The Colombia business visas are intended for foreigners who have constituted or acquired participation in the capital stock in a commercial company valued at least 100 times the minimum monthly wage in Colombia.
In 2017, the Colombia Business visa was previously known as the TP-7 visa. However, Colombia changed its visa rules, which went into effect on October 21, 2022. Now, it’s known as the Business Visa; and it belongs to the migrant type category.
The M business visa currently costs 324 USD. Note a migrant visa loses its validity if you leave Colombia for over six months without returning to Colombia.
New Visa Resolution Impacts (Resolution 5477)
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 of others, for example, the R type visa for larger investment is now M type category.
The visa agency we partnered with has helped many foreigners obtain visas during the pandemic, including retirement visas, marriage visas, student visas, investment visas, and resident visas.
Medellin Guru Visa Service
The visa agency we partnered with has helped 1.377 Medellin Guru reader
How to Apply for a Colombia Business Visa
You can apply for a Colombian investment 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 relatively 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.
Business Visa
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 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.
Colombia Business Visa Requirements
If you are applying for a business visa, you need to invest at least 100 times the Colombian minimum monthly salary.
The minimum wage in 2024 in Colombia is 1,300,000 pesos per month. 100 times this equals 130,000,000 pesos or $32,500 USD (at an exchange rate of 4,000 pesos per USD). In addition, you will need for the visa application a number of documents, such as:
The ministry, under its discretionary power, may request additonal documents.
Using a Visa Agency for a Colombia Business Visa
If you are in Colombia, you can use a visa agency to obtain a Colombia visa. A visa agency can handle the online application and ensure you have the required paperwork.
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.
- Office in El Poblado in Medellín.
- Competitive price compared to other visa services.
Successfully Aproved Visas
Through this service we have helped
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, video call, 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 partner visa agency offers visa services anywhere in Colombia. So, if you are located in another city in Colombia, you can use this service.
Are you looking to set up a company in Colombia?
Our Visa partner also provides business services to foreigners interested in setting up a company in Medellin and across Colombia.
Recognizing our readers’ demand for business guidance, this partnership with expatgroup.co, desires to deliver trustworthy and comprehensive business services to our audience.
We chose to collaborate with expatgroup.co for business creation services for several reasons:
- expatgroup.co deeply understands Colombian business laws and regulations, which is crucial for navigating the complexities of establishing a company in a foreign country.
- They may have a team that understands the local Colombian culture and business practices.
- Utilizing their services can streamline the company creation process, saving you time and effort that would otherwise be spent researching requirements and procedures.
- Bilingual team that can assist you in English or Spanish, reducing misunderstandings and ensuring clear communication throughout the process.
- They may offer personalized services tailored to your needs and business goals, ensuring that the company formation process aligns with your objectives.
- A team specializes in assisting expats with setting up businesses in Colombia, meaning they understand the unique challenges and considerations of operating as a foreigner in Colombia.
To access this business creation service, click the button below, complete a brief form, and receive a quote and assistance to start your business.
Medellin Guru Business Creation Service
- Statutes and shareholding composition
- Initial accountant documents (Opening balance and financial statements)
- NIT and business RUT
- Company registration in the Chamber of Commerce
- Capital injection and money legalization
- Business visa
Getting a Colombian Cedula
After you have successfully received your Colombia investment 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 imperative to register your Colombian visa within the allowed 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. Starting on September 21, Migración Colombia offices have reopened in Colombia. So, it again possible to obtain a Cedula de Extranjeria.
Dual Citizenship
After having a migrant (M) business 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. And 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 countries 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. 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 Guides
Download Safety Guide for US Citizens in Colombia we have created with helpful information about Medellín and Colombia.
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: Obtaining a Colombia Business Visa
Colombia’s business visa is relatively easy to get, with few documents needed, and the investment required is lower than that of many other countries. However, the Colombia business visa requires investing in Colombia before you can apply.
The visa costs in Colombia are lower than in many other countries in Latin America. Also, the Colombian visa process is relatively fast and streamlined with online applications. We partnered with a visa agency that can help you create your company and obtain a business visa for a competitive price.
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