ETIAS for Colombians
Europe''s travel authorisation for citizens of Colombia
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Visa-free access is a major reason why so many Colombian nationals visit Europe. Colombian passport holders can travel to the Schengen Area without a visa for up to 90 days per 180-day period.
Colombian citizens will continue to be granted 90-day visa-free stays within the European Union for leisure, tourism, business, and short-term studies once the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, ETIAS comes into effect in 2026 . Colombians will also need ETIAS to leave the transit area of the airport during layovers.
ETIAS is a visa waiver programme that is being established by the European Commission with the intention of improving border security by carrying out screening of all the visa-exempt travellers that visit Schengen Area countries.
The European Union has announced that, as of 2026 , Colombian citizens of all ages who wish to visit the countries that comprise the Schengen Area for business or tourism will be able to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver.
ETIAS REQUIRED
The following countries make up the Schengen Area, and will allow ETIAS holders entry and circulation between them:
- EU Schengen
- Non-EU Schengen States
- Non-Schengen EU States
NON-EU MEMBER STATES:
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Norway
- Switzerland
MICRO-STATES DE FACTO PART OF SCHENGEN AREA:
- Monaco
- San Marino
- Vatican City
NON-SCHENGEN EU STATES
- Cyprus
COLOMBIAN TRAVEL TO EUROPE FOR LEISURE AND BUSINESS
The two main reasons why Colombians visit Europe are:
- Tourism
- Business
ETIAS is valid for short-term leisure and business trips in Europe. Colombians in Europe for business can also do some sightseeing and engage in tourist activities.
According to a 2021 survey carried out by the Asociación Colombiana de Agencias de Viajes y Turismo, the holidays Colombians are most interested in are:
- Sun and beach vacations
- Visiting cities
- Ecotourism
European destinations offer plenty of opportunities for each of these types of tourism.
Colombians can also travel to Europe with ETIAS for short business trips. The types of business activities covered by ETIAS include:
- Conferences
- Meetings
- Industry events
Several major companies have offices in Europe and Colombia. Businesses in sectors including banking, financial services, and retail are present in cities across Europe and Colombia.
Accenture, Amazon, Deloitte, IBM are some of the largest companies represented in both Europe and Colombia.
WHAT ARE COLOMBIAN NATIONALS REQUIRED TO DO BEFORE THEY TRAVEL TO EUROPE?
Colombians need a valid passport to travel to the Schengen Area. Once ETIAS is fully operational, Colombian citizens will also be required to enrol with the ETIAS authorisation.
To register with ETIAS, Colombians must have the following requirements at hand when they access the online application:
- A Colombian passport valid for at least 3 months after the intended date of departure from European ETIAS countries
- A current email address to receive the approved ETIAS
- A valid debit card or credit card to pay the ETIAS visa waiver fee
It is a mandatory requirement that all ETIAS applicants have a valid biometric passport that is machine-readable. If the Colombian citizen’s passport nears expiration date, the traveller is advised to renew the passport before enrolling with ETIAS.
Colombians visiting the European Union must travel with the same passport used during the ETIAS application. This is because ETIAS is electronically linked to a single passport - the exact passport used during the online application process.
The ETIAS visa waiver has a 3-year validity starting from the date on which it was approved. However, if the passport expires prior to this, the electronic travel authorisation would be rendered null.
COLOMBIAN CITIZENS ETIAS APPLICATION
The ETIAS online application for Colombians is easy and straightforward. It should require no more than 10 minutes to complete on your smartphone, tablet, or personal computer.
In order to register, Colombian citizens will be asked to disclose the following information:
- First, last, and middle name, as they appear on the bio page of the citizen’s passport
- Passport data, including the country and date of issue, and expiry date, as well as the complete passport number
- Travel plans, including the first country the Colombian national intends to enter within the Schengen Area
Besides the ETIAS requisites for Colombian nationals previously mentioned, each Colombian traveller will be asked to answer some simple questions pertaining to security matters.
Applicants are advised to carefully revise all of the information entered in the form for accuracy. This is because any errors or inconsistencies in the data may delay the processing time, or, in some cases, even result in the ETIAS being denied.
Once approved, usually within a couple of business days, the European visa waiver for Colombian citizens is sent to the email address provided during the application process.
The Europe ETIAS visa waiver grants Colombian citizens the permission to visit any of the European countries that are part of the Schengen zone. This means there is no need to re-apply before travelling to a different country in Europe.
