Venezuelan Migrants Faceโข Mounting Challenges Securing โคLegal Status โขin Colombia
Bogotรก, Colombia – approximately 457,305 Venezuelans currently โคreside inโ a state of migratory limbo in โคColombia,โ according to data from โคthe Regional โInter-agency Coordination Platformโ forโค refugees and Migrants (R4V). This precarious situation creates notable barriers to accessing essential services like healthcare, education, and stable employment.
The difficulties stem from a shift in Colombian government โฃpolicy under President Gustavo Petro, which has significantly limited regularization pathways for Venezuelan migrants. Previous administrations offered more accessible strategies forโ obtaining legal residency, but current options โคare proving increasinglyโ difficult toโ navigate.
While Venezuelans who have maintained consistent, legal residence inโฃ Colombia can apply โfor a foreigner identification card, newcomers and โขthose who delayed โprevious application processes are largely limitedโค to a special visitor visa. However, โsecuring this visa has become a major hurdle. Recent data โreveals that onyl 11.6% of special visa applications submitted byโข Venezuelans have โbeen approved byโฃ the Colombian Ministry โฃofโ Foreign โคAffairs since December 2024, leaving a vast majority inโฃ an irregular immigration status.
This restrictive โฃapproachโฃ follows a noted increase in Venezuelan immigrationโ to โColombia following the 2024 electoral events inโ Venezuela. Theโฃ Ministry of โฃForeign Affairs hasโข confirmed this influx, which โขincludes a significant number of political figures, activists, and human rights defenders seeking refuge.
Adding to theโค challenge, the Colombian governmentโฃ has implemented increasingly stringent documentation requirements for visa applicants.Beyond standard requirements, applicants areโ now being asked to provide apostille documents, proof of income, detailed information about theirโฃ living situation, โand even copies of their โhighest academic degree or โa letter guaranteeing financial support. Many applicants are finding it impractical to gather these extensive documents, โfurther hindering their ability to achieve โlegal status.
The NGO Prova, in collaboration with โthe human Rights Center of the andrรฉs Bello Catholic university, is preparing a report detailing the complexities of Venezuelan migration in Colombia.The institution has voiced concerns over the lack of proactive policies โfromโฃ the Petro โฃadministration to address the situation of โthe thousands of Venezuelans currently living in irregular conditions.
The lack of legal status not only impacts individual migrantsโ but also โฃraises concerns about their vulnerability and access to fundamentalโข rights within Colombia. The situation underscores theโข urgent need for revised policies that โoffer realistic and accessibleโข pathways to regularization for Venezuelan migrantsโค seeking stability and chance in Colombia.
