By The Rio Times | Created at 2026-08-13 17:16:45 | Updated at 2026-08-13 18:15:49
1 hour ago
Colombia · Expats
Key Facts
- —Cities affected In-person service is paused in Armenia, Cali, Manizales, Medellín, Pereira, Popayán and Quibdó.
- —Services down Cédula de extranjería, PPT and visa-registration appointments that need an office visit cannot be attended in those cities.
- —Rest of country normal Migración Colombia says all other offices across the country keep operating as usual.
- —Online options Portals stay open for PPT pre-registration, appointment booking, cédula payment and status checks.
- —No restart date The pause is until further notice, with a reopening notice to come from Migración Colombia.
Turned away at a shuttered office in Medellín or Cali. Most of what you need has an online path, and every other city is still open for business.
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If you have paperwork with Migración Colombia in one of seven earthquake-hit cities, your in-person appointment is on hold. As of 13 August 2026, seven offices have paused walk-in service with no reopening date set.
While the rest of the country runs as normal.
What the Pause Means for You
First, the plain version, without the jargon. If your office is one of the seven closed sites, you cannot be seen in person right now.
This is a pause, not the loss of your case. Your right to a cédula, PPT or visa registration has not changed.
The closures follow safety checks after the 10 August 2026 earthquake. No reopening date has been given yet.
The measure is described as temporary and until further notice.
The Seven Cities Affected
Migración Colombia named seven cities where in-person service is suspended. They are Armenia, Cali, Manizales, Medellín, Pereira, Popayán and Quibdó.
This covers the coffee region, the southwest and the Pacific coast. Several of these are hubs where many foreigners handle their papers.
Medellín and Cali alone draw large expat communities. The list can still change as offices are checked.
Treat it as a snapshot for 13 August 2026, not a fixed final list.
Which Services Are Down
The suspension covers atención presencial, the in-person counter service. That reaches the steps that need you to attend an office in person.
In practice, that means cédula de extranjería, PPT and visa-registration appointments. If your procedure ends with a biometric or counter visit, it is affected.
Purely online steps are a different matter. Those keep running whether or not your local office is open.
So finish what you can from home while you wait.
The Rest of the Country Is Open
Only these seven offices are paused. Migración Colombia has said every other office in the country keeps working normally.
So an appointment in Bogotá, Barranquilla or Cartagena still stands. The closures are local, not a national shutdown of services.
Online systems also work the same across the whole country. If your travel plans allow it, another open office can be an option.
Check that it handles your procedure before you make the trip.
What Migración Colombia Lets You Do Online
A good deal of your business does not need a counter at all. The online portals stay open even while these seven offices are closed.
You can pre-register for the PPT, book or reschedule an appointment, and pay the cédula fee online. Status and certificate checks also run through the website.
Virtual channels back this up, including video calls, the chatbot and the PQRSDF request system. Start there before you travel to any office.
A short message online can save a wasted trip across town.
Your Appointment and How to Reschedule
If your slot fell in a closed city, do not simply show up. People are still travelling to shut offices and being turned away.
Use the online appointment system to move your booking to a later date. Where an open office suits you, you can book there instead.
Keep a screenshot or email of any new booking. That record is what proves you acted in time.
It also helps if you later need to explain a missed date.
What About Your Deadlines
As of 13 August 2026, no special earthquake extension has been announced. The normal rules still apply unless Migración Colombia says otherwise.
Visa registration, for example, is generally due within 15 calendar days. A closed office does not automatically stop that clock.
So act early through online channels and keep proof of every step. If you are unsure, ask Migración Colombia directly rather than assume relief.
Documented good-faith effort is always worth more than a guess.
How to Check If Your Office Has Reopened
The safest check is the official source, not word of mouth. Migración Colombia said it will publish a notice when in-person service returns.
Look to the Migración Colombia news page and its office directory, the Puntos de Atención y Regionales listing. Both carry current office details.
The national free line, 01 8000 12 86 62, is another way to confirm. Verify before you travel, since the list can shift day to day.
If You Are Mid-Process on a Cédula or PPT
A half-finished case is not lost because your office paused. Your file and any payment already made stay valid.
Do the online parts you can now, so only the counter step is left. That way you are ready the moment your office reopens.
Save your receipts, appointment records and any reference numbers. They let you pick up exactly where you left off.
A local migration lawyer can help if your case is complex.
The Bottom Line as of 13 August 2026
Seven cities are paused for in-person service, with no reopening date yet. Everywhere else, Migración Colombia is working as normal.
Most steps have an online path, and your rights and payments are safe. The counter visit is the part on hold.
This is a fast-moving situation, so the list may already have shifted. Confirm your own office on official channels before you rely on anything here.
When in doubt, check again the morning you plan to go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my appointment cancelled?
If it was in Armenia, Cali, Manizales, Medellín, Pereira, Popayán or Quibdó, in-person service is paused and you cannot attend. Reschedule online rather than travelling to a closed office.
Can I do anything online?
Yes. You can pre-register for the PPT, book or move appointments.
Will my deadline be extended?
As of 13 August 2026, no earthquake-specific extension has been announced, so normal rules such as the 15-day visa-registration window still apply. Act online and confirm directly with Migración Colombia.
How do I check my office?
Use the Migración Colombia news page, the Puntos de Atención y Regionales directory, or the national line 01 8000 12 86 62. Verify before travelling, as the list can change.
Sources: Migración Colombia official notice and citizen-service channels; status as of 13 August 2026 and subject to change.
