A Complete Guide to Securing a Service, Project or Labor Provider Visa
Type of Visa: V.
Applicable To: Foreigners providing specific services or labor temporarily for a Colombian company.
Duration: 6 months to 2 years (Colombian migration officers have discretion over the duration granted).
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:
Summary Contract Format: A "Summary of Service, Work, or Labor Contract" format established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, available on their website, clearly stating the start and end dates of the contract.
Service Contract: A service, work, or labor contract with a Colombian company, including a clause stating that the contract will only take legal effect if the visa is approved.
Employer’s Motivation Letter: A letter from the employer detailing the applicant's suitability, tasks to be performed, qualifications, and reasons for not hiring a Colombian citizen.
Mining Sector Companies: If the company is in the mining sector, the Visa and Immigration Authority will verify the validity of the mining title on the National Mining Agency platform. Additional documentation will be required if it cannot be verified.
Bank Statements: Bank statements of the employer for the last 6 months showing an average monthly income of at least one hundred (100) legal minimum wages.
Professional Qualifications: A copy of the professional title, apostilled and translated, or work and experience certifications supporting the applicant’s qualifications.
International Health Insurance: Proof of health insurance covering the stay in Colombia, including emergencies, accidents, hospitalization, and repatriation.
Benefits of this Visa: This visa allows you to reside in Colombia. It offers the same advantages as other visas in terms of being able to remain in Colombia fully identified, without the need to leave the country every 6 months and without the restriction of not being able to return within 6 months in the same calendar year.
Allows to Work in Colombia? Yes: Only for the specific company, position, and duration for which the visa is granted.
Processing Time: 2-5 weeks.
Application Location: From Colombia or from your country of residence or nationality.
Allows Beneficiaries? Yes: Spouses, children under 25 (subject to additional requirements for beneficiary visas).
Can Reapply for this Visa? Yes, As long as both you and the company agree to extend the contract and all updated documents are submitted.
Government Fees for Visa Application. These fees are charged directly through a specific link provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia and can be paid using a credit or debit card:
Visa Study Fee: $54,92 USD.
Visa Issuance Fee: $132,03 USD.
Additional Services you may need:
Apostille and legalization services in the country where the documents are issued.
Official translations, in case the required official documents (university degrees, recommendation letters, etc.) are in a language other than Spanish.
Acquisition of all-risk insurance policy.
The human resources department of the Colombian company must be registered with SIRE and RUTEC, and after the visa application, they must register the foreign worker on both platforms, as well as any modifications to their contract.
Does it allow you to accumulate time for residency? No.
Relevant Aspects and Frequently Asked Questions:
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.
The fundamental difference between this type of visa and an M-type work visa lies in: 1. The type of contract (for the M-type visa, it is recommended that the contract be an indefinite-term employment contract, while for the V-type visa, a service contract with a maximum duration of 2 years is suggested), and the position (for the M-type work visa, highly qualified workers are required for positions of great importance in a company, such as directors. For the V-type visa, the position can be more technical, but, as with the M-type visa, the individual must be highly qualified for that role).
You should keep in mind that, as a work visa, the company you will be working for must be directly involved in the visa application process. This means the company must share sensitive information with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, such as bank statements showing average income over the last 6 months exceeding 100 Colombian minimum wages.
Also, keep in mind that while you are authorized to work in Colombia with this type of visa: 1. The visa is tied to this specific job, so if the contract ends, your visa will be automatically revoked, and 2. You are not allowed to work for any other Colombian company under any type of contract because, as explained earlier, your visa is contingent upon the job for which the visa was granted.
Also important as a worker to ensure that the company registers you with the government platforms SIRE and RUTEC to avoid future issues such as fines and complications when applying for other types of visas.
The all-risk insurance policy you must present must be issued and should cover at least 1 year from the date you apply for the visa process. It should include coverage for: accidents, medical expenses, maternity, and repatriation.
Restrictions when applying for this type of visa: It is prohibited to work for any Colombian companies other than the one that sponsored your visa and for the position that was the basis of the visa. Additionally, if you want to change jobs in Colombia, you must start a new visa application process, and all these changes must be reported on the SIRE and RUTEC platforms.
Regulation governing this type of visa: Resolution 5477 of 2022, Section 2, Article 54.
Representation: Although the law does not require you to be represented by a lawyer for this type of process, a lawyer with a valid Colombian professional license can represent you through a power of attorney, duly authenticated.