Thinking about living in Colombia?  Whether you’re a retiree looking for an affordable paradise or a digital nomad seeking an exciting, low-cost base, securing a foreign permanent resident visa in Colombia is a great option.  I tell you how I did it and how you can make your dream to live abroad come true.

As always, this article is for general guidance only.  Remember, you need to do your own due diligence and seek professional advice as your situation warrants.

Step 1: Take a Scouting Trip & Get Your Entry Stamp

Before applying for any long-term visa, it is a good idea to have an idea what you are getting into.  A scouting trip also allows you to explore different cities, assess the cost of living, and ensure Colombia aligns with your lifestyle. 

Enter Colombia and receive an official entry stamp in your passport. This proves you’ve legally entered the country (and returned home) when filing your residency application.  Yes, you could just go ahead and apply and not return home, but why rush?  

Step 2: Determine the Right Visa for You

Colombia offers different visa pathways for retirees, digital nomads, spouses of Colombians, parents of Colombians, and Investors. Here are few common options:

• Retirement Visa
• Digital Nomad Visa
• Spouse Visa
• Mother or father of a Colombian national
• Investor Visa

All the above visas are explained in detail at the end of this article w/ web links.  I don’t want to put you to sleep here! 

Step 3: Gather Your Required Documents

Each visa type has specific documentation requirements. Commonly requested items include:
✅ Passport with entry stamp
✅ Visa application form (submitted online)
✅ Passport-style photo (3 cm x 4 cm in white background, jpg format,  max size of 300Kb)
✅ Proof of income (pension statements, bank statements)
✅ Health insurance covering your stay in Colombia
✅ Possibly a background check from your home country
✅ Possibly a medical certificate.

Special note:  Remember that documents notarized out of Colombia must be Apostilled and translated to Spanish. Example:  birth certificates, marriage certificates, POA forms, etc.

Step 4: Submit Your Application

The easiest thing to do is to find an immigration attorney to process your application.

Alternatively, you can apply online through Migración Colombia or visit the Colombian consulate in your home country. Once approved, you’ll receive an electronic visa that you will also print to carry with your passport for travel purposes.  

My Colombian wife was able to apply for my Father of a Colombian national visa herself online through the Colombian Consulate in Chicago.  My visa was approved the next day.

Step 5: Get Your Cédula de Extranjería (Foreigner ID Card)

After securing your visa, you must obtain a Cédula de Extranjería, the official ID for foreigners (it is like a Green Card). This must be done within 15 days of arrival in Colombia at a  Migración Colombia office. The cédula is crucial for banking, contracts, and daily life.

You must make the appointment online to go down to the government office where they will take your picture and fingerprint you.  You will also need to know your blood type, which is easily demonstrated by a blood test at any Colombian medical laborator.  

Step 6:  Pick Up your Cédula de Extranjería (Foreigner ID Card)

After doing all the paperwork at the office, you will also need to make an appointment online to pickup your ID at the same office. Your physical ID card is usually ready in about 10 business days, but depends on the backlog at the immigration office you went to.

Step 7: Register for Services

With your Cédula you can now register for Colombia basic health insurance coverage (EPS).  You can also get upgraded basic coverage.  After you get the basic health coverage then you can decide whether or not to get the private health insurance coverage that allows you to visit networked private hospitals and medical offices for a higher level of service.  

You can also get cell phone service, open bank accounts, get utilities, buy or rent properties, and pay property taxes after registering with DIAN (Colombia Tax Authority) for your tax ID # (RUT – Registro Unico Tributario). 

Final Thoughts

Colombia’s residency process is straightforward, and with proper planning, it’s a fantastic option for retirees and digital nomads seeking a stable, affordable home base. Start with a simple visit, explore your options, and take the next step toward making Colombia your new home.

See my other articles at PremierLifeBogota.com about living in Bogotá, Colombia

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Supplemental Info:  

It is strongly recommended to use an attorney who does the things you want to do everyday, as laws, policies, and procedures frequently change!  Especially for the retirement visa as the U.S. Social Security office is extremely hard to get the notarized, apostilled, and translated document without their service.  I should know,I tried twice for my parents without success.  

Then my parents successfully used Visas by James to obtain the document we originally failed to get. They then obtained the Colombian visa for them and lastly set up their appointment to get their Cédula IDś, which they got.  Payments were made via U.S. and Colombian banks. Prices were about $685 USD (2,750,000 COP) each back in 2022.  I am sure their prices have gone up like everything else.

I also happened across Colombian Visa Services which seemed to have well organized info on their website for the different common visa processes.  No recommendation given or implied for either website.

