Flight reservation and onward ticket for Colombia
Colombia asks for proof of onward travel more consistently than most of its neighbours, and the check usually happens at the airport you depart from, not on arrival. The same document is also needed the other way round, by Colombians applying for a visa in Bogotá. This guide covers both, and is honest about where an unticketed reservation stops being enough.
What is usually required
Entering Colombia. Visitors arriving visa-free are generally expected to show onward or return travel out of the country within the permitted stay. In practice the check is made by the airline at check-in, because carriers can be penalised and made to return a passenger who is refused entry. Immigration may also ask on arrival, along with questions about where you will stay and how you will support yourself.
Applying for a visa from Bogotá. Consulates normally ask for a travel itinerary showing intended entry and exit dates, not a purchased ticket — several explicitly advise against buying before a decision.
Requirements depend on nationality and change. Check the current rules from Migración Colombia or the consulate handling your application, and ask your airline what it will check for your route.
How a ValidFlight reservation helps
We place an unticketed reservation with an airline in your name — a flight out of Colombia, or the outbound and return legs an application needs — and send you the booking reference (PNR), flight details and a PDF itinerary by e-mail. Airlines differ in what they publish online: many do not show a reservation in their “Manage booking” tool until a ticket is issued, so the reference may return nothing there. That does not mean the reservation is missing — it is held in the airline's own system, and the PDF itinerary is the document to present. Prices start from €10.90.
One practical note specific to this region: we cannot currently create reservations to Venezuela. Our supplier does not fulfil that destination, and rather than take your money and refund it, we do not offer it. If your onward plan is Caracas or Valencia, we are not the right service for you.
The limits:
- It is not a ticket and has no e-ticket number. Some check-in agents ask for a ticket number, and a reservation will not satisfy them.
- The airline holds it for a limited time, typically 24 to 72 hours, then releases it.
- Entry and visa decisions rest with officers who weigh the whole situation. We can neither influence nor predict them.
Timing tips
- Flying to Colombia: order about a day before departure, so the reservation is live at check-in and on arrival.
- Visa appointment in Bogotá: order it so that it is still held on the day you attend. A released reservation is worth nothing at the counter.
- Dates uncertain? The 7-day or 14-day plan creates a new reservation whenever the previous one is released and e-mails you the new PNR. Present the most recent itinerary, since each renewal has a different booking reference.
- Choose an onward date within the stay permitted for your nationality, and print the PDF rather than relying on a phone.
What it is not
A reservation is not a flight ticket. It is unpaid, has no e-ticket number and cannot be used to board. It is not a visa, it does not extend a permitted stay, and it should never be presented as a paid ticket to an officer or an airline. To leave Colombia you will need to buy a real ticket or other transport.
Do I need an onward ticket to enter Colombia?
Visitors arriving visa-free are generally expected to show onward or return travel within the permitted stay, and airlines commonly check this at check-in. Requirements depend on nationality and change, so check current official information and ask your airline.
Will the airline accept a reservation instead of a ticket at check-in?
It depends on the airline and the agent. Some accept an itinerary with a booking reference, others ask for an e-ticket number, which a reservation does not have. Ask your airline in advance where possible.
Can you make a reservation from Colombia to Venezuela?
No. Our supplier does not fulfil reservations to Venezuelan destinations, so we do not offer that route rather than take payment we would have to refund.
How long is the reservation valid?
Typically 24 to 72 hours, depending on the airline. The 7-day and 14-day plans renew it automatically and e-mail you a new booking reference each time.
Can I use the reservation to leave Colombia?
No. It is not a ticket and cannot be used to board. Buy a ticket for the flight you actually take.
Get a flight reservation
Choose your route and dates and receive the PNR and PDF itinerary by e-mail.
More answers in the FAQ. Please read our Terms before ordering.