About Colombia

Whether you’re looking to visit, live or work in Colombia—we can support your immigration needs at every stage of your journey.

If you're a foreign national looking to visit, live, and/or work in Colombia, several options are available.

• Business Visits: As a business visitor and depending on your citizenship, you'll generally need to secure either a V-Business Visa or a Tourism Permit (Permiso de Turismo or PT). Business Visas allow stays of up to 180 cumulative days in a 365-day period. Tourism Permits, available to visa-exempt nationals and obtained on arrival, allow an initial stay of 90 days per calendar year and may be extended for an additional 90-day period for a total of 180 cumulative days per calendar year.
• Work Authorization: The main work authorization categories are (1) the 30-day Permit to Develop Other Activities (POA) for visa-exempt nationals who are hired to undertake urgent, short-term assistance; (2) the V-Technical Visa, valid for two years for a maximum stay in Colombia of 180 continuous or cumulative days in a 365-day period; or (3) the M-Worker Visa, valid for three years. As an M-Worker Visa holder, you are eligible for resident status after five years of continuous and uninterrupted residence in Colombia. If you have a university degree and are in a regulated profession, you must also have an applicable professional permit, degree validation, or professional license from the appropriate Colombian professional board. If you're a national of a Mercosur or Andean Community country, you may be eligible for a two-year nationality-based visa to live and work in Colombia (and the option to then apply for permanent residence) without company sponsorship.
• Internships/Traineeships: The V-Internship visa is a trainee-specific work authorization category in Colombia that's available if you are a visa-exempt national seeking to undertake an internship at a Colombian company based on an agreement between a university and the Colombian company or with the sponsorship of the host company in Colombia. The V-Temporary Work Visa can also be considered for foreign nationals who will receive training at a Colombian company and ​a local salary; it is generally granted for the duration of the training.
• Self-employment and/or self-sponsored: ​​If you're an investor or entrepreneur, you may qualify for (1) the Migrant Visa as an Entrepreneur or (2) ​the Migrant Visa as a Real Estate Investor. Both visas are valid for up to three years. To qualify for either visa, you must invest a specified equivalent to a certain number of minimum monthly salaries; these vary by visa category.

Colombia also offers a Digital Nomad Visa, allowing you to reside in and work remotely from Colombia for up to two years without company sponsorship if employed outside Colombia. The visa also allows you to start a business in Colombia in the field of digital technology.

Fragomen can also consult on citizenship matters and, as permitted within the confines of local law, may be able to offer citizenship assistance.