Colombia 🇨🇴 offers a little-known perk for departing travelers: a refund of the air ticket tax, something many visitors miss out on. Let me walk you through exactly how to claim it.
When you’re ready to leave Colombia, during the check-in process with your airline, make sure to mention that you’d like to apply for a refund of the tourism exit tax. Here’s an important note: if you’re a resident of Colombia, this refund isn’t available to you. However, as a tourist, you’re fully entitled to it! You’ll find the exact amount listed separately on your ticket when you purchase it—typically around $30.
Heads up ⚠️ — if you don’t bring it up, the airline won’t offer it to you! When I was in Colombia, the staff tried to steer me toward a nearby machine for a VAT refund instead. I clarified firmly that I wasn’t referring to VAT but the departure tax and even showed them the official legal text. This happened at Cartagena airport, but rest assured, you can also request the refund at Bogotá or Medellín airports.
Some airlines will hand over the refund in cash, while others will return it directly to your original payment card. In my case, I was flying Delta, which only processes refunds back to the credit card. It took about four weeks before the money finally hit my account yesterday. Time to celebrate 🎉!
