This guide covers UK visa requirements for Colombian citizens in 2026 — fees, grant rates, processing times, and how to apply. Colombia is a visa-national country, so Colombians need a visa for every UK trip, including to London; there is no ETA option. The 6-month visitor visa costs $191, paid in US Dollars, with biometrics at VFS Global in Bogotá. The visitor grant rate is a solid 84%, with study, work, and family higher still.
UK Visas from Colombia
UK Visa from Colombia 2026: Fees, Requirements & Success Rate
UK Visa Fees from Colombia 2026
Yes — Colombia is on the UK's visa-national list, so Colombian citizens must obtain a visa before travelling, for any purpose, London included; there is no ETA option. The Standard Visitor visa costs $191 for six months, paid in US Dollars. The Colombian visitor grant rate is a solid 84%, with study at 98%, work at 95%, and family at 92%.
UK visa fees from Colombia are charged in US Dollars and paid during the online application, under the 8 April 2026 schedule. Work, study, and family visas also carry the Immigration Health Surcharge, paid separately in pounds sterling at £1,035 per year, or £776 for students — Health and Care Workers are exempt.
UK Standard Visitor visa fee and other visa fees from Colombia (2026)
| Visa Type | Fee (USD) | Grant Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 6-month Visitor | $191 | 84% |
| 2-year Visitor | $718 | 84% |
| 5-year Visitor | $1,281 | 84% |
| 10-year Visitor | $1,600 | 84% |
| Student | $791 | 98% |
| Skilled Worker (≤3 years) | $1,162 | 95% |
| Skilled Worker (over 3 years) | $2,295 | 95% |
| Health and Care Worker | $459 | 95% |
| Global Talent (with approval) | $291 | — |
| Spouse / Partner | $2,927 | 92% |
| Priority service | $709 | — |
Source: Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 schedule; grant rates year ending June 2026.
UK Visa Requirements for Colombian Citizens 2026
Colombian applicants do well when documentation is thorough and consistent. Financial evidence and ties to Colombia carry the most weight on the visitor route, while sponsored routes turn on the CAS or Certificate of Sponsorship. The core requirements apply across all visa types:
- Valid Colombian passport: with at least 6 months beyond the intended stay.
- Completed online application: via gov.uk with the fee paid in US Dollars.
- Bank statements: the last 6 months, showing steady income rather than sudden deposits.
- Employment evidence: a letter confirming role, salary, and approved leave.
- Accommodation details: bookings or a UK host's invitation letter.
- Ties to Colombia: property, business, or family showing return intent.
- Travel itinerary: including a return flight reservation.
Our supporting documents checklist covers each route in detail, and the Home Office's own guide to supporting documents sets out what caseworkers expect to see.
UK Tourist Visa from Colombia 2026
The Standard Visitor visa costs $191, allows stays of up to 180 days per visit, and covers tourism — London included — family visits, business, and short courses, with long-term options at $718, $1,281, and $1,600 for 2, 5, or 10 years.
With an 84% grant rate, Colombian applicants do well when they evidence steady finances and reasons to return. Those visiting relatives should review what a UK sponsor must provide, frequent travellers can consider a long-term visit visa, and anyone refused can check our guides to refusal reasons and grant rates by nationality.
Which Long-Term Visitor Visa Makes Sense?
The long-term options only pay off with regular travel: against the $191 single fee, the 2-year visa at $718 breaks even at around four trips and the 5-year at $1,281 at around seven. There is a second advantage — one successful, well-documented application covers years of visits instead of re-running the process each time from Bogotá.
Why Around One in Six Applications Fails
The 16% of Colombian visitor applications refused usually share the same faults: financial evidence that does not match the declared income, unexplained deposits shortly before applying, or weak evidence of ties to Colombia — rather than any problem with the trip itself. Six months of consistent statements, an employer letter with approved leave, and clear evidence of property, business, or family at home address the common failure points.
UK Student Visa from Colombia 2026
The UK is a popular destination for Colombian students, and the UK Student visa reflects that with a 98% grant rate. It costs $791 plus the health surcharge at £776 per year, and needs a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), the English language requirement, and maintenance funds of £1,529 per month for London or £1,171 elsewhere. Graduates can then use the Graduate Route for two years of post-study work.
UK Work Visa from Colombia 2026
The Skilled Worker visa costs $1,162 for up to three years, or $2,295 for longer, and needs a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed employer, a graduate-level job, and a salary of at least £41,700 or the going rate in the Home Office eligible occupations list. The Colombian work grant rate is very high at 95%. Healthcare professionals use the Health and Care Worker route at $459, which is exempt from the health surcharge.
UK Spouse & Family Visa from Colombia 2026
The UK Spouse visa costs $2,927 and lets Colombians join a British or settled partner under Appendix FM, leading to settlement after five years. The sponsor must earn at least £29,000 a year and the couple must prove a genuine relationship. The initial visa runs 33 months and is extendable; the Colombian family grant rate is 92%, with settlement cases taking up to 12 weeks, or about 6 with priority service. Couples not yet married can use the fiancé(e) route to marry in the UK and switch into the Spouse visa.
