Colombia: Authorities to tighten certain COVID-19 travel restrictions April 7; other measures remain unchanged /update 29

Event

Authorities in Colombia have issued orders tightening certain COVID-19-related international entry restrictions. Effective April 7, nonresident foreign nationals will no longer be allowed to board planes bound for Colombia without being in possession of a negative result from a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken no more than 96 hours before departure. Under the new directive, the nation's existing requirement for a negative test will still apply to all incoming international passengers, including Colombian citizens; however, only Colombian citizens, residents, and their families, as well as diplomats, will be allowed to board flights without the test result and subsequently either take a PCR test upon arrival in the airport and self-quarantine until they obtain the results, or self-quarantine for 14 days.

All travelers will still need to complete the "Check-Mig" online form between 24 hours and one hour before departure and must comply with regulations associated with contact tracing upon arrival. Travelers with COVID-19 symptoms will not be allowed to enter the country.

Otherwise, international travel controls remain largely unchanged. Approved international commercial passenger flights are continuing at Colombia's main airports, including from Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Curacao, Panama, and the US. International flights with the UK remain restricted due to the spread of a variant strain of COVID-19 in that country; it is unclear when this restriction will be lifted. Only Colombian citizens, residents, and other authorized travelers who have been in or traveled to the UK within 14 days before arrival are permitted entry subject to a 14-day mandatory quarantine. Flights between Colombia and Brazil also remain suspended. Colombia's land and river borders remain closed, except for cargo and humanitarian aid, until at least June 1.

Domestic Measures
Colombia's domestic COVID-19-related controls also remain largely unchanged, with health emergency measures slated to stay in place through at least May 31. Private and public mass gatherings are prohibited, and mass and high-contact events and venues, such as nightclubs, must remain closed. Individuals must continue to wear facemasks in public spaces and adhere to physical distancing and sanitization protocols. The consumption of alcohol outside of private households is mostly banned; however, officials allow restaurants to serve alcohol. Mayors may also seek special approval for the local sale of alcohol at bars and similar establishments.

Authorities in cities, municipalities, and departments remain empowered to enforce stricter business and movement restrictions, depending on local disease activity. These could take the form of curfews, hard lockdowns, restrictions on business operating hours and capacity limits, and movement restrictions based on ID and license plate numbers.

In Bogota, a nightly 00:01-05:00 curfew will be in place through at least April 5. Most businesses are allowed to operate, as long as they enforce social distancing measures and the use of facemasks within their establishments. In the the city of Medellin, a nightly 00:01-05:00 curfew will also be in place through April 5. In the cities of Barranquilla and Cali, the nightly curfew hours are 22:00-05:00 until April 5.

Authorities could further tighten, reimpose, extend, ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Reconsider and reconfirm nonemergency health appointments.