Colombian Visa Services
Colombia Parent Visa
Parent Visa · For Parents of Colombian Nationals

Colombia Parent Visa

If your child is a Colombian citizen — by birth or adoption — you may qualify for a Colombian Migrant visa that lets you live in Colombia long-term, with an accelerated path to the Resident (R) visa.

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Daniela Córdoba

Written and reviewed for accuracy by

Daniela Córdoba — Lead Attorney, Colombian Visa Services

  • 1,400+ Clients Supported
  • Bilingual Legal Team
  • Fully Virtual Process
  • Direct Attorney Support

Overview

Quick Answer

Colombia's parent visa (M-2) allows the foreign parent of a Colombian citizen child to establish legal long-term residence in Colombia. The qualifying tie is the child's Colombian citizenship — established by birth (born in Colombia, or born abroad to a Colombian parent and registered with the Colombian civil registry) or by adoption.

The M-2 is a Migrant (M) visa. After two continuous years on the M-2, you qualify for the Resident (R) visa — one of the fastest pathways in Colombian immigration law.

Who This Visa Is For

Is the Colombia Parent Visa right for you?

The M-2 is specifically for the foreign parent of a Colombian citizen child. The qualifying tie is your child's Colombian nationality — nothing else substitutes.

Foreign parent of a Colombian citizen child

You are a foreign national. Your child is a Colombian citizen — by birth (born in Colombia, or born abroad to a Colombian parent and properly registered with the Colombian civil registry) or by adoption. You want to live in Colombia long-term. The key document is the child's Colombian birth certificate (or, if the child is an adult, their Colombian cédula) — since the child is Colombian, this document is Colombian too, so no apostille or foreign translation is required.

The M-2 requires your child to be a Colombian citizen. A child who merely holds a Colombian visa or residency permit — but is not a Colombian national — does not create M-2 eligibility. If your child is a Colombian resident but not yet a citizen, other pathways may apply. Contact us before you start gathering documents.

Requirements

What you'll need to prepare

Valid passport

Must be valid for at least six months beyond your application date. At least two blank pages required.

Proof of the parent-child relationship (child's document)

The document depends on the child's age. If the child is a minor: a copy of the child's Colombian birth certificate. If the child is an adult: a copy of the child's Colombian cédula. Since the child is Colombian, this document is issued by Colombia — no apostille or foreign translation is required.

Proof of financial means

Documentation showing you can support yourself in Colombia — bank statements, pension records, investment account statements. There is no published hard minimum, but the documentation must be credible and current.

International health insurance

Coverage valid in Colombia for the full duration of the visa. Standard travel insurance does not satisfy this requirement.

We guide you through preparing and validating every required document to help avoid delays or rejections.

Requirements may vary based on individual circumstances and current Colombian immigration regulations.

A note on background checks.

A criminal background check is only a formal requirement for the pension (retirement) visa. But as Colombia tightens security and immigration screening, Cancillería is increasingly requesting a police or criminal record certificate on other visa types too — even where it isn't formally listed. We recommend having a recent one ready, apostilled and translated into Spanish, so a request doesn't hold up your application. We'll tell you whether your case is likely to need one.

Most delays happen before the application is submitted

We review every apostille, translation, and supporting document with you before filing — catching the issues that cause Cancillería to send the case back.

See how the process works

The Process

A clear path from consultation to approval

We guide you through every step. No surprises, no confusing paperwork, no figuring it out on your own.

See how we navigate the Cancillería process with hundreds of clients each year.

  1. Confirm eligibility

    We confirm that your child is a Colombian citizen and identify which of the child's Colombian documents you will use as proof of the parent-child relationship — birth certificate if the child is a minor, cédula if the child is an adult. This confirms your eligibility and shapes the rest of the checklist.

  2. Gather and prepare documents

    We give you a precise checklist for your situation. The child's birth certificate (or cédula) is Colombian, so no apostille or foreign translation is needed for it. Your own documents — passport, proof of financial means, insurance, and any criminal background check — each have their own freshness and translation requirements, which we walk you through.

  3. Your child's documentation

    Your child's contribution is straightforward. If the child is a minor: a copy of the child's Colombian birth certificate. If the child is an adult: a copy of the child's Colombian cédula. That's it — both are Colombian documents, so no apostille or foreign translation is required.

