Santiago Arroyave
Partner and director of the legal department
- Specialist in Business Law
- Specialist in Financial Law, Universidad EAFIT
For the spouse or partner of a Colombian
Marriage visa Colombia and getting married here
The Colombia marriage visa (M) is for you if you are married to a Colombian, with the marriage registered in Colombia.
Not married yet? We guide you through the civil marriage and the prenup first, then we apply for the visa.
Handled by Santiago Arroyave (marriage) and Tomás Restrepo (visa)Reviewed on November 9, 2026
4.8 on Google · 251 reviews
Do you qualify for the marriage visa?
The marriage visa lasts up to 3 years, and after 3 years with it you can apply for the resident visa (R) (Resolution 5477 of 2022, arts. 67 and 90).
What the visa asks of you, and of your Colombian spouse.
- Married to a Colombian national. And still married when you apply.
- Marriage registered in Colombia. If you married abroad, we register it here first.
- You live together. Your Colombian spouse signs a letter saying so, with a copy of their ID.
- Migration records for both of you. A Migración Colombia certificate for you and your spouse.
- It lets you work. From the day it is issued, in any lawful activity.
- Not married yet? You can get married here in Colombia first.
What you must prove
- Maximum age of the marriage registry copy3 monthsWhat counts is the issue date of the copy, not the wedding.Source: Cancillería, Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 67, num. 1
The marriage visa has no income or investment threshold.
Checked on November 12, 2026.
How to get your marriage visa in Colombia in 4 steps
Already married? Once your marriage is registered in Colombia, you start at step 3.
We go over the prenup with you
We explain what it protects and draft it if you decide to sign one, always before the wedding.
Without one, a joint marital estate (sociedad conyugal) applies by default.
We prepare your marriage before a notary
We gather the documents with you and file them with the notary, who sets the date.
Your wedding is usually 3 to 4 weeks after that.
We file your marriage visa
Online, whether you are in Colombia or abroad. Cancillería studies it and decides.
Once it is granted, we tell you how to get your foreigner ID card.
We review your taxes with you
If you spend more than 183 days in Colombia within 365, you become a tax resident.
From then on, our tax team can file your return each year it applies to you.
Choose your package
2 packages to marry here and get the visa.
Core package
Everything you need to marry in Colombia and get the marriage visa.
TotalCOP 6,521,895
about USD 1,980 · our fees
Ask about the core packageIncludes
- Civil marriage before a notary Documents, filing at the notary and the date
- Prenuptial agreement Capitulaciones, signed before the wedding
- Marriage visa Filed online, from Colombia or abroad
- Migration records for both of youMigración Colombia certificate, for you and your spouse
If your first visa application is not approved, the next one carries no professional fees.
Most complete
Full package
The core package plus tax planning, so you are ready for your next tax year.
TotalCOP 10,216,305
about USD 3,090 · our fees
Ask about the full packageEverything in Core, plus:
- Your personal tax planning Your income from Colombia and abroad, arranged as efficiently as the law allows
- Tax projection, included in the planning An estimate of your Colombian taxes, made with the planning
If your first visa application is not approved, the next one carries no professional fees.
Individual services
Services you add only if you need them.
FromCOP 615,000
from about USD 186
Ask about a serviceAvailable services
- Registering a marriage from abroadCOP 615,000about USD 186Before the visa, if you married abroad
- Marriage visa COP 2,885,400about USD 874If you are already married
Includes the migration records for both of you - Health insurance for your visa Optional: the visa does not require it, but it is important to have. From USD 435 a year, paid to the insurer
- Income tax return COP 808,110about USD 245Each year it applies
- Will under Colombian lawCOP 4,202,172about USD 1,270For what you own in Colombia
Need only part of a package?
Tell us which services you need, and we quote just those.
Notary, translation and official fees are paid to third parties.
A case we see often
- The documents from home
The foreign partner brings a single status certificate, signed before a notary.
It has no apostille.
- At the notary
A document from abroad needs its apostille to count here.
Without it, the notary cannot set the date.
- What it cost them
The certificate went back to the home country for the apostille.
The wedding, and the visa after it, were pushed back by weeks.
The document was real.
It was not valid here yet.
Gathering documents from abroad? Write to us and we will check them before you travel →
Getting married in Colombia as a foreigner
The civil marriage is performed by a notary, not by us. What we do is make sure you reach the notary with a complete file, so the date does not move, and explain the legal effects of marrying before you sign. We do not organise symbolic ceremonies.
Who can marry here
At least one of you must be Colombian. If you are both foreigners, a Colombian notary cannot marry you.
If one of you is abroad
One of you has to be in Colombia. The other can act through a power of attorney, which is valid for only one of the two and is translated in Colombia.
The prenuptial agreement (capitulaciones)
In Colombia a prenuptial agreement is called capitulaciones. Without one, a joint marital estate (sociedad conyugal) applies by default, and changing that later takes a public deed and both signatures. It is signed before a notary, before the wedding.
- Total: every asset each of you holds is excluded.
- Partial: you choose which assets stay out and which you share.
Capitulaciones signed in Colombia cover assets in Colombia: houses, vehicles, bank accounts and investments.
Assets held abroad may need their own agreement in that country.
The permanent partner (compañero permanente) route
If you live with your Colombian partner and do not plan to marry, the alternative is a common-law union (unión marital de hecho) and, after it, the permanent partner visa. Living together is not enough on its own: the union has to be formalised by a public deed before a notary, a court ruling or a conciliation record.
