From November 1, 2023, Canadian visitors will need to pay an entrance fee when they enter Colombia.

• The fee is 256,000 Colombian pesos. This is about $85 in Canadian dollars depending on the exchange rate.
• You can only pay this fee when you arrive in Colombia.
• Paying is possible at all Migración Colombia entry points at airports, in ports and along the border.
• You can pay with a credit or debit card.
• If you don't pay this fee, you won't be allowed to enter Colombia.

You don't have to pay the entry fee if you fall into any of these categories:

• You visiting the Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa Catalina.
• You're younger than 14 or older than 79.
• You've a valid Colombian visa.
• You work for the government as a diplomat or consular staff or are a family member of such a person.
• You're part of an international transport crew.

Sabaneta is looking forward to exciting developments with the upcoming construction of the Arena Primavera event and show complex. This project, situated next to the Mayorca shopping center, marks the spearhead of a broader urban transformation initiative. The current industrial warehouse-dominated area will be revitalized into an entertainment district spanning 14 hectares. This transformation will encompass housing for middle and upper strata, health and technology services, all complemented by ample public spaces and greenery.

The Arena is expected to drive vibrant activity in the form of restaurants and accommodations. Mayor Santiago Montoya reveals that a five-star hotel has already expressed interest. The ambitious plan involves shifting Sabaneta's identity from a "dormitory city" to an entertainment hub, necessitating a change in residents' mindset and educational programs to prepare professionals for the entertainment and services sector.

Montoya emphasizes the cultural sector's role in comprehensive municipal development, citing the Arena Primavera as a key component. The estimated economic impact of the arena is substantial, contributing approximately 300,000 million pesos annually to the gross domestic product. Ticket taxes are expected to generate 10,000 to 15,000 million pesos for cultural promotion in the municipality.

Montoya envisions that future administrations can utilize these funds to support national and international tours to promote local artists. The project's focal point is the Arena Primavera, with plans to lay the first stone in the first half of 2024 and complete construction by 2026, assuming adherence to the schedule.

The estimated investment of 200,000 million pesos comes from the CLK business group, consisting of five companies: Tuboleta, Movistar Arena, TBL Live, Venues Snacks, and Thunder Production. CLK is confident in Antioquia's potential as a cultural reference, aiming to position the department as a world leader in the arena circuit.

Strategic partnerships with Proantioquia, Comfama, and government ministries are in place to enhance social projection and provide cultural and educational expertise. Discussions are underway for a potential sponsor to give the complex its name.

The project involves a unique business scheme, akin to Public-Private Partnerships, where individuals fund and build the arena, exploiting it for three decades before returning it to the landowners (Special Assets Society) without compensation. The Arena Primavera, with a capacity for 16,000 people, is expected to host an average of 75 shows per year, creating nearly 1,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Designed by HOK, the arena promises to be the most modern in Latin America, with versatile applications such as hosting tennis matches, concerts, congresses, fairs, and family events. The environmentally conscious design aims for carbon neutrality by maximizing natural wind and light usage.

The 55,000-square-meter Arena Primavera will showcase the region's architectural aesthetics with a reddish hue reminiscent of the Aburrá Valley's buildings, guayacanes' vibrant colors, and the silletera tradition. A pedestrian ring with saddle-shaped panels and a rooftop terrace with 14 restaurants will complement the structure. With only 450 parking spaces, the focus is on encouraging public transportation use, and plans for a pedestrian bridge to improve access to the Metro are underway, aiming to reduce travel time from eight to three minutes.

A digital driver's license from Colombia is considered equivalent to a physical driver's license. Colombian traffic officers must accept your digital license in place of a physical one.

Requirements to obtain a digital driver's license

• You have a physical driver's license.
• You have a digital cédula (ID-card).

Steps to obtain a digital driver's license

1. Enter the page https://carpetaciudadana.and.gov.co/ and log in or register first (if applicable).
2. Enter the "Mis Categorías“ section.
3. Click on the option “Licencia de Conducción Digital".
4. Download the digital driver's license.

Costs

The digital driver's license is free to obtain.

All passengers who fly to or from Colombia must be able to show a Check-Mig form to their airlines during check-in or boarding.

Steps to apply for your Check-Mig form:

1. Go to the Migración Colombia website: https://www.migracioncolombia.gov.co/.
2. Select the ‘Check-Mig’ button.
3. Fill in the requested information.
4. Take a screenshot or download the PDF document.

You can apply for Check-Mig form from 72 hours to one hour before your flight.

One of the advantages of Colombian citizenship is that it's easier to travel to Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru. It's also easier to obtain residency in these countries. Together with Colombia, these countries form the Andean Community (abbreviated as CAN in Spanish).

In 2021 these countries signed an agreement that grants citizens from these countries the right to reside, work and move freely throughout these four countries. This agreement went into effect on August 11, 2021, and is also known as 'decision 878'. It forms the core of the Andean Immigration Statute as promoted by the Andean Community. You can find a link to the agreement in the last paragraph of this article.

Free movement

As a Colombian citizen, you can enter Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru as a tourist for 90 days by only presenting a valid Colombian cédula. In other words, you don't need to show a passport. You can extend these 90 days by another 90 days.

Temporary residency

If you want to reside in Bolivia, Ecuador or Peru, you can apply for temporary residency at a consulate of that country or directly in that country itself, regardless of your migratory status.

The duration of temporary residency is two years and is extendable for another two years.

Temporary residency gives you the same rights to carry out activities as nationals of that country have.

The requirements to obtain temporary residency are:

• a formal application
• a travel document that is still valid for six months
• a current criminal record certificate
• proof of legit income that is sufficient to live in the other country
• having paid the corresponding administrative fees

Permanent residency

You can apply for permanent residency 90 days before the expiration of your temporary residency. The duration of the permanent residency is indefinite.

Text of the agreement

Here you can read the agreement between Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru that grants the rights mentioned above: Decisión N° 878 Estatuto Migratorio Andino (pdf).

Ísimo, a new hard discount retail chain, is set to open over 420 stores in Colombia, posing competition to existing chains such as Ara and D1. The expansion plan will begin in the Atlantic coast departments and then move to other regions in the east of the country, such as Santander and Norte Santander, with the aim of covering most of the main regions in Colombia. The company plans to hire over 2,350 people in the first half of 2023.

Initially, Ísimo will offer approximately 750 national and international products, including its own brands. The company aims to differentiate itself by offering a pharmacy and a selection of perishable products to guarantee freshness.