  4. File the application

    We submit your complete application through the Cancillería portal. If the government requests additional documentation or clarification, we respond on your behalf.

  5. Receive your visa

    Once approved, you receive your Migrant (M) visa electronically. You must register with Migración Colombia within 15 days of approval or arrival.

  6. Cédula de Extranjería

    After arriving in Colombia with your visa, you apply for your Cédula de Extranjería through Migración Colombia. Required for all M visa holders and essential for daily life.

Why Work With Us

Specialized in family-based Colombian immigration

The parent visa has two distinct paths, and the documents, timing requirements, and specific sub-type vary depending on your situation. Filing the wrong documents for the wrong path means starting over.

  • Licensed Colombian immigration attorneys — not intermediaries

  • Experience with family-based applications including complex international document situations

  • Bilingual team: we communicate in English and handle all filings in Spanish

  • Fully virtual — we work with clients in any country, at any stage

The Colombian Visa Services team

4.9 stars on Google · Trusted by 1,400+ clients

What Our Clients Say

Real Google reviews

4.9 · Google Reviews
Google
"I had an excellent experience working with Natalia Torres from Colombian Visa Services. Her expertise was clear from the very first consultation, and she guided me through each stage of the visa process with patience and clarity. Natalia was always helpful, responsive, and thorough, and thanks to her support my visa was issued without any complications. Truly exceptional service."

Jeffrey Sutyla

Google Review

Google
"I had an excellent experience with Colombia Visa Services. From the very first information session, they answered questions no one else could. Their process was super organized, with clear steps for uploading documents and helpful reminders to keep things moving. After submitting my visa application, I received weekly updates — something I really appreciated. I highly recommend them if you're applying for any Colombian visa."

Roberta Glaser

Google Review

Google
"As experienced travellers who have to procure a visa for every country we visit, we found the Colombian application the trickiest to deal with by ourselves. We hired Colombian Visa Services for peace of mind and they delivered big time — answering all of our questions, providing specific instructions, and handling the submission for us. The company was efficient, professional, and communicated brilliantly. Highly recommend."

Vaughn

Google Review

Google
"I had an exceptional experience with Natalia Torres from start to finish. She was incredibly professional, attentive, and genuinely committed to delivering top-tier service. From the moment I reached out, communication was prompt and clear, and every interaction felt warm and respectful. What stood out most was her attention to detail and willingness to go above and beyond. The final result was not only flawless but delivered ahead of schedule — a rare and much appreciated surprise."

Garry Pierre

Google Review

Not sure if this visa is right for you?

Take the qualifier or speak with our bilingual legal team before you apply.

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Timeline & Costs

Processing time and costs

Processing time

the Cancillería has 30 calendar days to decide a complete application. In practice, applications often take the full 30 days, and often uses the full window.

Visa validity

Typically issued for one to three years. Renewals are possible. After the qualifying residency period, you become eligible for the Resident (R) visa.

Government fees

Approximately USD $324 total — a study fee of about $54 (paid when you apply) plus an issuance fee of about $270 (paid only after approval).

Cédula de Extranjería

Approximately COP 294,000, paid to Migración Colombia after arrival.

Path to Residency

From parent visa to the Resident (R) visa

  1. Year 0

    You are here

    Parent Visa (M-2)

    Approved as parent of a Colombian national or child with Colombian status.

  2. 2

    Year 2

    Resident (R) Visa

    Apply after 2 continuous years on the M-2 — family-based fast-track.

  3. Year 4

    Colombian Citizenship

    Parents of Colombian nationals qualify after 2 years as a long-term resident.

The parent visa is a Migrant (M) category visa — one of the two long-stay visa categories in Colombia. Time on an M visa counts toward the the Colombian Resident (R) visa requirement.

After the qualifying continuous period on an M visa, you become eligible to apply for Colombia's Resident (R) visa — the equivalent of the Resident (R) visa. The R visa is valid for five years and renewable indefinitely.

Standard naturalization to Colombian citizenship requires five years of continuous legal residence. Some family relationship categories qualify for reduced pathways. We advise on long-term planning from the start.

We handle government correspondence on your behalf

If Cancillería or Migración Colombia requests additional documentation, your attorney responds directly — no extra charges, no scrambling on your end.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

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