Tomás Restrepo
Partner and director of the immigration department
- Specialist in Business Law
- Has led Nexo Legal's immigration practice since 2020
For the unmarried partner of a Colombian
Colombia permanent partner visa: requirements, cost and time
The Colombia permanent partner visa is for you if you live with a Colombian in a common-law union (unión marital de hecho), without being married.
Your union has to be formalized for more than 1 year when you apply.
Handled by Tomás Restrepo, partner and director of the immigration departmentReviewed on November 9, 2026
4.8 on Google · 251 reviewsImmigration, tax and real estate under one roofOffice in El Poblado, Medellín
Do you qualify for the permanent partner visa?
The permanent partner visa lasts up to 1 year, and after 5 you can apply for the resident visa (R) (Resolution 5477 of 2022, arts. 68 and 90).
This is what Cancillería asks of you, and of your Colombian partner.
- A formalized union. Declared by public deed before a notary, a court ruling or a conciliation record.
- Counted from the document. The year runs from the date the union was formalized, not from when you moved in together.
- A letter from your partner. Asking for your visa.
- Migration records for both of you. A Migración Colombia certificate for you and your partner.
- It lets you work. In any lawful activity, for as long as the visa lasts.
- Living together is not enough on its own. If your union is not formalized, this visa is not available to you.
What you must prove
- Time since the union was formalizedMore than 1 yearCounted on the day you apply.Source: Cancillería, Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 68, num. 1
- Maximum age of the union document3 monthsWhat counts is the issue date of the copy, or of its certificate of validity.Source: Cancillería, Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 68, num. 1
Checked on November 12, 2026.
How to get your permanent partner visa in 4 steps
The documents set the pace, so we ask for the slowest one first.
We check your union
We confirm how and when it was formalized, before we ask you for any document.
Not formalized yet, or not a year old? Marrying here has no waiting period for the visa.
We gather the documents with you
Your partner signs the letter.
We help you prepare the proof of your life together that Cancillería can ask for.
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 clients with a Colombian partner add to the visa.
A case we see often
- The union
A couple formalized their common-law union in March 2026.
A few months later, they asked us about the permanent partner visa.
- The rule
The visa asks for a union formalized for more than 1 year on the day you apply.
Their document was only 3 months old.
- The wait
To apply, they had to wait until March 2027.
Her days in Colombia as a tourist would run out long before that.
The year the visa asks for starts counting the day you formalize the union.
When was your union formalized? Write to us and we will tell you when you can apply. →
Colombia permanent partner visa requirements: the documents
This is what Cancillería asks for the permanent partner visa, also called the common-law partner visa (M) (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 68):
- Proof of the union. A copy of the public deed, the court ruling or the conciliation record that declares it, or its certificate of validity. The union has to be formalized for more than 1 year.
- Letter from your Colombian partner. Asking for your visa, stating you live together, and promising to report any change, with their contact details and a copy of their ID.
- Migration records. Yours and your partner's, issued by Migración Colombia.
- Special power of attorney. The one your partner grants you to apply for the visa, with the signature acknowledged before a notary or a Colombian consul (art. 68).
- Passport. Valid, with the page of your last entry stamp.
Cancillería can also check your criminal record, or ask you for a background check from your country of nationality or residence (art. 26).
We tell you before filing which extra documents 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 permanent partner 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.
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).
If the union ends
If your union ends, or you stop living together, your permanent partner visa ends early (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 109).
Your Colombian partner has to report it to Cancillería (art. 81).
You then have 30 days to leave Colombia or apply for another visa (art. 111).
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 couples ask us about this visa
How long does the permanent partner 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.
We have lived together for years. Do we still have to wait a year?
Yes. The year counts from the date your union was formalized, not from when you started living together (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 68).
If it is not formalized yet, the count starts on the day you formalize it.
We can formalize it with you before a notary, and tell you the date you can apply.
Should we marry instead?
The marriage visa leads to the resident visa (R) after 3 years, and this one after 5 (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 90).
The marriage visa also has no 1-year wait (art. 67).
Marriage visa →
Our union was registered abroad. Does it count?
It depends on where you apply.
At a Colombian consulate, you can use a document that proves the union under the laws of the place where it was declared (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 68).
If you file from Colombia, the union has to be declared in Colombia: a document from abroad is not accepted.
What proof of our relationship can Cancillería ask for?
It can 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. 68).
It can make these requests up to 3 times (art. 19).
We can help you prepare that proof before filing.
My visa lasts a year. Does a gap between visas affect residency?
It can. Your time counts as continuous only if each new visa is granted before the previous one expires (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 90).
A safe-conduct does not count as continuity, so we file well before your visa ends.
My partner is not Colombian. Which visa fits?
This visa is only for the partner of a Colombian (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 68).
If your partner holds a Colombian visa that allows it, you can join them on a beneficiary visa (art. 93).
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 permanent partner visa applications get inadmitted or refused?
In the cases we handle, almost all come down to 2 things: the union document and the time since it was formalized.
Both are in the rule: the union was formalized more than 1 year before you apply, and the document or its certificate of validity was issued within the last 3 months (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 68).
Others are details Cancillería checks closely that are not written anywhere. We review each one before filing.
A refusal is different from an inadmissible decision: 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.
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.
Permanent partner 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.