Immigration to Colombia

{{More citations needed|date=April 2011}}

European immigration in Colombia began in 1510 with the colonization of San Sebastián de Urabá. In 1526, settlers founded Santa Marta, the oldest Spanish city still in existence in Colombia.

Many Spaniards began their explorations searching for gold, while others Spaniards established themselves as leaders of the native social organizations, teaching natives the Christian faith and the ways of their civilization. Catholic priests would provide education for Native Americans that otherwise was unavailable. Within 100 years after the first Spanish settlement, nearly 95 percent of all Native Americans in Colombia had died.{{cite web |url=https://bibliotecanacional.gov.co/es-co/proyectos-digitales/historia-de-colombia/libro/doc/0.impresion.captiulo01.pdf |title=Historia de Colombia y sus oligarquías (1498 - 2017). Capítulo I: Los hombres y los dioses |language=es |trans-title=Colombian history and its oligarchies (1498 - 2017). Chapter I: men and gods |website=National Library of Colombia |access-date=2021-10-03 |archive-date=2024-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224125155/https://bibliotecanacional.gov.co/es-co/proyectos-digitales/historia-de-colombia/libro/doc/0.impresion.captiulo01.pdf |url-status=live }} The majority of the deaths of Native Americans were the cause of diseases such as measles and smallpox, which were spread by European settlers.

European (Spanish and French colonist) settlement focused mainly in the Andean highlands and Lebanese for the Caribbean coast, but little European settlement took place in the Chocó department of the Pacific coast and the Amazonian plains. Out of all Spanish nationalities, the Castilians and the Basques were the most represented. Over time, Europeans intermarried often with the Amerindian peoples (i.e. the Chibchas), and to produce a mixed-race population which are the majority of people in Colombia today. {{Citation needed|date=January 2017}}

{{See also|European immigration to the Americas}}

Colombia was one of the early focus of Basque immigration.{{Cite web|title=¿Qué tanto heredó Colombia del País Vasco?|url=https://www.senalcolombia.tv/deportes/legado-e-influencia-del-pais-vasco-en-colombia|access-date=2021-10-03|website=Señal Colombia|language=es|archive-date=2022-10-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023063452/https://www.senalcolombia.tv/deportes/legado-e-influencia-del-pais-vasco-en-colombia|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2017-05-31|title=3.500 apellidos vascos en Colombia|url=https://www.elcorreo.com/bizkaia/politica/201706/01/apellidos-vascos-20170531204142.html|access-date=2021-10-03|website=El Correo|language=es-ES|archive-date=2023-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213093343/https://www.elcorreo.com/bizkaia/politica/201706/01/apellidos-vascos-20170531204142.html|url-status=live}} Between 1540 and 1559, 8.9 percent of the residents of Colombia were of Basque origin. It has been suggested that the present-day incidence of business entrepreneurship in the Antioquia Department is attributable to the Basque immigration and Basque character traits.Amerikanuak: Basques in the New World by William A. Douglass, Jon Bilbao, P.167 Few Colombians of distant Basque descent are aware of their Basque ethnic heritage. In Bogotá, there is a small colony of thirty to forty families who emigrated as a consequence of the Spanish Civil War or because of different opportunities. Basque priests were the ones that introduced handball into Colombia.Possible paradises: Basque emigration to Latin America by José Manuel Azcona Pastor, P.203 Basque immigrants in Colombia were devoted to teaching and public administration. In the first years of the Andean multinational company, Basque sailors navigated as captains and pilots on the majority of the ships until the country was able to train its own crews. In December 1941 the United States government estimated that there were 10,000 Germans living in Colombia.Latin America during World War II by Thomas M. Leonard, John F. Bratzel, P.117 There were some Nazi agitators in Colombia, such as Barranquilla businessman Emil Prufurt. Colombia invited Germans who were on the U.S. blacklist to leave. However, most German inhabitants arrived in the late 19th century as farmers and professionals. One such entrepreneur was Leo Siegfried Kopp, the founder of the brewery Bavaria. SCADTA, a Colombian-German air transport corporation which was established by German expatriates in 1919, was the first commercial airline in the western hemisphere.{{cite web|url=http://www.stampnotes.com/Notes_from_the_Past/pastnote248.htm|title=SCADTA Joins the Fight|first=Jim|last=Watson|website=www.stampnotes.com|access-date=16 April 2018|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924105620/http://www.stampnotes.com/Notes_from_the_Past/pastnote248.htm|url-status=live}}

