How to Get Colombia Marriage Visa
The Colombia marriage visa is a migrant visa. It is intended for foreigners who are married to a Colombian man or a woman or those who already have a Colombian spouse or permanent partner. The Colombia marriage visa is quite easy to get. You can easily obtain a Colombia Marriage Visa with only a few required documents.
Historically, the Colombia marriage or permanent partnership visa was designated as the TP-10 visa. This visa was valid for three years. After three years you became eligible for a resident (R) visa. However, Colombia changed its Colombian Marriage Visa in December 2017.
Since December 2017, the Colombia marriage visa changed and is now known as a Migrant (M) visa of category 1 (an M-1 visa). The new M-1 visa is valid for three years just like the TP-10 visa. With the new M-1 marriage visa you are eligible to apply for a resident (R) visa after only two years. The M-1 marriage visa allows you to stay, work, and study in Colombia. This is similar to the previous TP-10 visa.
Related Articles of Interest: Colombia Visas
If you currently have an existing TP-10 marriage visa, it doesn’t change to an M-1 marriage visa automatically. You will need to wait for three years before you are eligible to apply for a resident visa.
Even though M-1 visa allows multiple entries into Colombia, you cannot stay out of Colombia with an M-1 visa for more than six months consecutively. If you stay out of Colombia for more than six months in a row, then your visa loses its validity like any other migrant visa.
The government fees for the new M-1 marriage visa total $325 USD which includes 1 application fee, at a cost 54.92.
This rule will apply changes in the category of various types of visas and will require adjustments in Colombian Visa Application System. According to this resolution, the new visa rules will be applicable starting October 22, 2022.
Civil Marriage Visa holders now need to wait 3 years before applying for residency visa, previously it was only 2 years.
Common Law Marriage is now required and must be completed at least 1 year prior to visa application. Partner M Visas for common law marriages are valid for up to 1 year, which means that visa holders would need to reapply for the same visa at least 4 times prior to applying for residency visa.
Common Law Marriage Visa holders now have to wait a full 5 years to apply for residency, previously it was only 2 years.
Related Topics of Interest for You:
What Are Colombia Marriage Laws?
Getting married to a Colombian in Colombia may be thrilling and exciting to you but you must know a few things about marriage laws before you tie the knot. Here are a few things you must know before getting married in Colombia.
Civil Union or Partnership
Colombia allows civil unions or civil partnership. A civil partnership is considered to be common law marriage. In Colombia a civil partnership is known as a union libre or union martial de hecho. If you have lived with your partner for two consecutive years, then this constitutes a legal martial union in Colombia.
A written declaration in front of a notary documenting a civil union is required for marriage visa purposes. In Colombia, this declaration is called as declaracion union marital de hecho. It must be documented in a public escritura and this document can be used to get a marriage visa.
Consider the civil union as an alternative to the full marriage as it does not require you to obtain the certificates. This process must be handled by an attorney through the court system, otherwise a notary will always ask for a birth certificate. So we always recommend or clients avoid having to obtain a birth certificate from your home country to save a money and time.
Recommended Reading: Colombia Prenuptial
Same Sex Civil Unions:
Colombia allows same sex civil unions or partnerships. So, partners in same sex relationship have the right to apply and obtain marriage visas in Colombia.
Inventory of Assets:
If someone getting married has minors in Colombia then you will need an attorney to create a list of assets belonging to the parent with minors in Colombia. This must be done and approved by a judge before you marry. This process can take one month if not done correctly.
Prenuptial Agreements:
Colombia allows spouses to get prenuptial agreements before getting married. This is commonly known as which are known as capitulaciones matrimoniales. You will need services of an experienced lawyer in Colombia who can craft a prenuptial agreement for you. Such an agreement must include asset dissolution clauses that can protect claims on future assets.
Personal Appearance:
Sometimes this visa requires a personal appearance for the first time by both applicants if done in the country.
Correct legalization of documents:
Many people arrive in Colombia without correct legalization of required documents and for this reason it is extremely important to start the process with an experienced visa agency before you send or bring documents to Colombia. Common errors are expired documents, incorrect stamps, missing stamps, poorly worded certifications, and invalid documents.