- You can request the visa only once the union has been formalised for more than 1 year.
If the 1-year wait does not work for your plans, marriage has no minimum waiting period for the visa. We look at both options with you in the assessment.
Requirements to get married in Colombia as a foreigner
This is what a notary generally asks for:
- The birth certificate of each of you
- Proof of single status
- The passport or ID of both of you
- 2 witnesses
- A power of attorney, if one of you cannot be in Colombia
Each notary asks for something more and sets its own conditions, such as how recent the documents must be and how foreign ones are legalized. At Nexo Legal, in Medellín, Santiago Arroyave, partner and director of the legal department, reviews with you the exact list for your notary and prepares the file. The core package, with the marriage, the prenup and the marriage visa, costs COP 6,521,895 in fees.
Documents for the marriage visa
This is what Cancillería generally asks for:
- Your valid passport
- The Colombian marriage registry
- A letter from your Colombian spouse, with a copy of their ID
- A power of attorney from your spouse
- The migration records of both of you
- Your criminal record check, if Cancillería asks for it
- Health coverage in Colombia (optional). The marriage visa does not require it, but it is important to have: see our health insurance for your visa.
How recent each document must be and how foreign ones are legalized depend on your case. At Nexo Legal, in Medellín, Tomás Restrepo, partner and director of the immigration department, gives you the exact list, reviews each document and files your application. Our fee for the marriage visa alone is COP 2,885,400, with the migration records of both of you.
What happens after the visa
Working and living here
The marriage visa lets you work in Colombia from the day it is issued.
If the marriage ends
If you divorce or separate, your marriage visa ends early (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 109).
Your Colombian spouse has to report it to Cancillería (art. 81).
You then have 30 days to leave Colombia or apply for another visa.
If it is not reported, Cancillería can cancel your visa, and a cancellation keeps you from getting new visas of any type for 1 to 10 years (art. 114 and 116).
Questions couples ask us
How long does the marriage 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.
Will Cancillería ask for proof that our marriage is real?
It can. Cancillería may ask for more proof that you live together, or call you to an interview in person, by video or by phone (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 67).
We prepare that proof with you before filing.
Why do marriage visa applications get delayed or refused?
In the cases we handle, almost all come down to 2 things: the marriage registry and the documents from your spouse.
Some are in the rule itself: the Colombian marriage registry is issued within the 3 months before you apply, and your spouse signs the request letter with their contact details and ID (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 67).
Others are details Cancillería checks closely that are not written anywhere. We review each one before filing.
If your visa is denied, you can file a new application only after 6 months, from your home country (Resolution 5477 of 2022, 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 apply from abroad, or stay in Colombia while it is processed?
Both work. Once you file, you need to stay in the country where you applied until Cancillería decides. If your current permit runs out before the decision, we assess how to keep you in legal status.
Can I spend long periods outside Colombia?
Yes, up to 180 calendar days in a row, about 6 months.
If you are away longer, within each 365-day period counted from the day your visa was issued, your visa ends automatically (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 65).
We married abroad. Can I apply for the visa right away?
Not yet. First we register it in the Colombian civil registry, and then we file your visa.
We had a religious wedding. Does it count for the visa?
Not on its own. Without an entry in the Colombian civil registry, it does not count for this visa.
We are both foreigners. Can we get married in Colombia, on San Andrés for example?
A Colombian notary can marry you only if at least one of you is Colombian.
That applies anywhere in Colombia, San Andrés included.
My country does not issue a certificate of single status. What then?
An equivalent is used, such as a sworn declaration of single status (Decree 2668 of 1988, art. 4). We tell you which one works in your case and prepare it with you.
Is a civil marriage the same as a common-law union (unión libre)?
No. A civil marriage is celebrated before a notary and leads to the marriage visa. A common-law union has to be formalised separately and leads to the permanent partner visa, which you can request only 1 year after the union is formalised.
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.
Notary, document and visa costs, besides our fees
They go to the notary, the document issuers and government offices.
Getting married
Approximate, paid to the notary and the registry
- Civil marriageCOP 900,000about USD 273
- Prenuptial agreementCOP 800,000about USD 242
- Both togetherCOP 1,700,000about USD 515
Marriage 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
Documents we help you get
Starting in Medellín
- FBI background check, done with us in MedellínCOP 1,476,000about USD 447Our fee: fingerprints, shipping, apostille and translationThe price can vary with your situation: in another city, for example, it can cost more.Faster processing by the FBI costs extra.If the FBI rejects the fingerprints, they are taken and sent again, at a new cost.
Apostilles and translations
For documents issued abroad
- Apostille of a U.S. state document, such as a birth or single status certificateUSD 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
Getting married in Colombia and getting your visa brings together 3 areas of the firm: legal, for the marriage and the prenup; immigration, for your visa; and tax, for your taxes. Each one is led by a partner.
Tomás Restrepo
Partner and director of the immigration department
- Specialist in Business Law
- Has led Nexo Legal's immigration practice since 2020
Mauricio Naranjo
Partner and director of tax and accounting
- Master’s in Procedural Law
- Specialist in Tax Law, Universidad Externado de Colombia
- 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 notary or a government office. Marriages are performed by the notary, and visa decisions are made by Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería). No lawyer can guarantee the result.