{{Main|Arab Colombians}}

Many Colombians have origins in the Western Asian countries of Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Palestine, It is estimated that Arab Colombians represent 3.2 million people. Many moved to Colombia to escape the repression of the Turkish Ottoman Empire and/or financial hardships. When they were first processed in Colombia's ports, they were classified as "Turks" or "Turcos" in Spanish. It is estimated that Colombia has a Lebanese population of 700,000 direct descendants and 1,500,000 who have partial ancestry. Meanwhile, the Palestine population is estimated between 100,000 and 120,000. Most Syrian-Lebanese immigrants established themselves in the Caribbean Region of Colombia in the towns of Santa Marta, Santa Cruz de Lorica, Fundación, Aracataca, Ayapel, Calamar, Ciénaga, Cereté, Montería, Cartagena and Barranquilla near the basin of the Magdalena River, in La Guajira Department, notably in Maicao and in the Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina in but also large populations in the interior of the country such as Bogotá and Cali. Many Arab-Colombians adapted their names and surnames to the Spanish language to assimilate more quickly in their communities. Some Colombian surnames of Arab origin include: Guerra (originally Harb), Cure (Originally Khoury) Domínguez (Ñeca), Matuk(Originally Maatouk), Durán (Dahir), Lara (Labdah), Cristo (Saliba), among other surnames.

Consequently, there were other immigrants from the Western Asia, including a number of Armenian, Turkish, Georgian and Cypriot immigrants who arrived in the country during the early 20th century.

The Eastern Asian communities in Colombia were not very numerous compared to Brazil or Peru, but still some groups of thousands of migrants arrived from the 20th century with the Japanese and Koreans until the 21st century with the Chinese.{{Cite web|last=Semana|date=2006-10-28|title=Chinos y japoneses|url=https://www.semana.com/especiales/articulo/chinos-japoneses/81654-3/|access-date=2021-12-18|website=Semana.com Últimas Noticias de Colombia y el Mundo|language=spanish|archive-date=2021-12-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218014932/https://www.semana.com/especiales/articulo/chinos-japoneses/81654-3/|url-status=live}} It is estimated that the first groups of Asian immigrants arrived in Buenaventura and Barranquilla between 1910-1940{{Cite news|last=Semana|date=2018-10-25|title=Así llegaron los primeros migrantes japoneses a Colombia|url=https://www.semana.com/contenidos-editoriales/japon-el-mundo-al-derecho/articulo/asi-llegaron-los-primeros-migrantes-japoneses-a-colombia/588271/|access-date=2021-12-18|website=Semana.com Últimas Noticias de Colombia y el Mundo|language=spanish|archive-date=2021-12-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218014930/https://www.semana.com/contenidos-editoriales/japon-el-mundo-al-derecho/articulo/asi-llegaron-los-primeros-migrantes-japoneses-a-colombia/588271/|url-status=live}} Many Chinese have immigrated to Colombia in recent decades.{{Cite web|last=Radio|first=Blu|date=2018-09-09|title=Chinos en Colombia: así es la vida de inmigrantes asiáticos en el país|url=https://www.bluradio.com/mundo/chinos-en-colombia-asi-es-la-vida-de-inmigrantes-asiaticos-en-el-pais|access-date=2021-12-18|website=Blu Radio|language=spanish|archive-date=2021-12-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218014930/https://www.bluradio.com/mundo/chinos-en-colombia-asi-es-la-vida-de-inmigrantes-asiaticos-en-el-pais|url-status=live}}

