Israel and Colombia will waive advance visa requirements for travellers from 1 September as the two countries move to restore diplomatic and economic relations following years of tensions over the war in Gaza.
“Both countries have agreed to mutually waive the visa requirement starting September 1,” the Israeli Embassy said on Thursday following talks between Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and his Colombian counterpart Omar Bula Escobar.
Colombians travelling to Israel and Israelis travelling to Colombia will no longer need to obtain visas in advance, although other immigration and entry requirements will remain in place.
The measure is part of a broader roadmap agreed in July to fully restore relations between the two countries, including the appointment of ambassadors and plans to reopen Colombia’s embassy in Jerusalem.
Colombia severed diplomatic relations with Israel in May 2024 under former President Gustavo Petro, who strongly criticised Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Visa requirements were subsequently reinstated in 2025, first by Israel and then reciprocally by Colombia.
Relations have shifted significantly since President Abelardo de la Espriella took office. Before his inauguration, he pledged to restore diplomatic and economic ties with Israel and withdraw Colombia’s intervention in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Bogotá has since recognised Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights, a move condemned by Syria and other countries in the region. Most of the international community considers the territory occupied Syrian land.
The two governments have also established a Colombia-Israel Binational Economic Commission, while an official Colombian delegation is expected to visit Israel in October.
The visa agreement marks another step towards normalising ties after more than two years of diplomatic tensions.
Israel and Colombia will waive advance visa requirements for travellers from 1 September as the two countries move to restore diplomatic and econom...
South African human rights and environmental groups have urged the government to block Israeli-linked Navitas Petroleum from acquiring a stake in a...
Pakistan is deepening engagement with Syria’s new leadership as Israeli strikes add fresh pressure on the country’s fragile political t...
The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 19th of August, covering the latest developments.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th of August, covering the latest developments.
South African human rights and environmental groups have urged the government to block Israeli-linked Navitas Petroleum from acquiring a stake in a major offshore oil block, citing concerns over the war in Gaza and environmental risks.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
The United States imposed fresh sanctions on Hezbollah on Thursday, redesignating the Lebanese group over what Washington described as its actions on behalf of the Iranian government and targeting 10 people accused of moving cash for the group.
Australia on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to close its criminal investigation into the deaths of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six World Central Kitchen colleagues killed in Gaza in April 2024.
North Korea has fired more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles after U.S. President Donald Trump reduced American participation in joint military exercises with South Korea in an effort to revive dialogue with Pyongyang.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment