So, You Want a Colombia Digital Nomad Visa? Read This Corrected Guide First.

Let’s paint a picture. You’re sitting in a leafy café in Medellín’s El Poblado neighborhood. The Wi-Fi is strong, the coffee is probably the best you’ve ever had, and you just wrapped up your workday by 3 PM. This weekend, you’re thinking of a quick trip to the colorful streets of Guatapé or maybe a salsa class. This is the dream, right? The Colombian digital nomad life.

It’s a fantastic dream, and it’s more achievable than ever. But between you and that perfect cup of coffee can be a mountain of confusing requirements and a bureaucratic system that seems designed to make you want to tear your hair out.

I’ve seen countless expats arrive in Colombia, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, only to get bogged down by the visa process. They think, "How hard can it be?" and quickly discover the answer is "Very," especially when they're working with the wrong information.

But don't worry. Think of me as that seasoned expat you meet at a pub—the one who’s seen it all and is willing to give you the straight-up, no-BS advice you actually need. We're going to break down the Colombian Digital Nomad Visa (V-Nómadas Digitales) so you can spend less time wrestling with government websites and more time living the dream. For those who realize halfway through that they'd rather have a root canal than deal with this, our Visa Services are always here to take over.

First things First: The Three Paths to Eligibility

Before you start booking flights and dreaming of arepas, let's get brutally honest about whether you qualify. The Colombian government is welcoming, but they have specific rules. The Digital Nomad visa is designed for three distinct profiles. You must fit into at least one:

1. The Remote Employee: You work for a company whose headquarters are outside of Colombia. You’re a salaried employee who has permission to do your job from anywhere.

   
   

2. The Independent Worker (Freelancer): You provide services independently to foreign clients. Your income comes from contracts or service agreements with companies or individuals abroad.

   
   

3. The Digital Entrepreneur: This is a key one many people miss. You plan to start or run your own digital-first startup in Colombia, focusing on things like tech, IT, or digital content.

   
   

For all three paths, your passport matters. This visa is primarily for citizens of countries that do not require a short-stay visa to enter Colombia. The good news for Americans, Canadians, and most Europeans? You’re on the list.

The Magic Income Number

This is the big one. You must prove you have a stable monthly income of at least three (3) times the current Colombian legal minimum monthly wage (Salario Mínimo Mensual Legal Vigente, or SMMLV).

As of 2024, the minimum wage is $1,300,000 Colombian Pesos (COP). So, you need to show an income of at least $3,900,000 COP per month. In U.S. dollars, that’s roughly $1,000 USD, but do not get fixated on the dollar amount. The exchange rate fluctuates, but the requirement in pesos does not. You’ll need to provide bank statements for the last three months to prove this income.

A Key Advantage: No FBI Background Check Needed

Here’s some fantastic news, and it’s a critical point where a lot of online information gets it wrong. Unlike many other long-term visas for Colombia, such as the Colombia retirement visa (M-Pensionado) or the Rentista visa, the Digital Nomad Visa does not require a criminal background check.

Let me repeat that: you do not need to go through the headache of getting an FBI background check and then having it apostilled by the U.S. Department of State. This is a huge advantage. It saves you months of waiting, significant costs, and the bureaucratic nightmare of coordinating international document certification. This simplification is one of the best features of the V-Nómadas Digitales visa and makes the process significantly more straightforward.

Getting Your Documents in Order

While you get to skip the background check, you still need your ducks in a row. The most important proof you'll provide is evidence of your remote work. What you need depends entirely on which of the three paths you're on.

What Kind of 'Letter' Do You Actually Need?

• If you're a Remote Employee: You will need a formal letter from your foreign employer. This letter must state your position, your salary, and explicitly confirm that you are permitted to carry out your job remotely from Colombia.

  
  

• If you're a Freelancer: You need to prove your work relationships. This means providing one or more contracts that detail the services you provide to your foreign clients. Your bank statements showing the corresponding income will back this up.

  
  

• If you're a Digital Entrepreneur: This is where the "motivational letter" comes into play. You will need to submit a letter explaining your startup project, its relevance to the digital economy, and the human or financial resources you have to develop it.

  
  

Generalizing this requirement is a common mistake. Showing up with the wrong type of letter is a surefire way to get your application delayed or denied.

Health Insurance: The One Thing You Still Can't Screw Up

Let’s be blunt: do not cheap out on health insurance. The Colombian government requires you to have a comprehensive health insurance policy with coverage inside Colombia for the entire duration of your visa.

This is a major stumbling block. Your standard travel insurance probably won’t cut it. A policy that only covers "emergency evacuation" is not enough. The visa officer will check, and if your policy isn't compliant, your application will be denied. End of story. Finding the right health insurance for a Colombia visa is a critical step, and once you are on the ground, our expat services in Medellín can help you navigate the local system to upgrade or supplement your plan if needed.

For any official U.S. government information, the U.S. Embassy in Colombia is the definitive source, but remember, their job is to provide information, not to be your personal visa concierge.

At this point, you might be feeling a little overwhelmed. That’s normal. The process is precise, and the rules can feel arbitrary. As our founder, Camila Ocampo, often tells our clients: "Bureaucracy speaks its own language. We're just fluent translators. Trying to do it alone is like trying to order a coffee in Bogotá by shouting in German. It won't work."

Getting a digital nomad visa for Colombia is 100% worth the effort. The country is incredible, the cost of living is low, and the lifestyle is second to none. But the path is paved with bureaucratic traps. You can navigate it alone, but be prepared for a long and frustrating journey if you're not working with accurate, up-to-date information.

Or, you can just let the experts handle it.

Tired of the bureaucratic maze? Let our team handle the headache. Book your consultation here.