Colombia
Last update 21 August 2023Diplomatic missions
Risk index
Level 2: Increased attention (please be informed in detail about the current situation in the country)
2
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Republic of Colombia
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Brazil
Address: SEN Av. das Nações, Qd. 801, Lt. 08, CEP70432-900, Brasília DF
Telephone: +55 61 32236193; +55 61 32239849
Fax: +55 61 33233285
Working hours: 09:00 – 17:30
Opening hours: 9:00 – 17:30
Е-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/brazil
The Embassy of Colombia in Warsaw is accredited for the Republic of Bulgaria
Embassy of Colombia in Warsaw, Poland
Address: ul. Zwycipezcow 29,03-936 Warsaw, Polska
Telephone: +48 22 617 09 73; +48 22 617 71 57
Fax: +48 22 617 66 84
E-mail: [email protected]
General information
Security level:
Armed conflicts are ongoing on the territory of the country between law enforcement forces and paramilitaries, mostly linked to drug cartels. The country is not in armed conflict with other countries.
The major cities in Colombia — Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, Cali, can be described as peaceful, except for the outlying districts, where visits are not recommended.
As a result of the 2016 peace agreement, much of the country is calm, but the risk of paramilitary activity remains high in some regions such as North Santander, Uraba and municipalities in the Cauca and Valle del Cauca regions. There are security risks and increased criminality along the border with Venezuela, where some of the paramilitaries are concentrated.
Credit card fraud rate is also high, and along with theft and forgery, the deliberate planting of drugs in food or drinks in nightclubs in order to facilitate crime is a common method.
Under no circumstances should taxi services be used without prior reservation by telephone, through the reception of larger hotels or through airport authorities (upon arrival or departure from airports).
Due to security risks, we recommend to avoid travelling to regions of Colombia near the borders with Venezuela and Ecuador.
Healthcare:
In view of the widespread Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya viruses, Bulgarian citizens travelling to or residing in Colombia, are advised to exercise vigilance and caution, to strictly follow the advice of the official sanitary and hygienic authorities, and to register on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or to provide their contact details to the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Brazil, by telephone or e-mail — [email protected].
It is advisable to get vaccinated against yellow fever and tetanus.
According to information provided by the Colombian authorities to the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Brazil, following an order of the Ministry of Health of Colombia foreign visitors coming from or travelling to yellow fever affected areas will be required to present an international yellow fever vaccine certificate, as per regular World Health Organization (WHO) publications.
The network of hospitals is well developed in the large cities. The quality of healthcare is not at the same level in the inland. There is no practice of free examinations of foreigners, including in emergencies. For this reason, it is recommended to take out international medical insurance, which will cover transport to the capital or another larger city in case of accidents.
There is an increased risk of malaria in the inland (rainforest).
Cases of food poisoning are common, so visitors are advised ensure that they have stomach-ache remedies purchased from local pharmacies. As a precaution, it is also recommended to consume only boiled or bottled water.
Customs requirements:
Upon arrival in the country, foreign citizens are issued with an entry and exit card, which must be presented when leaving the country. If this card is lost, it must be reported immediately to a Colombian Migration Office centre. A new card is issued and a fine is payable.
If you arrive in Colombia with medication that has been prescribed by a doctor, the prescription must be translated into English or Spanish.
When travelling to Colombia with pets (dogs and cats), it is compulsory to present deworming and vaccination certificates. When importing other animal species (parrots, reptiles, primates) it is mandatory to obtain a sanitary permit. The competent authority for issuing the permits is the Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario (ICA).
In Colombia, it is compulsory to charge an airport fee before leaving the country, and most airlines include the fee in the price of the flight. When purchasing a ticket to Colombia, it should be explicitly clarified with the respective company whether the price includes the airport taxes.
Only copies and replicas of historical artefacts are allowed to be exported from the country, as a permit is required for this purpose, and the purchase of such items must only be made from a licensed broker.
Specifics of the local legislation:
Foreign nationals are required to carry identity documents at all times. It is recommended to carry photocopies of your identity documents and keep them separate from the originals. Failure to produce proof of identity when checked by the authorities will result in a fine and possible detention for questioning.
Road traffic:
Bus fares are always negotiable.
Practical advice:
The electricity is 110 volts and American type plugs are used.
For security reasons, make photocopies of your identity documents and keep them separate from the originals.
Local currency:
The monetary unit is 1 Colombian peso = 100 centavos. Travellers should be prepared to pay USD 20—USD 75 per day.
Climatic characteristics:
There is significant seismic activity in Colombia and the risk of earthquakes of different magnitudes is not low. There are active volcanoes in Colombia, but there have been no recorded deaths from volcanic activity in recent decades. The risk of tsunamis along the coasts is high. The country falls under the influence of the natural phenomena of ‘El Niño’ and ‘La Niña’, which are the cause of atypical weather phenomena such as rains in the dry season and droughts in the rainy season.
Other:
Important contacts in case of emergencies:
Emergency phone number (police, fire, ambulance) — 123;
Red Cross — 132.
Usually service on these lines is in Spanish only.
Interesting facts:
Colombia is a country of tremendous natural resources and economic opportunities. It is rich in petroleum and other minerals. It is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of coffee, cocoa, citrus fruits, flowers.
The constitution of the country acknowledges Spanish as the official language and, alongside it, some 65 indigenous languages and 2 creoles are recognised in the various regions.
Travel papers and visas
Bulgarian citizens travelling to Colombia for a short stay (up to 90 days) do not need a visa.
Longer stays for the purpose of study, work, religious reasons, etc. require a long-stay visa. When obtaining such a visa, registration with the Migration Office in the city of residence in Colombia is mandatory.
Requirements for applying for a long-stay visa:
- three recent passport styled face photographs with white background;
- two completed and signed application forms;
- return or onward tickets;
- proof of sufficient funds to cover the stay;
- fee paid;
- proof of residence;
- for business visas: letter from a company in Colombia;
- photocopies of all the above documents.
Other documents may be required for other types of visa. They will need to be translated into Spanish and some will need to be legalized by the consulate.
Practical advice
Competitive service
European Emergency Travel Document:
In case of emergency (lost passport), Bulgarian citizens can seek on-the-spot assistance from a diplomatic mission of an EU Member State to obtain an Emergency Travel Document.
Legalizations and Certifications:
Bulgaria and Colombia are parties to the 1961 Hague Convention on the Abolition of the Requirement of Legalisation of Foreign Public Documents. Therefore, the documents/deeds drawn up in each of the two countries should bear an Apostille by the respective Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as translated and duly authenticated in order to serve before the authorities of the other country.
Fees:
Anyone leaving the country must pay an exit fee and an airport tax that are periodically fixed.