Moving to Colombia 2026: Visas, Fees, First Steps
Moving to Colombia means choosing a visa category before anything else. Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería) issues Visitor visas for temporary stays such as remote work or living on income from abroad, Migrant visas for people who aim to settle, and Resident visas for those who want to stay permanently. This guide sets out the routes people ask about most, including the rules for Americans, with the income thresholds, fees and deadlines as published by the Cancillería and read on 14 October 2026.
Quick answer
A US citizen can enter Colombia without a visa for a short stay, as long as the stay generates no pay in Colombia, and can move there with a visa. The digital nomad visa runs for up to two years and needs income of at least 3 legal monthly minimum wages. The pensioner visa runs for up to three years and needs a lifetime pension of at least 3 minimum wages. The Visa Authority has up to 30 calendar days to respond, and a visa valid for more than three months must be registered with Migración Colombia within 15 calendar days.
Can a US citizen move to Colombia?
Yes. The United States is on the Cancillería's List A, the passports exempt from a visa for short stays. That covers activities such as business, leisure, tourism or cultural interest, and only where they do not generate payment for services, a salary or wages in Colombia. Living in Colombia beyond a short stay needs one of the visas below.
- Remote workers without a visa: the Cancillería states that digital nomads and remote workers of visa-exempt nationalities may enter with an entry permit, provided their stay generates no payments from Colombian companies and is not longer than 90 days, which can be extended to a maximum of 180 days, continuous or not, in a calendar year.
- Applying from inside Colombia: you must be in regular migration status, and you attach the passport page with your most recent entry stamp.
- Applying outside your own country: a List A national who applies in a state other than their country of nationality attaches the document that shows their status in that state.
The visa routes compared
| Route | Who it is for | Money test | Validity | Work in Colombia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor - Digital nomad | Remote work from Colombia exclusively for foreign companies, or starting a digital content or IT venture | Bank statements showing income of at least 3 legal monthly minimum wages over the last 3 months | Up to two (2) years | No paid activity with a person or entity domiciled in Colombia |
| Visitor - Rentista | Foreigners who receive a periodic and variable income from a lawful, provable source | Income of no less than 10 legal monthly minimum wages | Up to two (2) years | Not allowed |
| Migrant - Pensioner | Foreigners with constant monthly income from a pension granted by a state or a private pension fund | Lifetime pension of no less than 3 legal monthly minimum wages | Up to three (3) years | Not allowed |
| Migrant - Worker | Foreigners who will work for a legal entity under an employment contract | Employer's statements showing average monthly income of 100 minimum wages | Up to three (3) years | Only for the position and employer granted |
The Cancillería also lists a Migrant category for partners or owners, for foreigners who have set up a company or bought into a trading company in operation, with paid-in capital or a registered investment of no less than 100 legal monthly minimum wages.
The thresholds are expressed in multiples of Colombia's legal monthly minimum wage (SMMLV), so the peso amount changes when the wage is reset. For the job route in detail, see our Colombia work visa guide.
The digital nomad visa in detail
- Passport: you must hold a passport from one of the countries or territories exempt from a short-stay visa.
- Proof of work: a letter in Spanish or English from the foreign company or companies you work for, stating the type of relationship and of pay. A contract, if you have one. Owners show that they are a partner or co-owner of a company abroad.
- Entrepreneurs: a motivation letter explaining the venture and the financial and human resources behind it.
- Health cover: a policy valid in Colombia against all risk for accident, illness, maternity, disability, hospitalisation, death or repatriation, for the planned length of stay.
- Family: beneficiaries of the main holder can apply.
Retiring to Colombia: the pensioner visa
- Pension certificate: proof of a monthly lifetime pension of no less than three (3) legal monthly minimum wages, issued by the competent body and apostilled and translated, or issued by the diplomatic or consular mission of the country that pays the pension.
- Background certificate: a judicial, criminal or police record from the country where you have lived for the last three (3) years, apostilled or legalised and officially translated into Spanish.
- Medical certificate: issued by the Colombian authority or the health authority of your country of origin, showing that you are physically and mentally fit.
- Health cover in Colombia, or a health policy with the all-risk cover described above.
