The Complete 2025 Guide: Which Colombian Visa Is Right for You?

Thinking about visiting, moving, or settling in Colombia? Then you’re in the right place.

Whether you’re a digital nomad, retiree, entrepreneur, student, or starting a family—this guide will help you understand which Colombian visa fits your profile in 2025.

First Things First: Do You Even Need a Visa?

If you’re from countries like the United States, Canada, UK, EU, Japan, or Australia, you can enter Colombia without a visa and stay for up to 90 days, extendable once for a total of 180 days per calendar year.

But heads up: this is not a visa. It’s a tourist permit, and it doesn’t allow you to work or stay long-term. If you’re planning to live, study, invest, or work in Colombia—you’ll need an official visa.

General Visa Requirements for 2025

No matter the type of visa, these documents are always required:

• Valid passport (minimum 6 months before expiration)
• Digital ID-style photo (white background)
• Letter of intent (explaining your reason for staying)
• Bank statements (last 3–6 months)
• Health insurance covering your full stay in Colombia

Additional requirements vary depending on the visa type. Let’s break down your options.

How Long Are You Staying?

If you’re planning to stay…

• Less than 2 years: You’ll likely need a Visitor Visa (Type V)
• More than 2 years: A Migrant Visa (Type M) is a better fit
• Long-term/permanent: A Resident Visa (Type R) may be your goal

Visitor Visa (Type V)

Ideal for short-to-medium term stays (up to 2 years). This visa does not count toward residency.

Top V-Visas:

1. Digital Nomad Visa

• Must be from a visa-exempt country
• Income: Minimum 3 Colombian minimum wages (~4,270,500 COP ≈ $1,042 USD/month)
• Granted for up to 2 years
• Can’t work for Colombian clients or companies

2. Tourist Visa

• Required only if you’re from a visa-required country
• Stay: 90 days, extendable to 180 days/year
• Strictly for tourism, no work or study allowed

3. Student Visa

• Duration depends on program (up to 2 years)
• Must show enrollment in a recognized institution and financial support
• If enrolled in graduate studies, can work up to 20 hours/week

Migrant Visa (Type M)

For those staying longer than 2 years. This visa does count toward permanent residency. You can qualify through:

A. Family-Based Options

1. Marriage Visa

• For spouses of Colombian citizens
• Valid up to 3 years
• Path to residency after 3 years
• Includes open work permit

2. Permanent Partner Visa

• Requires 1+ year of cohabitation + notarized declaration
• Granted for 1 year (renewable)
• Path to residency after 5 years
• Includes open work permit

3. Parent of Colombian Child (biological or adopted)

• Valid up to 3 years
• Residency after 2 years
• Biological parent visa includes work permit; adoption visa doesn’t

B. Nationality-Based Options

1. Andean Community Visa (Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru)
   

   2. MERCOSUR Visa (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia)

• Both valid for 2 years (non-renewable)
• Path to residency after 2 years
• Includes open work permit

C. Investment Options

If you don’t have family in Colombia and your nationality doesn’t qualify for the special agreements we already covered, don’t worry—Colombia still offers strong visa options through investment.

Here are the two main routes:

1. Real Estate Investor Visa

If you’re planning to buy property in Colombia, this visa could be for you.

Requirements:

• Minimum investment of 350 Colombian minimum wages, which in 2025 equals 498,225,000 COP (about $105,000 USD at an exchange rate of 1 USD = 4,100 COP).
• The property must be purchased before becoming a tax resident in Colombia.
• Funds must be registered as Foreign Direct Investment through an official exchange declaration.
• The property must be in your name, and the ownership fully registered with the Banco de la República.

📌 Important: The Colombian minimum wage increases every year. It rose by 12% in 2024 and another 9% in 2025—so if you plan to reapply or qualify for residency later, your property must still meet the updated threshold.

💡 Our advice:
Invest in a property worth at least 900 million COP (around $219,500 USD) to stay ahead of inflation and future wage adjustments.

Visa Conditions:

• Granted for up to 3 years.
• Does not allow you to work in Colombia.
• You can apply for residency after 5 years of holding this visa.

2. Business Owner / Shareholder Visa

If you want to open a company or become a partner in an existing Colombian business, this visa might be your ideal fit.