Community Property Country
It is very important to know that Colombia is a community property country. Therefore, any assets acquired post marriage are divided on 50/50 basis in Colombia. This equal division applies to both marriages and civil partnerships. In Colombia, anyone who has been living with his or her partner for over two years essentially has almost the same rights as a spouse. Any assets acquired before marriage are not up for debate when dissolving the marriage or civil union.
Symbolic Ceremony:
Symbolic Ceremonies are good for those who will not use a minister, father or other religious figure. You can have the symbolic ceremony even if all of the foreign papers are not
If the notary cannot come to the ceremony so a professional presenter can fill in.
Under the new visa resolution 5477, all Migrant visas require you to be in Colombia 180 days or more to keep your visa. If you are out of Colombia more than 180 days your visa will no longer be valid, and Migracion Colombia officials may cancel your visa on entry.
If you are allowed entry in to Colombia with just a stamp then the official will most likely allow you to enter as a tourist after cancelling your visa.
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What Is The Process Of Getting Married In Colombia?
In Colombia, you can get married at a church or at a Colombian notary. If you get married at a church in a religious ceremony, then that marriage must be registered at a notary as well. Getting married at a Colombian notary is quite common among foreigners and their Colombian spouses. Here is step by step process of getting married in Colombia.
1. Contact the notary you want to use for your civil marriage.
2. Find out from the notary what documents are required.
b. Document requirements vary from person to person depending on personal situation.
3. Use a notary that has experience with foreigners.
4. Once you have arrived, then present the following documents for getting married in Colombia.
- Photocopy of your Colombian spouse’s cedula.
- Notarized copy of your Colombian spouse’s birth certificate not older than 90 days. Please note that this certificate needed to be the long form folio version which shows his or her marital status or estado civil.
- Your birth certificate with an apostille and Spanish language translation not older than 90 days.
- Proof you are single or a recent divorce certificate.
- Divorce Records recently certified with an apostille and Spanish language translation not older than 90 days if applicable
- Photocopy of your cedula or a photocopy of your passport.
5. Once you bring all the above mentioned documents to the notary, they will review the documents and schedule the civil wedding with the notary.
Recommended Reading: Colombia Living Trust
If you do not speak Spanish fluently, then an official interpreter is required. Please be aware that official interpreters charge about $30 to appear. The cost of a marriage at a notary 17 is about 140,000 pesos.
All documents must have an apostille or legalization stamp from the state or providence you live in. If you are legalizing documents then you must send your documents to the local Colombian consulate before coming to Colombia. All documents must be translated to Spanish by an official Spanish translator.
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What Documents Are Required For Colombia Marriage Visa?
The following documents are required for M-1 marriage visa
Inventory of Assets
for parents living in Colombia. This process can take one month if not done correctly. Our office can assist with speeding up this process.
Passport Photocopy:
Proof of Legal Entry:
Photocopy of Previously Issued Visa:
If you’ve had a previous Colombian visa such as a student or retirement visa, then a photocopy of this visa
Migration Certificate
Migracion Colombia will issue a certificate of your entries and exits out of Colombia over the last 5 years.
Letter from Spouse:
Cedula Photocopy:
Marriage Certificate:
Colombian marriage certificate or a notarized copy of marriage certificate. Must be issued within 90 days prior to the Colombia visa application.
Passport photo:
Passport style face photo with a white background, sized at 3 cm width X 4 cm height, maximum size of 300 kb jpg file for online application.
Health Insurance
You must have health insurance either from Colombia or from another country. The health insurance policy must cover all risks including repatriation of the body to the home country in case of death.
Related Topics of Interest for You:
How to Apply for Colombia Marriage Visa?
There are two ways to apply for Colombian Marriage visa.