ETIAS SECURITY INFORMATION FOR COLOMBIAN CITIZENS
All of the information entered by Colombian passport holders in their ETIAS Europe visa waiver application is checked against a number of security databases, including Interpol and the ETIAS watchlist.
These security databases are managed by the same agency that is responsible for the implementation of ETIAS: The European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, which is otherwise known as eu-LISA.
Some of the other security databases used for screening include:
- VIS, which mainly compiles visa information
- SIS, which is used to identify individuals suspected to have a criminal record, missing people, and stolen assets
- EURODAC, which compiles fingerprint data
All of the security procedures linked to ETIAS are being designed and implemented for the purpose of strengthening security at European borders, for both visitors and residents alike.
In the event that a Colombian passport holder’s application gets flagged by the system during the security database check, the form will be manually processed by EU officials. This means that processing will take slightly longer, but the ETIAS should still be approved.
COLOMBIAN TRAVEL TO EUROPE: FACTS AND FIGURES
The number of Colombian tourists in Europe has increased dramatically since the EU signed a short-stay visa waiver agreement with Colombia on December 2, 2015.
Spain is the most-visited European country by Colombians
Both countries are Spanish-speaking nations, the shared language makes Spain an ideal destination for Colombian tourists and business travellers.
Data shows the number of Colombian tourists in Spain has increased significantly in recent years. More than 425,000 Colombians visited Spain in 2018, an increase of 50% in just 4 years.
Other popular European destinations for Colombians include France, Germany, and Italy:
- In 2018, almost 45,000 Colombian tourists travelled to France. An increase of 8.5% on the previous year.
- 38.5 thousand Colombian travellers visited Germany in 2018, 10,000 more than in 2015.
- More than 19,000 Colombians chose Italy as their European destination in 2018, up from 16,000 who visited Italy in 2017.
Recent figures have been affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions in Europe. However, tourism is starting to recover following the removal of coronavirus entry requirements in European countries.
According to the previously mentioned survey, 62% of Colombians were considering travelling internationally in 2022. Europe was the most-selected region, in particular the countries mentioned above.
ETIAS for Colombians - FAQ
When Will ETIAS for Colombia be implemented? Toggle faqs
The ETIAS for Colombians will be implemented in 2025. It is expected that the travel authorization will become a mandatory requirement for Colombians travelling to Europe soon after.
How Can I Request the ETIAS for Colombians? Toggle faqs
Colombian passport holders can request their ETIAS through a simple online application. The form only takes minutes to complete, and the visa waiver is quickly processed and approved.
Once approved, Colombians can simply use the ETIAS-linked passport to gain entry to Europe.
Are Colombian Visitors Allowed To Work In Europe With an ETIAS Visa Waiver? Toggle faqs
No, the ETIAS visa waiver only grants Colombian citizens entry into the Schengen countries for the purposes of tourism, studies up to 90 days, transit, and business. ETIAS does not give holders permission to seek employment nor to work in Europe.
Colombian passport holders found working in Europe with an ETIAS could have their travel authorisation revoked, as well as see themselves deported from the Schengen Area.
Nationals from Colombia who wish to work in the Schengen Zone are advised to visit the embassy or consulate of the country in which they wish to seek employment. Embassy or consulate officials will inform Colombian nationals of the requirements needed in order to apply for an appropriate work visa for the desired country.
Do Colombians need a visa for Europe? Toggle faqs
Colombians do not need a visa to travel to the Schengen Area for up to 90 days. Colombian tourists and business travellers can visit visa-free for up to 3 months.
This will not change with the introduction of ETIAS. Colombians will still be able to travel to Europe without a visa, but they will need to register online with ETIAS before the trip.
Can Colombians With A Criminal Record Apply For An ETIAS Visa Waiver? Toggle faqs
Colombian applicants with a history of minor offences may not be automatically denied an ETIAS or entry into the Schengen Area.
However, Colombians applying for an ETIAS with a serious criminal record perceived as a threat to the wellbeing and public security of Schengen citizens will likely be denied entry.
How long can Colombian citizens stay in Europe? Toggle faqs
Passport holders from Colombia are granted entry, and the freedom to travel and stay in all the Schengen countries for a maximum of 90 days out of a 180-day period without being required to apply for a visa. The 90-day period and the 180-day period both start on the day the traveller lands on European Union soil.
Colombian citizens will also be allowed to enter all the countries that are Schengen Area members, as long as they spend a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period with an ETIAS European visa waiver travel authorisation.