{{more citations needed|date=February 2021}}

{{Main|Afro-Colombians}}

Enslaved Africans began being trafficked to Colombia by the beginning of the 16th century. Cartagena de Indias was the main port of entry of slaves into the country during the colonial period and during its highest boom it turned out to be the most lucrative business in the city, trafficking over 1 million enslaved beings through its port.{{Cite web|last=Tracy|date=2015-07-04|title=History of Cartagena, Colombia: Spanish America's Biggest Slave Port|url=https://atlantablackstar.com/2015/07/04/cartagena-colombia-spanish-americas-biggest-slave-port/|access-date=2021-09-08|website=Atlanta Black Star|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-09-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908180158/https://atlantablackstar.com/2015/07/04/cartagena-colombia-spanish-americas-biggest-slave-port/|url-status=live}} Slavery wouldn't be abolished in Colombia until 1851; although by this point enslaved beings only accounted for 0.76% of the population, since most Afro Colombians were free people of colour.{{Cite web|last=República|first=Subgerencia Cultural del Banco de la|title=La Red Cultural del Banco de la República|url=https://www.banrepcultural.org/|access-date=2021-09-08|website=www.banrepcultural.org|language=spanish|archive-date=2021-05-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501114213/https://www.banrepcultural.org/|url-status=live}}

According to the 2018 national census, 9.34% of Colombians are of full or parcial Black African ancestry, with the largest concentration in the department of Chocó, where they represent 82.1% of the population.{{cite web|url=http://www.dane.gov.co/files/censo2005/etnia/sys/visibilidad_estadistica_etnicos.pdf|title=La visibilización estadística de los grupos étnicos colombianos|language=es|access-date=2021-09-08|archive-date=2010-11-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113151310/http://www.dane.gov.co/files/censo2005/etnia/sys/visibilidad_estadistica_etnicos.pdf|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.dane.gov.co/files/investigaciones/boletines/grupos-etnicos/presentacion-grupos-etnicos-poblacion-NARP-2019.pdf |title=Colombia: People 2019, DANE |access-date=2022-11-02 |archive-date=2021-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729124214/https://www.dane.gov.co/files/investigaciones/boletines/grupos-etnicos/presentacion-grupos-etnicos-poblacion-NARP-2019.pdf |url-status=live }}

