Expert: MRZ - 1/4/2009

Question
QUESTION: I am looking to travel to Colombia for 5 to 6 months. I am a canadian citizen with parents that have their colombian passports. I was just wondering if i needed a visa or anything else so i will be allowed to stay for 5 to 6 months.

ANSWER: Hi Cassandra,
You will be given a 90 day visa at entry, once you are here and say 2 weeks before your visa expires, go to DAS and get an extension. Very easy, very quick.
If you have any other questions let me know.
Thanks
Marta

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thank you for answering, but DAS is what exactly?
i am looking to travel to envigado to stay with my grandparents and then go to medellin for my cousins. Will it be easy for me to find DAS location?

Answer
Hi Cassandra,
DAS stands for Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad, is a branch of the police and they are in charge of all immigration issues.
DAS has offices in Medellin. The address is Calle 19 No 80A 40, Tel: 341 5900
You will have to take 4 passport size photos of yourself, 2 photocopies of your passport (first pages), 2 photocopies of the entry stamp in your passport, and two copies of your airline tickets or travel document (itinerary). Then, they will take numerous fingerprints of you. You will also have to pay $60.600 Colombian pesos for each additional month, they will give you an extension for 30 days and yu will have to come back to get another 30 days. To do this, you have to go to the nearest DAS office, they will give you a deposit slip, and then you get to take it to the bank and deposit the money. Then, you have to have 2 photocopies of the endorsed or stamped deposit slip. Be prepared for the DAS information booth to act like they don't know what you are talking about. You will have to ask to see the immigration officer if they don't understand what you need.
If you have any other question let me know.
Thanks
Marta