Easy Procedures To Get Colombia Student Visa

International students who desire to study in Colombia must obtain a student visa at the Colombia embassy or consulate in their home country.

To secure a Colombia Student visa, there are certain procedures to be followed.

In this article, we’ll simplify the steps to be taken in order to obtain a Columbia student visa irrespective of your nationality. Carefully read through and take that bold step now.

Colombia is truly a place worth visiting, especially if you are a lover of nature. This South American country is known for being the second most bio-diverse country in the world. The friendly people, beautiful architecture and culture, as well as the delicious food and sunny beaches, are also great reasons to pay a visit to Colombia.

In this article, we’ll outline the easy ways to obtain an Colombia student visa. Before then, take a look at our table of content fora summary of the article.

Why Study in Colombia?

Studying in Columbia offers students the opportunity to explore rich and quality educational contents. That’s why annually, a good number of foreigners travel to Colombia to study at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

According to tellanto.com, Colombia is internationally recognized for its landscapes, fine cuisine, folklore, and colorful culture. However, another of its strengths is the quality of its education, which is reflected in international accolades and accreditations awarded to academic programs at private and public Colombian universities.

Therefore, if you plan to study in Colombia for more than six months, it is essential to previously request a Student visa this one depends on what kind of studies are you thinking to apply for.

See the types of student visa in Colombia.

Types of Student Visa in Colombia

Colombia changed its Colombian visa rules in late 2017. And these new visa rules went into effect on December 15, 2017.

So, a Colombia student visa changed and is known as a Migrant (M) visa of category 9 (an M-9 visa) or as a Visitor (V) visa. Furthermore, if you have an existing TP-3 student visa, it doesn’t change to one of the new types of student visas.

The M student visa is intended for those studying a degree program, like for a bachelors degree. The V student visa is intended for non-degree programs like studying Spanish. The M student visa can be for longer than one year depending on the length of studies.

In addition, with the new M-9 or V student visas you are not permitted to work in Colombia. This is the same as the previous TP-3 student visas. Also, a M-9 visa loses its validity if you leave Colombia for over six months without returning.

The cost for the M-9 student visa is $67 USD. This is higher than the previous TP-3 student visa that cost $55. So, the visa price has increased somewhat for the new student visa.

Note the Visitor (V) student visa for studying Spanish are some some cases being granted for only for a maximum of six months according to visa agencies we have talked but some may still qualify for a year-visa.

Also, once you have a Visitor (V) visa you reportedly can no longer apply for another visa while in Colombia. To apply for another visa when you have a Visitor student visa you have to go to a foreign consulate in another country.

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Why You Should Get A Colombia Student Visa?

All international students will need to obtain a visa in order to study in Colombia. You can get a Colombia student visa by applying for a student visa at the Colombian embassy or consulate in your home country. Your visa will be valid for one year, and will need to be renewed if your studies are longer than this.

To be granted a visa, you will need to be enrolled in a course that has 10 hours of teaching per week. Your visa documents must be translated into Spanish if they are in any other language.

Colombia is known for its significant natural resources, modern cities, and diverse culture. The government has made great strides in recent years to secure peace with revolutionaries, minimize crime, and protect its strong democratic institutions and the country boasts a growing economy.

How much Does It Cost To Apply For Colombia Student Visa?

The cost of both M and V student visas is 52 euros if you are from Europe or Cuba. For the rest of the countries, the cost of a student visa is 67 dollars.

Although the type M visa and type V visa are valid for up to 3 years and 2 years respectively, the validity of the student visas can be reduced, depending upon the duration of your study program.

How Long Does It Take To Get A Colombia Student Visa?

The Colombia visa application is processed in about 5 working days but can take as long as 30 days if there are any irregularities or missing documents. Make sure to apply in advance of the time you intend to travel.

What this entails is that, your application should be concisely done.

SEE ALSO: COMPLETE LIST OF AVAILABLE COLUMBIA SCHOLARSHIP

For How Long Is Colombia Student Visa Valid?

The Migrant Colombia Visa can be issued for a maximum of three years and is renewable.

All international students will need to obtain a visa in order to study in Colombia. You will need to apply for a student visa at the Colombian embassy or consulate in your home country. Your visa will be valid for one year and will need to be renewed if your studies are longer than this.