However, external sources estimates Afro-Colombians are between 15% and 26% of total population.{{Cite web|title=Afro-Colombians|url=https://minorityrights.org/minorities/afro-colombians/|access-date=2021-09-08|website=Minority Rights Group|date=19 June 2015|language=en-GB|archive-date=2022-11-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129172034/https://minorityrights.org/minorities/afro-colombians/|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Informe Latinobarómetro 2018 |url=https://ibb.co/Rb7mFqX |publisher=Latinobarometro |date= |access-date=October 3, 2022 |archive-date=June 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623075631/https://ibb.co/Rb7mFqX |url-status=usurped }}{{Cite web |url=http://biblioteca.clacso.edu.ar/Colombia/cidse-univalle/20121113043151/Art2.pdf |title=Perfiles sociodemográficos de la población afrocolombiana en contextos urbano-regionales del país a comienzos del siglo XXI |publisher=Centro de Investigaciones y Documentación Socioeconómica |year=2001 |page=13 |access-date=2022-11-09 |archive-date=2022-06-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618182019/http://biblioteca.clacso.edu.ar/Colombia/cidse-univalle/20121113043151/Art2.pdf |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://digitk.areandina.edu.co/bitstream/handle/areandina/1457/Geograf%C3%ADa%20humana%20de%20Colombia.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |title=Geografia Humana de Colombia |publisher=Universidad del Área Andina |page=20 |access-date=2022-11-09 |archive-date=2023-01-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106225900/https://digitk.areandina.edu.co/bitstream/handle/areandina/1457/Geograf%C3%ADa%20humana%20de%20Colombia.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Étnia, condiciones de vida y discriminación |author=Schwartzman, Simon |year=2008 |url=http://www.schwartzman.org.br/simon/coesion_etnia.pdf |access-date=3 April 2017 |archive-date=11 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911195451/http://www.schwartzman.org.br/simon/coesion_etnia.pdf |url-status=live }}{{cite journal|last=Lizcano Fernández|first=Francisco|url=http://convergencia.uaemex.mx/rev38/38pdf/LIZCANO.pdf|title=Composición Étnica de las Tres Áreas Culturales del Continente Americano al Comienzo del Siglo XXI|trans-title=Ethnic Composition of Three Cultural Areas of the Americas at Beginning of the XXI Century|language=es|journal=Convergencia|year=2005|volume=38|issue=May–August|pages=185–232|issn=1405-1435|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920172933/http://convergencia.uaemex.mx/rev38/38pdf/LIZCANO.pdf|archive-date=September 20, 2008|postscript=: see table on page 218}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.mineducacion.gov.co/1621/article-87286.html |title=Cátedra de Estudios Afrocolombianos |publisher=Ministry of National Education |year=2001 |quote=Los afrodescendientes representan aproximadamente 26% de la población total del país, alrededor de 10 y medio millones de personas, es decir, la cuarta parte de los colombianos. |access-date=2022-11-09 |archive-date=2024-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224125200/https://www.mineducacion.gov.co/1621/article-87286.html |url-status=live }} Genetic research shows Subsaharan African admixture in general Colombian population ranges between 0.5% and 20%.{{Cite journal |last1=Homburger |first1=Julian R. |last2=Moreno-Estrada |first2=Andrés |last3=Gignoux |first3=Christopher R. |last4=Nelson |first4=Dominic |last5=Sanchez |first5=Elena |last6=Ortiz-Tello |first6=Patricia |last7=Pons-Estel |first7=Bernardo A. |last8=Acevedo-Vasquez |first8=Eduardo |last9=Miranda |first9=Pedro |last10=Langefeld |first10=Carl D. |last11=Gravel |first11=Simon |last12=Alarcón-Riquelme |first12=Marta E. |last13=Bustamante |first13=Carlos D. |date=2015-12-04 |title=Genomic Insights into the Ancestry and Demographic History of South America |journal=PLOS Genetics |volume=11 |issue=12 |pages=e1005602 |doi=10.1371/journal.pgen.1005602 |issn=1553-7390 |pmc=4670080 |pmid=26636962 |doi-access=free }}{{Cite journal |last1=Ruiz-Linares |first1=Andrés |last2=Adhikari |first2=Kaustubh |last3=Acuña-Alonzo |first3=Victor |last4=Quinto-Sanchez |first4=Mirsha |last5=Jaramillo |first5=Claudia |last6=Arias |first6=William |last7=Fuentes |first7=Macarena |last8=Pizarro |first8=María |last9=Everardo |first9=Paola |last10=de Avila |first10=Francisco |last11=Gómez-Valdés |first11=Jorge |last12=León-Mimila |first12=Paola |last13=Hunemeier |first13=Tábita |last14=Ramallo |first14=Virginia |last15=Silva de Cerqueira |first15=Caio C. |date=2014-09-25 |title=Admixture in Latin America: Geographic Structure, Phenotypic Diversity and Self-Perception of Ancestry Based on 7,342 Individuals |journal=PLOS Genetics |volume=10 |issue=9 |pages=e1004572 |doi=10.1371/journal.pgen.1004572 |issn=1553-7390 |pmc=4177621 |pmid=25254375 |doi-access=free }}{{cite thesis |last1=Godinho |first1=Neide Maria de Oliveira |title=O impacto das migrações na constituição genética de populações latino-americanas |date=2008 |url=https://repositorio.unb.br/handle/10482/5542 |access-date=2022-11-29 |archive-date=2020-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112044147/https://repositorio.unb.br/handle/10482/5542 |url-status=dead }}

Many Arab immigrants have arrived in Colombia from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Palestine. The Arabs settled mostly in the northern coast, in cities such as Barranquilla, Cartagena, Santa Marta, and Maicao. Gradually they began to settle inland too (except for Antioquia). Many Colombians of Arab descent derive their origins from Catholics/Maronites from Lebanon or Syria.

