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COLOMBIA – Restrictions for Assignees on Home Contract Applying for TP-4 Work Visas; Online Registration; Ebola Survey

Local Contract Now Required

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia has announced that it will strictly enforce a rule requiring TP-4 Visa applicants to hold a legal employment contract or a duly signed and valid service contract with the sponsoring company in Colombia.

This requirement ensures compliance with Article 7 in Decree 834, 2013.

What Does This Mean for Employers and Assignees?

In order to meet all TP-4 Visa sponsorship requirements, all sponsoring entities in Colombia must sign a fixed, indefinite-term employment contract or a service contract with the assignee. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will reject any application which does not demonstrate that a suitable local contract is in place.

Therefore a home contract is no longer accepted in support of a TP-4 visa application. Note that this does not mean that an applicant cannot retain their home company contract; however, he or she must also hold an employment contract or a contract for services with the Colombian entity.

Online Visa Registration

Migration Colombia has announced that it will be possible for a foreign national to register a visa online, at the Migration Colombia website, within fifteen calendar days of entry to Colombia or of visa issuance.

However, registration in person may still be required, as the online system is still being implemented.

Ebola Virus Travel Checks

Effective 22 August 2014, all visa applicants to Colombia must complete a questionnaire which asks detailed questions about recent travel in Ebola affected countries, including Nigeria.

Action Items

  • Ensure that any assignee intending to work in Colombia while on home company contract also has a signed employment contract or services contract with the sponsoring company in Colombia.
  • Note that a home company contract is no longer accepted in support of the TP-4 visa application.
  • Note that anyone who has recently travelled in an Ebola affected country may be refused a Colombian visa.

This news alert was prepared using information provided by Godoy Cordoba Abogados and Brigard & Urrutia Abogados.

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this immigration alert has been abridged from laws, court decisions, and administrative rulings and should not be construed or relied upon as legal advice. If you have specific questions regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Peregrine © 2017 Peregrine Immigration Management Ltd.