UK Visa Success Rate for Colombia 2026
Colombia is one of the larger Latin American sources of UK visa applications, with nearly 27,000 visitor applications in the year ending June 2026, and the grant rates are reassuring across the board — a well-prepared application has a strong chance of success on every route.
UK visa grant rates for Colombia (year ending June 2026)
| Visa Category | Applications | Grant Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor | 26,956 | 84% |
| Study | 609 | 98% |
| Work | 464 | 95% |
| Family | 261 | 92% |
Source: Home Office Immigration System Statistics, year ending June 2026.
How to Apply for a UK Visa from Colombia
Colombians apply online at gov.uk, pay in US Dollars, and give biometrics at a VFS Global centre in Bogotá. The process is the same one used across the Americas, including the United States and Canada, although those countries are visa-exempt and use the ETA for visits.
- Complete the online application on gov.uk and select Colombia.
- Pay the visa fee in US Dollars during the application.
- Book your appointment at the VFS Global centre in Bogotá.
- Attend and give biometrics — fingerprints and a photograph.
- Submit supporting documents at the centre or online.
- Access your eVisa through your UKVI account once approved.
UK Visa Processing Time from Colombia
Standard decisions take around 3 weeks from biometrics for visitor, student, and work visas, and up to 12 weeks for settlement and family cases; the priority visa service can shorten non-settlement decisions where offered. Our guide to processing times after biometrics explains the timelines once you have attended your appointment in Bogotá.
Sources: fees from the Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 schedule, as charged in US Dollars at visa-fees.homeoffice.gov.uk; grant rates and application volumes from the Home Office Immigration System Statistics, year ending June 2026. Figures verified 29 August 2026 against the 8 April 2026 fee schedule.
Frequently Asked
Questions about UK Visas from Colombia
Yes. Colombia is on the UK's visa-national list, so Colombian passport holders must obtain a visa before travelling, whatever the purpose of the trip — there is no ETA option. The most common choice for short visits is the Standard Visitor visa, costing $191 for six months. The Colombian visitor grant rate is a solid 84%, with study, work, and family routes all above 92%.
Yes. London is not a separate case — a UK visitor visa covers the whole of the United Kingdom, and Colombian citizens need one for any visit, however short. The 6-month Standard Visitor visa at $191 covers London along with Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland on the same grant. Unlike Americans or Canadians, Colombians cannot use the £20 ETA — the visa is the only route.
The official fee under the 8 April 2026 schedule is $191 for the 6-month visa, as charged in US Dollars through the Home Office fee calculator. Long-term visit visas cost $718 for 2 years, $1,281 for 5 years, and $1,600 for 10 years, each still limiting individual visits to 180 days. The visitor visa carries no health surcharge — that applies only to visas over six months.
UK visa fees from Colombia in 2026 are: 6-month Visitor $191, 2-year Visitor $718, Student $791, Skilled Worker $1,162 for up to 3 years, and Spouse $2,927. Fees are paid in US Dollars during the online application. Work, study, and family visas also require the Immigration Health Surcharge, paid separately in pounds at £1,035 per year, or £776 for students.
In the year ending June 2026, the Colombian visitor visa grant rate was 84% — of 27,125 decisions, 22,840 were granted. Other routes performed even better: study 98%, work 95%, and family 92%. These are reassuring figures for a high-volume Latin American market, and they reflect that well-documented Colombian applications, with clear finances and ties to home, succeed at strong rates.
La visa de visitante de 6 meses cuesta $191 dólares; las de larga duración, $718 (2 años), $1,281 (5 años) y $1,600 (10 años). La visa de estudiante cuesta $791, la de trabajo Skilled Worker $1,162 (hasta 3 años) y la de cónyuge $2,927. Las tarifas se pagan en dólares durante la solicitud en línea, y la biometría se toma en el centro VFS Global de Bogotá. El 84% de las visas de visitante se aprueban.
Colombian applicants apply online at gov.uk, pay the fee in US Dollars, and then book a biometrics appointment at the VFS Global centre in Bogotá. At the appointment you give fingerprints and a photograph and submit supporting documents. Many routes now also allow document upload online. Once a decision is made, successful applicants access a digital eVisa through their UKVI account rather than receiving a passport sticker.
Standard processing from Colombia is around 3 weeks for visitor, student, and work visas, and up to 12 weeks for settlement and family visas. The priority service returns a decision in about 5 working days for non-settlement visas where offered, and super priority the next working day. These timelines run from your biometrics appointment in Bogotá, not from the online submission, so book promptly.
Yes, and both routes succeed at high rates. The Student visa costs $791 and has a 98% Colombian grant rate, requiring a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies from a licensed institution. The Skilled Worker visa costs $1,162, has a 95% grant rate, and needs a sponsored graduate-level job paying at least £41,700. Graduates can stay on through the Graduate Route for two years of post-study work.