Digital Nomad Visa Colombia: Do You Pay Taxes If You Work Remotely From Colombia? (2026)

Working from Colombia with the digital nomad visa Colombia for foreign clients or companies is becoming increasingly common. Medellín, Bogotá, the coast, and the Coffee Region are full of freelancers and remote workers who earn in dollars or euros while living here.

The big question is simple:
Do I have to pay taxes in Colombia if I work remotely from here?

The short answer is: it depends on how long you stay in the country and whether you become a tax resident.

Here it is explained clearly, with updated figures for 2026.

What Really Defines Your Taxes: Tax Residency

In Colombia, your visa, nationality, or whether you are a “digital nomad visa colombia” does not matter.
What matters is whether or not you are a tax resident.

When Are You a Tax Resident in Colombia?

You are a tax resident if you stay 183 days or more in Colombia within a 365-day period, consecutive or not.

They do not have to be six continuous months.
If you enter and leave the country, the days are still added up.

If You Are NOT a Tax Resident: The Most Common Scenario

If you work remotely from Colombia for less than 183 days, this is your typical scenario:

• You do not file an income tax return in Colombia

   

• You do not pay tax on your foreign income

   

• It does not matter if you earn in USD, EUR, or any other currency

   

• It does not matter if you use a tourist visa, digital nomad visa colombia, or another temporary visa

   

As long as:

• Your clients or employers are outside Colombia

   

• You do not invoice Colombian companies

   

• You do not exceed 183 days

   

👉 Colombia does not charge you income tax.

This is the case for many people with digital nomad visa colombia who stay 3, 4, or 5 months and then leave the country.

If You Become a Tax Resident: Everything Changes

If you exceed 183 days, you automatically move into this scenario:

As a tax resident in Colombia:

• You must declare your worldwide income

   

This includes income earned:

• Working remotely

   

• As a freelancer

   

• Through international platforms

   

• Paid from abroad

   

It does not matter if the money does not enter a Colombian bank.
It does not matter if the payer is outside the country.

👉 DIAN considers that you must declare everything.

Important:
Declaring does not always mean paying, but it does require you to:

• Register in the RUT

   

• File a tax return if you exceed the thresholds

   

• Justify income, deductions, and tax credits

   

Key Figures for 2026 You Should Know

When Do You Have to File an Income Tax Return?

For 2026, you are required to file for tax year 2025 if you meet at least one of these approximate criteria:

• Annual income exceeding $69,718,600 COP

   

• Assets exceeding $224,095,500 COP

   

• Consumption, purchases, or bank deposits exceeding the value of your income

   

⚠️ This applies only if you are a tax resident

Is Your Remote Work Colombian or Foreign Income?

There is a lot of confusion here, so let’s be direct:

If you are NOT a tax resident:

• Your foreign income is not taxed in Colombia

   

If you ARE a tax resident:

• Colombia taxes both national and foreign income

   

Even if your clients are abroad,
even if you are paid through PayPal, Wise, or international banks.

VAT and Remote Freelancers

Good news:

Services provided to clients abroad,
by freelancers or remote workers from Colombia,

👉 are VAT-exempt but must still be reported.
They are considered exports of services.

However:

If you work with Colombian clients,
or invoice services within Colombia,

the analysis changes and VAT or withholdings may apply.

Electronic Invoicing

You must issue electronic invoices if you are a tax resident in Colombia
and your income in 2026 exceeds:

👉 $183,309,000 COP

Practical Example (Very Common)

Case: Laura, foreign freelancer

• Lives in Medellín

   

• Works remotely for clients in the U.S. and Europe

   

• Income: $120 million COP per year

   

Scenario A – 5 months in Colombia

• Does not exceed 183 days
•  Not a tax resident
•  Does not file an income tax return
• Does not pay taxes in Colombia
• Does not issue electronic invoices

Scenario B – 9 months in Colombia

• Exceeds 183 days
• ✅ Is a tax resident
• ✅ Must file an income tax return in Colombia

If thresholds are met, must issue electronic invoices

Can credit taxes paid abroad

May owe tax, depending on her structure

The difference is not the job.
It is the time spent in Colombia.

What Happens If You Don’t File When You Should?

This is where the real problems begin:

• Minimum fines close to $523,740 COP

   

• Late-payment interest

   

• Tax returns filed “ex officio” by DIAN

   

• Problems when renewing visas or residency

   

Many foreigners do not have problems due to evasion,
but because they did not realize they had already become tax residents.

👉 Working remotely from Colombia does not automatically require you to pay taxes.
👉 Staying more than 183 days can.

The key is not your visa,
not your nationality,
not where your client is.

The key is tax residency + income structure.

At Nexo Legal, we help freelancers, digital nomad visa colombia, and remote workers understand whether they must file taxes in Colombia, properly structure their tax residency, and avoid unnecessary penalties.

If you work remotely from Colombia and are not clear about your status for 2026, contact us and we will review your case clearly, legally, and without overpaying.