Tomás Restrepo
Partner and director of the immigration department
- Specialist in Business Law
- Has led Nexo Legal's immigration practice since 2020
For the family of a Colombian visa holder
Colombia beneficiary visa: requirements, cost and time
The Colombia beneficiary visa is for you if your spouse, permanent partner or parent holds a Colombian visa, and you depend on them financially.
Children qualify up to 25, or at any age with a disability that prevents financial independence.
Handled by Tomás Restrepo, partner and director of the immigration departmentReviewed on November 10, 2026
4.8 on Google · 251 reviews
Does your family qualify for the beneficiary visa?
The beneficiary visa follows the main holder's visa, and never lasts longer than theirs (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 93).
If you are the beneficiary of a resident visa (R), you can apply for the R as the main holder once you are 18 or older and show financial independence and solvency (art. 90).
This is what Cancillería asks of you, and of the visa holder.
- You depend financially on the visa holder. As their spouse, their permanent partner or their child.
- A visa that allows beneficiaries. Most M visas, the resident visa (R) and some V visas do.
- A letter from the holder. Asking for your visa.
- The holder's income. Averages from their last 6 months of bank statements, or an employment certificate, showing enough income to support you.
- Proof of the family tie. The civil record of the marriage, the union or the birth that links you to the holder.
- A child under 18. Both parents sign the visa request, naming who will care for the child in Colombia (art. 25).
- Your own application. Each family member files one, with a copy of the holder's valid visa.
- It does not let you work. A beneficiary visa does not allow paid work.
How to get your beneficiary visa in 4 steps
The documents set the pace, so we ask for the slowest one first.
We start with the holder's visa
Your application includes a copy of the holder's valid visa.
So we file it once that visa is issued.
We gather the documents with you
The family records from abroad usually take the longest.
We file your application
We file it online, whether you are in Colombia or abroad.
Cancillería studies it and decides.
We follow your application to a decision
Once it is approved and you pay the issuance fee, your electronic visa arrives by email within 10 business days (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 101).
Then we tell you how to register it with Migración Colombia and get your foreigner ID card.
You may also need
Services families add to the beneficiary visa.
A case we see often
- The plan
A family wanted to move to Colombia so the children could start school.
One parent's pension qualified her for a retirement visa.
- The question
They asked: if her visa is approved, is the whole family approved?
No. Each beneficiary files a separate application, with its own fee.
- The order
Her visa went first. It was approved and issued.
Only then did the applications for her spouse and 2 children start.
First the holder's visa, then one application per family member.
Moving with your partner or children? Write to us and we will map the order of applications for your family. →
Colombia beneficiary visa requirements: the documents
This is what Cancillería asks for the beneficiary visa, also called the dependent or family visa (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 93):
- The holder's visa. A copy of the valid visa you will depend on.
- Proof of the family tie. The civil record of the marriage, the union or the birth.
- Letter from the holder. Asking for your visa and declaring that you depend on them, and that they cover your stay, health coverage included.
- The holder's income. Averages from their last 6 months of bank statements, or an employment certificate.
- For a child under 18. A request signed by both parents, naming who will care for the child in Colombia (art. 25).
- Passport. Valid, with the page of your last entry stamp.
How recent each document must be, the apostille and the translation depend on your case.
At Nexo Legal, in Medellín, Tomás Restrepo, partner and director of the immigration department, gives you the exact list for your case, reviews each document and files your application. Our fee for the beneficiary visa, per person is COP 1,750,905.
What happens after the visa
Applying again
Your visa cannot outlast the holder's, so we apply again when they renew theirs.
Time outside Colombia
If you depend on an M visa, your visa ends on its own if you spend more than 180 calendar days in a row outside Colombia within each 365-day period (art. 112).
If you depend on a resident visa (R), your visa ends if you spend more than 2 years in a row outside Colombia (art. 112).
A visa of your own
If you want to work, or you no longer depend on the holder, you need a visa of your own as the main holder.
Taxes
If you spend more than 183 days in Colombia within 365, you become a tax resident, whatever your visa. Taxes for foreigners →
Questions families ask us about this visa
How long does the beneficiary visa take?
Cancillería has up to 30 calendar days to decide once the application is complete and the study fee is paid (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 13).
It can take longer if Cancillería consults other entities.
If the holder's visa is approved, is my family approved too?
No. Each family member files their own application, once the holder's visa is issued (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 93).
Each application has its own study and issuance fees, and Cancillería decides each one.
We can prepare them alongside the holder's, so they are ready to file once that visa is issued.
Which visas allow beneficiaries?
Most M visas, such as the retirement, marriage and investment visas, and the resident visa (R).
Some V visas do too, such as the digital nomad, rentista and service provider visas, among others (Resolution 5477 of 2022, arts. 46, 54 and 56).
The tourist and business visas do not (arts. 34 and 35).
Can I work on a beneficiary visa?
No. A beneficiary visa does not allow paid work (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 93).
If you plan to work, you need a different visa, and we help you choose it.
We are not married. Can my partner be my beneficiary?
Yes, as your permanent partner (Resolution 5477 of 2022, arts. 3 and 93).
