Essential glossary of immigration terms for foreigners in Colombia

Immigration procedures are often stressful and confusing for foreign nationals. In addition to the importance of each process, immigration authorities regularly use technical and legal terminology that is not always clear to individuals unfamiliar with the Colombian immigration system.

The purpose of this article is to clarify the most relevant concepts that arise during visa and stay procedures in Colombia, facilitating understanding and reducing errors resulting from incorrect interpretations.

Immigration authorities in Colombia

In Colombia, immigration matters involve two main authorities. Both operate under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but serve different functions and intervene at different stages of the process. Understanding this distinction is essential to avoid common misunderstandings.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its central offices and Colombian consulates abroad, is the authority responsible for reviewing, assessing and deciding visa applications. This includes approvals, inadmissibility decisions, rejections and withdrawals. The Ministry does not supervise a foreign national’s stay in Colombian territory; rather, it determines whether the applicant meets the legal requirements to be granted a visa.

Migración Colombia

Migración Colombia is an administrative authority attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its primary role is to exercise immigration control over nationals and foreign citizens entering and leaving the country. It is also responsible for registration, verification, legalization and oversight of activities carried out by foreign nationals in Colombia, even when they already hold a valid visa.

Key visa-related terms used by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

During the visa process before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, certain terms define the status and outcome of the application. Understanding these terms allows applicants to identify the stage of the process and its legal implications.

Visa application

A visa application is the formal submission of a foreign national’s request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with the information and documentation required for the specific visa category. Filing an application does not create acquired rights nor does it imply a favorable decision.

Once the application is submitted, the applicant has ten calendar days to pay the visa study fee, which is required for the process to continue.

Visa study

After payment of the study fee, the visa study stage begins. During this phase, the Ministry reviews the submitted information, verifies compliance with legal requirements and evaluates the overall consistency of the case. At this stage, the authority may issue additional requirements.

Although the regulations provide a thirty calendar day period to decide visa applications, this term is indicative only, as the regulations do not establish legal consequences if it is exceeded. In practice, some applications may take longer to be resolved.

Requirement

A requirement is a formal request issued by the immigration authority for additional information or correction of documents. It may be issued when documentation is incomplete or illegible, when photographs fail to meet technical standards, when the information provided is unclear, or when the authority deems it necessary to clarify any aspect of the application.

To comply with a requirement, the visa authority may grant a period of up to ten calendar days. Failure to respond within this timeframe may result in the application being declared inadmissible or denied.

If the requirement is satisfied in a timely manner, the authority should issue a decision within the following ten calendar days. However, this term is indicative only, as immigration regulations do not establish legal consequences if it is exceeded, and in practice the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may take longer to issue its decision.

Visa approval

Visa approval is the favorable decision issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after completing the substantive review of the application. Approval precedes visa issuance and does not replace the subsequent steps the foreign national must complete. Once approved, the applicant has ten calendar days to pay the visa issuance fee.

Visa issuance

Visa issuance is the administrative act through which the visa is formally granted and made available for use. Issuance does not exempt the foreign national from complying with subsequent obligations before Migración Colombia, such as visa registration and obtaining the Foreigner’s ID.

Withdrawal

Withdrawal occurs when the applicant fails to act within the deadlines established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, such as payment of the study or issuance fees. In these cases, the application is archived without a negative assessment of the applicant’s profile and without generating adverse records. To resume the process, a new application must be filed.

Inadmissibility

Inadmissibility does not necessarily involve a substantive assessment of the applicant’s profile, but the application is recorded in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ system. A new application may be submitted after correcting the identified issues and paying the visa study fee again.

Rejection

Rejection occurs when, following a substantive review, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs determines that the applicant does not meet the requirements for the requested visa category.

This decision is recorded in the Ministry’s system and affects future applications, which may only be submitted after a six-month waiting period.

For more information, see our article on withdrawal, inadmissibility and rejection here.

