We look at the most popular Colombian visas for foreigners based on the experience of several Medellin Guru readers.
Which visa is the most popular?
We previously provided a comprehensive Colombia visa guide that shows how to get a Colombian visa with all the possible visa options and tips for getting a visa.
But even with this guide and over 20 visa articles, we get many questions from Medellin Guru readers about which visas are most popular for foreigners.
So, in this article we look at the most popular Colombian visas for foreigners based on the experience of Medellin Guru readers who received Colombian visas through our visa partnership.
Medellin Guru Visa Service
The visa agency we partnered with has helped 1.377 Medellin Guru reader
Popular Colombian Visas for Foreigners: Which Visa is the Most Popular?
The five most popular visas for foreigners based on the Medellin Guru readers’ experiences are the digital nomad visa, retirement visa, marriage visa, student visa, and investment visa.
These five Colombian visas represent 89 percent of visa received by readers, with the colombia digital nomad visa being the most popular.
Next in the list are the resident visa, business visa and work visa. The least common visas are the rentista visa, Mercosur visa, and visitors’ visas (except for the student visitor visa for studying Spanish and the digital nomad visa).
The Medellin Guru Visa Service was launched in March 2019 in partnership with expatgroup.co and many of our readers have have accessed these services.
Successfully Approved Visas
Through this service we have helped
Why is the Digital Nomad Visa the Most Popular Visa for Foreigners?
Colombia has recently introduced the Digital Nomad Visa in response to the increasing trend of digital nomads and remote workers. This visa, established under Resolution 5477 of 2022, is designed for foreign citizens who want to provide remote work services for foreign companies or undertake digital projects that interest Colombia.
Since October 2022, Medellin Guru, in collaboration with expatgroup.co, has been playing a crucial role in assisting foreigners in obtaining migratory stability in Colombia while working remotely for their companies. The Nomad Visa, with its expert guidance, enables expats to take advantage of their current job stability, work remotely, and enjoy the excellent cost of living in Colombia to achieve their desired lifestyle.
With a validity of up to two years and a thorough approval process, the Digital Nomad Visa has become Colombia’s most popular option in visa matters.
Medellin Guru has compared various cities to choose what’s the best for digital nomad, and we found that Medellín is a great base for all remote workers.
3 best cities to live as a digital nomad in Colombia
Being a digital nomad in Colombia is an exciting and rewarding experience. This country in South America provides numerous remote work opportunities for those seeking new adventures. Let’s discover Colombia's...
Read MoreWhy is the Retirement Visa the Second Most Popular Visa for Foreigners?
Each year Medellín continues to attract more foreign retirees with its low cost of living, “eternal spring” climate and good healthcare with 6 of the top 46 hospitals in Latin America.
I previously wrote about 27 reasons why I chose to live in Medellín. We have a separate article that looks at 12 reasons why Medellín is a top foreign retirement location.
The retirement publications have ranked Medellín as one of the top foreign retirement locations. But the retirement publications sometime rank Medellín lower than other places. We previously looked at why retirement publications frequently get Medellín and Colombia wrong.
Medellin Guru has compared living in Medellin with living in several popular foreign retirement locations and we found that Medellín compares very well to other foreign retirement locations and has beat every place we have compared so far.
- Medellín vs Cuenca – two top foreign retirement locations in Colombia and Ecuador.
- Medellín vs Algarve – two top foreign retirement locations in Colombia and Portugal.
- Medellín vs Chiang Mai – two top foreign retirement locations in Colombia and Thailand.
- Medellín vs Valletta – two top foreign retirement locations in Colombia and Malta.
- Medellín vs Panama City – two top foreign retirement locations.
- Medellín vs Costa Rica – two top foreign retirement locations.
- Medellín vs Belize – two top foreign retirement locations.
- Medellín vs Mazatlán – two top foreign retirement locations in Colombia and Mexico.
- Medellín vs Puerto Vallarta – two popular retirement locations in Colombia and Mexico.
- Medellín vs Mexico City – comparing the cities in Colombia and Mexico.
- Medellín vs Rio de Janeiro – comparing two cities in Colombia and Brazil.
- Medellín vs Fortaleza – comparing two cities in Colombia and Brazil.
