The first temporary religious visa must always be processed at Colombian consulates abroad. In all other cases, it may be issued in Bogota, providing the applicant has a valid visa.
This visa may be granted to a foreigner who forms part of the hierarchy of a church, confession, religious denomination, federation, confederation or association of religious ministers recognized by the competent authority and who come in order to carry out the activities involved in their cult.
Requirements
• Present Form DP-FO-67 “Application for a visa” completely filled out and signed by the foreign applicant.
• Present a valid passport or travel document, in good condition and with a minimum of two (2) blank pages.
• Two (2) 3X3 cm color photographs, front view against a white background or, in the case of applications at a Colombian Consulate, three (3) such 3X3 photographs.
• Attach a copy of the main page of the valid passport showing the holder’s personal data, of the page containing the last Colombian visa, if any, and of the page with the most recent stamp of entry or departure from Colombia, as the case may be.
• Certification issued by the Ministry of the Interior and Justice, or by the Archdiocese or Diocese, as the case may be, that the church, religious confession or denomination or their, federation, confederation or association of religious ministers is duly inscribed or registered.
• Certification issued by the legal representative or hierarchical superior of the religious community specifying the mission which the foreigner is to undertake and stating his/or relationship with the religious entity.
• Letter from the legal representative or hierarchical superior of the religious entity in which the church or religious community undertakes before the national Government to pay all the expenses of the foreigner’s temporary residence in Colombia and return to his/her country of origin or last place of residence, as well as his/her family, as the case may be, when he/she ceases to belong to the religious community or is in a situation which prevents him/her from performing the activities for which the Visa was issued, or in the event of cancelation of the visa, deportation or expulsion, for whatever reason.
• Documents showing the financial solvency of the church, confession, religious denomination, federation, confederation or association of religious ministers or of the foreigner applying for the Visa, as the case may be.
• Present a valid passport or travel document, in good condition and with a minimum of two (2) blank pages.
• Two (2) 3X3 cm color photographs, front view against a white background or, in the case of applications at a Colombian Consulate, three (3) such 3X3 photographs.
• Attach a copy of the main page of the valid passport showing the holder’s personal data, of the page containing the last Colombian visa, if any, and of the page with the most recent stamp of entry or departure from Colombia, as the case may be.
• Certification issued by the Ministry of the Interior and Justice, or by the Archdiocese or Diocese, as the case may be, that the church, religious confession or denomination or their, federation, confederation or association of religious ministers is duly inscribed or registered.
• Certification issued by the legal representative or hierarchical superior of the religious community specifying the mission which the foreigner is to undertake and stating his/or relationship with the religious entity.
• Letter from the legal representative or hierarchical superior of the religious entity in which the church or religious community undertakes before the national Government to pay all the expenses of the foreigner’s temporary residence in Colombia and return to his/her country of origin or last place of residence, as well as his/her family, as the case may be, when he/she ceases to belong to the religious community or is in a situation which prevents him/her from performing the activities for which the Visa was issued, or in the event of cancelation of the visa, deportation or expulsion, for whatever reason.
• Documents showing the financial solvency of the church, confession, religious denomination, federation, confederation or association of religious ministers or of the foreigner applying for the Visa, as the case may be.
Note: A beneficiary’s visa may be granted to the spouse, permanent partner, parents and children who are economically dependent upon the foreign holder of the temporary religious visa, following prior proof of the relationship or kinship. In this case, the occupation of the beneficiary must be that of looking after the home or a student. No other occupation may be authorized.
Requirements:
√ Payment for visa study: USD 50
√ Valid passport or travel document, in good condition and with a minimum of two blank pages.
√ Two (2) recent 3x3 photographs, facing the camera, in color and against a white background.
√ Civil registration or equivalent document evidencing the relationship or kinship, duly legalized or with an apostille, as the case may be.
√ Documents proving the economic dependence of the beneficiary upon the visa holder.
√ Letter from the visa holder assuming responsibility for the beneficiary’s stay in and departure from Colombia. In the case of minors, the request, proxy of authorization must be signed by their parents and authenticated before a Colombian notary or consul.
√ Photocopy of the holder’s valid visa.
√ When the request for a visa as a beneficiary is presented to the Visas office in Bogota, the foreign permanent partner of the visa holder must present the respective judicial decision, minute of conciliation or public deed declaring the existence of the de facto marital union in accordance with Colombian regulations, with date of issue no more than three (3) months prior to the day on which the request for a visa is presented.
Cost of visa: USD 155
Place issued: Avenida 19 No. 98-03, 3rd and 4th Floors, Bogota D.C.
