3

Confirmed on an official government source

Accommodation or invitation

A letter describing the trip and activities. GSA also lists proof of accommodation.310

Confirmed on an official government source

Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa

Colombia: no yellow fever certificate required on entry from abroad. Resolución 691 de 2025 only recommends vaccination at least 10 days before entry. Within Colombia, vaccination is required for travel to high-risk municipalities, and a certificate is required to enter national parks in risk zones (for example Tayrona). South Africa's own rule on return: South Africa requires a valid yellow fever certificate from all travellers over 1 year of age, South African citizens included, arriving from a yellow-fever-risk country or after more than 12 hours' airport transit in one; Colombia is on South Africa's risk list. Without it you can be refused entry or quarantined for up to 6 days. The certificate is valid for life and only counts 10 days after vaccination.8121314

Confirmed on an official government source

Arrival forms

Check-MIG (Migración Colombia, apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co) can be filled in from 72 hours to 1 hour before travel. Free. As of 2026 it is recommended, not mandatory; Migración's own page says you can still clear immigration without it. Beware paid look-alike sites.711

Confirmed on an official government source

Extending your stay and overstaying

Stay can be extended by 90 days (to 180 per year). Extensions are handled by Migración Colombia. Overstay fines: not published on the pages checked.3

Confirmed on an official government source

Transit

No transit visa is needed if you stay in the international area. Leaving the airport needs a visa.15

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Travelling with children

Not published by official sources

What changed

1 April 2026New consular fees (Resolución 3969 de 2026): V visa US$56 study + US$138 issuance.
26 August 2025Resolución 8558 de 2025 (published 26 Aug 2025) amended the visa-exempt list (Israel removed). South Africa remains visa-required.
16 April 2025Yellow fever health emergency (Resolución 691 de 2025): vaccination required for internal travel to high-risk areas and national parks; recommended for international arrivals from risk zones.

Sources

Official

The destination's own government

  1. 1Cancillería de Colombia: countries that require a visa (version 12 Aug 2024, filed March 2026) cancilleria.gov.co
  2. 2Cancillería de Colombia: Resolución 8558 de 2025 (current visa-exempt list) cancilleria.gov.co
  3. 3Cancillería de Colombia: visa requirements cancilleria.gov.co
  4. 4Cancillería de Colombia: Resolución 3969 de 2026 (fees) cancilleria.gov.co
  5. 5Cancillería de Colombia: Do I need a visa cancilleria.gov.co
  6. 6Embassy of Colombia in South Africa sudafrica.embajada.gov.co
  7. 7Migración Colombia: Check-MIG apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co
  8. 8Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social: Resolución 691 de 2025 (yellow fever emergency) minsalud.gov.co
  9. 9Cancillería de Colombia: entry information and courtesy visa cancilleria.gov.co

Other government

Official advice from other governments

  1. 12DIRCO (South African High Commission, Canberra) dirco.gov.za
  2. 13South African National Department of Health health.gov.za
  3. 14World Health Organization, International Travel and Health country list cdn.who.int

Reference

Used to find official sources, never the final word

  1. 15Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org

Commercial

Visa agencies, law firms and travel companies

  1. 10The GSA (SA visa service), Colombia guide thegsa.co.za

News and guides

Leads we check, never the answer

  1. 11El Cronista (Colombia) cronista.com

Last researched 5 October 2026. Rules change; confirm with the embassy before you book. Spotted something out of date? Report a change.