ColombiaResidence permit

Migrant visa in Colombia

A residence permit for those moving to Colombia for the long term who do not meet the conditions for the resident visa. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs divides the visa into sub-categories by reason for the move: family ties with a Colombian, employment, a share in a business, an independent profession, investment, a foreign pension. Some sub-categories carry the right to work. The visa lapses if the holder is absent for a long time. Time spent on it counts towards the move to the resident visa.

Source: Cancillería de Colombia — Visa de Migrante (tipo M)

Who can obtain a migrant visa

Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs divides the migrant visa into sub-categories by reason for the move — from family ties with a Colombian and refugee status to work, business and investment. Each sub-category has its own requirements and income threshold, but the filing procedure and the fees are the same for all.

On family and humanitarian grounds

Spouse of a Colombian citizen
Permanent partner of a Colombian citizen
Parent of a Colombian citizen by adoption
Parent of a Colombian citizen by birth
Refugee
Stateless person
Migrant under the MERCOSUR agreement

On work, business and investment grounds

Employee under an employment contract
Partner or co-owner of a company in Colombia
Independent professional
Pensioner living on a foreign pension
Participant in an internationalisation support programme
Investor
Migrant under the Andean Migration Statute

When this programme is not suitable

The trip to Colombia is a short one — tourism, a brief business trip or medical treatment

The visitor visa (type V) for the specific purpose of the trip

Study on a short or medium-length programme with no intention of staying in the country

The visitor visa in the student category (type V)

A sufficient continuous period of lawful stay has already been accumulated and it is time to apply for permanent status

The resident visa (type R)

What it costs

Study of the application	56 USD
Issue of the visa	204 USD
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	260 USD

Paid separately

Apostille and official translation of documents issued abroad — Foreign documents have to be apostilled or legalised and translated into Spanish — a separate service that is not included in the Ministry's fee.

Documents to gather

The general set of documents for the migrant visa under the Ministry's rules; the particular sub-category adds its own papers (proof of relationship, employment contract, investment and so on).

The electronic visa application form
A passport valid for at least 6 months, with blank pages for the visa, and a copy of the personal data page
A digital colour photograph on a white background, face on, with a neutral expression, in a file of up to 300 KB
For those already in Colombia — a copy of the passport page with the most recent entry stamp
Documents issued abroad — with an apostille or legalisation and an official translation into Spanish (except bank statements in an official OAS language)
Documents confirming the specific ground for the chosen sub-category

How the process runs

The filing procedure under the rules of Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

1
Filing the application through the electronic platform
The applicant completes the form on the Ministry's website and uploads the documents in PDF format.
2
Paying the fee for study of the application
up to 10 calendar days
Once the documents are uploaded, the system generates a payment number. The study fee has to be paid within 10 calendar days — otherwise the application is automatically treated as withdrawn, without a separate decision by the authority.
3
Review of the application by the migration authority
up to 30 calendar days
The Ministry takes a decision within 30 calendar days of the application being filed in full and paid for; the period may be longer if consultations with other authorities are needed.
4
Paying the visa issue fee
up to 10 calendar days
After approval the visa issue fee has to be paid within 10 calendar days — if the deadline is missed, the application is likewise automatically treated as withdrawn.
5
Receiving the visa
Once payment is made the visa is issued and takes effect; its term (up to three years) runs from the date of issue.

Timelines and rights

Work

Some sub-categories carry a work permit for the whole term of the visa. The visa for the spouse of a Colombian carries an open permit for any lawful activity. The foreign national and the company that hires them comply with the labour code, the social insurance rules and the requirements for the particular profession.

Who you can bring with you

The Ministry's rules set out who can obtain a visa as a beneficiary (dependant) of the main applicant for the migrant visa.

Spouse or permanent partner of the main applicant

Issued as a beneficiary visa together with the main applicant's visa.

Children under 25

Recognised as beneficiaries where they are economically dependent on the main applicant.

Children with a disability

Treated as beneficiaries with no age limit.

Renewal and the grace period

By extension ('prórroga') the Ministry of Foreign Affairs means not lengthening the term of a visa already issued but issuing a new visa of the same type, so that the foreign national can continue the activity for which the visa was originally granted. In other words, once the term runs out a migrant visa application has to be filed again, going through payment and review a second time.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Time on an M visa counts towards the qualifying period for the R resident visa. The usual requirement is 5 years of continuous stay; the period is treated as continuous if the new visa was issued before the previous one expired.

Frequently asked questions about Migrant visa

What happens if the holder stays outside Colombia for more than 180 days?

The migrant visa automatically lapses if its holder is continuously absent from Colombia for more than 180 calendar days within any 365 days counted from the date the visa was issued.

Does the migrant visa carry the right to work?

Some sub-categories of the migrant visa include a work permit valid for the whole term of the visa. The foreign worker and the company that hires them are required to comply with Colombia's Labour Code, the social insurance rules and the requirements specific to the profession; the employer undertakes to pay for the worker and their family to return home on dismissal, cancellation of the visa, deportation or expulsion.

How long does the Ministry take to review a migrant visa application?

The migration authority has up to 30 calendar days to decide on an application that has been filed in full and paid for; the period may be longer if consultations with other authorities are required.

What happens if a fee is not paid on time?

Both the application study fee and the visa issue fee have to be paid within 10 calendar days each (from receipt of the payment details and from approval of the visa respectively). If the deadline is missed, the application is automatically treated as withdrawn, without a separate decision by the authority.

What counts as an extension of the migrant visa?

The Ministry uses the term 'extension' not for an automatic lengthening of a current visa's term but for the issue of a new visa of the same type, so that the foreign national can continue the same activity. In practice the application has to be filed again.

Who can obtain a visa as a family member of the applicant?

The beneficiaries of the main migrant visa can be the main applicant's spouse or permanent partner, children under 25 who are economically dependent on them, and children with a disability with no age limit.

Other ways to move to Colombia

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Colombia.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.