Colombia and Israel Restore Visa-Free Entry for Short Stays on Sept. 1

Colombia and Israel are set to reinstate mutual visa-free travel for short-term visitors on Sept. 1, 2026, reversing reciprocal entry restrictions that had been in place since July 2025.

The change removes the consular visa requirement both countries imposed on each other last year. Under the renewed arrangement, Israeli passport holders will no longer need to secure a visitor visa before boarding flights to Colombia for tourism, business, academic, or cultural purposes, according to Israeli foreign ministry officials cited in the report.

What changed

Between July 2025 and August 2026, Israeli travelers needed an approved visitor visa to enter Colombia, effectively cutting off visa-free access. From Sept. 1, that requirement is lifted for short stays.

The waiver applies strictly from that date. Israeli nomads arriving in Colombia before Sept. 1 must still hold an approved visitor visa, so anyone with earlier travel booked should keep their existing filings active rather than assume early exemptions.

Travel in the other direction also improves: Colombian nationals will regain short-stay entry to Israel for up to 90 days. However, they still need an approved ETA-IL electronic travel authorization before departure. It costs roughly 25 NIS (about $7) and stays valid for up to two years.

What it means for nomads

For Israeli remote workers, Colombia becomes far easier to reach again \u2014 no prior consular filings for short visits. Standard border screening still applies, meaning you'll need a valid passport and proof of onward travel on arrival.

One open question remains around length of stay. Before the restrictions, Israeli visitors could stay up to 180 days per 365-day cycle. Colombia's foreign ministry has not yet published administrative circulars confirming whether that full allowance returns immediately. Border officials may initially issue standard 90-day tourism stamps until secondary decrees take effect.

If you're planning an extended stay, check your port-of-entry stamp carefully and confirm the exact number of days granted. Don't assume the full 180-day window is available until Colombia formally reinstates it. As always with newly restored travel arrangements, verifying the latest rules with official sources before booking is the safest approach.

Originally reported by Stamped Nomad.