Tomás Restrepo
Partner and director of the immigration department
- Specialist in Business Law
- Has led Nexo Legal's immigration practice since 2020
For foreigners who invest in Colombia
Colombia investment visa: requirements, cost and time
The Colombia investment visa is for you if you buy property or make another direct investment in Colombia.
Property has to cost about USD 185,590 or more (COP 612,816,750 in 2026).
Handled by Tomás Restrepo, partner and director of the immigration departmentReviewed on November 9, 2026
4.8 on Google · 251 reviews
Does your investment qualify for the investment visa?
The investment visa, also called the golden visa, lasts up to 3 years, and after 5 you can apply for the resident visa (R) (Resolution 5477 of 2022, arts. 79 and 90).
This is what Cancillería asks of your investment.
- Property in your name only. Your certificate of title (certificado de tradición y libertad) shows the property only in your name, with its value.
- Or another foreign direct investment. For example, a stake in a company, with a higher minimum.
- Registered with Banco de la República. As foreign investment in your name, also for a property.
- Kept while your visa lasts. You keep the investment or the property for the whole visa.
- Funds to live on. Your bank statements for the last 3 months show you can support yourself in Colombia.
- Health coverage in Colombia. Through Colombia's health system or a health policy, for your whole stay.
- It does not let you work. If you will run a business here, see how to start a business in Colombia.
What you must prove in 2026
Set by law · these are not our fees
- Minimum price of the propertyCOP612,816,750 or moreabout USD 185,590 · 350 minimum wagesSource: Cancillería, Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 79, num. 2
- Other foreign direct investmentMore than COP 1,138,088,250about USD 344,680 · 650 minimum wagesSource: Cancillería, Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 79, num. 1
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 investment visa in 4 steps
The documents set the pace, so we ask for the slowest one first.
We check your investment
We confirm how your money entered Colombia and the price on your title, 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 Banco de la República record and your certificate of title are the core of the file.
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 investment visa clients add to the visa.
A case we see often
- The purchase
A buyer paid for an apartment over two and a half years.
Each payment went to his personal bank account in Colombia.
- The gap
The apartment cost COP 527,780,253.
The 2026 minimum is COP 612,816,750. He was about COP 85 million short.
- The options
The investment visa was not possible with that apartment alone.
We reviewed his options with him.
The minimum changes every year.
We check the price and how your money comes in before you pay.
Does your property meet this year's minimum in pesos? Write to us and we will check the numbers before you sign. →
Colombia investment visa requirements: the documents
This is what Cancillería asks for the investment visa, also called the investor visa (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 79):
- Banco de la República record. The letter from its international exchange department showing the foreign investment in your name.
- Certificate of title. For property, the certificado de tradición y libertad, with the property only in your name and its value.
- 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.
If you are covered by Colombia's health system, that also meets the health requirement (art. 79).
Buying the property is a separate service. Real estate lawyer in Colombia →
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 investment visa is COP 2,435,400.
What happens after the visa
Applying again
To stay longer, we apply again before it expires, for the same fee.
Each time you apply again, you show that you kept the investment or the property during your previous visa (art. 79).
Changes to your investment
If you sell or your investment changes in any other way, you have to tell Cancillería right away (art. 79).
Time outside Colombia
You can be away up to 180 calendar days in a row, about 6 months.
If you are away longer in any of the 365-day periods counted from the day your visa was issued, your visa ends automatically (art. 65).
Your family
If they depend on you financially, 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.
Taxes
If you spend more than 183 days in Colombia within 365, you become a tax resident, whatever your visa. Taxes for foreigners →
Questions investors ask us about this visa
How long does the investment 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.
Is the minimum 350 or 650 minimum wages?
Both appear in the rule, for different investments (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 79).
350 is for property: COP 612,816,750 or more in 2026 (about USD 185,590).
650 is for other foreign direct investment, such as a stake in a company: more than COP 1,138,088,250 (about USD 344,680).
Does investing 650 minimum wages give me the resident visa directly?
No. Under the current rule, foreign direct investment of more than 650 minimum wages leads to the investment visa, which is an M visa (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 79).
The resident visa comes after 5 years on M visas such as this one (art. 90).
Having the 5 years does not make it automatic: Cancillería still decides (art. 90, par. 3).
Can I work on the investment visa?
No. The investment visa comes with no work permit (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 79).
Only some M visas carry one (art. 66).
If you will run your own company here, the business owner visa lets you work in that company only (art. 75).
For any other job, you need a different visa, and we help you choose it.
Does a property bought off-plan qualify?
Not until the deed is registered in your name.
The visa asks for the certificate of title, with the property only in your name and a value of 350 minimum wages or more (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 79, num. 2).
Banco de la República also has to show your money registered as foreign investment for the purchase (num. 2).
We check both before you file.
When I apply again, does my property have to meet the new minimum?
Each time you apply, your property is measured against the minimum wage on the day you file (art. 79, num. 2).
You also show that you kept the property during your previous visa (num. 4).
We check the price against both before you buy.
Do I need a background check?
Article 79 does not list one, but Cancillería can check your record or ask you for one from your country (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 26).
We check whether your case needs it before filing.
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.
Why do investment visa applications get inadmitted or refused?
In the cases we handle, almost all come down to 2 things: the price of the property and how the money entered Colombia.
Both are in the rule: the certificate of title shows 350 minimum wages or more, and Banco de la República registered the money as foreign direct investment (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 79).
Others are details Cancillería checks closely that are not written anywhere. We review each one before you buy.
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.
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.
Investment visa
Fixed fees
- Visa study feeCancillería · Nov 4, 2026USD 56
- Visa issuance, only if grantedCancillería · Nov 4, 2026USD 279
- 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.