The Colombia Check-Mig pre-registration form is completely free. Any website charging $25 to $129 is a scam or predatory third-party service. Fraudulent clone sites exploit confusion around Check-Mig’s legal status and technical glitches to collect payments and passport data.
UK travellers can identify these colombia check mig scams by verifying the .gov.co domain. The legitimate platform is hosted exclusively at apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co and never asks for credit card details. If you have already paid a deceptive site, dispute charges through Section 75 or Visa/Mastercard chargeback.
Last updated: 9 September 2026. This guide is reviewed quarterly by our travel security editorial team. This article contains no affiliate links; we do not earn commissions from any site mentioned. Our only recommendation is the free government portal.
Does Check-Mig cost money? No. The Check-Mig pre-registration form is completely free. Any website asking for payment, whether $25, $75, or more, is a third-party service or a scam. The legitimate form is hosted at apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co and requires zero payment at any step.
What Is the Check-Mig Form and Why Do Scam Sites Exist?
Check-Mig is a free migration pre-registration form introduced by Migración Colombia in late 2020 during the COVID-19 health emergency. Originally a health tracing tool for arriving travellers, it now speeds up immigration control interviews at Colombian airports. The legitimate portal is hosted at apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/pre-registro/en on a .gov.co domain managed by the Special Administrative Unit of Migración Colombia.
Fraudulent third-party operators exploit traveller confusion around the form’s legal status and occasional technical glitches, charging between $25 and $129 for a service that costs nothing. Scammers use professional-looking layouts, urgent language, and paid search ads to mislead users into believing they are completing a mandatory paid immigration form.
Check-Mig in 2026: Legally Voluntary, Operationally Unpredictable
In January 2025, Migración Colombia announced via YouTube that Check-Mig is no longer legally mandatory (Facebook repost April 2025). However, airlines and immigration staff still enforce it inconsistently at check-in counters and boarding gates, creating unpredictable outcomes for UK travellers.
| Airline | Reported Enforcement |
|---|---|
| Avianca | Consistently checks at check-in and gate |
| Copa Airlines | Consistently checks at check-in and gate |
| American Airlines | Inconsistent – some US hubs (e.g. IAH) refuse check-in without it |
| JetBlue | Rarely checked |
This enforcement grey area creates ideal conditions for scams: travellers uncertain about whether they need the form often turn to the first search result they find, which may be a sponsored ad for a fee-charging third-party site rather than the Migración Colombia portal.
The Legitimate Check-Mig Process Costs Nothing
At apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/pre-registro/en, the $0 form requires flight number (numbers only), hotel address, and passport number, generating a downloadable QR code. The Check-Mig process never requests credit card details or payment at any stage.
Go to the official portal
Navigate to apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/pre-registro/en and select your language (English, Spanish, or French).
Choose direction
Select entry to Colombia or exit from Colombia.
Enter your flight number
Use numbers only (e.g. “107”, not “AV107”).
Provide your details
Enter your hotel address and passport number.
Submit and download your QR code
Download your confirmation (also sent to your email).
Submit between 72 hours maximum and 1 hour minimum before departure. Transit passengers remaining airside are exempt. The portal allows review and re-download at no cost if flight details change.
Technical Glitches That Scammers Weaponise
Drop-down menus remain in Spanish even on the English version: the UK displays as “Reino Unido”, the United States as “Estados Unidos”, and Holland as “Pais Bajos”. The flight number field rejects airline codes, requiring numbers only. After a late-2023 platform upgrade, users report the site does not always recognise flight numbers. Scammers exploit these glitches by claiming the form is “broken” and pushing paid alternatives. Use a desktop web browser such as Google Chrome for the most reliable experience.
How to Spot a Fake Check-Mig Website
Fraudulent operators use non-.gov.co domains, clone-phishing layouts, and hidden charges ($25 to $129). Any site demanding a fee is not the legitimate Migración Colombia portal.
| Provider | Advertised Fee | Actual Checkout Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Migración Colombia (legitimate) | $0 | $0 |
| iVisa | $25 | $25 |
| Handy Visas | ~$31 | $104-$129 |
| application.colombia-checkmig.com | ~$31 | ~$75 |
Red flags that confirm a fake Check-Mig page: a payment gateway is present, a hidden “service charge” appears at checkout, a “money-back guarantee” is used as bait, and the domain does not end in .gov.co. Per TripAdvisor reports from 2024, a UK traveller paid $129 to a third-party site (advertised at $31) before realising the form was free; his wife was charged $104 on the same booking.
Side-by-Side Comparison: Real vs. Fake Check-Mig Page
| Feature | Legitimate Check-Mig | Typical Scam Site |
|---|---|---|
| Domain | apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co | application.colombia-checkmig.com, colombia-checkmig.com |
| TLD | .gov.co | .com, .org, .net |
| Payment required | $0 – no payment page exists | $25 to $129 via credit card / PayPal / Alipay |
| Logo | Migración Colombia (top left) | Generic or copied logo |
| SSL type | Government-grade | Domain Validated (DV) only |
| Disclaimer | Not needed (is the government) | Fine print: “We are a private company” |
| Hosting | Colombian government servers | Amazon CloudFront, often Netherlands |
10-Point Domain Verification Checklist
Use this forensic checklist before entering any passport details to protect against fraudulent look-alike sites.
