Visa to Colombia

Colombia is among the countries that do not require most travelers to apply for a short-term visa. This means that you can come for tourist purposes or to visit and stay there for 90 days simply after buying tickets. But if business requires you to be in the country for more than 3 months in a row, you will still need a visa. Its design is handled by the Embassy of Colombia.

The requirements for applicants for visas to Colombia are not as strict as, for example, applicants for a Schengen visa. But it is important to properly issue and submit all necessary documents to the consulate for verification. It is allowed to fill out applications and translate documents in English or Spanish.

Freelancer Visa

After October 22, 2022, foreigners seeking to move to Colombia can apply for a freelancer or digital nomad visa for a period of 2 years. The introduction of the law on granting visas for digital nomads has made the country the third (after Argentina and Brazil) Latin American state to offer privileges to people with remote employment.

Before the advent of the Digital Nomad Visa, foreigners had access only to a standard tourist visa or "visa-free" for up to 180 days per year without the right to official employment in local companies.

Colombian politicians consider the influx of remote employees to be a great boon for the economy, since the digital nomad visa is issued to educated people with a stable income who do not intend to compete for employers with local residents. From the point of view of freelancers themselves, Colombia is attractive for its low cost of living, warm climate, accessibility and good quality of medical services, the possibility of cultural enrichment and fewer requirements that need to be met compared to obtaining Schengen and permanent residence in EU countries.

Attention

The uniqueness of the Colombian digital nomad visa lies in its accessibility not only for remote workers of foreign companies, but also for startups. For example, for novice IT entrepreneurs who intend to develop their company in the country. 

Here are the requirements that an applicant for a digital nomad visa must meet:

• The receipt of $685 or more into a bank account each month based on one family member.
• The ability to document the fact of remote work.
• Colombian health insurance. 

The authorities of the country will definitely check the freelancer's employment contracts to confirm the reality of his work. The amount of $685 is twice the average monthly income of an employee in Colombia. At the stage of obtaining a visa, it will need to be confirmed with a bank statement to demonstrate that there are sufficient funds for living.

Important

A Colombian digital nomad visa is not a basis for obtaining permanent residence. But family members of a remote employee or a startup will have the right to move to the country with him and to live together for 2 years.   

How much does a visa cost?

To apply for a visa to Colombia and properly prepare documents for verification, a traveler should focus on the following amounts:

• Tourist visa: $50-$100.
• Business visa: $200-$300.
• Student visa: $200-$300.
• Work visa: $300-$500.

Types of visas

There are 4 main types of permits in Colombia:

• Student visa is designed for students of educational institutions, universities or courses with state accreditation.
• Travel – allows you to travel around the country, but not to study or get a job in local companies.
• Business visa (for business trips) – refers to long–term, gives the holder the opportunity to repeatedly enter and leave the country within a specified period.
• Working – gives the right to legal employment in Colombian companies.

The visa fee is paid in US dollars. Payments are accepted by the consular department of the embassy. The fee is paid at the time of receipt of a passport with a stamped visa. For example, the average fee for foreigners is $40.

Student's

It is intended for people who enter the country to study short-term courses or to obtain higher education. Permit holders can learn Spanish, take professional courses, and study at a college.

An applicant for a student visa to Colombia must receive a letter from a local educational institution with an invitation to full-time study. A bank statement must be added to the enrollment notification, which will confirm the availability of funds to stay in the country until the end of the course. The application review period is 2-4 weeks.

Tourist

The most popular type of permit to enter and stay in Colombia. It is given to travelers who plan to explore the country in one entry. The maximum stay is 90 days.

If the current citizenship of a foreigner allows, then he can come to Colombia without requesting a visa at the embassy and stay in the territory of the state without violating the deadline. Otherwise, a tourist visa is required to arrive in Colombia, which is requested at the consular department of the Embassy in Moscow. It is important to provide round-trip air tickets and a work certificate indicating salary. The deadline for reviewing documents is 5-10

Business

A business visa is suitable for foreign citizens who are going to conduct business in Colombia. It is also issued by foreigners entering the country to conduct business negotiations, participate in congresses and conferences, sign contracts for the supply of products or services to local organizations.

Legal representatives, owners and full-time employees of foreign companies are eligible for a business visa. The company's field of activity is industrial production or trade. The maximum period for which a business visa to Colombia is issued is 4 years. The deadline for reviewing documents is 10-15 days.

Working

Permission is requested by people entering the country on a business trip and employed by a foreign company. A work visa allows you to officially interact with local organizations.

The basis for issuing a work visa to Colombia is an invitation from an employer and an employment contract. Together with the employee, his close relatives are entitled to move: a spouse and minor children. The validity period of the visa coincides with the duration of the business trip or the duration of the employment contract. The deadline for reviewing documents is 4-6 weeks.

Required documents

The general list of documents that you will need to obtain any type of visa to Colombia is as follows:

• Two copies of the visa application, filled out in English or Spanish.
• A passport with a validity period exceeding the period of stay in the country for 3 months or longer, 3 pages must be empty.
• Three 3x3 photos.
• Two copies of the passport.
• A bank statement confirming the availability of funds for staying in the country.
• Booking a hotel room.
• A copy of the plane ticket.

Important

Travelers and those who fly to Colombia on a short business trip or for a business event will additionally need a return ticket. 

• Applicants for a work visa should take a certificate of their position and the amount of the official salary from their company. 
• Students need an invitation letter from an educational institution.
• Digital nomads need confirmation of a minimum monthly income and a remote format of work for a foreign company or self-employment. 
• Those who travel to the country with a minor child unaccompanied by a spouse will need a written permission for the child to leave from the second parent, translated and notarized.   

Recent changes in the Colombian visa issue

After 2009, citizens of a number of countries are not required to obtain a visa to the country if they enter for tourist purposes and intend to leave after 90 days or earlier.

After 2022, all hired remote workers and startups with foreign citizenship who are able to prove financial viability for the period of residence in Colombia are entitled to apply for a two-year digital nomad visa. His spouse and children can move in with the main applicant.