- Medellín vs Lima – two top foreign retirement locations in Colombia and Peru.
- Medellín vs Buenos Aires – comparing the cities in Colombia and Argentina.
- Medellín vs Santiago – comparing the cities in Colombia and Chile.
Medellin Guru Visa Service
The visa agency we partnered with has helped 1.377 Medellin Guru reader
Has the visa process changed in Colombia due to the new Resolution 5477?
According to expatgroup.co, the visa agency we partnered with, tells us that with the new resolution, the government has introduced new application requirements, in addition to having eliminated some visas, such as the M student visa, and changed the category, for example, the R type visa for Colombian child, it is now M Type.
The visa agency we partnered with has helped many foreigners obtain visas including digital nomad visas, retirement visas, marriage visas, student visas, investment visas and resident visas.
How to Apply for a Colombian Visa
You can apply for a Colombian visa online. In addition, you can obtain Colombian visas at Colombian consulates around the world. In the U.S., Colombia has consulates located in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, Newark, New York, San Francisco, and Washington DC.
The Colombian visa process is fairly easy as it’s done online. You can apply for a Colombia visa online here. This application will require scans of all required documents in PDF files plus the photo in jpg format. In addition, a detailed guide for applying online is found here.
Visas in Colombia are issued by the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. Since the coronavirus, all visas are issued electronically, so you do not have to travel to Bogota for the stamp.
I successfully obtained three Colombian visas that I applied for my own in the past that were good for a total of five years. But the biggest challenge with doing a Colombian visa yourself is not benefiting from the experiences of a visa agency, which has processed hundreds of visas and knows exactly what is needed for each type of visa.
Also another big benefit of using a visa agency is that they help you gather all the information and documents necessary for the student visa application. The cost of the service includes immigration advice, visa application, visa registration, and application for a foreigner identification card.
So, for my latest visa received in 2018, a Colombia resident visa, I used a visa agency. And I found the experience painless and now highly recommend using a visa service over doing a Colombia visa application yourself. The bottom line is with a visa agency you are less likely to run into problems.
Using a Visa Agency for a Colombian Visa
If you are in Colombia and not located in Bogotá and you don’t want to travel, you can use a visa agency to obtain a Colombia expertise visa. A visa agency can handle the online application.
Medellin Guru has partnered with what we believe is the best visa agency in Medellín to offer Colombia visa services. Features of this service include:
- Online chat – get visa questions answered fast.
- Online quotes – get immediate visa quotes.
- Bilingual team.
- Office in El Poblado in Medellín.
- Competitive price compared to other visa services.
The Medellin Guru visa service partnership was launched in March 2019. depending on client needs.
Medellin Guru Visa Service
The visa agency we partnered with has helped 1.377 Medellin Guru reader
We reviewed all the Colombia visa agency services in Medellín and found one agency that offers a more efficient visa service with more features and more comprehensive communications including online chat, WhatsApp, videocall, email and phone plus a low price and a convenient office in El Poblado.
Our visa partnership is an affiliate relationship (like the Amazon affiliate program). If you use our visa partner, Medellin Guru receives a small commission and you support the website. This is at no additional cost to you. The price remains the same, whether you use a button or affiliate link on this website or not.
Furthermore, the visa agency we partnered with offers visa services anywhere in Colombia. So, if you are located in another city in Colombia you can use this service.
Getting a Colombian Cedula
After you have successfully received your Colombian visa you have a maximum of 15 calendar days to register your visa with Migración Colombia to get a Cedula de Extranjeria (Colombian ID for foreigners). Or if you received your visa at a consulate, you will have 15 calendar days after you arrive in Colombia to register your visa.
Due to being photographed and fingerprinted this must be done in-person at a Migración Colombia office.
Especially relevant, it is very important to register your Colombian Beneficiary visa within the allotted time frame. If not, you will be liable for a big fine of up to seven times the minimum monthly salary in Colombia. The minimum salary in Colombia is $1,300,000 COP per month in 2024. So, the fine is up to 9,100,000 COP pesos in 2024.
To register your visa and apply for a cedula this must be done at one of the Migración Colombia offices. You can find Migración Colombia offices in major cities in Colombia.