You can apply for an extension of your Colombian Visa at the Immigration Authorities (Migración Colombia) nearest to where you are staying in Colombia. There are Immigration centers in most major cities.

READ ALSO: How To Get Student Visa For U.S From India

How To Apply For A Colombia Student Visa

You can apply for a Columbia student visa online or at the Columbian consulates around the world. In the US, Colombia has consulates located in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, Newark, New York, San Francisco and Washington DC.

Applying for the Colombian student visa online is seamless. The application requires you to scan all the required documents in PDF files plus the photo in jpg format.

After receiving an online approval, you can travel to Bogota to get the visa in your passport if you are in Colombia. If you are in another country, you can get the visa from the nearby Columbia consulate.

Visas in Colombia are issued at the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores office in Bogotá. This is located at Avenida 19 # 98-03, Torre 100 Building, 3rd Floor. It’s open from 7:30 am until noon.

What Are The Documents Required for a Colombia Student Visa

Before your student visa processing, you need to tender the following documents;

• Two 3cm x 4cm color photographs with a white background.
• A photocopy of the information page of the passport.
• A photocopy of the admission certificate or the letter of acceptance from the educational institution.
• A document from the educational institution certifying that the schedule is a minimum of ten (10) hours per week.
• A letter from the person taking responsibility for your financial expenses with bank statements stating an average balance more than 10 times the legal monthly minimum wage in Colombia.
• A photocopy of the certificate recognizing the legal existence of the educational institution.
• A photocopy of the passport’s page with the entry stamp, if you are already in Colombia.

After You’ve Secured The Colombian Student Visa, What Next?

Once you receive your Colombian visa, you must visit the local immigration authorities (Migración Colombia) to register your stay. You must do so within 15 days of entering the country. If you are already in Colombia, register your stay within 15 days of receiving your visa.

If you are staying for longer than three months, you will get a Foreigners ID Card (Cedula de Extranjeria) after you register.

Can An International Student Apply For Colombian Citizenship?

After having a Colombian M student visa for five years you are suitable to receive a Resident (R) visa in Colombia. And after having the R visa for five more years you are eligible to apply to become a Colombian citizen.

In addition, you won’t have to give up your existing citizenship. Colombia permits dual-citizenship, as does the U.S. and many other countries.

Once you become a dual citizen with Colombian citizenship, you will no longer need to deal with visas anymore. Also, you will be able to travel to a few counties as a Colombian citizen without a visa such as Russia, which requires a visa for U.S. citizens.

Having Colombian citizenship benefits you with the Mercosur trade block. Nationals of Member States (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) and Associated States (Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru) do not need a passport or visa to travel around the region, with only a national identity card required. 

To become a citizen in Colombia you need to take a citizenship test. The test is related to Colombian history, geography, and the constitution. Also, a basic Spanish oral test is required. Those who have a bachelor’s degree from a Colombian university or are over 65 years old are exempt from these tests.

SEE ALSO: How To Get A Working Holiday Visa In New Zealand

What Is The Cost Of Studying and Living In Colombia?

Your tuition fees greatly depend on where you are from, where you choose to study, and at what level. If you choose to study at a public university, you should expect to pay around $630/€550 per semester. If you choose to study at a private university, you should expect to pay between $630/€550 and $3,450/€3,100 per semester. Some higher education institutions offer scholarships for international students.

The quality of life outside the classroom is also a great factor that benefits foreign students, and in that regard, Colombian universities offer a lot of advantages since the cost of living is a lot lower than in most European and American cities, and it is very viable for students from Latin America.

Your cost of living will depend on where you choose to live in Colombia. On average, you should budget for around $1,000/€900 per month. This accounts for accommodation, groceries and travel.

Final Thoughts

The Colombia student visa application process is a straightforward one, do well to make the best out of this guide. Cheers!

FAQs On Easy Procedures To Get Colombia Student Visa

The cost of both M and V student visas is 52 euros if you are from Europe or Cuba. For the rest of the countries, the cost of a student visa is 67 dollars.

The Migrant Colombia Visa can be issued for a maximum of three years and is renewable.

The Colombia visa application is processed in about 5 working days but can take as long as 30 days if there are any irregularities or missing documents.

References

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