Due to the Arab Spring, many Arabs arrived in Colombia seeking political asylum, particularly from Syria."{{cite web |url=http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/search?page=search&docid=51c846139&query=colombia%20syria |title=Syrian refugee flees all the way to Colombia to escape the violence at home |first=Francesca |last=Fontanini |date=24 June 2013 |publisher=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |access-date=24 August 2013 |archive-date=24 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141124220900/http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/search?page=search&docid=51c846139&query=colombia%20syria |url-status=live }}

The city of Cali has the largest Asian community because of its proximity to the Pacific Coast;{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}} they also live around the nation in other cities such as Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Bogotá and Medellín. The DANE says the Chinese population is growing 10% every year. In recent years, particularly Chinese restaurants have experienced a surge and have become popular businesses in nearly every Colombian city. {{Citation needed|date=May 2014}}

There is a large gap in knowledge of the Chinese diaspora in Colombia in the period from the beginning of the 20th century until 1970–1980. The century began with the political upheavals in China that led to the creation of two political factions among the Chinese in and outside China, and eventually caused the communist revolution and the founding of the two separate Chinese states, one on the mainland and one in Taiwan. The effect for the Chinese diaspora was the creation not only of political but also more differentiation between migrants and distinguished by locality of origin, language, and history of migration. Thus, until today, in terms of organization, they are, on the one hand, the "Overseas Chinese Association", founded by Chinese who migrated to Colombia in the 1980s, and on the other, the Chinese Cultural Centre in Bogotá, founded in 1988 by a Taiwanese government institution (Zhang 1991).

Moreover, it is known that in 1970 there were over 6,000 Chinese living in Colombia, which means that they kept coming to this country. It can be assumed that the anti-immigrant atmosphere in many countries was the major cause of continued Chinese immigration to Colombia. The migration did not come from China, because during the first three decades of the People's Republic of China, emigration was severely restricted. In fact, it is known that in the early 20th century, due to xenophobia in the United States, a large number of Chinese migrated to Colombia. Restrepo (2001) states that at that time various groups of immigrants settled in Barranquilla. {{Citation needed|date=May 2014}}

The end of Chinese anti-immigration laws in the United States during the 1980s allowed many Chinese to emigrate from Colombia to the United States. {{Citation needed|date=May 2014}} As a result, of the 5,600 people of Chinese origin reported in 1982 (Poston and Yu 1990) in the 1990s were only 3,400, most of whom live in Bogota, Barranquilla, Cali, Cartagena, Medellin, Santa Marta, Manizales, Cucuta, and Pereira. All these movements flow of people around the world support the notion that the "Chinese diaspora" is far from staying in a country, take an identity, or "assimilate". Political, economic, social, and personal issues contributed to the circulation of the Chinese movement between various locations. These factors also have an important influence in the forms of residence and, more recently, in human trafficking.{{cite journal | last1 = Fleischer | first1 = F | year = 2012 | title = La diáspora china: un acercamiento a la migración china en Colombia | doi = 10.7440/res42.2012.07 | journal = Revista de Estudios Sociales | volume = 42 | issue = 42| pages = 71–79 | doi-access = free }}

About 3,000 North Americans arrived in Barranquilla during the late 19th century. By 1958, American immigrants comprised 10% of all immigrants living in Colombia. There are now 60,000{{Cite web|date=2013-04-20|title=Colombia|url=http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1090.html|access-date=2021-10-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420175844/http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1090.html|archive-date=2013-04-20}} United States citizens living in Colombia, many of whom are Colombian emigrants to the United States who chose to return to Colombia. {{citation needed|date=May 2014}} The barrios El Prado, Paraiso, and some others were created by Americans, also schools and universities were built by American architects such as the Universidad del Norte, the American School and many more.

When enumerated by citizenship, many Americans are from families that emigrated to the United States and then repatriated.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}}

{{Main|History of the Jews in Colombia}}

Early Jewish settlers were converted Jews, known as Marranos, from Spain. In the years prior to World War II, there was a second wave of Jewish immigrants fleeing persecution from the Nazis. Most Colombian Jews live in Bogotá, Medellín, Cali and Barranquilla where are Jewish schools such as: Colegio Colombo Hebreo,{{Cite web |title=Colegio Colombo Hebreo Bogotá |url=https://www.facebook.com/colombohebreo |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en |archive-date=2022-12-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221231192932/https://www.facebook.com/colombohebreo/ |url-status=live }} Theodo Hertlz,{{Cite web |title=Theodoro Hertzl |url=https://www.facebook.com/familiatheodorista |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en |archive-date=2024-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224125201/https://www.facebook.com/familiatheodorista |url-status=live }} Colegio Hebreo Unión.{{Cite web |title=Historia |url=https://www.colegiohebreounion.edu.co/wp/historia/ |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=Colegio Hebreo Unión |language=es-CO |archive-date=2022-12-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223014947/https://www.colegiohebreounion.edu.co/wp/historia/ |url-status=live }}

