San Andrés tourist card 2026: price, requirements and documents

What the San Andrés tourist card is

It’s an entry tax paid by all non-resident visitors, Colombian or foreign, to enter the archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina. Without it you won’t be allowed onto the island.

It’s part of the archipelago’s population control, where residence is regulated by its own body, OCCRE. The money raised is split like this: 75% goes to social projects for the resident community and 25% to tourism development and infrastructure.

How much the tourist card costs in 2026

In 2026 the tourist card costs 153,000 Colombian pesos per person. The amount was set by the Gobernación del Archipiélago (the regional government) in Decree 0010 of 8 January 2026, based on the 2026 UVT (Colombia’s tax value unit). In 2025 it cost 146,000 pesos. For reference, Wikivoyage put it at about 41 US dollars in February 2026.

If you see other figures online, be wary of any that don’t cite the decree: the price changes from year to year and some pages publish amounts with no source.

Who doesn’t pay the tourist card

Not everyone pays it. The following are exempt:

• Children under 7.
• People born in San Andrés.
• Residents and Raizal people with a valid OCCRE card.
• According to the UK Government, you don’t need it either if you stay on the island for less than 24 hours. If that applies to you, check with the airline.

Where and how to buy it

You can buy it on the Gobernación de San Andrés website, at airline desks before boarding and from authorised travel agencies. It’s also sold at the airport on the day of the flight, in the departure area; ProColombia says you pay in cash there. Our advice: get it sorted before you reach the gate, so you’re not in a rush.

The same card is valid for Providencia and Santa Catalina, whether you arrive by plane or by boat, so you don’t need to pay for another one. Keep it until you leave the island. When you buy it you’ll be asked for these details, so have them to hand:

• Full name, date of birth, nationality and document number.
• Address and purpose of the trip.
• Arrival and departure dates.
• Airline, flight number and booking reference.
• Accommodation on the island.

Check-MIG: the Migración Colombia registration

Check-MIG is an online form from Migración Colombia for registering your entry into the country (and your exit). Fill it in free of charge on the official Migración Colombia website between 72 hours and 1 hour before your flight; some airlines ask for it at boarding.

European governments don’t describe it in the same way: France presents it as compulsory, the UK as optional but useful for speeding up entry, and Germany says it is done before entering and again before leaving the country. The sensible thing is always to fill it in: it costs nothing and saves you problems at the desk.

Watch out for websites that charge to process it: the form is free. Use only the official page, apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/pre-registro.

Visa and passport for UK travellers

With a UK passport you don’t need a visa for tourist stays in Colombia. According to Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visitors are granted a permit of up to 90 days on entry, which can be extended by applying to Migración Colombia up to a maximum of 180 days a year, and a return ticket is among the requirements. France, Germany and Italy say the same for their citizens: no visa and up to 90 days.

You’ll need a valid passport. The UK Government adds that Colombia recommends it be valid for at least 6 months after your planned departure, and the German Foreign Office reports cases of people being turned away at the border with less time left. Our advice: travel with your passport in good condition and, to be on the safe side, with 6 months’ validity after your return date.

One important detail: if you reported your passport stolen or lost and it then turned up, you must withdraw the report before travelling. Otherwise you may be refused entry.