Colombia Digital Nomad Visa: Contracts & Business Ownership Proof (2025 Update)
2025-05-19
Colombia Digital Nomad Visa: Validating Your Work with Contracts or Business Proof
Successfully applying for the Colombia Digital Nomad Visa hinges on providing clear and compliant documentation. Beyond proving your income through bank statements and detailing your role in an employment letter, you'll also need to formally validate your work arrangement. This means submitting either your employment/freelance contracts or, if you're an entrepreneur, official proof of your business ownership.
This guide breaks down the specific requirements for these crucial documents for your 2025 application to the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería).
For Employees or Freelancers: Your Employment Contract(s)
If you are employed or work as a freelancer, the contract(s) you have with the company or companies engaging your services are fundamental.
Key Requirements for Your Contract(s):
One Contract Per Income Source: If you are relying on income from multiple employment letters to meet the financial threshold, you must provide a corresponding, valid contract for each source.
Signed by Both Parties: The contract must be duly signed by both you and an authorized representative of the company.
Clear Relationship Type: It's essential that the contract clearly defines the nature of your professional relationship – whether it’s an indefinite term labor contract, a fixed-term contract, or a freelance/independent contractor agreement.
In Your Name: The contract must be issued in your personal name. It should not be in the name of a company you own (unless that company is specifically your direct client in a freelance capacity, and this is clearly stipulated).
Language: Contracts must be in English or Spanish.
If your contract is in another language, a translation into English or Spanish is necessary. For this document, a simple (non-official) translation is generally acceptable.
However, if you choose to use an official translator in Colombia for any document, ensure they are certified by recognized Colombian entities: the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, the Universidad de Antioquia, or the Ministry of Justice (for certifications issued prior to 1999).
Format: All documents submitted for the visa application (except your photo) must be in PDF format and must be easily readable.
Potential Rejection Reason for Contracts:
The primary reason for rejection in this category is if the contract is in a language other than English or Spanish and an adequate translation is not provided. Other issues can include missing signatures or unclear terms.
Expert Recommendations for Contracts:
Visa Duration & Contract Type: Be aware that the validity period of the visa granted might be influenced by your contract's terms. An indefinite term contract is often viewed more favorably for longer visa durations compared to a fixed-term or freelance contract that is nearing its expiration date (e.g., with less than a year remaining).
Minimum Contract Length: It's advisable to avoid submitting contracts that have a remaining duration of less than one month from your visa application date.
For Owners of Your Own Business: Proof of Ownership
If you are an entrepreneur or the owner of your own business, you must present an official certificate that substantiates your ownership. This document should be the foreign equivalent of a "Certificate of Existence and Legal Representation" (Certificado de Existencia y Representación Legal) issued by Chambers of Commerce in Colombia. While the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs isn't overly prescriptive about the exact foreign document, it must be an official document from a competent authority in your company's country of registration.
Key Requirements for Your Proof of Ownership Document:
Official Document: This must be an official certificate issued by a relevant government agency or business registration authority in the country where your company is incorporated.
Language & Official Translation: The document must be in English or Spanish. If the original is in another language, it must be translated by an official translator holding a certificate of suitability from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, the Universidad de Antioquia, or the Ministry of Justice (for pre-1999 certifications).
Issue Date: The proof of ownership document must have been issued a maximum of three (3) months prior to the date you submit your visa application.
Essential Company Information: The certificate must clearly contain:
Company Tax ID (or its equivalent).
Official registered address of the company.
The legal trade name of the company.
Your name clearly listed as the partner or owner.
Format: It must be submitted in PDF format, ensuring a clear resolution that allows for easy reading.
Potential Rejection Reasons for Proof of Ownership:
Submitting a simple shareholding certificate instead of an official registration or ownership document from a recognized state or national authority.
The document is not recognized as official by the Colombian authorities.
The document is not in English or Spanish, or if translated, the translation was not performed by a duly certified official Colombian translator.
The document was issued more than 3 months before the visa application submission date.
Navigating the Nuances
Understanding and meeting these detailed documentation requirements is crucial for a successful Colombia Digital Nomad Visa application. Whether it's ensuring your freelance contract is correctly formatted and translated, or obtaining the right official translation for your business registration documents, precision matters.
We've assisted countless clients in navigating these specific requirements, ensuring their documentation is robust and fully meets the Ministry's expectations. Preparing these documents correctly from the outset is vital for a smooth application process.
Ready to ensure your contracts and ownership documents are perfectly prepared for your Colombian Digital Nomad Visa? For comprehensive assistance and expert guidance through every step of your application, explore our Digital Nomad Visa Full Service. Our team is ready to help you make your Colombian dream a reality.