Colombia · long-stay visa routes and official sources
4 routes tracked · last reviewed · every route links to its official government source
Long-term visa difficulty for Colombia: Medium (44/100, lower is easier). Most practical route: Digital nomad V visa or work/investment residence.
Common questions
What is the most practical long-term visa route to Colombia?
Based on our July 2026 review, the most practical route is usually: Digital nomad V visa or work/investment residence. Overall difficulty is rated "Medium" (44/100, lower is easier).
Can I move to Colombia without a local job offer?
Yes — 2 of the 4 tracked routes do not require a local employer: Digital nomad V visa; Student visa. Each has its own income, funds, or admission requirements.
A remote-income route for applicants working for overseas employers, clients, or businesses.
Typical timeline / duration: Visitor visa route; commonly up to two years, but exact length depends on visa grant.
Official Cancillería page lists Visa V Nómadas digitales.
Applicant must hold a passport from a visa-exempt short-stay country and provide a letter in Spanish or English explaining remote work/entrepreneurship and foreign income/client relationship.
Income must be at least 3 times Colombia's legal monthly minimum wage (SMMLV). The 2026 SMMLV is COP 1,750,905, fixed transitionally by Decree 0159 of 19 February 2026 after the Consejo de Estado provisionally suspended Decree 1469 of 2025, so the threshold is about COP 5,252,715 per month. The SMMLV is reset each year and is currently under litigation, so check the amount in force on the application date.
For people with Colombian employer or client contracts.
Typical timeline / duration: 2-5 months
Have a Colombian legal-entity employer and a signed employment contract for the role in Colombia.
Submit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs contract-summary form and an employer motivation letter explaining the role, the applicant's suitability, why a Colombian worker was not hired, and the direct jobs created.
Provide the employer's bank certificates or statements for the preceding four months showing the required average income, plus the applicant's apostilled or legalised qualification and experience evidence.
For a regulated profession, obtain the relevant Colombian professional licence or authorisation and provide health coverage or insurance and the other current visa-application documents.
Have an admission or enrolment certificate from the Colombian educational institution stating the programme, level, and duration.
Provide the general visa documents, valid passport, health policy covering Colombia, and any practice or exchange letter where the application concerns an internship or academic exchange.
If documents are issued abroad, complete the required apostille or legalisation and translation formalities before submitting the application.
For a second or later student visa, provide evidence from the institution showing attendance and completion of the course, study, or practice that supported the earlier visa.
A longer-stay route based on its specific eligibility requirements.
Typical timeline / duration: M-type visa terms depend on Colombian visa rules; route can support longer residence if conditions are met.
Foreign applicant must receive pension income, submit visa application, passport, photos/copy, and certification from competent authority/company/entity showing pension at least three current Colombian monthly minimum legal wages; documents may need apostille/legalisation.
Pension at least 3 Colombian minimum monthly legal wages: about COP 5,252,715 per month while the 2026 SMMLV of COP 1,750,905 applies (Decree 0159 of 19 February 2026, transitional).
Visa rules change frequently. Figures and requirements above were reviewed on the dates shown; always confirm against the linked official source before applying.