Requirements:

• Minimum investment of 100 SMLMV, which in 2025 is around 427 million COP (~$104,000 USD).
• The company must be active and operational (real invoices, contracts, clients).
• You’ll need to:
  • Legally incorporate your company in Colombia.
  • Open a corporate bank account.
  • Begin operations before submitting your application.

⚠️ Again, we recommend investing more than the minimum, since thresholds rise yearly.

Visa Conditions:

• Granted for up to 3 years.
• You can work, but only within your company, and only in activities matching the business registration.
• You can apply for residency after 5 years.

• Retirees and Employees

1. Retirement Visa

If you receive a permanent pension, this visa offers a straightforward path to stay in Colombia.

Requirements:

• Monthly pension of at least 3 SMLMV, which is 4,270,500 COP (~$1,042 USD) in 2025.
• An official certificate confirming lifelong pension (public or private).
• No employment or work is allowed under this visa.

💡 Good to know: Foreign pensions are tax-exempt in Colombia up to 1,000 UVT (~49,799,000 COP, or about $12,146 USD in 2025). This threshold can change annually.

Visa Conditions:

• Granted for up to 3 years.
• You can apply for residency after 5 years.

2. Work Visa

This visa is for foreigners who are formally employed by a Colombian company.

Requirements:

• A valid employment contract.
• Proof that the company has received income exceeding 100 SMLMV in the last 6 months (~427 million COP).
• Supporting documents from the employer: bank statements, business registration, and legal existence certification.

Visa Conditions:

• Granted for up to 3 years.
• You may only work for the specific employer and role listed in the visa.
• If your role changes, you may need to modify your visa.
• Eligible for residency after 5 years.

1. Resident Visa (R) – Your Path to Permanence 

This visa is designed for those who want to make Colombia their permanent home.

But—you must first hold a Migrant Visa (M) for a minimum period, depending on your situation:

❗Important: Time must be continuous. If your visa expires or lapses between renewals, the residency clock resets.

Once eligible, you can apply for the Resident Visa, which is valid for up to 5 years and renewable. It also allows you to work and reside freely in Colombia.

F. Visa Costs in 2025 

So… how much does it actually cost to apply for a Colombian visa in 2025?

Here’s a quick breakdown of the official government fees:

F. Visa Costs in 2025 (Updated)

💱 Reference exchange rate: 1 USD = 4,100 COP (July 2025)

⚠️ Important: These are only the official fees you’ll pay to the Colombian government.
You should also budget for additional costs, which can vary based on your country of origin and visa type. These may include:

• Apostilles for foreign documents
• Certified Spanish translations
• Criminal background checks
• Civil documents like birth or marriage certificates
• Notarizations or sworn declarations
• International shipping or courier services

Each of these steps adds time and money to the process, so it’s crucial to plan ahead and factor these into your timeline and budget. If you’re unsure what your case will require, a personalized consultation is the best way to avoid mistakes.

G. Key Recommendations for 2025 

Before you dive into your visa process, here are a few tips that can make all the difference:

✔️ Stay up to date with Colombia’s minimum wage.
Most visa thresholds—like required income or investment amounts—are based on this figure, and it changes every year.

✔️ Gather your documents early.
Some essential items (like background checks, apostilles, or property deeds) can take weeks or even months to obtain.

✔️ Start the process at least 2–3 months before your planned travel or expiration date.
Colombian visa processing times typically range from 15 to 30 business days, but delays are not uncommon.

✔️ Make sure your legal status in Colombia is still valid while your new visa is being processed.
If your tourist permit or current visa expires while you’re waiting for approval, you could be fined—or even barred from future entry.

✔️ Reapplying to accumulate time for residency?
Remember: each reapplication is treated as a new visa. You must still meet the original requirements. For example:

• If you have a marriage visa, you must still be legally married to the same person.
• If you hold a real estate investor visa, you must still own the qualifying property—and it must still meet the updated value threshold.
• If you applied as a business owner, your company must still be active and in good legal standing.

Need Help Navigating the Process?

At Nexo Legal, we help people like you live, invest, and do business in Colombia—with full legal and immigration support at every step. We know the system. We know the requirements. And we know how to help you get approved.

✅ We offer personalized visa diagnoses for 2025
✅ We support you from document gathering to final approval
✅ We work with both individuals and companies

Ready to take the next step?

📩 Click here to book your 2025 visa consultation now
💬 Or send us a message and tell us more about your case.

Let’s make Colombia your new home—legally, safely, and with peace of mind.