After the controversial decision of the United Kingdom to reestablish the visa requirement for the entry of Colombian citizens to British territory, the President Gustavo Petro He revealed his intention to do the same with the citizens of that nation for their entry into the country.
“If the United Kingdom has reestablished the need for visas for the Colombian people, I have to say that due to the principle of reciprocity, the Colombian government will ask for visas from British citizens who want to come to Colombia.“, revealed the head of state in X.
It is worth mentioning that this measure taken by the British Government also protected other countries, such as Honduras, El Salvador and Jordanamong others, for reasons of its internal immigration policy due to the irregular increase in foreign visitors.
(You can read: Cost, application date and other details of the visa to travel to the United Kingdom).
Colombia and the United Kingdom
iStock
The Colombian embassy in London has also explained the reasons why Colombia entered this list, which is that is due to the increase in false asylum applications by Colombians.
“A minority of compatriots, as we have warned for months, abused the ease of traveling without a visa and has harmed the majority with the irregular practice of requesting false asylums, with false documentation that has triggered thousands of applications for those asylums.“said the Colombian ambassador to the United Kingdom, Roy Barreras.
What are the criteria that the country has to request a visa?
The process for Colombia to decide to require visas from citizens of other countries is based on resolutions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairslike the Constitution of 1991, and Resolution 6046 of 2017; and Resolutions 5488 of 2022; and 3717 of 2023which define the nationalities to which short-visit visa requirements apply or are exempt.
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“It is the discretionary competence of the National Government, based on the principle of State sovereignty, to authorize the entry, stay and departure of foreigners from the national territory.“, is mentioned in Resolution 6046, adding that the entry, stay and exit of foreigners from the national territory will not be prejudiced to the provisions of international treaties.
Chancellery
Private file
Having this clear, the considerations of the decree explain that the entities responsible for formulating, planning, coordinating, executing and evaluating Colombia’s foreign policy are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (or Chancellery) and the Presidency of the Republic.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the governing body of the Administrative Sector of Foreign Relations and is responsible, among other functions, under the direction of the President of the Republic, to formulate, plan, coordinate and execute Colombia’s foreign policy, as well as evaluate it and propose the corresponding adjustments and modifications“.
(You may be interested in: Colombia’s response to the United Kingdom after reestablishing the visa: ‘It was hasty’).
And he adds: “In accordance with the residual regulatory power of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the procedural, administrative and processing aspects of visas will be regulated through a Ministerial Resolution, which allows for more effective management of the migratory dynamics.“.
“This process involves several steps that range from carrying out an analysis of reciprocity and security, considering the immigration policies of the countries that require visas for Colombians and diplomatic, economic or immigration control factors. In this regard, the Ministry issues the resolution that updates the list of affected countries, specifying the types of visas required. For example, tourism, airport transit or short-term visits and possible conditional exemptions, such as being a Schengen or United States visa holder. This information is published in the Official Gazette and communicated to embassies, consulates and the public to ensure compliance.“explains Michael Ortegón, dean of the Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences of the University Foundation for Human Development (UNINPAHU).
Gustavo Petro
EFE
‘Bilateral diplomatic relations must be respected’
Jaime Wilches, political analyst at the Grancolombiano Polytechnicassured that a possible imposition of a visa on British citizens lacks arguments, since the determination made by London does not affect Colombia and its territory.
“This type of reciprocity cannot be generated because there is no argument for requesting a visa from citizens of the United Kingdom, since at this time there has been no argument or any impact on Colombia and its territory. It is timely that we manage consular relations in a more strategic way and with a cool head“said the expert.
And he added: “The diplomatic channels and procedures that exist in bilateral relations with the different countries in which Colombia has not only tourist interests, but also economic and geopolitical ones, must be respected.“.
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