V- COURTESY

ELE COLOMBIA 2018

COLOMBIAN VISA GUIDE

As a beneficiary of ELE Colombia initiative, you are
required to obtain a V – Courtesy visa for your
scholarship following the next instructions:

TIMEFRAME
Please note that you must follow this procedure not later than 14 July 2018.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

A completed online-visa application form

A valid passport, in good shape with spare space for visas

A virtual copy of the main page of your passport with your personal data

A copy of the letter issued by the Department of Culture of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of Colombia asking the Department of Visas and Immigration to study the V- Courtesy visa
request for the ELE 2018 scholars

A passports size color photograph (3x4cm), in white background (in JPEG format)

In case you have been to Colombia before, a virtual copy of the passport page where the
seal of entry or exit to Colombia was stamped. Also, for Colombian visas previously granted
without Optical Character Recognition –OCR-, a virtual copy of the page containing those
visa(s). If the visa(s) was/were granted using OCR, this will not be necessary

IMPORTANT CLARIFICATIONS

The format of the documents must be PDF, unless noted otherwise

Scan documents using a scanner

Do not use photographs and avoid converting image files to PDF format

If you only have a cell phone, use applications to scan documents

Before proceeding with the application, you must attach all supporting documents requi-
red for your visa, otherwise your application will not be accepted

The picture must be a color photo with white background 4 centimeters high by 3 centi-
meters wide. You must be facing the camera and the head should be centered and com-
plete. Both eyes should be open and the ears should be visible. Do not allow the hair or
other accessories to cover your face. There must not be flash in the photo. The format of
the image is JPG and it must have a maximum size of 300 KB

STEPS TO FOLLOW

#1 Enter the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: www.cancilleria.gov.-

co, click the option “Trámites y Servicios”, then go to “Visas”

#2 Subsequently, select the option “Realice aquí su solicitud de visa en

línea”

#3
When given the opportunity to choose where to submit your application,
please make sure to choose Bogota. Please do not choose the consulate
abroad.

#4
The type of visa you will be applying to is “Visitor (V)”, the category is
“Courtesy”, and the condition of the visa is “Based on international coo-
peration agreements or treaties”.

#5 When asked about the envisaged address and telephone number in Co-
lombia, please register the information of the Colombian university
where you will be taking the Spanish course.

#6 When asked about occupation in Colombia, please select “Participante

programa institucional ELE FOCALAE”.

#7 When asked about the institution, please write “Ministerio de Relaciones

Exteriores.

#8 After completing the requested information, you must complete the pay-
ment option (choose Bogota). Your visa will be free of charge, but only by
filling the payment option the system will accept your application.
Otherwise, the system will not create a case and therefore, you will not
obtain a visa.

Finally, please make sure to include in your application a valid e-mail address, where
you will receive an electronic visa. There is no need to present a visa stamped on your
passport, only a printing of the visa you will receive electronically.

CONTACT
In case you have any questions concerning the visa process,
please contact:
Mr. Juan Camilo Palacio Madrid
juan.palacio@cancilleria.gov.co
+57 -1- 3814000 Ext.4173
Cultural Affairs Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.