You need the document that declares your union in your home country.
There is no minimum time since the union was formalized.
My child is over 25. Can they still be a beneficiary?
Only with a qualified disability that prevents financial independence (art. 93).
Otherwise they need a visa of their own, such as the student visa if they come to study.
When does a beneficiary visa end early?
When the holder's visa ends, when you stop depending on the holder, or when the marriage or union ends (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 110).
It also ends when the holder becomes a Colombian citizen, when a child turns 25 without a qualified disability, or at Cancillería's discretion.
You then have 30 calendar days to leave Colombia or apply for another visa (art. 111).
Can I stay in Colombia while it is processed?
You need to stay in the country where you applied until Cancillería decides: in Colombia if you applied from here, or abroad if you applied from there.
In Colombia, your status has to stay regular the whole time, with a valid visa, a stay permit or a safe-conduct (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 13).
We check your dates before filing, so your permit does not run out midway.
Don't see your case?
Tell us about it. In a free 15-minute call, we assess it and send you a proposal.
In-depth questions? 1-hour consultation: COP 400,000 (about USD 121).Outside what we do? We refer you to someone who does.
Visa and document costs, besides our fees
They go to Cancillería, Migración Colombia and the document issuers.
Beneficiary visa
Fixed fees
- Visa study feeCancillería · Nov 4, 2026USD 54
- Visa issuance, only if grantedCancillería · Nov 4, 2026USD 270
- Foreigner ID cardMigración Colombia, Resolution 0599 of 2026, art. 1 · Nov 12, 2026COP 294,000about USD 89
Apostilles and translations
For documents issued abroad
- Apostille of a U.S. state document, such as a pension letterUSD 160
- Apostille of a U.S. federal document, such as the FBI checkUSD 180
- Certified translation into Spanish, per pageUSD 15
We do not process apostilles ourselves.For U.S. documents, we can refer you to a company that does, at these prices.Elsewhere, each document is apostilled in its own country, and the price varies.
Your proposal adds them up for your case, together with our fees.
Who handles your case
Your visa is handled by the firm's immigration area, led by Tomás Restrepo.
- 3partners lead the legal, tax and immigration areas
- 22professionals in corporate, private, employment, intellectual property, immigration and tax law
- Medellínour own office
What our clients say
4.8
Based on 251 reviews
Google
Maria Isabel SNovember 12, 2026
Great human quality, the team was always there to solve all my questions. 100% recommend it
Nikola Tarasiuk CorreaOctober 26, 2026
Great service! Tomás who was taking care of my case was very responsive and helpful with every step of the process. Highly recommended :)
Kent MennemSeptember 17, 2026
Nexo Legal provides great services. They are extremely responsive and efficient! Highly recommended.
Joshua HarrisSeptember 14, 2026
They have been super helpful with me through multiple rounds of figuring out my visa and paying taxes. Nexo is who I go to for all my legal needs
Ken KanouseSeptember 6, 2026
I have used Nexo Legal for filing mine and my wife's Colombian income taxes the past 3 years. While I am retired and Colombia doesn't tax my retirement income, the filing still needs to be done. Each year the tax accountant requests the necessary information early so they can be filed accurately on time. They are very easy to work with, and I'd recommend using them for all you accounting and legal needs.
Chris HumphreyAugust 20, 2026
I’ve trusted Tomas and Nexo team on multiple visa applications and would highly recommend them when considering your next legal needs
daniela sanchezAugust 4, 2026
Great experience atty Tomas was very helpful in walking me through every step of the way and keeping me calm and stress free . I would highly recommend this firm with my eyes closed 🙂
Mark HarringtonJuly 31, 2026
Tomas handled my wife's visa application very professionally and was always available to address any questions or issues. Five stars
Arthur WalstonJuly 29, 2026
This was my first time working with The Nexo Firm. I have nothing but high regards for this Firm and specially for Tomas Restrepo. Tomas helped me with my visa process and communicated with me on the progress from start to finish. Plus, his English is very good so there is no language barrier. So, if your traveling aboard and you need help with the visa process, I highly recommend The Nexo Firm and Tomas Restrepo!
Shivaya GuraveJuly 22, 2026
Camila recently helped me obtain my RUT tax registration then did the necessary paperwork and filed my Colombian tax for 2025. Fast, reasonable price, in flawless English. I highly recommend her and Nexo Legal.
nicca louisJuly 7, 2026
All the way from NJ, USA this firm helped me revolve matters in Columbia so fast! I'm appreciative and glad I got the chance to work with them because I would still be fighting this legal battle if I did it on my own!
LilyJuly 6, 2026
Camila was a great accountant to work with and made filing taxes in Colombia as a digital nomad super easy! Thank you
See all 251 reviews on Google →
Client stories on video
What will happen after you fill out this form?
After you send the form, our team reviews your case and a specialist contacts you, usually within the hour during business hours, to clarify details and outline the next steps.
Nexo Legal is a private law and accounting firm, not a government office. Visa decisions are made by Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería) and tax matters are decided by the DIAN; no lawyer can guarantee the result.