Colombian citizen visa requirements to travel to Costa Rica or Panama.

Gator says on Jun 3, 2008, 13:32:

both countries have consulates in Canada-to avoid bad information I would make direct contact with the CR and Pan. consulates

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

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gordunn says on Jun 3, 2008, 13:35:

Thanks, good advice.

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jonas says on Jun 3, 2008, 13:37:

as far as I know she is good to travel to Panama on a Passport (no visa) whilst Costa Rica requires a visa.

What I have, I do not want to lose, but Where I am I do not want to stay, but those I love, I do not want to leave, but those I know I no longer want to see, but Where I die, I do not want to go;I want to stay where I have never been

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sloopskipper says on Jun 3, 2008, 13:41:

Here is the migracion site for Panamá (Spanish & English):

http://www.migracion.gob.pa/ (it has an area "who needs a visa").

I have no clue about Costa Rica, but I think in Panamá basically she will need a forward/return airline ticket, proof of economic solvency (was $500 cash, now maybe 800. I've been told a major credit card [hers] would also satisfy that), yellow fever innoculation(?).

But the requirements would be pretty much the same for you. I don't know if they enforce the yellow fever innoculation.

But I don't know why you would want to spend time in Panamá, unless you already know the country.

Hotels are expensive here, and sometimes not so easy to find a room.

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sloopskipper says on Jun 3, 2008, 13:44:

I "think' she doesn't need visa here, but there is a requirement for a police report for Colombians.

The last time a friend of Cali flew here (before he had a Panamanian multi-entry visa) he had to show the police report & the cash, and I think they checked his yellow fever innoculation proof.

I am gringo, and the two times I flew in, before I had my pensionado visa, they didn't check the cash or yellow fever.

Look at the website, but no guarantees for accuracy, of course embassies probably not any more reliable.

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viajero123 says on Jun 3, 2008, 14:24:

No visa required for Panama, but they require:
1. Return/onward ticket
2. International Certificate of Yellow Fever vaccination (vaccination must occur at least 10 days before arrival in Panama).
3. At least $500 that must be shown to immigration officer.
4. Tourism card, obtainable at $5 from the airline or at the airport on arrival.
http://www.empacol.org/site/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=33&I...
Apparently the Panamanian authorities really enforce their rules and do a lot of questioning before admitting Colombian citizens.

For Costa Rica:
A visa is needed and she must apply in the consulate in Bogota.
http://www.embajadadecostarica.org/10.html
However, if she holds a valid visa for the US, Canada or a EU Member state, valid for over 6 months, then no visa is needed.
The visa shouldn't be hard to obtain, but it does require a lot of paperwork and previous preparation can be lenghtly.

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rjstuff says on Jun 3, 2008, 14:25:

The Delta airlines website shows that no visa is needed for Colombians traveling to Panama but needs visa for Costa Rica. My wife and her friends have traveled freely to Panama from Colombia.Costa Rican rules (new) allows greencard holders to travel to Costa Rica without a visa, but I think your girlfriend doesn't fall into that category. I don't think any inoculations are required. http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/plan_flight/international_t...
Good Luck

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reel time says on Jun 3, 2008, 15:53:

I do know that the Yellow Fever inoculation will be required for anyone to enter Costa Rica from Colombia. It doesn't matter if you are - Colombian - Gringo - Panamanian - etc. The only thing that matters is that you are coming into Costa Rica from Colombia.

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Cerealkiller says on Jun 3, 2008, 15:57:

Panama does not require visa and Costa Rica requires valid US visa. If she does not have one she must contact the Costa Rican embassy in Bogota and apply for a visa. In regards to the yellow fever inoculation there is a time frame between inoculation and the date of travel that must be followed. I have no idea as to how many weeks in advance a person must be vaccinated but it will be checked.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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Chriscan says on Jun 3, 2008, 16:22:

I'm canadian and I looked at getting my wife to Costa Rica to visit some friends. We decided that it's not worth the trouble.

We did however meet in Panama where it is easy for Colombians to travel. Panama is way more fun than Costa Rica too.

************* WARNING ************* my words often come from my ass

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hongo_joe says on Jun 3, 2008, 16:49:

I have entered Panama many times with Colombians (as recently as three days ago) and they have never asked for yellow fever vaccination.

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sloopskipper says on Jun 3, 2008, 16:59:

Just be aware that Colombians have been asked for a police report at Tocumen, in the last year.

Maybe depends on the mood of the immigration agent.

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jorgegdiaz says on Jun 3, 2008, 19:42:

In 2004, while living in the US, I was going to go to CR for a wedding and I had to get a visa with personal interview at the CR consulate... I had to wathc the wedding pics...

I know for a fact the CR visa is hard to obtain when applying from Colombia b/c the many overstays and political asylum petitions.

"To err is human - and to blame it on a computer is even more so."Robert Orben

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Cerealkiller says on Jun 4, 2008, 01:25:

The yellow fever inoculation was introduced in January, I don't know if it applies to Panama, but I am certain it does for Costa Rica.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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Buongone says on Jun 4, 2008, 22:08:

My novia came to Panama over X-mas holidays. From Cali. Needed. A police report. Yellow fever shot. $500 in cash. Return ticket.

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hongo_joe says on Jun 5, 2008, 18:58:

Buongone; I am curious - Did Panamanian immigration actually ask her to show a police report and proof of yellow fever shot when she arrived, or is it that she was told that she would need those documents?

As I said above, I have never been asked for them and Colombians I know have never been asked for them and I was talking to a Panamanian immigration lawyer today and she said that they are not required. I can believe that they would ask about money and the return ticket, but the others I find surprising.

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802MARK says on Jun 7, 2008, 20:47:

no visa needed to come to panama. she and you will get 30 days and then if you need more time you can get 60 more by filling out some forms.

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Wilbur says on Jul 8, 2008, 14:25:

My wife is Colombian and to enter Costa Rica with a visa took over an hour of being hassled by Costa Rican immigration.

She has entered Panama numerous times without problem, just showing her passport. Once she was denied entry even through she was just staying one night for connecting flight. They made her sleep in the airport. The mood of the immigration agents is definitely part of the equation! Panama immigration never asked for a yellow fever vaccination certificate.

The Colombian Police reports are little books that you can get stamped once a year saying you are a good boy or girl... so it is probably not that strange that a Colombian would carry one or Panama immigration might ask... its not like in the USA/Canada where getting a police report is not a normal part of daily life (or have things changed a lot since I was there last?)

But, why do you want to go to Costa Rica or Panama? Colombia is a much better place to visit. If for some reason you want to go someplace else, try else where in South America. Colombian's can enter Brazil with just their Colombian Cedula... so you could go to the hassle of getting the visa! When we entered Brazil by car immigration did ask for the yellow fever certificate and examined that and our passports with a magnifying class. Entering by air seemed to be quicker and less hassle... though if you are entering with a US Passport and Visa they will check it over very closely.

You might find that Colombians are welcomed in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and probably the rest of South America... so avoid the hassles with immigration in Central America and have an expanded experience yourself! Argentina and Uruguay won't give you or a Colombian a second look and I think will give you 90 day stamps.

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