Colombia - Proof of onward flights?

Hockney

I'm planning on going to South America for a minimum 6 months, and am looking into options on flights.

I plan to fly into Bogota in Colombia, get the max visa possible (I believe 90 days), so I'll have the option of a decent stay in Colombia. I'm not fussy about where I fly back from, but it will most likely be Rio De Janeiro.

Two one-way flights is more than double the price of booking Dublin - Bogota (Oct), Rio - Dublin (May), so I'll most likely book the latter.

I have two predicaments:

1) Since my return flight out of South America will leave after the expiry date of my Colombia visa, am I likely to run into problems with either immigration in Colombia, or at check-in with the airline out since I won't have an onward journey booked out of Colombia?

2) Anyone have any ideas on how I would ensure getting the 90 day visa? I've heard the duration of the tourist visa received (30/60/90 days) depends on the immigration officer you get on the day. Anyone tried begging for the 90 day visa off the immigration officer on the day, and if so, were you successful?

Going for a Round The World ticket is also an option for me, but I would be left with the same predicament, no proof of onward travel out of Colombia before tourist visa expires.

How do people usually get around this?

I'm considering either buying the cheapest possible flight I can (e.g Colombia - Quito) which leaves within 30 days of landing, or just chancing and bringing my credit card and buying a flight if the airline or immigration ask questions.

Thanks for reading.

Civilian_Target

In a word, the answer to (1) is yes: the airline is likely to be fined if you overstay your welcome so checkin may be difficult.

The three solutions are:
(1) Contact the nearest Columbian embassy (London I would guess), and get a proper visa
(2) Book a return ticket - or fake a return ticket from a different airline
(3) Get an onward visa for a neighbouring country, including the start date and the fact that you intend to enter by land (this doesn't always suffice...)

Gone West

civillian targets information is not correct.

For any european person coming into Bogota, a credit card is enough to satisy even a stringent check. I´ve flown in and out of Colombia a bunch of times, I´ve never once been asked for proof of onward travel, nor have I ever heard of any person being asked. At the very most you will be asked where you are off to, just tell them bus journey onwards.

civillian targets points
2) "proper visa" from the embassy in London, without an offer of a job, or from a university, family over there, etc no other visa is possible... Why advise him to do this when you can´t even spell the name of the country properly!
3) Onward visa for other country (ecuador or venezuela), not possible either, same story. You just arrive and they give you tourist stamp. Call the embassy in London to confirm this. Likewise, the Irish Embassy in Mexico or consulate in Quito will confirm this.

Don´t stress it. You will get a max 60 day visa when you arrive, these days DAS are not giving out 90 day visas in el Dorado. Just leave for whatever country overland before your 60 days are up (BTW its easy to extend this up to 180 days in increments), they will give you an exit and then an entry stamp(for whatever country) when you arrive at the border. Same thing in every border you will cross on your way to Brazil. Don´t stress. Honestly. If you need more advice just drop me a pm.

Hockney

Thanks for the replies gents.

Fuzzy, I would think that where I could run into hassle (if anywhere) would be at check-in with the airline and not with immigration, but it's good to hear immigration should be cool anyway.

Pity about the lack of 90 day visa but like you say crossing the border and back shouldn't be much of an issue.

I am still a little concerned about seeing issues at check in for the flight though, since they would be responsible for shipping me home and would incur a fine if I were to run into issues at immigration. The cynic in me reckons they also might use it as an opportunity to sell me an overpriced return flight at the check in desk!

Have you flown long-distance directly to Colombia, maybe from Madrid/Paris/States, and if so with which airline?

Anyone else heard any stories of issues with airlines at check in for one way flights in Colombia, or anywhere in South America?

Civilian_Target

Fuzzy wrote: »

civillian targets information is not correct.

For any european person coming into Bogota, a credit card is enough to satisy even a stringent check. I´ve flown in and out of Colombia a bunch of times, I´ve never once been asked for proof of onward travel, nor have I ever heard of any person being asked. At the very most you will be asked where you are off to, just tell them bus journey onwards.

That's good news.
I should have clarified: I've never been to Columbia, but based on my experience of 10+ other African, Eastern European and American embassies, visa restrictions like this are very frequently applied. I also find that previously liberal visa regimes can often tighten very quickly based on local events.

But recent country-specific information is always the best, so I would agree with Fuzzy!

Gone West

Yeah Ive flown before with lufthansa (actually next month they reopen that route) and air france as well as colombian airlines to costa rica, ecuador and atlanta.
If they try to give you some BS just ask her if shes new (she will be if you get BS) and her supervisor will clear it up. Things like them being responsible for you are lol. That does not happen in south america if it did every broke ass gringo backpacker and paraguayan immigrant would be deliberately flying back for free.

Dont worry about it and enjoy your trip, be careful and dont take risks, the country is not as safe as some guidebooks would have you believe. I´ve seen foreigners murdered with my own eyes.

center15

I'm heading to Columbia on 11 October, I booked my flights myself Cork->London->JFK and then I am flying into Bogota. I booked a refundable flight in Nov from Bogota to Venezuela just to use as proof as an onward flight and I can cancel once I'm in Bogota. Does anyone see any issues with this? I won't be staying in Columbia for long anyways before I continue on my travels through SA.

Hockney

Quick update on how this went for me for the benefit of others in the same situation in future!

I never booked an onward flight and flew with Iberia (Dublin - Madrid - Bogota) with no questions at check in, and also had no questions from immigration officals.

I practically begged the immigration guy in Bogota airport for a 60 day visa, but he only gave me 30 days, maybe something to do with the Irish passport, most others I've spoken to got 60 day visas.

I have heard some people here getting stung by airlines at the check in desk (Spirit in the US seem to be the most common airline popping up for this), where people were not given a boarding card without booking a return flights, most people seemed to get around this by booking over priced but fully refundable return flights.

My advice would be to chance your arm without the onward flights, it seems cases of hassles are few and far between, I would say any major European airline (Air France/Iberia/Lufthansa) will be absolutely fine though.