- Domain ends in .gov.co – the only legitimate TLD for Colombian government services
- URL matches apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/pre-registro/en exactly
- Migración Colombia logo visible in the top-left corner
- No payment gateway – the page never asks for credit card details
- SSL certificate is government-grade, not a basic Domain Validated (DV) SSL on a .com domain
- WHOIS domain age is well-established – suspicious domains registered as recently as 2022 are a red flag
- Hosting country is Colombia – scam servers are often located in the Netherlands
- No “service fee”, “processing charge”, or “handling fee” mentioned anywhere
- Contact page links to Migración Colombia, not a generic email or hidden contact
- Page does not appear as a “Sponsored” result in Google
How Scammers Find You First
Scammers reach victims through Google Ads bidding on ‘Check Mig Colombia’, spoofed airline booking confirmation emails, and SMS reminders containing links to fee-charging clone websites.
- Google Ads / PPC: Fraudulent sites bid on keywords like “Check Mig Colombia” and “Colombia immigration form”, appearing as “Sponsored” results above the legitimate portal. Look for .gov.co only.
- Spoofed airline emails: Third-party travel agencies embed deceptive Check-Mig links in booking confirmation emails, mimicking airline formatting.
- SMS / WhatsApp reminders: Scammers send fake “complete now or risk denied boarding” messages linking to clone sites.
- Social media ads: Facebook and Instagram ads for “Check-Mig assistance” redirect to fee-charging pages.
What to Do If You’ve Already Paid a Scam Site
Recover funds via Section 75 (credit card purchases over £100) or Visa/Mastercard chargeback (within 120 days); report to Action Fraud and the ICO.
Contact your bank immediately
Request a chargeback or Section 75 claim, citing misrepresentation of a free government service. Gather evidence: screenshot the fraudulent site, payment confirmation, WHOIS data, and advertised vs. actual price.
Report to Action Fraud
File a report at actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040 for a crime reference number.
Report a data breach to the ICO
Contact the ICO at ico.org.uk if passport data was submitted.
Report the domain
Email the domain registrar MarkMonitor at [email protected] and report to Google Safe Browsing.
Report to Colombia’s cybercrime unit
File a report with CAI Virtual at caivirtual.policia.gov.co.
Monitor your credit
Monitor your credit with Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion for 12 months.
Data Privacy Risks: Beyond the Fee
Passport data submitted to a fraudulent site has left the government-secured system. Stolen passport numbers and flight details can be resold on dark web marketplaces or used for identity theft. Under UK GDPR Article 17, victims can request data erasure directly from the scam site operator. Flag your passport number with UK credit reference agencies and contact HM Passport Office if you suspect compromise.
Colombia Check Mig Scams FAQ
Does Check-Mig cost money in 2026?
No. The Check-Mig form is completely free ($0). Any website charging $25, $75, or more is a third-party service or a scam.
What happens if I don’t complete Check-Mig?
Three outcomes are possible based on traveller reports. Airlines like American Airlines or Avianca may refuse check-in. Immigration at Bogota El Dorado may ask you to step aside to complete it on the spot. Alternatively, immigration at Cartagena might not check it at all. Completing it avoids delays.
Is Check-Mig the same as a visa?
No. Check-Mig is a migration pre-registration form, not a visa application. UK passport holders are exempt from visa requirements for tourist stays up to 90 days in Colombia. No visa fee applies, and the Check-Mig form itself costs nothing to submit.
Can I edit or resubmit my Check-Mig form if my flight changes?
Yes. The portal allows review and re-download of your completed registration. If flight details change, you can submit a new form at no cost.
Do transit passengers need to complete Check-Mig?
No. International transit passengers remaining airside and not passing through Colombian immigration do not need to complete the Check-Mig form. This exemption applies only to airside transit; passengers entering Colombia must complete the free pre-registration.
How long is my Check-Mig QR code valid?
The QR code is generated upon submission and can be re-downloaded at any time via the portal’s review and re-download feature. Submit at least 24 hours before departure to allow for technical issues. The form remains accessible for recovery at no charge.
Which airlines actually check for Check-Mig at the gate?
Based on traveller reports, Avianca and Copa Airlines consistently check. American Airlines checks inconsistently, with some US hubs refusing check-in. JetBlue rarely checks. Colombian domestic carriers are variable. Always complete the form regardless of your airline to avoid being refused boarding.
How do I report a fraudulent Check-Mig website?
In the UK, report to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040. For data breaches, contact the ICO at ico.org.uk. In Colombia, use CAI Virtual at caivirtual.policia.gov.co. For domain abuse, email [email protected] or use Google Safe Browsing.
