Expert: Juan Carlos Valencia - 3/21/2009

Question
Soy americano y quiero ir a san andres con una colombiana...  viajo de medellin y ella me dijo que ella necesita visa para ir a San Andres?  es verdad?


Answer
Eduardo,

I understand that you are an american that wants to travel to San Andres island for a short holiday stay.

If that's the case, you dont need a visa. As most visitors travelling to Colombia, only a valid passport is required to enter the country for stays of a few weeks.

If you fly to San Andres, you will be required to buy a Tourist card there, as all continental colombian citizens. I think that it costs less than $20 U.S. It's valid for a few weeks. It is used as a tax but also as a way to control immigration to the island. It's overcrowded and the government is trying to make sure that no more settlers stay there.

If your idea is to go to San Andres to settle, things get complicated. You will have to contact the colombian authorities and the whole process could take months.

I hope that this answers your question.

JC