Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Authority

In a 1 November 2011 press release, the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that Migration Colombia (Migración Colombia) will assume the responsibilities of migration control and foreign affairs services within the country (Colombia 1 Nov. 2011). These services include the issuance of foreign resident cards (cédula de extranjería), extensions, and registration of visas (ibid.). Migration Colombia, which is a [translation] "special administrative unit" attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, replaced the Administrative Security Department (Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad) and took over its immigration-related functions after the department was abolished by the President of Colombia (ibid.).

2. Entry and Exit Stamps on Passports

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative from Migration Colombia indicated that Colombian and foreign nationals are registered in the [translation] "migration control system" upon entry into or exit from Colombia, and that their passports are stamped accordingly (Colombia 8 Feb. 2012). The representative added that this procedure is carried out at all immigration posts (ibid.). According to the website of Migration Colombia, the country has immigration posts at 15 airports (ibid. 6 Jan. 2012a), 13 maritime ports (ibid. 6 Jan. 2012b), five land border crossings (ibid. 6 Jan. 2012c), and one river border crossing (ibid. 11 Jan. 2012). The representative further indicated that, since 2008, rubber stamps have replaced the former machine-printed stamps (ibid. 8 Feb. 2012).

3. Citizens from the Andean Community of Nations and the Southern Common Market

The Migration Colombia representative indicated that citizens from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, which make up the Andean Community of Nations (Comunidad Andina de Naciones), as well as those from the member and associated member states of the Southern Common Market (Mercado Común del Sur, MERCOSUR) (i.e., Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela) may travel as tourists within these countries with only a national identity document as a valid travel document (Colombia 8 Feb. 2012). The representative explained that, when citizens of one of these countries enter Colombia, they fill out an Andean-MERCOSUR Card (Tarjeta Andina-Mercosur) with their personal information (ibid.). The Andean-MERCOSUR Card is stamped upon entry into and exit from the country by Migration Colombia (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Colombia. 8 February 2012. Migración Colombia. Correspondence from a representative to the Research Directorate.

_____. 11 January 2012. Migración Colombia. "Puesto de control migratorio fluvial." [Accessed 10 Feb. 2012]

_____. 6 January 2012a. Migración Colombia. "Puestos de control migratorios aéreos." [Accessed 10 Feb. 2012]

_____. 6 January 2012b. Migración Colombia. "Puestos de control migratorios marítimos." [Accessed 10 Feb. 2012]

_____. 6 January 2012c. Migración Colombia. "Puestos de control migratorios terrestres." [Accessed 10 Feb. 2012]

_____. 1 November 2011. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. "Comunicado de prensa sobre las funciones que asume la cancillería tras la supresión del DAS." [Accessed 10 Feb. 2012]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: Canada — Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, El Colombiano, El Espectador, Semana, El Tiempo, US Embassy in Colombia.