Tomás Restrepo
Partner and director of the immigration department
- Specialist in Business Law
- Has led Nexo Legal's immigration practice since 2020
For remote workers paid from abroad
Colombia digital nomad visa: requirements, cost and time
The Colombia digital nomad visa is for you if you work remotely for companies outside Colombia, as an employee or a freelancer.
Your income has to be about USD 1,590 a month or more (COP 5,252,715 in 2026).
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 digital nomad visa?
The digital nomad visa lasts up to 2 years (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 46).
Time on it does not count toward the resident visa (art. 90).
This is what Cancillería asks of you.
- A visa-exempt passport. Your country is on Cancillería's list of countries exempt from a short-stay visa.
- Remote work for companies abroad, or a digital business you are starting. As an employee, a contractor, a partner or a freelancer.
- A letter from each company. In Spanish or English, with your relationship to it and how you are paid.
- If the company is yours, or you are starting one. Proof that you are a partner or co-owner and work for it remotely, or a letter explaining your project.
- Income in your bank statements. Your statements for the last 3 months show income of 3 minimum wages or more.
- A health policy. Valid in Colombia for your whole stay. See our travel insurance →
- No pay from Colombia. You cannot work for, or be paid by, people or companies in Colombia.
What you must prove in 2026
Set by Cancillería · these are not our fees
- Minimum monthly incomeCOP5,252,715 or moreabout USD 1,590 · 3 minimum wagesSource: Cancillería, Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 46, num. 4
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 digital nomad visa in 4 steps
The documents set the pace, so we ask for the slowest one first.
We check your profile
We confirm your passport, your work and your last 3 months of income, before we ask you for any document.
If it does not qualify, we explore other ways for you to live in Colombia.
We gather the documents with you
The letter from your employer usually takes the longest.
It can be in English, and so can your bank statements.
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 our digital nomad clients add to the visa.
A case we see often
- The first application
A remote worker applied on their own.
Cancillería declared it inadmissible.
- What we found
Two of their last 3 months cleared the minimum.
In the third, their pay was well below it.
- The second application
We waited for the next bank statement.
With 3 months above the minimum, the visa was approved.
Each of the last 3 months counts.
We check them one by one before filing.
Applied on your own and got an inadmissible? Write to us and we will review what you filed →
Colombia digital nomad visa requirements: the documents
This is what Cancillería asks for the digital nomad visa, also called the remote work visa (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 46):
- Letter from each company. In Spanish or English, with your relationship to it and how you are paid. Add your contract if you have one.
- If you own the company. Proof that you are a partner or co-owner of a company abroad, and a letter saying you work for it remotely.
- If you are starting a digital business. A letter explaining your project and the money and people you count on.
- Bank statements. Your last 3 months.
- Health policy. Valid in Colombia for your whole stay, covering accident, illness, maternity, disability, hospitalization, death and repatriation.
- Passport. Valid, with the page of your last entry stamp.
Cancillería can also ask you for a background check from your country, and for other documents the rule does not list (arts. 19 and 26).
We tell you before filing which ones your case needs.
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 digital nomad visa is COP 2,091,000.
What happens after the visa
While your visa is valid
You can live in Colombia and travel in and out as often as you want.
If you want to stay longer
Your taxes
If you spend more than 183 days in Colombia within 365, you become a tax resident, even if your income comes from abroad.
Your family
Your spouse or permanent partner and your children up to 25, or of any age with a disability, can join you on a beneficiary visa, if they depend on you financially.
Questions remote workers ask us about this visa
How long does the digital nomad 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 digital nomads pay taxes in Colombia?
Your days decide it, not your visa.
If you spend more than 183 days in Colombia within 365, you become a tax resident, and you declare your income from Colombia and abroad (Tax Code, arts. 9 and 10).
Taxes for foreigners →
Can I work for Colombian clients or companies?
No. On the digital nomad visa, your employer, your clients and your pay all have to be outside Colombia (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 46).
If you want to work for someone here, you need a different visa, and we help you choose it.
Can my income come from several companies?
Yes. The letter can come from one or several companies abroad (art. 46).
Each one sends its letter, and together they add up to the minimum or more.
Which passports qualify?
Those of countries whose citizens do not need a visa for a short stay in Colombia (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 46).
Cancillería sets that list by resolution, and it can change.
See the list of countries →
If your passport is not on it, this visa is not available, and we look at other routes with you.
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.
Why do digital nomad visa applications get inadmitted or refused?
In the cases we handle, almost all come down to 3 things: how your income is proven, what your company's letter says, and documents from abroad.
Some are in the rule itself: the letter states your relationship to the company and how you are paid, your bank statements show income of 3 minimum wages or more during the last 3 months, and the health policy covers repatriation (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 46).
Others are details Cancillería checks closely that are not written anywhere. We review each one before filing.
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 digital nomad 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).
Can I work remotely from Colombia without this visa?
Yes, for a short stay, if your passport is visa-exempt and no company in Colombia pays you (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 46).
You stay on the permit Migración Colombia gives you at the border: 90 days, which can be extended up to 180 days in the calendar year.
To stay longer, you need the digital nomad visa.
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.
Digital nomad visa
Fixed fees
- Visa study feeCancillería · Nov 4, 2026USD 56
- Visa issuance, only if grantedCancillería · Nov 4, 2026USD 183
- 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.