NEW 2022 Colombia Visa Law
Alert: Under simple terms, a new 2022 Colombian Visa Law has been published by the Ministry of Foreign Relations in Bogota!
Officially A New Colombian Visa Immigration resolution was signed and entered into the record on July 22, 2022. This means that the new resolution will go into effect in 90 days, exactly October 21, 2022. The Colombian visa rules are defined by resolutions made by the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Relations in Bogota, Colombia. The official Spanish version of the 2022 visa rules is defined in Resolution number 5477, which can be seen downloaded in the original Spanish format here: www.cancilleria.gov.co.
The new visa resolution is a MAJOR overhaul of the last visa resolution. The 5477 resolution has removed some instant residency visas, downgraded some visas, and created more requirements for health insurance and criminal background checks but left us with some new visa types as well.
Observations of major changes will be outlined below. The rest of our website will be updated as quickly as possible to inform all of our website visitors of important changes in the new resolution. Keep in mind as the visa office implements the new resolutions we will see how the administrators in the visa office interpret this new resolution.
Bottom line, if you plan on renewing or applying for a visa in 2022, try to do it before October 21, 2022, because it will most likely be easier and cost less to do so. Most visas will see requests for more documentation.
Below is a list of the newly organized and recategorized Colombian Visas:
Visitor Visa (V)
1) Airport transit
2) Tourism
3) Business
4) Student (Up to 6 months, short -term visa, Spanish lessons)
New Requirements for Student Visa: A set of new rules allow for in-person or virtual instruction, allow for beneficiary visa applications where visa applicant is doing post-graduate coursework. Applicant must provide evidence that applicant receives income equal to at least 10 x local minimum wage required.
5) Medical Treatment (short term stay, medical or aesthetic)
6) Administrative and/or Judicial Procedures
7) Crew
8) Seasonal Farm Worker
9) Events
10) Religious
11) Religious Student/Volunteer
12) Volunteers or Cooperators
13) Large Format Film or Documentary Productions
14) Digital Nomad –
This is a new visa that allows foreign workers to work remotely for a foreign company while living in Colombia. Can stay up to 6 months in a year, maximum 2 years.
New Requirement for Digital Nomad Visa: Need to show at least 3 months of income with at least 3 x minimum wage each month (750 USD) . Visa has up to 2 years validity.
The applicant needs to prove “digital nomad” status, meaning that you either work as an independent contractor, work as an employee where you are either a shareholder or owner of that employer, work as an entrepreneur and manage a startup.
You also cannot be a resident of a country where a tourist visa is required. You must provide documentation such as traveler’s insurance policy, bank statements.
15) Journalistic Coverage
16) Permanent Correspondent
17) Technical Assistance
18) FTA Entrepreneurs
19) Non-Accredited Officials
20) Vacation and Work
21) Labor Practice
22) Service Provider – Work Work
23) Promotion of Internationalization
24) Rentista – Downgraded from Migrant visa to Visitor Visa.
New Requirement for Rentista Visa: Criminal background certificate will be required.
25) Unforeseen cases
Related Articles of Interest: Colombia Visas
Courtesy Type (V) Visa
1) Visiting Diplomats
2) ICETEX Program
3) International Agreements
4) Film Law
5) Complementary Measure
6) For Unforeseen Cases
Migrant Visa (M)
1) Spouse of Colombian Nationality
2) Permanent Partner of a Colombian National – Downgraded will require yearly renewals and must have 1 year since certifying relationship. Now inferior to regular marriage.
3) Mother or Father of Colombian Nationality by Adoption – Downgraded from Instant Permanent Residency.
4) Father or Mother of Colombian Nationality by Birth – Downgraded from instant Permanent Residency
5) Mercosur Migrant
6) Andean Migrant
7) Refugee
8) Worker
9) Partner or Owner of a Colombian Business
10) Independent Professional
11) Retirement – New Health Insurance Requirements, Criminal Background Check, and Mental Health Certifications for Veterans.
New Visa Requirements for Retirement Visa : Need to provide a Medical Certificate, Mental/physical Fitness Certificate (particularly applies veterans, do not suffer from mental health issues such as PTSD ), and criminal background certificate.
12) Promotion of Internationalization
13) Investor
14) Stateless
Permanent Resident Visa (R)
1) By Renunciation of Nationality
2) By Accumulated Time of Permanence in Colombia
3) By Application of the Temporary Statute of Protection for Venezuelan Migrants
4) Peace Special Resident
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Why Use Our Agency For NEW 2022 Colombia Visa Rules?
Since 2005, our legal firm Medellin Lawyer has helped clients who want to get a US visa. 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 or by a judge.
Applying for 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.
About Visas By James
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.
Visa by James Story:
James Lindzey the owner of Medellin Lawyer and 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.
About Our Visa Services
We can guie you through the most Complicated Immigration Situations. Our aim is to make life easier for expatriates in Colombia!
We monitor your visa application process .
Courier your passport to Bogotá to get the visa in your passport.
Please let us know if you need more information, or we can set up a consultation in order to provided you personalized guide.
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.
