ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS:  U.S. citizens who are not also Colombian citizens must present a valid U.S. passport to enter and depart Colombia.  Dual-national U.S-Colombian citizens must present a Colombian passport to enter Colombia, and both a Colombian passport and U.S. passport to exit the country and return to the United States.  Be aware that any person born in Colombia may be considered a Colombian citizen, even if never documented as such.  If you are an American citizen who was born in Colombia or who otherwise has Colombian citizenship, you will need both a Colombian passport and a U.S. passport during your trip. 

U.S. passports issued in Colombia generally take at least seven days for processing and in some cases considerably longer.  To avoid delays in your return to the United States, it is recommended that you obtain your U.S. passport before departing the United States.  Instructions for obtaining a passport in the United States can be found at www.travel.state.gov.

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U.S. citizens do not need a Colombian visa for a tourist stay of 60 days or less. Tourists entering Colombia may be asked for evidence of return or onward travel, usually in the form of a round-trip ticket.  Americans traveling overland must enter Colombia at an official border crossing.  Travelers arriving by bus should ensure, prior to boarding, that their bus will cross the border at an official entry point.  Fines or incarceration may result for travelers who enter Colombia at unauthorized crossings.

The length of stay granted to travelers will be determined by the Colombian immigration officer at the point of entry and will be stamped in your passport.  Extensions may be requested by visiting an office of the Colombian immigration authority, known as DAS (Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad) Extranjeria, after arrival in Colombia.  Fines are levied if a traveler remains in Colombia longer than authorized.  Any foreigner who possesses a Colombian visa with more than three months’ validity must register the visa at an office of DAS Extranjeria within 15 days of arrival in Colombia, or face fines.  There is no arrival tax collected upon entry into Colombia, but travelers leaving by plane must pay an exit tax of up to $53 at the airport.

U.S. citizens whose U.S. passports are lost or stolen in Colombia must obtain a new U.S. passport before departing.  They must then present the passport, along with a police report describing the loss or theft, to an office of DAS Extranjeria.  Information about obtaining a replacement U.S. passport in Colombia is available on the U.S. Embassy’s website at http://Bogota.usembassy.gov.  Contact information for DAS Extranjeria is available in Spanish at www.das.gov.co.  The Embassy in Bogotá or the U.S. Consular Agency in Barranquilla can provide you with additional guidance when you apply for your replacement passport.

MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Medical care is adequate in major cities but varies in quality elsewhere.  The Embassy occasionally receives reports of U.S. citizens who have died or suffered serious medical complications while undergoing cosmetic surgery such as liposuction.  Before electing to undergo such procedures in Colombia, the Department of State recommends that you consult with your physician in the United States, research the credentials of the provider in Colombia, and carefully consider the availability of emergency medical facilities in the event that complications should arise.

Most private health care providers in Colombia require that patients pay for care at the time of treatment.  Some providers in major cities accept credit cards.  Uninsured travelers without funds may be limited to seeking care in public hospitals, which are well below U.S. standards. 

Travelers to the capital city of Bogotá may need time to adjust to the altitude of 8,600 feet, which can affect blood pressure, digestion and energy level, and can cause headaches, sleeplessness, dehydration, and other discomfort.  Travelers with circulatory or respiratory problems should consult a physician before traveling to Bogotá or other high-altitude locations.

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747)

MEDICAL INSURANCE:  The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.

REGISTRATION / EMBASSY LOCATION: 

Americans living or traveling in Colombia are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá through the State Department’s travel registration website.  Registrants can also sign up to receive emailed updates on travel and security within Colombia.  Americans without Internet access may register directly with the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá or the U.S. Consular Agency in Barranquilla.  By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of a family emergency or other problem.

The Embassy’s American Citizens Services office is open for routine services, including registration and application for passports, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon Monday through Thursday, excluding U.S. and Colombian holidays.  The U.S. Embassy is located at Avenida El Dorado and Carrera 50; telephone (011-57-1) 315-0811 during business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or 315-2109/2110 for emergencies during non-business hours; fax (011-57-1) 315-2196/2197; Internet website - http://Bogota.usembassy.gov/. 

The U.S. Consular Agency in Barranquilla, which accepts passport applications and performs notarial services, is located at Calle 77B, No. 57-141, Piso 5, Centro Empresarial Las Americas, Barranquilla, Atlantico, Colombia; telephone (011-57-5) 353-2001; fax (011-57-5) 353-5216; e-mail: agrpersonal@enred.com.