Improve income level It is one of the main reasons why Colombians decide to emigrate to other countries, and it is prevalent to study one of the reasons why Colombians migrate.
It is for this reason that an LR survey was carried out to find out which country Colombians visit the most to improve their lives.
USA the most sought-after visa
The Colombian immigration market moves millions of dollars a year, and the country that leads this destination is the United States, especially cities such as Miami, Orlando, Houston and New York. According to the latest official figures from the US Department of State, in 2024 the country issued 473,250 Colombian citizenship visas, of which 72.24% represent the B1/B2 visa for tourism and business, that is, more than seven out of every ten US non-immigrant visas issued to Colombians were for this category, having a value of US$185.
Margarita MartinezInternational Relations of the Saint Bonaventure Universityexplains that “behind tourism there are other visas of lower volume but high economic impact, such as exchange visas, which represented about 2.8% of the approvals, academic visas 0.9%, labor visas 0.5% and for investors less than 0.2%.
However, the job categories (H, L, O, P and R visas) cost US$205 and investment visas reached approximately US$315. “In an E-2, an investment of US$100,000 or more is normally recommended, while in the EB-5 the minimum investment is currently around US$800,000,” he mentioned. Carlos Olarteimmigration lawyer. The US$185 student visa may include an additional increase for the Sevis, Student and Exchange Visitor Program; respectively, they are: F-1, F-2 and J-1, J-2.
The experts clarified that paying this fee does not ensure entry to the country. According to official sources from the DOS, the rejection rate for the B1/B2 visa of the American country was 27.76% during 2024, marking an increase compared to the 16.8% registered in 2021, during the pandemic.
Canada, second most visited
In Canada the visitor visa costs CAD$100 (US$72). However, the individual biometric amount of CAD$85 (US$61) must be added, which ends up being US$134.CAD$235 (US$170); For those looking to settle in the medium term, the student permit costs CAD$235 (US$170) and, for the work permit, CAD$240 (US$174).
Despite these attractive costs, the scenario will soon change ircc, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of Canadareported that, as of March 31, 2026, there were 431,160 people with only a study permit and 1.51 million with only a work permit in Canada.
In addition, the country set a goal for 2026 of 155,000 new international students, 49% less than the previous year’s goal, and 230,000 temporary workers (a reduction of 37%) within a policy to reduce temporary residents. “This can make access to study and work permits more competitive,” he said. Martinezof the University of the Sabana.
Most expensive: UK and Australia
The procedure in the United Kingdom requires a payment of £558 (US$749) for the student visa, added to the costly immigration health surcharge of £776 (US$1,042) for each year of stay.
Oceania raises the financial bar even further, as Australia charges from AUD$2,000 (US$1,433) for its student visa, ranking as one of the highest fees.
The UK and Australia remain relevant destinations for international education, but with higher entry costs. “In those markets, the decision no longer depends only on the university, but on the total cost: visa, health, support, proof of subsequent work permit and type of program,” he said. Martinez.
Spain attractive by language
Continental Europe has a different characteristic. For short trips to the Schengen area, which is a free movement area made up of 29 European countries (including Spain, France, Germany and Italy), Colombians do not need a visa, but when it comes into operation in the third quarter of 2026, Etias, European Travel Information and Authorization Systemthey must process an electronic authorization.
The European Union reported that this permit will cost €20 (US$23). The Etias digital permit does not represent a visa, but it is a new travel requirement.
Spain retains its attraction due to its language, academic offerings and cultural proximity. For Colombian students, there is also a specific incentive: the national study visa is exempt from the consular fee for Colombians who are interested in Spain.
Tourism and business visas will continue to dominate the market, consolidating the US as the recipient of more than 70% of approvals.
Documents and errors during the process
It depends on each visa; For tourist visas, most consuls are not asking for documents, they do so at their discretion in the interview, where the important thing is to demonstrate the purpose of the trip and establish your proximity to your country. “For F1 student visas, you must bring the I-20 form, payment of the Sevis and proof of resource to pay for your studies. Inconsistencies in the DS-160 form, the lack of clear financial support and not demonstrating solid ties with Colombia are the most frequent causes of delays or refusals,” he assured. Carlos Olarte.
