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Your Guide to Obtaining a Visa for Investors in Colombia

Unlock Business Opportunities in Colombia

  • Type of Visa: M.


  • Applicable To: Foreign nationals who have made a Foreign Direct Investment or acquired real estate in their name and maintain this investment or acquisition during the visa's validity. If you are looking a Visa for Business Investments you should click here to visit the Partner or Owner Visa Guide.


  • Duration: From 1 to 3 years.


  • General Requirements:


    • Copy of the main page of the passport where all the holder's information appears, the passport must be valid for at least 6 months.

    • Digital color photo with a white background measuring 4 centimeters high by 3 centimeters wide. You should be facing the camera and your head should be centered and complete. Both eyes should be open and the ears should be visible. There should be no glare in the photo, hair or other accessories should not be allowed to cover the face. The image format is JPG and must have a maximum size of 300 KB. NOTE: The photo must be current, different from that of the passport, previous visas and applications.

    • If the applicant is in Colombia at the time of applying for the visa, copy of the last stamp of entry or exit from Colombia or extension of stay or safe passage for visa application (whichever applies).

    • In the event that the applicant begins the visa process while in their country of residence (different from their country of nationality), they must present an identification document from their country of residence, for example: NIE, Visa, Driving License, etc.


  • Specific Requirements:


    • Foreign Direct Investment Documentation:

      • Provide communication from the International Exchange Department of the Bank of the Republic confirming the registration of the foreign direct investment in your name, with an amount exceeding six hundred fifty (650) legal minimum monthly wages (smlmv) as of the date of application. This is currently is $925,275,000 COP wich is equivalent to $222,066 USD.


    • Real Estate Investment Documentation:

      • If investing in real estate, you must provide:

        • A Certificate of Tradition and Freedom for the property solely owned by the foreign investor, valued at a minimum of three hundred fifty (350) smlmv as of the application date. This currently is $498,225,000 COP that equates to approximately $119,574 USD.

        • Communication from the International Exchange Department of the Bank of the Republic confirming the registration of the foreign direct investment for the purchase of real estate in the foreign applicant's name.


    • Proof of Economic Solvency:

      • Bank statements for the last three months preceding the visa application demonstrating economic capacity to remain in the country.


    • Investment Maintenance:

      • If applying for this visa for the second time or subsequent times, the foreigner must demonstrate that the investment or property ownership was maintained throughout the validity of the previous visa.


    • Health Coverage:

      • Proof of health coverage in Colombia or an insurance policy covering all risks in the national territory, including accidents, illness, maternity, disability, hospitalization, death, or repatriation, for the duration of the stay in the country.


  • Benefits of this visa: With this visa the holder can reside and carry out any legal activity in Colombia. Likewise, if the holder accumulates 5 years with this visa continuously and uninterruptedly, he or she can apply for a Resident visa for accumulated time.


  • Allows to Work in Colombia? Resolution 5477 of 2022 does not specify that a foreign holder of this visa is prohibited from working in Colombia. Based on our experience, when the Colombian visa regulations do not explicitly state a prohibition, it generally means that the activity is permitted. However, given the discretionary authority of officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, we cannot guarantee that this prohibition will not appear on the visa.


  • Processing Time: Generally, from 2 to 5 weeks, but it may vary depending on the specific circumstances of each application.


  • Application Location: Can be applied for from within Colombia or from the applicant's country of residence or nationality.


  • Allows Beneficiaries? Yes, this visa allows beneficiaries according to the definition of Beneficiary Holder established in Article 3 of the present Resolution.


  • Can Reapply for this Visa? Yes, you can reapply for this visa if you continue to meet the eligibility criteria and maintain the investment or property ownership.



  • Additional Services you may need: 


    • You need to register the investment as a foreign direct investment with the help of the bank receiving the money in Colombia. Additionally, you must create an account on the Banco de la República website to download the necessary certificate showing this investment for the application. 

    • If the investment is in real estate, you must present a certificate of freedom and tradition for the property (Certificado de Libertad y Tradición), showing you as the owner (remember that the minimum investment amount is 350 Colombian minimum wages). 


  • Does it Allow You to Accumulate Time for Residency?: Yes, for foreigners who have stayed in the national territory as holders of a Migrant (M) visa under this category, the time can be accumulated toward applying for a resident visa. For this type of visa, the accumulation of time is 5 years.


  • Relevant Aspects and Frequently Asked Questions:

    • Investment Registration Requirements: To apply for this visa, you must correctly register your investment as a Foreign Direct Investment. To ensure proper registration:

      • The receiving bank must declare and register the investment using Form 4 and the correct exchange numeral.

      • The foreign direct investment can only be registered if the foreign national has not been present in Colombia for 181 calendar days before the money is brought into the country. Therefore, if you have made visits to Colombia with the intention of investing, carefully track your time spent in the country to ensure proper legal registration of your investment.

      • When reapplying for this visa, practice has shown that this requirement must be met each time. Since the minimum wage increases every year, you should take this into account when investing enough to ensure you can reapply for the visa.

      • Place of Application: Although the visa application is online (there is no way to do it in person), it is recommended that you be in the place from where you will present the visa in person. You can apply while in Colombia, as long as you are in a regular situation in the country (if you have been in Colombia for less than 3 months on a tourist permit or if you have requested an extension of your tourist permit and have been in the country for less than 6 months, or if you have been on a tourist permit for more than 5 months but want to apply for a special permit). You can also apply from your country of nationality or residence, as long as you have a valid identification document in that country.


  • Restrictions when Applying for this Type of Visa:

    • The visa is contingent upon maintaining the investment or property ownership. Any changes in the investment status must be reported to the Visa and Immigration Authority.


  • Regulation Governing this Type of Visa: Resolution 5477 of 2022, Article 79.


  • Representation: Although not required by law, a lawyer with a valid Colombian professional license can represent you through a power of attorney, duly authenticated.


  • Relevant Link for More Information: 

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