OK, after some unreasonable quote's from shippers I have decided to leave my bike in Colombia. I am getting some help from Hector at Moto Angel but would appreciate some more knowledge about extending my "temperary foreign vehicle import" document.

I know people have done this before. Any advice?

Well, for any one interested the "temporary vehicle import permit" piggy backs on your passport stamp. To leave a bike in Colombia you need to apply for a "special circumstances visa" Immogration will help with this. You will need to write a "Letter of Intent", have 3 passport photos (white background), fill out a nice form, have a bank statement, a return airplane ticket and provide 2 copies of everything, including 2 copies of every page in your passport. For 7 months the cost was US$175. After you recieve your visa it needs to be activated at DAS (immigration) At DAS you will be asked for 2 copies of: certificate of blood type, 6 more photos with a blue background on mate paper, 120500 pesos (About US$65) and more copies of your passport and you need to fill out another form. Wait for a day or 2 for a residence card. Then you go to DIAN (Customs) and they will ask for copies of all your bike papers, your passport and your Visa sticker, you will have to write a letter to the Jefe of Importacions requesting more time for your bike. Include the Model, Brand, VIN, Motor VIN, color, vehicle origin, plate number and the dates required for entry.

Oh yeah, you can NOT apply for any 6 month visa IN Colombia. Apply for your visa while in Panama, Ecuador or Venezuela at the Consulado de Colombia.

Adventman is leaving his bike here without paperwork. It's like a little experiment we are having. We will see how things turn out.

Good info, and good luck to you both.

who won ,i mean did you go through all this for nothing ,i am keen to know as i want to leave my bike here in colombia til april next year
dave

I guess it has not timed out yet - 6 months will take these guys into late Oct/Nov 07.

__________________
Dave

I just arrived to pick up my bike. Ron will be here end of November. I kind of think I did the paperwork for nothing - oh well. I'll let you know what happens when I leave, and when Ron leaves. I did not do it for "nothing" though. I met my girlfriend while I was doing the running around for my visa...

Dirty and I just crossed into Ecuador yesterday through Ipiales. Turns out that all of his efforts were not for nothing afterall.His permit was cancelled, mine wasn´t. From Medellin to the border we were never stopped. Police were busy with other problems around Cali and Popayan i supose, this was a good thing for me. Then at the boarder, Aduana refused to cancel my permit. They asked me to read the part to them that stated after the expiry date, the bike belongs to the Colombian Gov´t. I begged and pleaded with them to cancell the permit, they refused. They then asked me if i intended to enter Colombia with the same bike. I said probably not. They returned the permit to me and pretented to never see me. I asked if i can enter Colombia with another bike, they said yes. Thats the wierd thing! If thats the case, i could of sold the bike in Colombia and just drove another one in later! They told me that if i try to enter with this bike, they could confiscate the bike, but i think they would just refuse issuing a permit. Anyways, got the bike outa Locolombia and enjoying the Andes now!
Suerte!!

Hey there, in Medellin and have the same predicament that you all had a while back...looking for a visa so I can leave the bike 4-6 months...maybe a business vehicle or your special circumstance visa. DirtyDeeds, when you said the temporary vehicle piggybacks on your passport does that mean they have record of it and won't let you leave the country and reenter by plane? I may have a way to get a hold of a business permit good for me for 6 months (from within Colombia) but not sure if I'll be able to extend the temporary vehicle permit 4 months with that or not. Any thoughts. Thanks a lot.

-Mikey