Tomás Restrepo
Partner and director of the immigration department
- Specialist in Business Law
- Has led Nexo Legal's immigration practice since 2020
For foreigners hired by a company in Colombia
Colombia work visa: requirements, cost and time
The Colombia work visa is for you if a company in Colombia hires you on a labor contract.
Your employer's income has to average about USD 53,030 a month or more (COP 175,090,500 in 2026).
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 work visa?
The work visa lasts up to 3 years, and after 5 you can apply for the resident visa (R) (Resolution 5477 of 2022, arts. 74 and 90).
This is what Cancillería asks of you and your employer.
- A labor contract. With a company or another legal entity, to work in Colombia.
- Cancillería's contract summary form. Signed by your employer's legal representative and by you.
- A letter from your employer. It explains your position and why it is hiring you.
- Your employer's income. Its bank certificates or statements for the last 4 months show a monthly average of the minimum or more.
- Your qualifications. If your profession is not regulated, your degree or your experience.
- A regulated profession needs its license. You and your employer request the permit or license from its professional council.
- Work only in that job. The visa lets you work only in the position, employer, profession or activity it was issued for.
What you must prove in 2026
Set by Cancillería · these are not our fees
- Your employer's average monthly incomeCOP175,090,500 or moreabout USD 53,030 · 100 minimum wagesSource: Cancillería, Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 74, 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 work visa in 4 steps
The documents set the pace, so we ask for the slowest one first.
We check the offer
We confirm it is a labor contract and check your employer's 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
If your profession is regulated, the license usually takes the longest.
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 work visa clients add to the visa.
A case we see often
- The first visa
A teacher worked in Colombia on a work visa.
Later, they went to a neighboring country to wait for their new documents.
- The application from there
They applied for a new work visa from that country.
Cancillería declared it inadmissible, because they did not live there.
- The next application
They filed a new application.
This time, the work visa was approved.
Where you file from matters.
From abroad, it is filed from the country where you live legally.
Got an inadmissible decision? Write to us and we will review where and how you filed →
Colombia work visa requirements: the documents
This is what Cancillería asks for the work visa, also called the Colombia work permit (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 74):
- Contract summary form. Cancillería's form, signed by the company's legal representative and by you.
- Employer's letter. Your qualifications, your duties, your training, why it is not hiring a Colombian and the number of direct jobs it creates.
- Employer's bank statements. Its last 4 months, in its name, with its average monthly income.
- Your degree or work certificates. For a profession that is not regulated, the degree apostilled or legalized and translated, or certificates of your experience.
- Professional license. For a regulated profession, the permit or license from its professional council, which you and the company request.
- Passport. Valid, with the page of your last entry stamp.
If your employer is a Colombian government entity, an international organization or a diplomatic mission, a request letter from its legal representative is enough (art. 74).
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 work 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.
Changing jobs
If you move to a new position in the same company, or the company changes its name but keeps the same tax ID, we handle it with a visa transfer (art. 105).
If you change employers, you need a new work visa.
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 people ask us about the work visa
How long does the work 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.
I have no job offer yet. Can you help me find one?
No. The work visa starts with a labor contract from a company in Colombia, and we do not find jobs or act as recruiters.
If a company asks you for a visa before it hires you, this is the visa it can back with your contract.
My employer's income is below the minimum. Is there another way?
Not with this visa: the minimum is the company's figure, not your salary, and nothing on your side replaces it (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 74).
You need a different visa, and we help you choose it.
I have a services contract, or I work on my own. Is this my visa?
No. For a services contract with a company in Colombia, you need the service provider visa.
To practice your own profession here, you need the independent professional visa.
To work remotely for companies abroad, you need the digital nomad visa.
Does the contract have to be signed before a notary?
No. Cancillería asks for its contract summary form, signed by the company's legal representative and by you (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 74).
The rule does not ask for a notary.
My profession is regulated. What do I need?
The permit or license from the professional council that regulates it in Colombia, which you and your employer request (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 74, num. 5).
When you apply for a second work visa, you present it.
We check which council and which permit your profession needs before you file.
Can I have a second job, or freelance, on the work visa?
No. The work visa gives a work permit only for the position, employer, profession or activity it was issued for (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 74).
A new position with the same employer goes through a visa transfer (art. 105).
For any other work, you need a different visa, and we help you choose it.
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.
I am the employer. What does the company do?
The company signs the contract summary form and the letter, and provides its bank statements for the last 4 months (art. 74).
Once the visa is issued, it informs Cancillería in writing of any change in your job, position or type of work (art. 82).
Why do work visa applications get inadmitted or refused?
In the cases we handle, almost all come down to 2 things: what the employer's documents say, and whether the employer meets the rule.
Some are in the rule itself: the employer's letter explains your role, your training and why it is not hiring a Colombian for it (Resolution 5477 of 2022, art. 74).
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.
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.
Work 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.