Renewing your Colombian Digital Nomad Visa - Yes, it is possible

Since its introduction last year, the Digital Nomad visa has quickly become the most popular method for travelers to live and work in Colombia beyond their allotted tourist time. However, questions have still lingered regarding how some of the vaguer parts of the DN visa rules would be implemented in practice.

One of the chief unanswered questions that remained until now was:

Can you renew a Colombian Digital Nomad Visa or can you only be granted it once?

Well, the good news is that we now have an answer, and it is YES, you can apply for and be granted a second digital nomad visa, as the Cancilleria has just begun approving visa applications for people renewing their expiring 1-year Digital nomad visas.

Why do we only have an answer a year after the DN Visa was created?

The regulations which created the DN visa on October 22, 2022, are silent on whether renewals are allowed. The wording of the text and its context within the overall visa scheme pointed to approvals of renewals being highly probable. However, the ambiguity left by the issue not being addressed directly allowed the Colombian government space to interpret the regulations how it wanted, including denying that renewals are allowed. So the only way to actually get a definitive answer on the topic was to see what actually happened in practice. As it is only now that the first 1-year Digital Nomad visas are coming up for renewal, these visas have had to serve as test cases on this issue. Luckily, the Cancilleria has been approving the renewal applications for these DN visas.

What is the process to renew my 1-year Colombian Digital Nomad Visa?

A DN visa renewal is essentially the same application process as when you filed for your original visa. You will need to prove that all the same elements exist: that you are employed or own a business outside of Colombia which earns you income in excess of 3 Colombian Salario Minimos, and that you meet the rest of the usual visa requirements including a valid passport and comprehensive insurance.

Unfortunately, there is no simplified form for applying for your second Digital Nomad Visa.

The government costs, including filing fees, visa issuance fees, and Cedula fees, all remain the same as well.

How long is the renewal term on the second Digital Nomad Visa?

So far all the DN visa renewals we have seen have been issued for a year. Meaning the original 1-year DN visas were extended by another year, giving the visa holder 2 years time in Colombia.

Can I renew my DN visa if I originally got a 2-year visa issued or renew a 2nd time if I get a renewal of my 1-year visa?

As stated before, nothing in the DN visa regulations prohibits this. The regulations only state that the DN visa can be granted for up to 2 years per visa. They are silent on the issue of applying for and obtaining additional DN visas beyond that.

What the Cancilleria will do in practice regarding 2-year visas or multiple renewals is still to be seen. So again, just like the renewal issue, no one can say for sure until the first 2-year DN visas come up for renewal or if we start seeing the Cancilleria issue 2-year visas for people renewing a 1-year visa.

One thing to take into consideration though, is that the Digital Nomad visa is a Visitor’s (Visitante) visa, meaning it is not meant to be used as a method to live in Colombia permanently or even long-term. It is non-migrant visa where the holder is supposed to visit the country for a limited time and then leave. So at some point, the Cancilleria will need to reject a visa applicant who is attempting to use the Digital Nomad visa as a method to live in Colombia long-term. There will eventually have to be a limit on the amount of DN visa renewals a single applicant can be granted. But the question still remains as to how many years a DN visa holder will be allowed in total.

Can I switch from my Digital Nomad Visa to a Migrant visa if I want to live in Colombia long-term?

Yes. There is no issue in switching from a Digital Nomad visa to a Migrant visa, such as a marriage or investment visa, if you have decided you wish to pursue Colombian residency.