- Barranquilla – Carrera 42 # 54-77, Barrio El Recreo
- Bogotá – Calle 100 #11B-27
- Cali – Avenida 3 norte # 50N-20
- Cartagena – Carrera 20 B # 29-18, Barrio pie de la Popa
- Medellín – Calle 19 #80A-40, Barrio Belén (the entrance is on the other side of the building on Calle 19A)
A complete list of the Migración Colombia offices is found here. In addition, we have a guide to applying for a Cedula Extranjeria in Colombia.
Dual Citizenship
After having a migrant (M) visa for five years you are eligible to receive a resident (R) visa. And after having an R visa for five additional years you can apply to become a citizen of Colombia. This time to being eligible for citizenship is shorter if you are married to a Colombian. First two years with a M visa and then two years with an R visa.
Also, you won’t have to give up your existing citizenship. Colombia permits dual-citizenship, as does the U.S. and many other countries.
Once you become a dual citizen with Colombian citizenship, you will no longer need to deal with visas anymore. Also, you will be able to travel to a few counties as a Colombian citizen without a visa such as Russia, which require a visa for U.S. citizens.
Also, if you have Colombian citizenship, this benefits you with the Mercosur trade block. Nationals of Member States (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) and Associated States (Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru) do not need a passport or visa to travel around the region, with only a national identity card required.
In addition, the Mercosur Agreement grants the right to residence and work for citizens with no requirement other than nationality. Citizens of the Member States and Associated States that are part of the agreement enjoy a facilitated procedure for applying for a residence visa, as long as they have a valid passport, birth certificate and a negative certificate of criminal record.
To become a citizen, Colombia requires a citizenship test, just like the U.S. does. And you will be required to pass a test related to Colombian history, geography and the constitution. Also, a basic Spanish oral test is required. Those who have a bachelor’s degree from a Colombian university or are over 65 years old are exempt from these tests.
Furthermore, a complete list of the requirements for Colombian citizenship is found on the Cancillería website here.
Medellin Guru's Comprehensive Visa and Passport Series
The Colombian visa changes that went into effect in October 2022 were significant. So, on the Medellin Guru site, we have a comprehensive series of visa articles that are kept up-to-date and should answer most visa questions. These articles include:
- Colombia Visa Guide: Ultimate Guide How to Get a Colombian Visa
- How to Obtain a Colombian Visa with Up-to-Date Info – an overview of all the Colombian visas
- Popular Colombian Visas for Foreigners: Which Visa is the Most Popular?
- Coronavirus Impacts on Colombian Visas and Tourist Visas
- Visa Agencies: A Guide to Visa Agencies in Medellín and Colombia
- 9Common Colombian Visa Mistakes: How to Avoid Them
We have looked in detail at the nine most popular Colombian visas used by foreigners:
- Digital Nomad Visa
- Retirement visa
- Marriage visa
- Investment visa
- Business Visa
- Resident visa
- Work visa
- Student visa
- Visitor visa
Also, we have looked in detail at three additional Colombian visas, which are less popular for foreigners:
- Rentista visa (annuity visa) – for foreigners with a fixed income
- Beneficiary visa – for relatives of visa holders
- Expertise visa – for professionals
In addition, we have a guide to Colombia tourist visas and how to extend a tourist visa. Also, we have a guide to renewing U.S. passports in Colombia and a guide to obtaining a Colombian passport.
Furthermore, we provide information about travel insurance that meets the insurance requirement for Colombian visas. And we have a guide to how apply for a cedula extranjeria in Colombia and a guide to using notaries in Medellín and Colombia. Finally, Medellin Guru has partnered with a visa agency to offer Colombia visa services.
All of our Colombia visa articles are up to date (2023) and constantly receive updates in 2024.
The Bottom Line: Popular Colombian Visas for Foreigners - Which Visa is the Most Popular?
We found that the digital nomad visa, retirement visa, marriage visa, student visa, and the investment visa are the 5 most common visa for foreigners based on the experience of many Medellin Guru readers.
Medellin Guru has received hundreds of visa questions over the past three years. So, we have a comprehensive series of over 20 up-to-date visa and passport articles that should answer most questions. Also, we partnered with a visa agency that can answer your visa questions.
The visa agency we partnered with has helped 630 Medellin Guru readers obtain visas, tourist visa extensions, and U.S. passport renewals.
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