🇨🇴Visa options for Colombia
Colombia offers 24 visa and permit types across 8 categories — from Type V visitor visas (Digital Nomad, Rentista, Tourist) up to 2 years, to Type M migrant visas for work, investment, study, family, and retirement that accumulate toward permanent residency, and Type RE resident visas granting indefinite stay and a path to citizenship. 15 lead to PR; 23 don't require a job offer.
24permit types
8categories
15PR pathways
23no job needed
Check which Colombia visas you qualify for →
Visa categories in Colombia
All Colombia visa types
Visitor — Type V (9)
Tourist / Short-Stay Visa (Type V) Visitor
Short-stay visa for tourism, leisure, and family visits; USD 147. Most nationalities (99+) enter visa-free for up to 90 days. Does not accumulate toward permanent residency.
Business Visitor Visa (Type V) Visitor
Visitor visa for foreign professionals attending business meetings or corporate activities; USD 147, up to 180 days/year. No employment with Colombian entities permitted.
Digital Nomad Visa — Nómada Digital (Type V) Visitor
Remote worker visa for those earning exclusively from foreign clients; USD 243, up to 2 years. Minimum 3× SMMLV income (~USD 1,382/month). Income must be 100% non-Colombian.
Student Visitor Visa (Type V) Visitor
Short-term study visa for language courses or short programmes; USD 71 (lowest fee tier). Does not accumulate toward PR — use Type M Student for degree programmes.
Technical Services Work Visitor Visa (Type V) Visitor
Temporary visa for foreign technicians on specific contracted services; USD 147, up to 180 days/year. Restricted to contracted technical work only.
Rentista / Annuity Visitor Visa (Type V) Visitor
Visa for passive income recipients (dividends, rental income, investments); USD 243, up to 2 years. Requires minimum 10× SMMLV/month (~USD 4,608) in foreign-source income.
Medical Treatment Visitor Visa (Type V) Visitor
Visa for foreigners seeking medical, dental, or cosmetic treatment in Colombia; USD 243, duration of treatment. May include a companion visa for one family member.
Religious Worker Visitor Visa (Type V) Visitor
Visa for missionaries and clergy of state-recognized religious organizations; USD 147, up to 2 years. Work restricted to religious/missionary activities within the recognized organization.
Event / Convention Visitor Visa (Type V) Visitor
Short-stay visa for speakers, artists, athletes, and performers at specific events; USD 147, up to 90 days. Work restricted to the specific event only.
Work — Type M (3)
Work / Employment Migrant Visa (Type M) Work
Long-term migrant visa with employment contract; USD 336, 1–3 years renewable. Sponsoring company must have ≥100 SMMLV capital (~USD 46,000). Accumulates toward permanent residency (RE visa).
Business Owner / Entrepreneur Migrant Visa (Type M) Work
Visa for foreign entrepreneurs who have invested ≥100 SMMLV (~USD 46,000) in a Colombian company; USD 336, 1–3 years. Full management rights. Accumulates toward RE visa.
Independent Professional / Freelance Migrant Visa (Type M) Work
Visa for foreign professionals with recognized credentials practicing independently in Colombia; USD 336, 1–3 years. Requires professional title convalidation. Accumulates toward RE visa.
Investment — Type M (2)
Real Estate Investor Migrant Visa (Type M) Investment
Migrant visa for property investors with ≥350 SMMLV in Colombian real estate (~USD 161,000 in 2026); USD 336, 1–3 years. Must be registered foreign direct investment. Accumulates toward RE visa after 5 years.
Foreign Direct Investment Migrant Visa (Type M) Investment
Visa for investors with ≥650 SMMLV in a Colombian business (~USD 300,000 in 2026); USD 336, 1–3 years. Highest investment tier. Full management rights. Accumulates toward RE visa.
Family — Type M (3)
Spouse of Colombian National Migrant Visa (Type M) Family
Visa for spouses and de facto union partners (2+ years) of Colombian citizens; USD 336. Married spouses eligible for RE permanent residence after just 2 years — one of the fastest PR routes in Colombia.
