Colombia Check-Mig

What Is Check-Mig?

Check-Mig is Colombia's online pre-registration form, run by the country's immigration agency, Migración Colombia. It lets travelers preload trip details — flight information, purpose of travel, accommodation, and a short questionnaire — before reaching immigration control when entering or leaving the country.

The form was introduced in 2020 as a touchless alternative to the paper immigration cards once handed out on flights. Early versions had a reputation for being glitchy, but a rebuild in late 2023 made the platform considerably more reliable. Health-related questions from the pandemic-era version were removed several years ago and are no longer part of the process.

Is Check-Mig Still Mandatory?

Here's the part that trips up a lot of travelers: Migración Colombia's own portal describes Check-Mig as a free, voluntary service. An official video published in January 2025 states plainly that completing it is no longer an obligation.

So why does it still feel mandatory? Because in practice, it often is. Multiple independent reports, including a July 2026 travel-requirements guide, describe airlines that still ask to see proof of a completed Check-Mig before allowing boarding — and some can deny boarding without it. It seems this policy shift hasn't fully reached every airline or gate agent, so you may still run into staff who treat it as required.

Our honest take: Check-Mig is not legally required by the Colombian government, but it's still the safer, smarter choice. It's free, takes a few minutes, and removes any risk of a difficult conversation at the gate.

Where to Complete Check-Mig

The only official platform is apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/pre-registro (available in English at .../pre-registro/en). You can also reach it through Migración Colombia's main portal at portal.migracioncolombia.gov.co.

Before you enter any details, check that the web address ends in .gov.co. Several unofficial sites use "Check Mig" and "Colombia" in their own domain names to look legitimate, and some are even promoted through airline websites or emails, even though the underlying government service is free.

Is Check-Mig Free?

Yes. Migración Colombia states directly that the Check-Mig service is completely free. There's no official government charge for submitting it. Any fee you encounter is coming from a third-party site, not the Colombian government, so know exactly what you're paying for before you hand over any payment details.

(Note: Canadian citizens pay a separate reciprocal entry fee at the Colombian border. That fee has nothing to do with Check-Mig and shouldn't be confused with it.)

Who Needs to Complete Check-Mig

Every traveler passing through Colombian immigration is covered by this system — Colombian nationals and foreign visitors alike. That includes children, each of whom needs their own individual registration rather than being bundled into a parent's submission.

When to Complete Check-Mig

The 72-Hour Window

You can submit Check-Mig starting 72 hours before travel, up to as little as 1 hour before departure. Given the platform's occasional downtime and delayed confirmation emails, it's worth completing at least 24 hours ahead rather than cutting it close.

If you have a connecting flight, your Check-Mig submission is tied to the leg that actually crosses into or out of Colombia, not your overall origin or final destination.

You Need It for Departure Too

Check-Mig isn't just an arrival formality. You'll need a separate registration when you leave Colombia as well, even if that's weeks after you landed. Many travelers complete it for arrival and forget departure entirely, so build it into your pre-flight routine both ways.

What You Need to Complete the Form

• Passport details
• Flight number (enter only the numeric portion — leave off airline letters and prefixes; if the form rejects your number, try removing a leading or trailing zero)
• Origin and destination city and country
• Accommodation address in Colombia (arrivals only)
• A valid email address for your confirmation

Filling Out the Form: Step by Step

Start Screen: New, Frequent Traveler, or Review

Choose "Do Checkmig" for a first-time or one-off registration, "frequent traveler" if you'd like to save your details for future trips, or "Review Checkmig" to check and re-download a form you've already submitted.

Entry or Exit, and Method of Travel

Select whether you're entering or leaving Colombia, then your mode of transport — commercial air, for most travelers.

Travel Information

Enter your flight number and your arrival or departure city, along with your origin or destination. Dates are limited to the 72-hour window before travel.

Personal Information

Fill in your name, passport number, and reason for travel. You'll also see optional fields for a second first name and second last name — a nod to Colombian naming conventions that you can simply skip if they don't apply to you.

Accommodation Information

For arrivals, provide the address and a contact phone number for where you'll be staying in Colombia. This section is automatically skipped for departures.

The Questionnaire

You'll answer a short set of questions that has changed over time — recent versions ask only about carrying more than US$10,000 in cash. Answer whatever appears on your version of the form as presented.

Accepting Terms and Submitting

Review your information, accept the terms and conditions, and submit.

After You Submit: Your Confirmation

Your confirmation is typically emailed within a few minutes, though the platform has had periods of delayed or missing emails. If yours doesn't show up, you can retrieve it directly from the Check-Mig site using "Review Checkmig" or "Consultar." Download the PDF right away and keep an offline copy — a screenshot works fine — in case you don't have reliable internet at the airport.

Editing a Submitted Form

Once submitted, a Check-Mig registration can't be edited. If you spot a mistake, Migración Colombia's guidance is to complete an entirely new registration rather than try to correct the original.

Other Colombia Entry Requirements

Visa-Free Entry and Exemptions

Citizens of more than 80 countries — including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, most of the European Union, and much of Latin America — can enter Colombia visa-free for tourism stays of up to 90 days, as long as the trip doesn't involve paid work. If your passport isn't on the exemption list, you'll need to apply for a visa through a Colombian consulate in advance. Eligibility is based on your passport's nationality, not where you currently live.

Length of Stay and Extensions

Immigration officers typically grant entry for up to 90 days, at their discretion, based on your stated purpose of travel. If you need more time, a single extension of up to 90 additional days (180 days maximum per calendar year) can be requested online through Migración Colombia, usually processed within about three business days. A fee applies and changes periodically, so confirm the current amount on the official portal before paying.

Yellow Fever Vaccination

Requirements were strengthened in March 2026 for travelers whose itinerary includes designated high-risk municipalities, as defined by Colombia's Ministry of Health. If your trip extends beyond major cities, check current official guidance and plan to be vaccinated at least 10 days before travel to allow immunity to build.

Frequently Asked Questions