Negotiations to start soon on abolishing Colombia visa requirement

Georgetown, GINA, August 4, 2016

Discussions for the abolition of the visa required to travel to Colombia are expected to commence shortly as Cabinet has given approval to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to move forward in this direction.

The ending of this visa requirement will see citizens of Guyana and Colombia who are holders of ordinary passports being allowed to travel to these respective countries without a visa at any given time.

This development comes after South American nations have been pushing to have their citizens travel to countries within the continent without presenting a visa at ports of entry.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon at a post Cabinet media briefing today, stated that, “this is in keeping with the ongoing discussion and arrangement within the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) with regards to the free movement of citizens within South America.”

Minister Harmon added that the Government of Guyana expects this reciprocal visa arrangement to facilitate an easier means of travel from Guyana to Colombia, promoting tourism, trade and investment between the two countries.

UNASUR, during its last meeting concentrated on working on a common passport for its 12- member countries that would allow visa-free travel for citizens.