We know that finally obtaining the cedula issued by Migración Colombia is one of the most desired moments by the expat community. Therefore, we are aware that now that the appointments for the Cédula de Extranjería are assigned weekly, on Sundays starting at 5 pm, it is undoubtedly a decision that slows down the scheduling process.
What is happening in Migración Colombia with the scheduling appointments for Cédula de Extranjería?
In many of the Centros Facilitadores de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM), that is, the Immigration offices around the country, and for different procedures, especially for the visa registration process and the Cédula de Extranjería application, Migración Colombia’s website enables scheduling appointments only on Sundays from 5 p.m. onwards.
Suppose you enter another day of the week, especially when looking for an appointment in Medellin and Bogota. In that case, the system shows all empty dates when you try to schedule appointments for Cédula de Extranjería, as you can see in the image attached for reference.
At expatgroup.co, we receive frequent queries and complaints from foreigners who seek our help because they have not completed their immigration procedures. In most cases, it is because they definitely do not find available appointments, or some foreigners have managed to make their schedules but have subsequently received notifications of arbitrary cancellations from Migration Colombia, thus losing time and money and causing inconvenience to users.
On the other hand, the fact that there are no appointments for Cédula de Extranjería affects the proper development of the required procedure. It generates concern among the expat community due to the possible non-compliance presented and their respective future consequences.
What is the proper and usual procedure to get Cédula de Extranjería?
Let us first remember that there is a time limit to request the Cédula de Extranjería through the Migración Colombia office. The government grants a maximum of 15 calendar days, counted from the visa issued when the foreigner is in Colombia, or 15 days, calculated from the date of entry into the country if the foreigner is outside Colombia when getting the visa.
Foreigners, after receiving their electronic visa from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, within this period of 15 days, must carry out the mandatory procedure established by the Colombian government:
Step 1: Go to Migración Colombia to register the visa and request the Cédula de Extranjería
Step 2: Claim the Cédula de Extranjería once it is ready for delivery
Step 3: Start enjoying the benefits of having a Cédula de Extranjería in Colombia
In our blog ‘Cédula de Extranjería: Step by Step guide,’ we explain in detail each of the actions that the foreigner must carry out to fully comply with this procedure, the initial step being to schedule an appointment for Cédula de Extranjería through the Migration website in the AGENDA section.
If there are no appointments at Migración Colombia, how can I obtain my Cédula de Extranjería?
We understand that this situation can be burdensome and confusing for many foreigners, especially in the final stretch to obtain the Cédula de Extranjería, when they are most anxious to have it and whose time should be very calm and without setbacks that disturb the times established by Migración Colombia and by each client in particular.
However, it is essential to clarify that registering a visa and getting Cédula de Extranjería is the exclusive power of Migración Colombia. Therefore, it is necessary to be flexible when navigating these immigration and bureaucratic procedures.
In this case, to provide alternatives to the decision to schedule weekly appointments only on Sundays after 5 p.m., from expatgroup.co, we are advising our customers to be patient with the scheduling of their appointment and enter the Migration Colombia platform as indicated in the guidelines to increase the chances of scheduling the appointment, being aware of the high flow of visits to the website at that time and what this may cause.
It is essential to mention that Migración Colombia made it clear that as long as there is evidence that it has not been possible to schedule the appointment, the case is understood as one of force majeure and they must continue trying to assign the appointment, even though the 15-day maximum period has passed.
"Attending the appointment late, beyond the 15-day deadline, does not affect the validity of the visa."
Below, we share some essential recommendations:
Documents
Verify that you have all the documents for the procedure:Original passport, printed visa, copy of the main passport page and FUT form (Formulario Único de Trámites).
Payment method
The Cédula de Extranjería regular cost is $267,000 COP (approximately 65 USD). It is advisable to pay with a debit or credit card.
Disposition and Flexibility
Be cordial from the Immigration entrance. Come with enough time available and maintain a good attitude throughout the process.
If you carried out your visa process with expatgroup.co, contact your advisor to send you the required documents and advise you to complete this procedure step by step.
Where should I go to complete the Cédula de Extranjería process without an appointment?
Unfortunately, due to the new way of assigning appointments for the Cédula de Extranjería, we recommend our clients not to approach any Centros Facilitadores de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) without an assigned appointment since they will not be attended. If you go to any point in Migración Colombia, it will be only and solely on your account and under your responsibility if it is not attended to.
