Colombia Now Requires Visas From 13 Countries
COLOMBIA · VISA & RESIDENCY
Key Facts
- —What happened Colombia’s foreign ministry now requires entry visas from citizens of 13 countries, replacing a 2018 exemption rule.
- —How big The affected list spans China, India, Haiti, Cuba, Iran, and eight more nations across several continents.
- —What it means Bogotá calls the move reciprocity, since Israel began requiring visas from Colombian travelers back in May 2025.
- —The catch Colombia and Israel separately restored mutual visa-free travel on September 1, 2026, undercutting that original justification.
- —Who it affects The stricter rule applies only to visitors entering Colombia, not to Colombians who already live in those countries.
Colombia’s foreign ministry has added 13 countries to its visa-required list, saying the goal is equal treatment for travelers on both sides.
Colombia will now require entry visas from citizens of 13 countries. The change replaces a 2018 rule that had exempted these nations, the foreign ministry says.
The list spans Israel, China, India, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Afghanistan, North Korea, Sudan, and Ethiopia. Colombian outlets confirmed all 13 names after reviewing the ministry’s draft resolution.
Which Countries Now Need a Visa
Cuba is the only country on the new list that still lets Colombians enter without a visa. That makes Colombia’s own rule one-sided for Cuban travelers, even under the reciprocity label.
Before this change, most of these 13 nationalities could enter Colombia for tourism without applying for a visa in advance. Now their citizens must request one before they travel, just like nationals of many other countries already do.
The new visa rule applies only to visitors arriving from these countries. Colombians who already live abroad in any of them keep their current status, officials say.
Most of the 13 countries already require Colombian citizens to obtain visas of their own, officials say. The ministry frames its new rule as simply matching that existing imbalance.
China’s presence on the list is notable given Colombia’s outreach to Beijing on trade. Colombia’s government had explored dropping visa rules for Chinese travelers only months earlier.
Officials say the new rule simply gives travelers from these countries the same treatment Colombians already receive there. They frame it as fairness, not as a diplomatic penalty.
Why Colombia Calls This Reciprocity
In diplomacy, reciprocity simply means matching the rules another country already applies to your own citizens abroad. Colombia says that principle guided this entire list.
Colombia’s foreign ministry says the change is about reciprocity. Israel began requiring visas from Colombian travelers back in May 2025.
That timing traces back to 2024, when President Gustavo Petro cut diplomatic ties with Israel over the Gaza war. The two countries have been at odds over travel rules ever since.
That dispute has since eased. Colombia and Israel restored mutual visa-free travel on September 1, 2026.
The reversal covers only Israel and Colombia’s own citizens. Colombia has not said whether the other 12 countries keep their new visa requirement unchanged.
The ministry has not set an exact start date for the wider rule either. Travelers from the 13 countries should check with a Colombian consulate before booking a trip.
More: Colombia news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries now need a visa to enter Colombia?
The list covers Israel, China, India, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Afghanistan, North Korea, Sudan, and Ethiopia. Colombian outlets confirmed the names after reviewing the ministry’s draft resolution.
Why does Colombia call this a reciprocity measure?
Israel began requiring visas from Colombian travelers in May 2025, after Bogotá cut diplomatic ties over the Gaza war. Colombia’s new rule mirrors that requirement for Israeli citizens and 12 other nations.
Has anything changed since Israel and Colombia resumed visa-free travel?
Colombia and Israel restored mutual visa-free travel on September 1, 2026. Colombia has not said whether the other 12 countries keep their new visa rule unchanged.
Sources: El Cronista, El Colombiano, Infobae, Pulzo, The Rio Times Online, and Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería).
This article was drafted with automated assistance and reviewed before publication. How we use AI · Report an error
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