As of the 21st century, approximately 8,000 practicing Jews live in Colombia. Most of them are concentrated in Bogotá, with about 3,500 members, and Cali, with about 1,000 members. Others communities are also found in Barranquilla and Medellín. Very few Jews practice religious observance; among those who do, the majority are Orthodox. German Jewish communities in Bogota and Cali also preserve much of their traditions.

The Romani people came during colonial times, often forced by the Spanish to move to South America. Romani people also came during World War I and World War II. Most of them settled in the metropolitan area of Barranquilla.{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}}

Spanish immigration in what is now Colombia was massive and continuous throughout the colonial period. Spanish descendants, a majority of which mixed to varying degrees with indigenous peoples over the centuries, form the bulk of the Colombian population. After a brief period in which it stopped abruptly following independence, immigration slowly resumed albeit at a much lower level. In the 20th century there was another wave of Spanish immigrants fleeing persecution from the Franquistas during and after the Spanish Civil War. Migration also spiked as a result of economic hardships in Spain during the 50s. Due to high unemployment in Spain, several hundreds of Spaniards have immigrated to Colombia for better working prospects in recent years (2008 onwards). Furthermore, several thousands of Colombians who emigrated to Spain from 1990 to 2010 (about 280,000 people) now return to Colombia, and sometimes have dual citizenship.

{{Main|Italian Colombian}}

Italian immigration in Colombia has had place in the XIX and XX centuries. The Italian immigrant population in Colombia, is mostly located in cities such as Cartagena, Barranquilla, Santa Marta, Montería, Cali, Medellin and Bogotá. The Italians have left some imprint in Colombian Spanish{{Cite web |url=http://portal.lombardinelmondo.org/lombardinelmondo/portal/nazioni/americalatina/articoli/storiaemigrazione/lomling/document_view |title=Litaliano in Colombia (in Italian) |access-date=2010-09-30 |archive-date=2012-07-14 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714002115/http://portal.lombardinelmondo.org/lombardinelmondo/portal/nazioni/americalatina/articoli/storiaemigrazione/lomling/document_view |url-status=dead }} and gastronomy. The Italian government estimated in 2018 that around 2 million Colombians have Italian ancestry.{{Cite web |date=2018-02-09 |title=Convenzioni Inps estere, Fedi sollecita Nuova Zelanda ma anche Cile e Filippine |url=http://www.ilmondo.tv/it/notizie-emigrazione/3410-convenzioni-inps-estere-fedi-sollecita-nuova-zelanda-ma-anche-cile-e-filippine.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209002829/http://www.ilmondo.tv/it/notizie-emigrazione/3410-convenzioni-inps-estere-fedi-sollecita-nuova-zelanda-ma-anche-cile-e-filippine.html |archive-date=2018-02-09 |access-date=2022-10-21 }}

Particularly in the 19th century, but also in the 20th century.{{Cite web|date=2019-06-10|title=Estos fueron los primeros alemanes en Colombia|url=https://revistadiners.com.co/cultura/archivo/67972_estos-fueron-los-primero-alemanes-en-colombia/|access-date=2021-12-18|website=Revista Diners {{!}} Revista Colombiana de Cultura y Estilo de Vida|language=es|archive-date=2022-11-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105202158/https://revistadiners.com.co/cultura/archivo/67972_estos-fueron-los-primero-alemanes-en-colombia/|url-status=live}} Many Colombians of German heritage arrived in Colombia via Venezuela, where 19th-century German settlements have existed. They traditionally settled as farmers or professional workers in the states of Boyacá and Santander, but also in Cali, Bogotá and Barranquilla. One famous German immigrant of the 19th century was German-Jewish entrepreneur Leo Siegfried Kopp who founded the brewery Bavaria. Other German groups arrived in Colombia later: after World War I (many opticians and other professional businesses in Bogotá were founded by German immigrants in the 1910s), and after World War II, some of them Nazis or on the black list. Many of them changed their surnames for common surnames of the region.

