Colombia: Retirement Visa Requirements in 2025
2025-04-22
If you’re looking to retire in a country with stunning nature, warm people, and a much lower cost of living — Colombia might be the perfect place for you.
And the best part? The country offers a special visa just for retirees: the M-Type Retirement Visa (Visa de Pensionado).
In this post, I’ll explain exactly what you need to apply in 2025 and how to make sure you meet all the Colombia retirement visa requirements without the usual headaches.
✅ What Is the Retirement Visa for Colombia?
The M-Type Retirement Visa is designed for foreign nationals who receive a lifetime pension and want to live in Colombia.
With this visa, you can:
Reside legally in Colombia
Access healthcare and local services
Apply for the Foreigner’s ID (Cédula de Extranjería)
Enjoy all the cultural and financial benefits of living in Colombia
📌 2025 Colombia Retirement Visa Requirements
To qualify, you'll need to meet these updated requirements:
1. Monthly Pension Above $1,100 USD
You must receive a lifetime pension of at least three times the Colombian minimum wage, which in 2025 is about $1,100 USD/month.
💡 Lump sums or temporary income sources aren’t accepted — the income must be permanent and verifiable.
2. Pension Certificate
Submit an official certificate from your pension provider that confirms:
The monthly amount
That the income is permanent
That it is paid by a recognized public or private entity
👉 This document must be apostilled and translated into Spanish by an official translator.
3. Health Insurance Valid in Colombia
You’ll need international or Colombian health insurance that:
Covers at least 12 months
Includes emergency, hospitalization, and repatriation
Is valid in Colombia
4. Criminal Record Certificates
You must provide:
Background checks from your country of origin
And your current country of residence (if different)
Both must be:
No older than 6 months
Apostilled
Translated into Spanish
5. Good Health
You should be able to get a certificate from your doctor stating that you are in good health.
6. Valid Passport
Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months beyond your application date.
7. Document Apostille
All foreign documents must be apostilled or legalized before submission — this step is critical.
⚠️ Additional Things to Keep in Mind
❌ You cannot work for Colombian companies with this visa.
✅ You can renew the visa yearly or apply for permanent residence after 5 years.
📑 Every application is manually reviewed, and additional documents may be requested.
🖥️ The application platform is notoriously confusing, especially for those unfamiliar with Colombian bureaucracy.
📆 Once approved, you’ll need to book an appointment with Migración Colombia to get your Foreigner’s ID (Cédula de Extranjería).
🤝 How We Help at Colombian Passport
I’m Camila Ocampo — a lawyer specialized in Colombian immigration law at Colombian Passport, we take care of everything for you:
🔹 We review and perfect your documents
🔹 We handle apostilles and translations
🔹 We complete and submit your application
🔹 We respond to any requests from the Cancillería
🔹 We book your Migración Colombia appointment and guide you through the Cédula process
We make sure your retirement in Colombia starts off calm, clear, and 100% legal — no stress, no uncertainty.
📩 Want to know if you qualify? Send me a quick message and I’ll walk you through the next steps.