Colombian Resident Visa Guide: 2023 Update

The Colombian Resident Visa attracts many travelers because it grants foreigners who meet the minimum requirements a 5-year regular stay in the country. Additionally, After five years under a Resident Visa, the foreigner can apply for citizenship or request visa renewal for another period if the foreigner does not wish to obtain citizenship.

This blog will go through updates to Resident Visas in Colombia, how to apply for a resident visa, and advice from a Colombian immigration lawyer. 

2023 Colombian Resident Visa Updates: 

Through resolution 5477 on July 22, 2022 the Colombian government introduced new changes, including: 

• The creation of new types of immigration, 
• The digital nomad visa
• The visa to promote internationalization, 
• Elimination of the resident visa for investment and changing it to a Migrant Visa
• Changes to renewal requirements 
  

We will go through these changes in more detail below. 

Direct Foreign Investment: 

Previously the law stated: 

• The foreigner who has registered with the Department of International Exchange of the Banco de la República, a direct foreign investment whose amount exceeds six hundred and fifty (650) current legal monthly minimum wages.

In other words, foreigners who invested more than 650 in minimum wages could obtain residency in Colombia.

2022 Update: 

Under the new updates, you can no longer obtain a resident visa through foreign investment without first holding a Migrant Visa. 

How to Obtain a Colombian Resident Visa Through Investment

To obtain a resident visa through investment, an individual must: 

• Invest a minimum of 350 minimum wages in a Colombian property or 100 minimum wages in an existing or newly formatted Colombian company. 
• Apply for a Colombian Migrant Visa 
• Hold this Migrant Visa for 5 years (You will need to renew it at least once)
• Apply for a Resident Visa
  

Resident Visa Renewal: 

Previously: 

Before the changes in 2022, if you held certain types of Resident Visas, you could hold the visa indefinitely without needing to renew. 

2022 Update: 

Those who have a resident visa will have to make a transfer or renovate the visa every five years. Those who have obtained this type of visa through the previous regulations must make a transfer by October 2024.

How To Transfer To The Updated Resident Visa: 

The Colombian government requires anyone with a Permanent Resident Visa to update their visa by 2024. To do this: 

• You'll need to go to Cancilleria's website. 
• You'll need to obtain and submit all the documentation.
• Submit your application 

The documents you'll need are: 

• Valid passport or travel document

• Copy of the main page of the current passport 

• Copy of the page of the passport where the last stamp of entry or exit from Colombia has been stamped 

• Copy of the visa you wish to transfer.

• Copy of the Cedula de Extranjería 

• Certificate of migratory movements issued by the Colombian Migration Special Administrative Unit, with an issue date of no more than three (3) months.

• Documentation that proves the validity of the circumstances or conditions that gave rise to the granting of an initial resident visa.

The Cancilleria will decide on your updated visa within 30 calendar days. 

Updated Types of Resident Visas: 

‍

For Resignation of Nationality Colombian Resident Visa

Every Colombian national has the power to renounce their citizenship. Since most countries only allow dual citizenship, it is common for a Colombian to explore renouncing their citizenship if they become a beneficiary of 2 other nationalities. If the foreigner wishes to obtain residency after resigning their Colombian nationality, they have to apply under this type. 

Documentation Needed:

• Copy of the act renouncing to the Colombian nationality

• Those who, as a consequence of the application of Article 9 of the Constitution of the Republic of Colombia of 1886, lost their Colombian nationality, must present a letter of naturalization in a foreign country or a document proving the acquisition of another nationality before 1991;

• Permanent Resident (R) visa application letter explaining the means of subsistence you have abroad to remain in the country. (this is saying that the foreigner needs to have money or a job)

Colombian Resident Visa By Accumulated Time Spent in Colombia

This visa type is for foreigners who have remained in Colombia as holders of a Migrant (M) visa accumulating the times indicated below. 

Accumulated time means a continuity of time when a visa has been granted before the expiration of the preceding visa. A "Salvoconducto" is not a continuity factor for calculating time accumulation.

This means that if your migrant visa expires before the renewal, then the accumulated time toward your residency visa will restart 

Required documents For A Colombian Resident Visa For Accumulated Time: 

1. White background Photo of the applicant in Digital Format
2. Copy of the first page of your passport with your information
3. If by the time of the visa application, the foreigner is in the country, a Copy of the last entry stamp to Colombia will be required or the equivalent document to prove a regular stay in the coOuntry.
4. Letter explaining the source of income for self-sustenance and that of their beneficiaries, when applicable. In this letter, we will describe how the circumstances or conditions that gave rise to granting the previous visas subject to accumulation of time are maintained.
5. Copy of the cédula de extranjería and previous visas
6. Colombian legal records
7. Proof of Compliance of the applicant's social security obligations
   

Residency by the Temporary Protection Statute for Venezuelan Migrants.

This visa is for Venezuelan citizens sheltered under a temporary protection statute for Venezuelan Migrants. Venezuelans who have been in Colombian and have completed the proper documentation are eligible for this visa. 

Visa Requirements: 

For Venezuelan citizens sheltered under the Temporary Protection Statute for Venezuelan Migrants ETPV who has been the holder of a "Permiso Especial de Permanencia (PEP)" for five years; or document that shows that you have been the holder of a "Permiso de Protección Temporal (PPT)," in force, for five years; or have completed five years of cumulative time between the previous two. ‍

Special Resident of Peace Resident Visa‍

This visa is for the foreigner who is a former member of the FARC-EP and has submitted to the Final Agreement for the Termination of Conflict and the Construction of a Stable and Lasting Peace and has transitioned to legality. 

The foreigner needs to provide a certification issued by the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace, stating the condition of having belonged to the FARC-EP and having completed laying down weapons and transitioning to legality per the list received and accepted in good faith by that office. 

All types of resident visas allow its holder to extend its benefits to beneficiaries who are relatives as long as they are economic dependents of the primary holder of a visa, and these are the spouse or permanent partner, children up to 25 years of age or child with a physical or mental disability.