A Colombia visa is not required of citizens of Azerbaijan and you can stay up to 90 days. In Latin America this is the most open country for our passport: Cartagena, Medellín and Bogotá are visa-free, there is a direct flight from Istanbul to Bogotá and no transit visa is needed along the way.
But Colombia has one requirement that leaves those who do not know about it stuck in the queue at the airport: before the flight you have to fill in an online migration form. In this article we explain the terms of visa-free entry, the online form, the yellow fever question and the fully visa-free route from Baku to Bogotá.
Do you need a Colombia visa?
No. Citizens of Azerbaijan enter Colombia visa-free on an ordinary passport and can stay up to 90 days. Inside the country it is possible to extend the period by another 90 days by applying to Colombian Migration, but you cannot stay more than 180 days in total in one calendar year. This is for tourism and short business trips; to work and to study a separate visa is needed. The official rules are given on the site of Colombian Migration.
| Is a visa required? | No |
| How long can you stay? | 90 days, extendable to up to 180 days a year |
| Passport | Valid for at least 6 months |
| Before the flight | The online migration form (Check-Mig), 72 hours ahead |
| Yellow fever | A certificate is required for the Amazon and some national parks |
| Visa-free route | Baku–Istanbul–Bogotá, Turkish Airlines |
Check-Mig: the form required instead of a Colombia visa
Every passenger arriving in and leaving Colombia by air must fill in the Check-Mig form on the site of Colombian Migration between 72 hours and 1 hour before the flight. The form is free; you are asked for your passport, your flight and where you will be staying, and at the end a confirmation arrives by email. The airline may check it at check-in. On departure the same form is filled in again. Intermediary sites charge money for this free form, so fill it in only on the official site.
What do they ask at the border?
The passport must be valid for at least 6 months. The migration officer may ask for your return ticket and the address where you will be staying, though in practice tourists are mainly asked for their passport and Check-Mig confirmation. Insurance is not required, but is advised. The passport is stamped and the length of stay written in; they usually give 90 days, but they may also look at the date on your ticket.
The yellow fever vaccination
For Bogotá, Medellín and Cartagena no vaccination is required. But a yellow fever certificate is asked for on entry to the Amazon region, to Tayrona national park and to some other parks. The vaccination must be given at least 10 days before the trip and the certificate is valid for life. If you are going on from Colombia to another Latin American country, that country may also ask for a certificate from those arriving from Colombia.
Read next: Do you need a visa for Ecuador? 90 days visa-free, the Galápagos fee and a fully visa-free route
The visa-free route from Baku to Colombia
Turkish Airlines flies direct from Istanbul to Bogotá, and that is the ideal route for a citizen of Azerbaijan: Baku–Istanbul–Bogotá, no visa needed along the way, and the whole journey takes 17–19 hours. There are also the Iberia and Avianca options via Madrid, and a Schengen visa is not required if you do not leave the transit zone, though long waits are not comfortable without a visa. Baku–Bogotá air ticket prices rise in December-January and July-August. There are many one-hour domestic flights from Bogotá to Cartagena and Medellín and they are cheap.
Colombia is usually toured together with Ecuador and Peru. In Latin America tour programmes this part of the route passes without preparation because Colombia and Ecuador are visa-free, while for Peru a separate visa is needed.
Things to know before the trip
- Altitude. Bogotá is at 2,640 metres, so plan a light programme for the first day. Medellín is at 1,500 and Cartagena at sea level.
- Safety. In the big cities move around by taxi at night and do not hold your phone in your hand in the street. The tourist zones are relatively safe.
- Money. The Colombian peso. Cards work in the cities, cash machines are everywhere, so take little cash.
- Season. December–March and July–August are the dry season. Cartagena is hot all year and Bogotá cool all year.
- Language. Spanish. English is little used outside the tourist spots.
Frequently asked questions about the Colombia visa
Can you stay more than 90 days without a Colombia visa?
Inside the country you can extend by another 90 days by applying to Migration and paying a fee. A maximum of 180 days within the year.
Can you cross from Colombia to Panama?
Panama requires a visa of citizens of Azerbaijan, but admits visa-free those with a valid US, Canadian or Schengen visa. There is no land route, only flights.
Are extra documents needed for children?
The child must have their own passport. Colombia strictly requires the other parent’s consent from parents travelling with a child, especially when leaving the country.
In closing
A Colombia visa is not required, there is a fully visa-free route via Istanbul, and the two things to remember are the Check-Mig form and, if needed, the yellow fever vaccination. The Viza.az team helps with building the long route, filling in the Check-Mig form and planning a Latin American trip.
You can read more about Colombia as a destination or fill in the application form.
Note: the information here is as of the publication date. The visa-free regime and the entry rules can change, so check the official sources once more before your trip.