In the 19th and 20th centuries many Russians went to Antioquia and Risaralda, escaping from communism and the Soviet government. The former USSR (1917-1991) included other nations like Lithuania and Ukraine.{{Cite web|title=Del este de Europa, al Sur de América: Migraciones Soviéticas y Post Soviéticas a la Ciudad de Bucaramanga, Santander|url=https://repository.urosario.edu.co/bitstream/handle/10336/3743/1018405932-2012.pdf?sequence=1|access-date=2021-12-18|language=es|archive-date=2022-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407123503/https://repository.urosario.edu.co/bitstream/handle/10336/3743/1018405932-2012.pdf?sequence=1|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Inmigración lituana en Colombia. La migración de los lituanos a Colombia tuvo lugar por primera vez durante la década de 1940, cuando la mayoría de los ciudadan|url=https://amp.ww.es.freejournal.org/8885590/1/inmigracion-lituana-en-colombia.html|access-date=2021-12-18|website=ww.es.freejournal.org|language=es|archive-date=2021-12-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218010929/https://amp.ww.es.freejournal.org/8885590/1/inmigracion-lituana-en-colombia.html|url-status=dead}}

During the independence of Colombia, More than 8.000 Irish soldiers fought to give independence to the country, many were recruited from Dublin, London and other cities to fight with Simón Bolívar's troops to liberate Colombia from Spain. Subsequently, post-independence Irish immigrants continued to arrive, especially to the departments of Antioquia, Caldas and Risaralda.{{Cite web |title=News & Events - Irlandeses en Colombia y Antioquia - Department of Foreign Affairs |url=https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/colombia/newsevents/irlandeses-en-colombia-y-antioquia-.html |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=www.dfa.ie |archive-date=2022-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826014128/https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/colombia/newsevents/irlandeses-en-colombia-y-antioquia-.html |url-status=live }} In the first half of 20th century, Irish people arrived in Colombia for a new life and as missionaries to expand the Catholic faith in the country. In the last years of the 20th century and first years of 21st century, some Irish people came to Colombia. Some came to work in the many multinational companies but a few of them were involved with terrorist groups like the FARC.{{cite journal |url=http://www.irlandeses.org/colombia.htm |journal=Irish Migration Studies in Latin America |date=2006 |first=Edmundo |last=Murray |title=The Irish in Colombia |publisher=Society for Irish Latin American Studies |access-date=2013-10-26 |archive-date=2010-06-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613233010/http://www.irlandeses.org/colombia.htm |url-status=live }}

{{More citations needed|date=April 2011}}

There is an important French community in Colombia, mainly concentrated in the coastal cities of Barranquilla, Cartagena, and Santa Marta, as well as in Bogotá.{{Cite journal |last1=Salamanca |first1=Helwar Figueroa |last2=Espitia |first2=Julián David Corredor |date=December 2019 |title="En una ciudad gris y silenciosa": la migración francesa en Bogotá (1900-1920) |journal=Anuario de Historia Regional y de las Fronteras |language=es |volume=24 |issue=2 |pages=75–100 |doi=10.18273/revanu.v24n2-2019003 |issn=0122-2066|doi-access=free }} French immigration began in a regular pattern during the 18th and 19th century and highly influenced the country's economic and political systems (the Betancourt family is of French descent) and entertainment industry. Another example is Atanasio Girardot who was a Colombian revolutionary leader. Some WWII refugees from France came to Colombia, but often for a temporary time. Nowadays, Colombia has also become a cheap tourist or retirement destination for French citizens. Contrary to common perceptions, the frequent Colombian surname Betancourt does not signal French descent but rather descent from the Canary Islands (Spain), where it is common since the islands were conquered and submitted by Frenchman Juan de Betancourt for the Spanish crown in the 16th century. French surnames such as Lafaurie, Chaux, Lamouroux, Betancourt and many more are frequently deeply rooted in Colombian society.{{Cite web |title=Lafaurie Surname Origin, Meaning & Last Name History |url=https://forebears.io/surnames/lafaurie |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=forebears.io |archive-date=2022-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122184011/https://forebears.io/surnames/lafaurie |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Chaux Surname Origin, Meaning & Last Name History |url=https://forebears.io/surnames/chaux |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=forebears.io |archive-date=2022-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122184015/https://forebears.io/surnames/chaux |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Lamouroux Surname Origin, Meaning & Last Name History |url=https://forebears.io/surnames/lamouroux |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=forebears.io |archive-date=2022-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122184013/https://forebears.io/surnames/lamouroux |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Betancourt Surname Origin, Meaning & Last Name History |url=https://forebears.io/surnames/betancourt |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=forebears.io |archive-date=2022-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122184013/https://forebears.io/surnames/betancourt |url-status=live }}

