Tomás Restrepo
Partner and director of the immigration department
- Specialist in Business Law
- Has led Nexo Legal's immigration practice since 2020
For business trips and technical visits
Colombia business visa: requirements, cost and time
The Colombia business visa is for you if you come for meetings, market research, contracts or to set up an investment, but not to work here.
You need income of about USD 5,300 a month or more (COP 17,509,050 in 2026), or a company in Colombia that backs you.
Handled by Tomás Restrepo, partner and director of the immigration departmentReviewed on November 9, 2026
4.8 on Google · 251 reviews
Do you qualify for the business visa?
The business visa lasts up to 2 years (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 35).
With it, you can spend up to 180 days in Colombia in each 365, counted from the day it was issued, with no extension.
Neither it nor the technical assistance visa counts toward the resident visa (art. 90).
This is what Cancillería asks of you.
- A business purpose. Business dealings, market research, negotiations, contracts, commercial representation, or plans to invest or set up a company.
- Why you need it. Your passport is not on the list of visa-exempt countries, or it is and you need a longer stay.
- Income, if you apply yourself. Your last 6 months of bank statements, yours or your host's, show 10 minimum wages a month or more.
- Or a company's backing. It files the application, with its last 3 months of bank statements.
- A letter about your trip. Yours or the company's, describing what you will do here and for how long.
- Technical work for a company here? The technical assistance visa covers it.
- No work. The business visa does not let you work or join social security in Colombia.
What you must prove in 2026
Set by Cancillería · these are not our fees
- Minimum monthly income, without a company backing youCOP17,509,050 or moreabout USD 5,300 · 10 minimum wages, last 6 monthsSource: Cancillería, Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 31, num. 3
Minimum wage in 2026: COP 1,750,905. It changes every January, and the threshold moves with it. Source: Decree 1469 of 2025 (the transitional Decree 159 of 2026 kept the same amount).
Checked on November 12, 2026.
How to get your business visa in 4 steps
The documents set the pace, so we ask for the slowest one first.
We check your trip
We confirm your passport, the purpose of your trip and who backs it, before we ask you for any document.
If you plan to run a company here, look at our company and visa packages.
We gather the documents with you
We tell you which documents apply, depending on whether you apply yourself or through a company.
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).
You may also need
Services our business clients add to the visa.
A case we see often
- The application
A scientist was invited by a Colombian university.
She applied for the V technical assistance visa.
- The letter
The university's letter described her as a visiting researcher.
That is a different activity from technical assistance.
- The decision
Cancillería declared the application inadmissible.
The reason: the visa type did not match her activity in Colombia.
The visa you request and the letter you attach must describe the same activity.
We check both before you file.
Does your invitation letter match the visa you plan to request? Send us the letter and we will review it before you apply. →
Colombia business visa requirements: the documents
This is what Cancillería asks for the business visa (Resolution 5477 of 2022, arts. 31, 32 and 35):
If you apply yourself
- Your letter. Who you are and what you will do: details, people, length, schedule and places.
- Your host's letter, if someone invites you. From a Colombian or a foreigner with a resident visa who covers your trip.
- Bank statements. Your last 6 months, yours or your host's.
If a company backs you
- The company's letter. Signed by its legal representative: the company, you, your activity, how long, how you are related and who pays for the trip.
- Its statement of responsibility. Signed, saying it covers your costs in Colombia.
- If it is a foreign company. Its certificate of existence and legal representation.
- Bank statements. The company's last 3 months.
A public entity does not need them.
In both cases, your passport has to be valid for 6 months or more when you apply (art. 24).
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 business visa is COP 2,091,000.
Technical assistance visa: technical work for a company in Colombia
The technical assistance visa is for you if you give technical assistance to a company in Colombia (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 49).
It lasts up to 2 years, with up to 180 days in Colombia in each 365.
It lets you work, but only on the activity in your visa and only for that company.
- The company files it. With its letter and its bank statements, as above (art. 32).
- Contract summary. Cancillería's format, signed by the company and by you.
- The contract itself, if asked. Cancillería can ask for it to check your tasks.
If your profession is regulated in Colombia, you and the company also follow its rules (art. 16).
With a visa-exempt passport, you do not need it for urgent assistance of 30 days or less, without pay in Colombia (art. 49).
If your visa is for more than 3 months, you also register it with Migración Colombia and get your foreigner ID card.
What happens after the visa
Your stay
You can enter and leave Colombia as many times as you want while the visa is valid (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 27).
If your nationality needs a visa, you cannot switch to an M or R visa from inside Colombia (art. 29).
Toward residency
To live in Colombia long term, you need an M visa.
Your family
Neither visa has beneficiaries: if your family comes with you, each of them applies for a visa of their own (arts. 35 and 49).
Questions we get about the business visa
How long does the business 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.
Do I need a business visa for meetings in Colombia?
Not if your passport is visa-exempt: business visits are covered by the permit Migración Colombia gives you at the border (Resolution 3167 of 2019, art. 13).
See the list of countries →
If your passport is exempt but you need a longer stay, the business visa is also for you (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 35).
If your nationality needs a visa, you need the business visa.
Can I start a business in Colombia with this visa?
You can take the first steps: market research, investment plans and setting up the company are covered by this visa (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 35).
To run the company and live here, look at our company and visa packages.
My company does not want to share its bank statements. Is there another way?
Yes. You can apply yourself, with your own bank statements (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 31).
If a company backs you, its statements are part of the application (art. 32).
I am coming to install or supervise machinery for a client. Which visa?
The technical assistance visa, if the work is for a company in Colombia: the company files it, with a contract summary signed by both (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 49).
Technical assistance visa →
A company in Colombia wants to pay me. Which visa?
Not the business visa, which does not let you work here (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 35).
Depending on the job, the work visa or the service provider visa may fit; for technical work, the technical assistance visa.
My application was declared inadmissible. Can I apply again?
Yes. After an inadmissible decision, you can file a new application (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 98).
A refusal is different: you leave Colombia within 30 days and wait 6 months before applying again (art. 99).
If we handle your visa, the second application carries no professional fees: we review what led to the decision and fix it before we file again.
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.
What happens when my business visa expires?
To stay longer, we apply again before it expires, for the same fee.
Once it ends, you have 30 calendar days to leave Colombia or apply for a new visa (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 111).
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.
Business visa
Fixed fees
- Visa study feeCancillería · Nov 4, 2026USD 56
- Visa issuance, only if grantedCancillería · Nov 4, 2026USD 258
- Technical assistance visa issuance, only if grantedCancillería · Nov 4, 2026USD 183
- Foreigner ID card, technical assistance visa over 3 monthsMigración 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.