Colombia · long-stay visa routes and official sources
5 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 — 3 of the 5 tracked routes do not require a local employer: Digital nomad V visa; Student visa; Visitor Visa V for Digital Nomads. Each has its own income, funds, or admission requirements.
For foreign-income remote workers wanting a low-friction Latin America trial.
Typical timeline / duration: 1-3 months
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.
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.
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.
Visa rules change frequently. Figures and requirements above were reviewed on the dates shown; always confirm against the linked official source before applying.