The short answerTo live in Colombia rather than visit, you need a visa from Cancillería, Colombia's foreign ministry. There are three types: V (visitor, which includes the digital nomad visa), M (migrant, for example spouses and partners of Colombians or retirees with a pension) and R (resident). Andrea says the usual path is visitor or migrant visas first, then resident, then citizenship.
The three visa types
- V, Visitor: shorter stays and specific purposes. The digital nomad visa sits here.
- M, Migrant: for people settling in Colombia, for example spouses or permanent partners of Colombians and retirees with a pension.
- R, Resident: long-term residency, usually after time on migrant visas.
These three types come from Resolution 5477 of 2022, Cancillería's current visa rules.
The usual path, in Andre's case
- A visitor or migrant visa to start.
- Andre held two migrant (M) visas.
- Then his resident (R) visa.
- Andrea says citizenship comes after some years as a resident, and takes longer than the US green card path.
Watch: Affordable living in Cali, and the visa you needFrom about the seven-minute mark, Andrea explains visa types and the path to residency. Opens on YouTube.
What Cancillería checks
- Your record: Andrea says Cancillería asks Americans for an FBI background certificate.
- Overstays: an overstay on file with Migración Colombia causes problems with later visa applications.
- Marriage visas: expect to show the relationship is real, with photos, documents and an interview.
- Switching visas: Andrea says to change from a visitor visa to a migrant visa you may need to wait for the first to expire, then apply for the new type.
Rules change. Confirm current requirements and fees on Cancillería's official visa pages before you apply, and keep copies of everything you submit.
Quick questions
How did Andre get residency?
Andrea says Andre held two migrant (M) visas before getting his resident (R) visa, which she calls the final visa before citizenship.
Can I work for a Colombian company on a digital nomad visa?
No. Andrea says the digital nomad visa is a visitor visa for people working for companies outside Colombia, not local employers.
Sources
- Love Crossing Borders: visa types and the path to residency
- Andrea Wales TV: Cancillería requirements, FBI certificate and marriage visas
- Cancillería de Colombia: Visas (official)
- Resolución 5477 de 2022 (official PDF)
Shared from personal experience. Not legal, tax, immigration or medical advice.
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