Prior to Your Departure

Citizens from the following countries do not need to obtain a visa prior to their arrival: European Union citizens, Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina*, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia*, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil*, Brunei, Canada, Chile*, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Equador*, El Salvador, Fiji, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong (up to 180 days), Iceland, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Micronesia, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay*, Peru*, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay*, Vatican City, Venezuela*

If your country is listed above, you do not need a Visa to enter Colombia; however:

• You MUST have a valid passport for six months beyond your arrival date. If not, then you need to renew your passport at least three months before your departure date to avoid any unforeseen delays
• Before coming to Colombia, it is important to check with the Colombian consulate or embassy in your country about changing visa regulations.

If your country is NOT listed above:

• For those visitors that do require to apply for a Visa they must apply to it in the nearest Colombian consulate in their country of residence. This procedure can take from 15 days up to 1 month which is why the school recommends that visitors apply to the Visa with enough time.
• Citizens of Cambodia, China, India, Macau, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam can enter Colombia visa-free for up to 90 days if they have an existing short-stay visa or residency permit issued by the USA or any Schengen Area country. This document must be valid for at least 180 days beyond the date of your arrival in Colombia.
• Citizens of most nations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East (plus some other countries) are not eligible for visa-free access and must apply in advance for a visitor visa to enter the country. There’s a full list of countries and territories whose citizens require a visa on Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
• Applications for tourist visas should be filed online and the cost varies depending upon your nationality and the country where you are located when applying. Expect to pay around US$82 for the visa, which is usually valid for a stay of up to 180 days. Make sure you have all of your documents ready before you begin the application process online – the website times out after 30 minutes, deleting any progress you’ve made up until that point.

Visitors that require a VISA are responsible for arranging an appointment and presenting the complete documentation listed below. This process can be made online:
a. Filled visa application form
b. Passport with at least two blank pages and valid for a minimum of 180 days before
expiration
c. A photocopy of the main page of the passport
d. One digital copy of a recent color photograph (white background 3cm x 4cm)
e. Official invitation letter sent by Universidad de los Andes

• Universidad de los Andes can offer specific guidance to visitors throughout this process (Please contact: Ana Maria Aguilera: a.aguilera@uniandes.edu.co)
• It is sole responsibility of each visitor to organize all processes related with their visa application. Please be further informed at your local Colombian consulate as procedures may change depending on the country. In addition to the mentioned
  documents, other paperwork might be required.
• IMPORTANT: Visitors who have a nationality belonging to the restrictive list, but who have a second nationality/passport that does not require visa to enter to Colombia, are required to use the non-restrictive passport, so they can enter the country without going through a visa procedure.

*Can enter with only their ID card.
Please contact Emma Martens at emartens@gbsn.org if you need any conference documentation for a visa application.

Travel By Air
The major airport in Bogotá is El Dorado International Airport (BOG). The airport is approximately 30 minutes to downtown Bogotá by car.

Conference Travel

GBSN will provide transportation to all conference activities from the two conference hotels, Hilton Bogotá and Embassy Suites by Hilton.

Getting Around Bogotá

It is recommended to use apps like Uber, Cabify, DiDi or authorized cabs for the rides between the airport, hotel and elsewhere around the city. Using these services is safe to use and highly recommended.

The dress code for the conference, Welcome Dinner and Dinner Reception is business casual.

In November, Bogotá typically experiences pleasant temperatures and can receive heavy rainfall. Throughout the day, temperatures typically settle at around 68°F/ 20°C. But by evening, they drop to around 52°F/11°C. Bogotá in November falls under the rainy season which can experience heavy rainfall, averaging just over 15 days in the month. We recommend bringing an umbrella, rain jacket and packing light clothing with a jacket for the evenings in case of inclement weather.

At an elevation of 2,600 meters, some visitors to Bogota may experience mild symptoms of altitude sickness. Visitors are encouraged to follow recommendations for high-altitude travel including drinking a lot of water, avoiding intense exercises, resting properly, and eating well.

If you have any additional questions please reach out to the GBSN Beyond team at beyond@gbsn.org.