Investor Alert: Why the "Minimum" for Your Colombia Investment Visa Puts Your Residency at Risk in 2025
2025-11-26
By: Camila Ocampo | Expert Immigration Attorney
If you are planning to secure a Colombia Investment Visa with the ultimate goal of obtaining Colombia Citizenship by Investment or permanent residency, I need to speak to you with total honesty about what is happening on the ground in 2024 and 2025.
Legal theory is one thing, but the reality at the Cancillería (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) is another. My job is to protect your capital and your future status against this uncertainty.
The Game Changer: From Immediate Resident to Migrant
Previously (under the 2017 regulations), the Colombia Investor Visa granted you Resident status almost immediately. Today, under Resolution 5477 of 2022, this is classified as a Migrant Visa (Type M).
What does this mean for your Colombia Residency by Investment plan? It means you must accumulate 5 years of time with this visa before applying for permanent residency (Visa R). This is where the problem that no one tells you about begins.
The "Renewal Trap" for the Investment Visa Colombia
The law states that to renew your visa, proving you still own the property should be sufficient. However, in practice, we have seen officials demanding proof that you meet the investment requirement again at the time of renewal.
Here is the Contradiction (The Catch-22):
For the investment to count toward your Investor Visa Colombia, it must be registered as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
To register FDI, technically, you should not be a tax resident (you must not have lived more than 183 days in Colombia).
But if you have been living in Colombia with your first Colombia Golden Visa... you are already a tax resident!
This makes it nearly impossible to bring in new Foreign Direct Investment to satisfy a strict official's criteria during a renewal.
My Strategy: The Investment "Cushion"
Given this uncertainty and the discretionary power of consuls, my strategic advice is clear: Do not invest the legal minimum.
If you invest strictly the minimum required for the current year (350 minimum monthly legal wages), you are exposed. If the minimum wage increases next year, your initial investment might "fall short" upon renewal, or they may ask for a capital injection you cannot easily register.
The Solution: Invest an amount that comfortably covers the requirement not just for this year, but for the next two or three. This way, if we have to fight a renewal for your Colombia Investment Visa, we have a solid financial argument: your initial investment remains substantial and well above the norm.
Where to Apply? Geography Matters
Another pattern I have detected in my daily practice regarding the Colombia Investor Visa:
In Colombia (Bogotá): The current trend is to approve visas for only 1 year on first-time applications. This forces you into the renewal cycle (and its risks) very quickly.
At Consulates (e.g., United States): I have successfully secured approvals for 2 or 3 years from the start.
Obtaining a 3-year visa from the outset is the "Holy Grail" of Colombia Residency by Investment, as it saves you two stressful renewals and brings you much closer to the 5-year goal for permanent residency and eventually Colombian Citizenship by Investment.
Conclusion: Manage Uncertainty with Strategy
I cannot sell you false certainties; the immigration system has a high degree of discretion. But I can offer you a proven strategy to minimize risks.
If you are looking for a Colombia Golden Visa, don't just plan for "today." Plan with a 5-year strategy in mind.
Do you want to structure your investment intelligently to protect your path to residency?
Schedule your Diagnostic Consultation here and let's design your roadmap.
Legal Disclaimer: This article reflects the firm's practical experience as of the publication date and does not constitute a guarantee of approval, given the discretionary power of the Visa and Immigration Authority regarding the Investment Visa Colombia.