Colombia Digital Nomad Visa: How to Get One in 2024

Colombia has been a hot destination for digital nomads for some time now, promising beautiful natural scenery everywhere you look, a distinct Latin-American culture, and intriguing, bustling cities characterized by diverse expat communities.

Suppose you’re planning to make Colombia a stop in your future digital nomad adventures. In that case, you’ll need to secure a Columbia digital nomad visa to make sure your stay in the country is legal.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the requirements you’ll need to meet and the steps you’ll need to complete to make a successful application as a digital nomad.

The Colombia Digital Nomad Visa

With a Colombia digital nomad visa, you’ll be able to make the country your home for longer than you would on a standard tourist visa while working and earning within the country and staying compliant with Colombian labor laws.

Here are some of the key features and benefits you can expect from getting a Colombia digital nomad visa:

The ability to stay in the country for two years, with the possibility to renew this afterward. This allows for a much longer trip than the 90 days offered by a standard tourist visa.
The option to bring your spouse or children with you into Colombia.
Entitlement to a Colombian foreigner ID, which you’ll need to access services like renting property and setting up contracts with internet and mobile providers.

How to Get a Colombia Digital Nomad Visa

Getting a Colombia digital nomad visa to ensure your trip is legitimate requires you to meet certain eligibility requirements and complete a number of crucial steps.

Here are the five critical phases of making a successful application:

Step 1: Confirm You’re Eligible

The eligibility requirements for the Colombia Digital Nomad visa are fairly accessible compared to those set out by many other nations.

Here are the key eligibility requirements you’ll need to meet in order to apply for the visa:

Holding a passport issued by a country that doesn’t require an entry visa for Colombia.
Working for a foreign entity, either as a remote employee, a freelancer, or another kind of business owner.
An intent to live and work in Colombia for longer than the 90 days included in a standard tourist visa.
Income over the three months preceding your visa application, which is three times the Colombian minimum legal monthly wage, is currently around $966 USD.

Step 2: Gather the Required Documents

Once you’ve checked that you’re eligible to apply for a Colombia digital nomad visa, the next thing to do is gather the documents you’ll need to submit as part of your visa application.

These documents include:

The original and a copy of your passport, which must be valid for six months from the date of your application.
A passport-style photo of yourself.
If applicable, a copy of your passport page showing your most recent entry or departure stamp issued by Colombia.
A letter providing the nature of employment, e.g., from your employer or from a client you work for as a freelancer. This should cover the remuneration that you receive from the company and the nature of your relationship with them.
Proof that you meet the minimum income requirements for the digital nomad visa in the form of bank statements from the last three months.
A copy of your health or travel insurance policy which ensures you’ll have access to medical care during your stay in Colombia.

Step 3: Fill Out the Application Form

Now that you have your eligibility and supporting documents organized, you’ll be able to start the process of completing the actual application form.

Fortunately, this can be done entirely online and won’t usually require an in-person appointment at a consulate, unlike many other digital nomad visas.

To complete your application form, you’ll need to:

Visit the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, navigate to “Procedures and Services,” and start the “Type V Visa” registration.
Fill in the information you’re prompted for, which will include your name, country of origin, and details about your employment. You’ll also be required to attach digital copies of the documentation we listed above.

Step 4: Submit the Application

With the relevant details filled in and documents submitted, you’ll be able to finalize the completed application as a PDF form.

Note that, unlike some other visas, the Colombia digital nomad visa has a visa application fee of around $52 USD, separate from the visa fee, so take care to ensure there are no mistakes on your application. This is payable through the ministry website.

After you’ve submitted your application, you should receive the government’s decision within 30 days.

Step 5: Pay the Visa Fee

If your application is approved, you’ll need to pay a specific visa fee, which will be attached to your approval notification. This can vary based on factors like whether or not you intend to bring dependents into the country, but it generally falls in the range of $170 to $230 USD.

Once you’ve paid the fee, you’ll receive the visa electronically within ten days, and you’ll be permitted to enter and work in the country.

Pros and Cons of the Colombia Digital Nomad Visa

Colombia has many unique features that can make it a great home base for digital nomads. However, if you’re considering a few different destinations for your next trip, here are some of the key pros and cons of the Colombia digital nomad visa to consider:

Pros

The ability to stay in the country for up to two years, rather than the tourist visa’s 90 days.
An affordable visa application process with low-income requirements and moderate processing fees.
The option to bring in your spouse or dependents.
An easy and wholly online application process.

Cons

Unlike other digital nomad programs, Colombia doesn’t allow applications using passports that require an entry visa, such as those from China or India. This can make it harder to attain depending on your country of origin.
You’ll also need an entry permit to embark on any business relationship with natural-born citizens of Colombia, which can be restrictive for entrepreneurial nomads.

What’s Next

If you’ve got your eyes on Colombia as your next nomadic destination, we hope this guide has helped you better understand the requirements and processes of the Colombia digital nomad visa.

If you’re looking for insurance for your visa application, be sure to check out some of our global insurance plans for digital nomads.