- Limits: the visa does not allow work in Colombia, and it does not allow the holder to join the Colombian social security system, except as provided in bilateral or multilateral agreements.
- Residence: time as holder counts toward the Resident visa after a minimum of 5 years.
What the visas cost
| Category | Study, Colombia and rest of the world | Visa, Colombia and rest of the world | Study and visa, Europe and Cuba |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor - Tourism | USD 56 | USD 82 | EUR 44 and EUR 63 |
| Visitor - Digital nomad | USD 56 | USD 183 | EUR 44 and EUR 141 |
| Visitor - Rentista | USD 56 | USD 183 | EUR 44 and EUR 141 |
| Migrant - Pensioner | USD 56 | USD 279 | EUR 44 and EUR 191 |
| Migrant - Worker | USD 56 | USD 279 | EUR 44 and EUR 191 |
| Resident - Accumulated time | USD 56 | USD 408 | EUR 44 and EUR 314 |
The study fee is not refundable and does not commit the Visa Authority to granting the visa. For a full move budget, see our cost of moving to Colombia.
How the application works
- Fill in the online form on the Ministry's website and attach the documents as PDF files and a JPG photograph. The Cancillería describes the procedure as 100% virtual.
- Pay the study fee within ten (10) calendar days.
- Wait up to thirty (30) calendar days for the decision. It can take longer if other entities are consulted.
- Pay the visa fee within ten (10) calendar days of approval.
- Receive the electronic visa by email.
Your passport must be valid for at least six (6) months at the time of application. Documents issued abroad must be apostilled or legalised, and translated where needed.
First steps after you arrive
- Register the visa. Holders of a visa valid for more than three (3) months register with the Foreigners' Register of Migración Colombia within fifteen (15) calendar days of entry, or of issue if the visa was obtained inside Colombia.
- Apply for the cédula de extranjería. Adults, and minors from the age of 7, who hold such a visa as main holder or beneficiary must apply for this foreigner's ID card, issued by Migración Colombia.
- Watch your absences. A Migrant visa lapses if the holder is away for more than 180 continuous calendar days within each 365 days counted from the issue of the visa.
Our first steps after moving to Colombia checklist covers the weeks after landing.
Staying permanently
- Resident visa (type R): for the foreigner who wants to settle permanently in Colombia. It grants an open work permit.
- By accumulated time: holders of Migrant visas qualify after the minimum time set for their category. For worker, pensioner, partner or owner and independent professional the Cancillería lists 5 years.
- Upkeep: the visa must be transferred every five (5) years, and it lapses if the holder is away from Colombia for two consecutive years.
Frequently asked questions
Can a US citizen move to Colombia?
Yes, with a visa that fits the purpose, such as the digital nomad, rentista, pensioner or worker category. US passport holders are exempt from a visa only for short stays that generate no pay in Colombia.
How long can an American stay in Colombia without a visa?
For visa-exempt remote workers the Cancillería describes an entry permit of not more than 90 days, extendable to a maximum of 180 days, continuous or not, in a calendar year.
How much income do I need for Colombia's digital nomad visa?
Bank statements showing income of at least three legal monthly minimum wages over the last 3 months, plus a health policy valid in Colombia.
Can I retire to Colombia?
The pensioner visa is for foreigners with a lifetime monthly pension of no less than three legal monthly minimum wages. It is valid for up to three years and does not allow work.
How long does a Colombian visa take?
The Visa Authority has up to 30 calendar days to respond after the study fee is paid, and longer if it needs to consult other entities.
Do I need a cédula de extranjería?
Yes, if you are an adult, or a minor from the age of 7, holding a visa valid for more than three months. Some Visitor visa activities are not required to apply for it.
When can I become a permanent resident of Colombia?
Through the Resident visa by accumulated time. For the worker and pensioner categories the minimum is 5 years as holder of the Migrant visa.
Official sources
- Cancillería de Colombia — Types of visa (Spanish)
- Cancillería de Colombia — Do I need a visa? (Spanish)
- Cancillería de Colombia — ABC of visas (Spanish)
- Cancillería de Colombia — Visa costs (Spanish)
- Cancillería de Colombia — Visa frequently asked questions (Spanish)
All thresholds, fees and deadlines verified against the official sources above on 14 October 2026. Information, not legal advice.