Common Visa Types:

Retirement Visa (Visa Pensionado M-Visa)

• Retirees with a steady pension such as the USA’s SSA or SSDI (disability), or a private pension fund of at least (3) times the Colombian monthly minimum salary (SMLMV), which is currently around $1,200 USD/month (2025 depending on currency fluctuations) to qualify.
• Requires a pension or Social Security statement as proof of income, that is notarized, apostilled, and translated.
• Bank statements also help demonstrate you are receiving the pension and may also be required.
• Proof of health coverage in Colombia against all risks in case of accident, illness, maternity, disability, hospitalization, death or repatriation for the time planned in Colombia.
• May be required to present apostilled criminal records for the last (3) years.
• May also be required to present a medical certificate which shows the psychophysical aptitude of the petitioner.
• Does NOT allow for work in Colombia and is typically granted for up to three years, after which you can renew or apply for permanent residency.

Digital Nomad Visa (Visa Nómadas digitales V-Visa) 

• Launched in 2023, this visa also requires proof of at least (3) SMLMV’s, which is around $1,200 USD/month (2025 depending on currency fluctuations) in income and a few additional documents
• Hold a passport issued by one of the countries exempt from short-stay visas, according to this resolution. 
• Letter in Spanish or English that proves remote work from a foreign company or freelance clients.
• Bank statements that prove (3) SMLMV’s for the last 3 months.
• Proof of health coverage in Colombia against all risks in case of accident, illness, maternity, disability, hospitalization, death or repatriation for the time planned in Colombia.
• Generally granted for up to two years and does not directly lead to permanent residency.
• Does NOT allow you to work for anybody domiciled in Colombia.
• Allows the main holder to apply for a visa for beneficiaries that include spouse or permanent partner, children up to 25 yrs old, or a child who has a physical or mental disability.

Spouse Visa (Spouse M-Visa)

• Certified copy of the Colombian marriage civil registry, issued within 3 months prior to the visa application.
• The Colombian spouse must sign a letter stating that they are living together.  The letter must clearly state the contact telephone number of the Colombian spouse, his/her physical and electronic address, and must be accompanied by a simple copy of the Colombian identity card.
• Special power of attorney, with a certificate of recognition of content and signature before a notary or Colombian consul, so that the foreign partner can request this type of visa.
• Certificate of migratory movements of the foreigner issued by the Special Administrative Unit for Migration Colombia and of his/her Colombian spouse.
• Valid for up to (3) years.

Mother or father of a Colombian national (Parent M-visa)

• Copy of Colombian birth certificate of the child.
• The Colombian parent must sign the visa request letter that states the foreign parent is fully complying with their corresponding obligations.  
• If the Colombian child is of legal age, then the child must present a signed letter with a fingerprint requesting the issuance of a parental visa for their mother or father accompanied by a photocopy of their Colombian citizenship card.
• Certificate of migratory movements of the minor’s father and mother issued by the Special Administrative Unit of Migration Colombia.
• Demonstrate financial solvency through averages in bank statements from the last 6 months, and source of income.
• Validity for up to (3) years.

Investor Visa (Visa M-Investor)

• Foreign direct investment of (650) SMLMV has been CANCELED by Resolution 5477 of 2022.
• Invest in real estate of at least (350) SMLMV in his/her name (March 2025 around $138k USD depending on currency fluctuations). 
• Bank statements from last (3) months that demonstrate financial solvency to remain in the country. 
• Proof of health coverage in Colombia against all risks in case of accident, illness, maternity, disability, hospitalization, death or repatriation for the time planned in Colombia.
• When this visa is requested second and subsequent times, you must demonstrate you maintained the investment or property for the entire validity of the previous investment visa.
• Warning:  when you are in the country for 183 days, you are not considered a foreign investor and become a tax resident.  The property value must also be above the new minimum (350) SMLMV to qualify for the visa again.

Special note:  Remember that most documents notarized out of Colombia must be Apostilled and translated to Spanish.   Other general instructions can be found here.  

As of Jan 1, 2025:

(1) SMLMV = 1,623,500 COP per month (or ~ $394 USD March 2025).

(3) SMLMV = $4870500 COP (or ~ $1200 USD March 2025)

(350) SMLMV = 568,225,000 COP (or ~ $137,500 USD March 2025)

(650) SMLMV = 1,055,275,000 COP (or ~ $255,337.16 USD March 2025)   

Important Note:  All M visas expire if the holders are absent from Colombia more than (180) continuous calendar days, during any 365 day period.

See my other articles at PremierLifeBogota.com about living in Bogotá, Colombia

Your support of this website is appreciated.

Be sure to follow me on X (Twitter) and Pinterest