Parent of Colombian National Migrant Visa (Type M) Family
Visa for biological or adoptive parents of Colombian nationals by birth; USD 336, 1–3 years. Full unrestricted work rights. Direct pathway to RE permanent residence.
Beneficiary / Dependent Migrant Visa (Type M) Family
Dependent visa for spouses, children (under 25), and family members of Type M or RE visa holders; USD 336. Accumulates time toward permanent residency alongside the primary holder.
Special — Type M (2)
Pension / Retirement Migrant Visa (Type M) Special
Colombia's popular pensionado visa for retirees with a permanent foreign pension; USD 336, 1–3 years renewable. Requires minimum 3× SMMLV/month (~USD 1,382). Accumulates toward RE visa after 5 years.
Mercosur National Migrant Visa (Type M) Special
Preferential visa for nationals of Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela under the Mercosur residence agreement; USD 336, up to 2 years. Full work rights.
Study — Type M (1)
Student Migrant Visa (Type M) Study
Long-term visa for formal undergraduate or graduate degree students at accredited Colombian universities; USD 336, duration of programme (up to 3 years, renewable). Unlike the Type V student visa, this accumulates time toward permanent residency.
Humanitarian — Type M (1)
Refugee / Asylum Migrant Visa (Type M) Humanitarian
Free visa for individuals recognized as refugees or asylum seekers under Colombian law (Decreto 4503 de 2009); 1–3 years renewable. Full work authorization. Accumulates toward permanent residency.
Permanent — Type RE (3)
Qualified Migrant Resident Visa (Type R — RE) Permanent
Colombia's permanent resident visa for migrants who accumulated required years via Type M visas; USD 466, 5 years renewable indefinitely. Full work rights. Colombian citizenship possible after 5 years of RE status (2 years for Iberoamerican nationals or spouses of Colombians).
Returning Colombian Resident Visa (Type R — RE) Permanent
Permanent residence for former Colombian nationals who renounced citizenship after acquiring foreign nationality; USD 466, 5 years renewable. Eligible to recover Colombian citizenship on application.
Beneficiary of Permanent Resident Visa (Type R — RE) Permanent
Permanent resident visa for spouses and children (under 25) of Type RE visa holders; USD 466, 5 years renewable. Full permanent resident designation on cédula de extranjería.
Frequently asked questions about Colombia visas
How many visa types does Colombia offer?
Colombia offers 24 visa and permit types across 8 categories — covering Type V (Visitor) short-stay visas up to 2 years, Type M (Migrant) long-term residence visas for work, investment, study, and family, and Type RE (Resident) permanent residence visas leading to citizenship.
Can I move to Colombia without a job offer?
Yes — 23 of Colombia's 24 permit types don't require a pre-arranged job offer. Options include the Digital Nomad Visa (remote income from foreign sources), Pension/Retirement Visa (3× SMMLV monthly income), Real Estate Investor Visa (~USD 161,000 property), and Rentista Visa (passive income from abroad). Only the Work/Employment Migrant Visa requires an employment contract with a Colombian employer.
Does Colombia offer a pathway to permanent residency?
Yes. 15 of Colombia's 24 permit types lead to permanent residency via the Resident (RE) visa. Type M (Migrant) visa holders accumulate time toward permanent residency — typically 5 years for most categories. Spouses of Colombian nationals can apply after just 2 years. Permanent residents can apply for Colombian citizenship after 5 more years (2 years for Iberoamerican nationals).
What is Colombia's Digital Nomad Visa?
Colombia's Digital Nomad Visa (Nómada Digital, Type V) is a visitor visa for remote workers earning income exclusively from foreign clients or employers. Requirements: minimum 3× SMMLV monthly income (~USD 1,382 in 2026), 100% foreign-source income, health insurance, and online application via the Cancillería portal. Valid up to 2 years. Note: it does not accumulate toward permanent residency.
How do I check my eligibility for Colombia?
Use VisaMatch's free eligibility checker. Enter your nationality, age, occupation, income, and education, then select Colombia. You'll see every Colombia permit you qualify for, with links to official government sources for each.
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