Residency (R) Visa

Gaining a Colombian Residency (R) Visa grants a foreigner the ability to live permanently in Colombia and to travel freely in and out of the country. For expats who dream about living long-term in Colombia, obtaining a Residency Visa should be your goal.

Obtaining a Residency Visa

With few exceptions, a Residency Visa cannot be obtained directly by a tourist or a foreigner who is in Colombia under a visitor (V) visa, such as a student or medical traveler. A Residency Visa can only be obtained after a foreigner has been granted a Migratory (M) Visa and then a requisite amount of time has passed. How much time a foreigner must accrue depends on the Migratory Visa:

Time Type of Migratory Visa
2 years - Mercosur & Andino
Parent of a Colombian Citizen
3 years - Marriage
5 years - Retirement
Real Estate or Business Investor
Romantic Partner

After the required number of years have passed under your Migratory Visa, you can then apply for a Residency Visa.

Requirements for a Residency Visa

The particular documents required for your Residency Visa application will depend on which Migratory Visa it is based on. Generally, you will need to prove that the same circumstances exist which got you approved for your Migratory Visa. This will mean filing updates of many of the same documents you provided during your Migratory Visa application.

On top of that, you will need to provide:

  • Passport Data Page

  • Passport page with last entry stamp into Colombia

  • Passport-style Photo on a white background

  • M Visa

  • Proof of continuous and valid M Visa time accrual up to the necessary time limit

  • Residency Visa Application

The supporting documents submitted must not exceed 1MB in total.

Government Visa Fee

Roughly $55 USD to apply, Roughly $400 USD for the Visa (the Colombian Foreign Affairs Ministry quotes in USD for stability)

Duration

  • For 5 years

  • Unlimited renewals

Benefits

Generally, you may apply for Colombian Citizenship after 5 years under a Residency Visa. Shorter exceptions include: 2 year for Latin American citizens, Spanish Citizens, and for those married to or parent to a Colombian.

Notes

If you leave Colombia for more than 2 years in a row, your Residency Visa will be canceled