Whether you have a previously scheduled or without an appointment for Cédula de Extranjería, we share below the location, telephone numbers, and hours of the different Colombian Migration offices in charge of carrying out this procedure nationwide.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) LETICIA
Address: Calle 9 # 9-62 | Centro Neighborhood / Leticia – Amazonas
Phone number: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 02:00 pm to 06:00 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) – BOGOTÁ
Address: Calle 100 # 11B-27 / Bogotá – Cundinamarca
Phone number: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 07:30 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 04:30 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) – IBAGUÉ
Address: Calle 10 # 8-07 / Ibagué – Tolima
Phone number: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) TUNJA
Address: Transversal 9A # 29-29 | Maldonado Neighborhood / Tunja – Boyacá
Phone number: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) NEIVA
Address: Calle 8 # 7-70 | Centro / Neiva – Huila
Phone number: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) ZIPAQUIRÁ
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
Zipaquirá – Cundinamarca
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) MEDELLÍN
Address: Calle 19 # 80A – 40 | Belén La Nubia Neighborhood / Medellín – Antioquia
Phone number: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) QUIBDÓ
Address: Calle 25 # 6 – 08 | Pandeyuca Neighborhood / Quibdó – Chocó
Phone number: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) BARRANQUILLA
Address: Carrera 42 # 54-77 / El Recreo Neighborhood / Barranquilla – Atlántico
Phone number: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) SANTA MARTA
Address: Avenida del Ferrocarril Calle 19 # 8-68 | Centro Neighborhood / Santa Marta – Magdalena
Phone number: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) CARTAGENA
Address: Calle 29D # 20-18 | Pie de la Popa Neighborhood / Cartagena, D.T. – Bolívar
Phone number: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) MONTERÍA
Address: Calle 28 # 2-27 | Centro Neighborhood / Montería – Córdoba
Phone number: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) SINCELEJO
Address: Calle 20 # 24 – 05 | Centro Neighborhood / Sincelejo – Sucre
Phone number: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) PEREIRA
Address: Avenida 30 de agosto # 26-37 / Pereira – Risaralda
Phone number: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) MANIZALES
Address: Calle 53 # 25A-35 | La Arboleda Neighborhood / Manizales – Caldas
Phone number: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) ARMENIA
Address: Carrera 12 # 19-00 Local 18 | Altavista Mall / Armenia – Quindío
Phone number: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) RIOHACHA
Address: Calle 5 # 4-48 | Centro Neighborhood / Rioacha – Guajira
PBX: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) VALLEDUPAR
Address: Carrera 15 # 13B Bis -35 | Alfonso Lopez Neighborhood
PBX: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) MAICAO
Address: Calle 16 # 3-28
PBX: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) PASTO
Address: Calle 17 # 29-70 / Pasto – Nariño
Phone number: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 PCM – MULTIMODAL – AÉREO – MARÍTIMO – Tumaco
Address: Diagonal 5 # 3-74 / Tumaco – Nariño (Sur del Litoral Pacífico)
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 02:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 PCM – TERRESTRE – Rumichaca
Address: Puente Internacional Rumichaca – Edificio CENAF / Ipiales – Nariño
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 02:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) CALI
Address: Avenida 3A norte # 50N-20 | La Flora Neighborhood / Cali – Valle del Cauca
Phone number: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) POPAYÁN
Address: Calle 4 norte # 10B-66 | Modelo Neighborhood / Popayán – Cauca
Phone number: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) CÚCUTA
Address: Calle 22N # 8-47, Zona Industrial / Cúcuta – Norte de Santander
Phone number: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) BUCARAMANGA
Address: Carrera 11 # 41-13 Centro / Bucaramanga – Santander
Phone number: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) VILLAVICENCIO
Address: Calle 37 # 32-37 | Centro Neighborhood / Villavicencio – Meta
Phone number: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) ARAUCA
Address: Carrera 21 # 17-73 | La Esperanza Neighborhood / Arauca
Phone number: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) YOPAL
Address: Calle 7 # 19-35 | San Martín Neighborhood / Yopal – Casanare
Phone number: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
🏠 Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM) San Andrés
Address: Carrera 10 # 3-92 / Swamp Ground
Phone number: +57 (601) 605 54 54
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 pm to 05:00 pm.
What should I do if they ask me why I go without an appointment for Cédula de Extranjería process?
As experts on the subject, expatgroup recommends not to go to the Migración Colombia offices without an appointment for the Cédula de Extranjería since the officials of the Migración offices will give priority to all the appointments already scheduled without the opportunity to consider your case. Therefore, it is essential that you, as a foreigner, know the procedures and know how to explain the reasons why you need help in order to give the best possible handling of the situation. Some of the arguments you can use are the following:
I require the Cédula de Extranjería to carry out legal procedures
I do not want to exceed the limit of 15 days established by Migración Colombia
I have travel plans and and I need to register my visa and request my Cédula de Extranjería before leaving the country
For no reason, lose control or demand immediate help. Be patient.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cédula de Extranjería
Yes. You can go to the Migración Colombia office or Centro Facilitador de Servicios Migratorios (CFSM), without an appointment. However, it is not possible to guarantee that you receive the attention you require and that your procedure can be carried out satisfactorily.
Migración Colombia at any time, may reserve the right to provide or not provide the required attention. This may depend on various external or internal factors of the Entity, such as: The people pending to receive care, the prioritization of internal activities, last minute changes in service hours, failures in the system, unforeseen events, among others. Additionally, consider that a bad attitude or the use of inappropriate expressions against Immigration personnel can also be a cause for denial of service.
Migración Colombia continues to provide its services during the end-of-the-year season. However, the Entity may have special hours and close earlier than usual, so we recommend going to Immigration in the morning. In addition, we remember that there is no service on holidays; for example, December 25 and January 1 are days in which the Entity remains closed to the public.
It is advisable to go to Migración Colombia, even without an appointment, to explain your situation and try to complete the Cédula de Extranjería application process. If you cannot complete the procedure and still must leave the country, we recommend keeping records of your visit to Immigration or your attempts to complete the procedure. If you have already requested the Cédula de Extranjería and are waiting for delivery, don’t worry; You can leave the country and claim the card when you return to Colombia.
If, after 15 days, the visa registration and the application for the Cédula de Extranjería are not carried out, this constitutes a migration irregularity that may entail administrative and economic sanctions for the foreigner by Migración Colombia. However, when this situation arises for reasons beyond the control of the foreigner, as in this case, there are no appointments available, usually, the Entity is the one who assumes the responsibility so as not to affect the foreigner negatively. Remember that the above could be subject to the Discretionary Faculty of Migración Colombia if the foreigner demonstrates their willingness to contribute to the solution and completion of due process within the indicated terms.
Yes, it is possible. The only thing to remember is to select the same city when filling out the FUT form. Additionally, they must return to the same city at least 10 days before to claim the physical document of the cédula. Depending on your availability, you will have a maximum 6 months to claim the cédula.
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