Moving to Colombia
7 routes for people from the US, Canada and the UK, each checked against official sources. Find the one that fits, then check it with the source before you apply.
Keep your job, work remotely
Colombia digital nomad visa
Visa de Visitante (V) - Nomada Digital
Remote employees, freelancers or digital founders working for foreign companies with at least 3 minimum wages (about COP 5.25 million, roughly USD 1,300) a month.
- What you need
- Passport from a country exempt from short-stay visas (US, UK and Canada are exempt).
- Letter in Spanish or English from the foreign employer or clients stating the relationship and pay, or proof you own the foreign company; entrepreneurs submit a project letter.
- Bank statements showing income of at least 3 SMMLV over the last 3 months. (COP 5,252,715 a month)
- Full health insurance valid in Colombia for the whole stay.
- Not for
- People working for Colombian employers or clients
- Anyone seeking a path to residence
- Where you apply
- Online. Cancilleria online visa platform.
- How long it takes
- Not stated.
- First permit
- Up to 2 years.
- Renewal
- Reapply.
- Family
- Beneficiaries allowed.
Retire or live on savings
Colombia retirement visa
Visa de Migrante (M) - Pensionado
Retirees with a lifetime pension of at least 3 Colombian minimum wages (about COP 5.25 million, roughly USD 1,300) a month.
- What you need
- Certificate of a lifetime monthly pension from a state or private pension fund of at least 3 SMMLV, apostilled and translated, or issued by the consulate of the paying country. (COP 5,252,715 a month)
- Criminal record certificate from countries of residence in the last 3 years, apostilled and translated.
- Health cover valid in Colombia; this visa does not allow joining the Colombian social security system unless a treaty applies.
- Not for
- People who want to work in Colombia (not allowed)
- People with only savings or investment income (see rentista)
- Where you apply
- Online. Apply online with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancilleria), from abroad or inside Colombia.
- How long it takes
- Not stated on the page read.
- First permit
- Up to 3 years.
- Renewal
- Reapply for a new M visa.
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 5 years. Citizenship after about 10 years.
- Family
- Spouse or permanent partner, children up to 25, or disabled children, as beneficiaries.
Retire or live on savings
Colombia rentista visa
Visa de Visitante (V) - Rentista
People with periodic passive income of at least 10 minimum wages (about COP 17.5 million, roughly USD 4,300) a month.
- What you need
- Certificate of periodic income paid to you, or proof of Colombian assets producing income, of at least 10 SMMLV a month. (COP 17,509,050 a month)
- Apostilled criminal record (last 3 years).
- Full health insurance valid in Colombia for the whole stay.
- Not for
- Anyone who wants to work in Colombia
- People seeking a path to residence (V visas do not count toward R)
- Where you apply
- Online. Cancilleria online visa platform.
- How long it takes
- Not stated.
- First permit
- Up to 2 years.
- Renewal
- Reapply.
- Family
- Spouse or partner and dependent children up to 25.
Freelance or your own business
Colombia independent professional visa
Visa de Migrante (M) - Profesional Independiente
Self-employed professionals with a recognised qualification and average income of at least 5 minimum wages (about COP 8.75 million, roughly USD 2,200) a month.
- What you need
- Validated (convalidated) degree and professional licence where the profession is regulated; exceptionally, non-regulated activities of interest to the country.
- Bank certificate showing average monthly income of at least 5 SMMLV over the last 6 months; renewals need a Colombian bank certificate. (COP 8,754,525 a month)
- Colombian health cover or full health insurance.
- Not for
- People without a recognised degree in a regulated profession
- Where you apply
- Online. Cancilleria online visa platform.
- How long it takes
- Not stated.
- First permit
- Not read (M visas are generally up to 3 years).
- Renewal
- Reapply.
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 5 years. Citizenship after about 10 years.
- Family
- Beneficiaries allowed.
A job offer
Colombia work visa
Visa de Migrante (M) - Trabajador
People with an employment contract from a Colombian company.
- What you need
- Contract summary form signed by the employer's legal representative and the worker.
- Employer motivation letter on the worker's suitability and why a local was not hired.
- Not for
- Remote workers for foreign companies (use digital nomad)
- Anyone wanting to change employer freely (permit tied to the job)
- Where you apply
- Online. Cancilleria online visa platform.
- How long it takes
- Not stated.
- First permit
- Up to 3 years.
- Renewal
- Reapply with a new or continuing contract.
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 5 years. Citizenship after about 10 years.
- Family
- Beneficiaries allowed.
Invest
Colombia investor visa
Visa de Migrante (M) - Inversionista
People buying Colombian property worth at least 350 minimum wages (about COP 613 million, roughly USD 150,000) or making registered foreign direct investment above 650 minimum wages.
- What you need
- Real estate solely in your name worth at least 350 SMMLV at the application date, with the Certificado de Tradicion y Libertad and Banco de la Republica foreign-investment registration. (COP 612,816,750)
- Or foreign direct investment registered with Banco de la Republica above 650 SMMLV. (COP 1,138,088,250)
- Bank statements for the last 3 months showing solvency (no amount stated).
- Colombian health cover or full health insurance.
- Not for
- Buyers who did not register the purchase money as foreign investment with Banco de la Republica
- Where you apply
- Online. Cancilleria online visa platform.
- How long it takes
- Not stated.
- First permit
- Up to 3 years.
- Renewal
- Reapply, proving the investment was kept throughout.
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 5 years. Citizenship after about 10 years.
- Family
- Beneficiaries allowed.
Treaties and special cases
Colombia spouse visa
Visa de Migrante (M) - Conyuge o Companero(a) permanente de nacional colombiano(a)
People married to, or in a permanent partnership with, a Colombian citizen and living together in Colombia.
- What you need
- Colombian civil marriage registration issued within 3 months; letter from the Colombian spouse requesting the visa and confirming cohabitation.
- Not for
- Couples not living together in Colombia
- Where you apply
- Online. Cancilleria online visa platform.
- How long it takes
- Not stated.
- First permit
- Not read.
- Renewal
- Reapply.
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 3 years. Citizenship after about 5 years.
- Family
- Beneficiaries allowed.