How to visit, scheduling, dress code, and visitor requirements
You must be on the approved visitor list before showing up—don't make the trip until the inmate confirms your application went through. Download the visitation application and submit it by email or U.S. Mail. Only one form per person, and anyone 12 or older must complete and sign their own. Visiting hours run 8:00 AM–2:00 PM on weekdays and 9:00 AM–3:00 PM on weekends (Central time), with posted entry-processing windows you'll need to follow. Expect screening: staff can search visitors and belongings, and refusing means your visit ends—possibly affecting future visits too. Bring a valid photo ID if you're 16+, follow the dress code, and you can carry up to $50 in small bills ($1, $5, $10, $20) for vending. Any prescription meds must be in the original labeled container, limited to just what you need for the visit.
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
A little prep goes a long way. Here's what Columbia Correctional visitors need to know about cash, prescription medications, and prohibited items.
Planning a visit to Columbia Correctional Institution? Two things trip people up most: time zones and the processing cutoff. Here's what you need to know about visiting hours and the latest time staff will let you in.
Visiting someone at Columbia Correctional starts with getting on the approved visitors list. Here's the exact checklist for submitting Florida DOC's visitation application correctly—and avoiding delays.
Visiting someone at Columbia Correctional Institution starts with paperwork. Submit the completed visiting request form by email or U.S. Mail, then wait—don't show up until the inmate confirms your application has been approved.
Your first visit to Columbia Correctional can feel nerve-wracking, especially when you don't know what to expect at check-in. Here's a breakdown of the search process so you can walk in ready.
Dress code trips up more visitors than you'd think. Want a smooth check-in at Columbia Correctional? Keep it simple, modest, and within the rules below.
Anyone 16 or older needs a valid photo ID to visit Columbia Correctional Institution. No ID, no visit — staff check at the door.
Want snacks or drinks during your visit? Bring cash for the vending machines—up to $50 per visitor, regardless of age. Stick to $1, $5, $10, and $20 bills only. Larger bills won't work, and neither will coins.
Weekdays: 8:00 AM–2:00 PM Central. Weekends: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM Central. The facility also posts entry-processing start and cutoff times—plan around those so you don't get turned away at the door.
Download the visitation application and submit it by email or U.S. Mail. One form per person—anyone 12 or older must complete and sign their own. Wait until the inmate confirms you're approved before visiting.
You can bring up to $50 per visitor in $1, $5, $10, and $20 bills for vending (but you can’t give money to inmates). Prescription medication is allowed only in the original labeled container and only the dosage needed for the visit; needles and syringes are prohibited.
Mailing a money order lets you skip online fees, but there's a catch at Columbia Correctional (Florida DOC): your deposit won't go through unless you're on the person's Approved Visitors List.
Sending money to someone who's incarcerated? The right method depends on what the money is for. JPay money orders go toward general inmate account deposits, while CorrectPay handles court-ordered payments. Each has its own mailing address and rules.
AdvancePay is a prepaid calling account that lets you set aside money specifically for calls from your loved one at Columbia CI. Instead of scrambling to pay each time they try to reach you, the funds are already there waiting.