The Venezuelan population in Colombia is estimated at 2,250,000, due to political instability, corruption and crime in Venezuela. Large populations of Venezuelans are found in Bogotá, Cali, Medellín, Bucaramanga, Barranquilla, Cartagena and Cúcuta. Previously Colombians had emigrated to Venezuela due to political unrest. However, during the last decade the trend has reversed and Venezuelans increasingly immigrate to Colombia.{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}} A Venezuelan refugee crisis began in 2014; as of 2021, about 1.7 million Venezuelans displaced by the crisis are currently in Colombia, most of whom are either undocumented or are on temporary visas.{{cite news |title=Colombia Offers Temporary Legal Status To Nearly 1 Million Venezuelan Migrants |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/02/09/965853031/colombia-offers-temporary-legal-status-to-nearly-1-million-venezuelan-migrants |access-date=10 February 2021 |work=NPR.org |language=en |archive-date=9 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209232730/https://www.npr.org/2021/02/09/965853031/colombia-offers-temporary-legal-status-to-nearly-1-million-venezuelan-migrants |url-status=live }}

The history of Colombia and Ecuador is strongly related. Many people of South Colombia (specially, the Nariño, Putumayo and Cauca Departments) share traditions with the Ecuadorian people. This has led to migration between both countries. Many Ecuadorians have come to the major cities of Colombia (Bogotá, Medellin, Cali, Bucaramanga) as merchants.{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}}

Note: only people that have lived in Colombia for at least 5 years can acquire permanent residence.

South America

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Total 138,920

• Colombian diaspora
• Demographics of Colombia
• Emigration from Colombia

{{Reflist}}

• http://www.colarte.com/recuentos/Colecciones/ETNIAS/xNorteamericanos.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215071335/http://www.colarte.com/recuentos/Colecciones/ETNIAS/xNorteamericanos.htm |date=2007-12-15 }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/19970412032904/http://uninorte.edu.co/ University of the North]
• [http://www.marymountbq.edu.co/ Colegio Marymount]
• [http://www.kcparrish.edu.co/ Colegio Karl C. Parrish]
• [http://www.colegioamericano.edu.co/ Colegio Americano de Barranquilla]
• http://www.delasalle.edu.co/Biffi_Salle/index.asp{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• http://www.delasalle.edu.co/InstitutoLaSalle/index.asp{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• http://lablaa.org/blaavirtual/revistas/credencial/julio2005/vuelo.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917044836/http://lablaa.org/blaavirtual/revistas/credencial/julio2005/vuelo.htm |date=2008-09-17 }}
• http://www.vanguardia.com/unidad/uni090504.htm {{Dead link|date=July 2022}}

• Massey, Douglas S., Arango, Joaquín, Graeme, Hugo, Kouaouci, Ali, Pellegrino, Adela and Taylor, J. Edward (2005), Worlds in Motion: Understanding International Migration at the End of the Millennium, New York: Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|0-19-928276-5}}.

{{Colombia topics|state=collapsed}}

{{South America in topic|Immigration to}}

{{Americas topic|Immigration to}}

Category:Human migration

Category:Foreign relations of Colombia

Category:Economy of Colombia