Colombia Permanent Residency
Colombian Residency Visa: Your Ultimate Guide to Permanent Residency in Colombia
Colombia, with its vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and growing economic opportunities, has become an increasingly popular destination for expats. One of the most sought-after immigration statuses is the Colombian Residency Visa, which offers long-term stability and the possibility of becoming a full-fledged citizen. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the different ways to obtain permanent residency in Colombia, detailing each popular migrant visa pathway and the specific number of years you need to accumulate in order to qualify.
What is a Colombian Residency Visa?
A Colombian Residency Visa allows foreigners to live indefinitely in Colombia and grants numerous rights, including the ability to work and own property. Unlike temporary visas, which require periodic renewal, a residency visa gives expats the security of permanent legal status. It is also a stepping stone to Colombian citizenship, a goal for many long-term residents.
In most cases, the residency visa is obtained after accumulating a certain number of years in Colombia under a valid migrant visa. Let’s dive into the most popular visa categories and explain the time requirements for each.
Popular Migrant Visas That Lead to Colombian Residency
There are several migrant visas that foreigners can use to build up the necessary time to qualify for permanent residency. Each visa has different rules regarding the length of time you must hold it before applying for a Colombian Residency Visa.
Mercosur Visa (2 Years)
The Mercosur Visa is one of the quickest pathways to Colombian residency. It is available to nationals of countries that are members of the Mercosur trade bloc, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, as well as associate members like Chile and Peru. Individuals holding a Mercosur Visa need to reside in Colombia for only two years before they can apply for permanent residency.
Parent Visa (2 Years)
The Parent Visa is another fast track to Colombian residency. This visa is available to foreigners who are parents of Colombian citizens, including minors. If you are a parent of a Colombian child, you can apply for the Parent Visa and, after two years, qualify for a Colombian Residency Visa.
Marriage Visa (3 Years)
The Marriage Visa is designed for individuals married to a Colombian citizen. If you are legally married to a Colombian national, you can apply for this visa. After residing in Colombia for three years under the Marriage Visa, you become eligible for permanent residency. This visa is also commonly referred to as a spousal visa.
Business Owner Visa (5 Years)
For entrepreneurs and investors, the Business Owner Visa is a popular option. This visa is granted to foreigners who have established a legal business entity in Colombia and are actively involved in its management. To apply for permanent residency, you must hold the Business Owner Visa for five years.
Property Investor Visa (5 Years)
The Property Investor Visa is available to foreigners who invest a significant amount in Colombian real estate. Currently, the minimum investment required is around 350 minimum monthly salaries, a threshold that fluctuates each year based on the official minimum wage. To transition to a Colombian Residency Visa, you must hold the Property Investor Visa for five years.
Work Visa (5 Years)
The Work Visa is ideal for professionals working for a Colombian company or as an independent contractor. This visa is typically granted for employment purposes, and to qualify for permanent residency, you must have maintained a Work Visa for five years.
Pension Visa (5 Years)
The Pension Visa is a popular choice for retirees looking to enjoy Colombia’s low cost of living and excellent healthcare system. To qualify for this visa, you must demonstrate a stable pension income of at least three times the Colombian minimum wage. To apply for permanent residency, you need to hold the Pension Visa for five years.
Steps to Obtain a Colombian Residency Visa
Once you have accumulated the required number of years on your migrant visa, you can begin the process of applying for a Colombian Residency Visa. The steps include:
Ensure Eligibility: Confirm that you have maintained the required years of residency under your current visa type.
Gather Required Documents: Common documents include a valid passport, proof of your current visa, proof of financial stability, and a criminal background check from your home country.
Submit an Application: You can submit your residency application online through the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
Attend an Interview: Depending on your visa type and circumstances, you may be required to attend an interview at the local immigration office.
Pay the Fees: There are associated fees for processing the application, which vary depending on your visa type and nationality.
Receive Your Residency Visa: Upon approval, your Colombian Residency Visa will be issued, allowing you to reside in Colombia permanently.
Colombian Citizenship: The Next Step
After obtaining your Colombian Residency Visa, the next logical step for many expats is to apply for Colombian citizenship. Residency visa holders can apply for citizenship after fulfilling a minimum residency requirement.
- Spouses and Parents: If you are married to a Colombian national or are the parent of a Colombian citizen, you can apply for citizenship after holding the residency visa for just two years.
- Other Visa Holders: For individuals holding other types of residency visas (such as business owner, property investor, work, or pension visas), the waiting period for citizenship is generally five years.
When applying for citizenship, you will need to demonstrate your commitment to Colombia by passing a Spanish language test (if applicable) and a basic knowledge test of Colombian history and government.
Why Choose Colombia for Permanent Residency?
Colombia offers an attractive environment for expats seeking a permanent home. Here are some of the reasons why so many choose to pursue a Colombian Residency Visa:
- Cost of Living: Colombia boasts one of the lowest costs of living in South America, making it an ideal destination for retirees and entrepreneurs alike.
- Economic Opportunities: With a growing economy and increasing foreign investment, Colombia offers numerous opportunities for business owners and professionals.
- Natural Beauty: From the stunning beaches of the Caribbean coast to the lush coffee regions and bustling cities like Medellín and Bogotá, Colombia’s natural beauty is unparalleled.
- Healthcare: Colombia has a high-quality healthcare system that is significantly more affordable than in many Western countries.
Please Note: Legal disclaimer, the text on this page should not be used to replace legal
If Colombia Permanent Residency caught your attention, you may also want to read the following: To learn about marriage visas, visit What is a Colombian Marriage visa?. For translations and apostilles, check out Colombia Translations & Apostilles. To understand living trusts, refer to What is a Living Trust in Colombia?. For a general visa guide, explore Colombian Visas Guide. Lastly, learn about How to Get Married in Colombia.
Our Story
James Lindzey founded the website ColombiaVisas.com, which is constantly updated with new information explaining visa resolutions, procedures, and laws in Colombia to expats. James has worked as a private investigator and paralegal in the United States through the 90s until he moved to Colombia in 2005. James arrived in Colombia in 2005 and started doing visas for expats, but currently works as Director of Legal Services for Visas by James, and Colombia Legal & Associates SAS since June of 2023.
Colombia Legal & Associates acquired the brand name Visas by James as it became a more familiar and easy way for foreigners to remember the business, than the previous Visas y Tramites Internacionales.
While MedellinLawyer.com focuses more on legal issues for expats, ColombiaVisas.com focuses more on visas, and holds the trademark Visas by James. ColombiaVisas.com is the oldest website and provider of visa information for expats in Colombia. We are proud to be the first and always on the cutting edge of providing interactive website content to our visitors.
In addition to our visa services our agency offers a full range of legal and accounting services to our clients. We are able to assist better in document collection services in the United States because of James previous legal experience in the United States.