Colombia | New Visas and Processing Changes

On July 22, 2022, Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an update on the procedural, administrative, and processing aspects of visas. The changes will come into force 90 calendar days after its publication, October 22, 2022.

New Visas
  • The Visitor Visa for Digital Nomads will allow foreigners to work remotely from Colombia for foreign companies or create digital content or information technology startups of interest for Colombia by means of a permit or visa, depending on the particular circumstances.
  • The Internationalization Promotion Visa is for foreigners with training (master, doctorate, or postdoctorate) in basic or applied sciences, engineering, and mathematics, whose profile meets the priorities required by Colombia.
  • The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Visitor Visa is created.
Visa Changes
  • Resident Visa holders must carry out the visa transfer process every 5 years.
  • Permanent Resident Visa holders, granted under previous regulations, must carry out the transfer of the visa within the following 2 years, counted from the date of entry into force of the new regulation.
  • The Technical Assistance Visitor Visa will be valid for up to 2 years, but permanence in Colombia is limited to 180 continuous or discontinuous days for 365 days counted from the visa issuance.
  • A distinction will be made between the Visitor Visa for Short-term Journalistic Coverage in Colombia and the Visitor Visa for a Permanent Correspondent.
  • The Resident Investor Visa is being discontinued. Instead, individuals will have to apply for a Migrant Visa, and only by accumulated time will they be able to apply for a Resident Visa.
  • The Migrant Visa application process will be different for those foreigners who have a relationship with a Colombian, depending on whether there is a de facto marital union or marriage between them. Likewise, the accumulated time to obtain a Resident Visa will be different in one case or another.
  • The Student Visa is regrouped into a single category called Visitor Visa for Students.
  • The Beneficiary Visa will no longer apply to the holder’s parents.
Other Key Changes
  • The visa application review times will be extended from 5 working days to up to 30 calendar days, and, in cases in which the Ministry requires additional information from other entities, this period can be extended. Furthermore, the time for the issuance of the visa will increase from 3 business days to 10 business days.
  • At the time of the visa application, the passport must have a minimum validity of six (6) months.
  • In case of early termination of a visa, the foreigner will no longer have 30 business days but 30 calendar days to leave the country or request a new visa.
Erickson Insights

Erickson Immigration Group will continue to share updates as more news is available. If you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions, please contact your employer or EIG attorney.