Documents in visa processes

Documentation is a central element in any immigration procedure. Formal or conceptual errors at this point usually generate delays or unfavorable decisions.

Apostille

The apostille is the mechanism by which the authenticity of public documents issued abroad is certified so that they are valid in Colombia. Without an apostille, many documents are not accepted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It is important to note that there are countries that do not have an apostille process because they are not parties to the Hague Apostille Convention.

In such cases, a legalization process must be carried out, understood as the procedure through which the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the signatory acted and, where applicable, the seal or stamp on the document are certified.

Official translation

An official translation is a translation performed by a translator officially recognized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when documents are drafted in a language other than Spanish. Informal or uncertified translations may result in inadmissibility or rejection.

Entry seal

The entry seal is the stamp placed by Migración Colombia in a foreign national’s passport upon entry into the country. It determines the authorized period of stay and should not be confused with visa validity. The length of lawful stay is calculated based on this seal.

Certificate of migratory movements

The certificate of migratory movements is an official document issued by Migración Colombia that records a foreign national’s entries into and exits from the country. It is commonly required in visa and administrative procedures and serves as evidence of immigration history.

Terms used by Migración Colombia

Once inside Colombia, immigration control concepts become relevant in determining the regularity of a foreign national’s stay.

Foreigner’s ID

The Foreigner’s ID is the official identification document issued to foreign nationals holding a visa valid for more than ninety days. It must be obtained within the prescribed deadlines, and failure to do so may lead to administrative sanctions.

Regular and irregular stay

A regular stay exists when the foreign national complies with visa conditions, authorized length of stay and applicable registration requirements.

As a general rule, nationals of countries that do not require a visa to enter Colombia may remain in the country for up to one hundred and eighty days per calendar year. This period may be used continuously or in separate stays, provided that if the stay exceeds ninety consecutive days, an extension is requested in due time before Migración Colombia.

For visa holders, the visa itself establishes the conditions and duration of stay, which must be respected. In the case of M-type visas, once the visa validity expires, the holder has thirty calendar days to leave the country or apply for a new visa, during which the stay remains lawful.

An irregular stay occurs when authorized periods are exceeded, visa conditions are breached or mandatory procedures are not completed. Irregular stay may result in sanctions such as fines, deportation or expulsion, depending on the severity of the violation.

Administrative immigration process

An administrative immigration process is a sanctioning procedure initiated by Migración Colombia when violations of immigration regulations are identified. Depending on the severity of the case, it may result in fines or other administrative measures, including deportation or removal from the country.

Safe conduct

A safe conduct is a temporary authorization issued by Migración Colombia in specific circumstances, such as pending administrative procedures or the regularization of a foreign national’s immigration status. It does not constitute a visa and does not replace a regular immigration status. A safe conduct may be issued either to allow departure from the country (SC-1) or to permit a temporary stay in Colombia while a visa process is underway (SC-2).

Conclusion

Understanding immigration terminology is essential to avoid mistakes that may affect a visa application or a foreign national’s stay in Colombia. Many immigration issues arise not from bad faith, but from incorrect interpretations or a lack of awareness of the true legal scope of each concept. Clear and accurate information enables safer decision-making and helps prevent unnecessary complications.

At JG Lawyers, we assist foreign nationals and companies in understanding and managing their immigration processes, providing clear, responsible legal guidance tailored to each case.

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FAQ

Can an error in the interpretation of immigration terms in Colombia affect my process?

Yes. Many rejections, inadmissibility decisions and administrative proceedings arise from conceptual or documentary errors resulting from a misunderstanding of immigration terminology.

Does holding a valid visa guarantee that my immigration status is regular?

Not necessarily. A visa is only one component of the process. There are additional obligations before Migración Colombia that must be fulfilled to maintain a regular immigration status.

Is it mandatory to have a lawyer for these procedures?

It is not mandatory. However, specialized legal advice reduces risks, helps avoid formal errors and allows for a proper understanding of the legal implications of each immigration decision.