Applying for Marriage visa from abroad
A visa applicant who wishes to invest in Colombia can apply for a Colombia Marriage visa online. In addition, any Colombian visa can be obtained at any Colombian consulate around the world. In the U.S., Colombia has consulates located in the following cities and states:
The Colombian visa application process is fairly easy as it can be completed entirely online. You can apply for a Colombia Marriage visa online Tramites Visa . This application will require scanned copies of all required documents in Adobe PDF format along with your passport photo in JPEG format. In addition, a detailed guide for applying online can be found here.
If you are in another country outside of Colombia, then you have to go to nearby Colombian consulate in that country so that you can get the visa added to your passport at a Colombian consulate. Once your Colombian investment visa has been approved and added to your passport, you are ready to travel to Colombia as a migrant and an investor.
Applying for Marriage Visa from Colombia
Once you receive online visa approval, if doing this in Colombia, you need to travel to Bogotá to get the visa in your passport. Visas in Colombia are issued at the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores office in Bogotá. Their office is located at Avenida 19 # 98-03, Torre 100 Building, 3rd Floor. It’s open from 7:30 am until noon.
The major challenge with getting a Colombian visa yourself is dealing with a government bureaucracy, making a trip to Bogota and not understanding the laws properly if you are not fluent in Sanish.
This is where you can benefit from the services of an experienced visa agency such as Visas by James. A visa agency such ours is your best bet when it comes to obtaining visa for you. An experienced visa agency which has processed hundreds of visas and knows exactly what is needed for each type of visa is exactly what you need.
Another big benefit of using a visa agency is that they offer services to courier your passport to Bogotá to get the visa put in your passport. So, you can avoid a trip to Bogotá. The cost of a visa service including the service to courier your passport to Bogotá can even be cheaper than the cost of a trip to Bogotá.
Why Use Our Visa Agency For Getting Colombia Marriage Visa?
Since 2005, our visa agency Visas by James has obtained hundreds of visas for foreigners who wish to study, work, invest, and live in Colombia. We are the oldest expat visa business in Colombia. We also have more attorneys in office than any other visa agency in Colombia. In addition to our visa services we offer a full range of legal and accounting services to our clients. By having a legal and accounting firm work on your application, we are able to handle any surprises or last minute requests by immigration officials.
Our Story
James Lindzey the owner of Visas by James has worked as a private investigator and paralegal in the United States from the 90s until he moved to Colombia in 2005. James arrived in Colombia in 2005 and started doing visas for expats in 2007.
In addition to our visa services our agency offers a full range of legal and accounting services to our clients. We are able to assist better in document collection services in the United States because of James legal experience in the United States.
More About Our Visa Services
Many visas require obtaining complicated documents in the United States, Canada, or other countries. We are experts at handling foreign documents!
We identify necessary documents for your visa application.
We handle Translations required for your visa application.
We handle Apostilles required for your visa application.
Visas By James
(Visas y Trámites Internacionales)
Testimonials from a current and former clients who got a Colombian visas successfully.
Worked with James and Cristina on buying first property in Colombia. They were very knowledgable in Colombia law and banking. Went the extra mile to guide us thru the process of transferring foreign funds, reviewing/advising purchase documents, and walking us thru the maze of legalities. Invaluable, and in dual languages! Thanks to them the process was completed in less than one month!
I had James take care of the renewing of my US passport and all went very well I did not have to go to Bogota and all was completed with a new passport in a little over 2 weeks !! Highly reccomend.
This is really a dependable and reliable legal and accounting service, and for me it was nice being able to turn over these sometimes laborious tasks to competent and trustworthy professionals. I’ll be recommending them to my friends as well.
About Colombia Legal & Accounting SAS and its associates; Reliable, Trustworthy, Pristine, Honesty, Management, Punctual. That’s all you need to know to put yourself in their professional hands.
Our main office is located in Medellin, Colombia near Parque Lleras in El Poblado. We have representation in Bogota, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale. Our main office address is Cra 39#5A-95, Oficina 709, Edificio Avangarde. We accept walk in appointments but its always nice if you can let us know ahead of time so we can schedule a time. Areas codes in Colombia have changed. To reach our office please call (57) 604-444-6634.
