Visa for spouse or permanent partner in Colombia

Colombian Spouse or Permanent Partner Visa: A Complete Guide

General Requirements for All Visas

There are documents required for all visas. These are:

Mandatory Documentation

1. Valid passport or travel document. It must be in good condition and have space for a visa.
2. Copy of the main page of the passport or travel document. This is to have the person's biographical data.
3. If you are in Colombia, you will have to prove that you are in a regular migratory status in the country and show the last entry stamp, exit stamp, or safe conduct, depending on your case. If you are outside Colombian territory and intend to apply for the visa abroad, you will have to attach a copy of the document that proves your regular stay in that country.
4. Recent 3x4cm document-type photograph, in color, with a white background and facing forward. It must be in JPG format and weigh a maximum of 300 KB.

Additional Considerations

• Documents must be issued with a date less than 3 months prior to submitting the application. This applies to all documents, except identity and travel documents.
• Documents from abroad must have an apostille or legalization.
• Documents must have an official translation into Spanish if they are not in this language. The translation must be apostilled or legalized.
• The visa authority may request criminal record information.

For a detailed explanation of general requirements and the application process, please see our article Requirements and Process to Apply for a Colombian Visa 2025.

Specific Requirements for the Spouse or Permanent Partner Visa (Type M Visa)

To obtain a Type M visa or spouse/permanent partner visa, you must also attach the following documents:

Additional Documents

1. In the case of marriage, a copy of the Colombian Marriage Civil Registry is required. If it is a de facto marital union, the Public Deed, Judicial Ruling, or Conciliation Act where the existence of this is declared.
2. Visa application letter, which must be signed by the Colombian national. This must be submitted with a simple copy of the national identity card and the special power of attorney granted by the national to the foreigner.

Requirements Checklist

The documents you will need to submit for the spouse or permanent partner visa process are:

Costs of the Spouse or Permanent Partner Visa Process

This process has two fees. Firstly, a payment must be made at the time of application; this is the processing fee and may vary depending on the location where the process is carried out.

If the application is made from Europe and Cuba, the cost is €40.00, and if it is from Colombia and the rest of the world, the cost will be US$52.00. For Ecuadorian nationals, the cost is €23.00 if applied for in Europe and Cuba and US$30.00 in the rest of the world. For Spanish nationals, there is no processing fee.

Secondly, upon approval of the application, a payment equivalent to the visa issuance cost must be made. If the visa is paid for in Europe and Cuba, the cost is €177.00, and if it is in Colombia and the rest of the world, it is US$230.00.

For nationals of the Republic of Peru residing in the Amazon and Putumayo river basins, Ecuadorians, Spaniards, Japanese, and Koreans, the visa issuance is free.

Processing Time

To understand the duration of these processes, it is important to know its two stages: when the application is made and when the e-visa is issued.

Initially, the application is submitted, and after making the payment, the visa authority has a period of up to 5 business days to issue an opinion. However, this time may be up to 30 calendar days when additional information is required.

Finally, after payment for visa issuance, the authority has up to 3 business days for issuance and sending of the e-visa.

Online Application

To apply online, go to www.cancilleria.gov.co. Then, you will have to identify the options of "procedures and services" and "visa" to finally access "online visa application".

It is recommended to read the previous instructions and then fill in the personal data as it appears in the passport. The "application registration number" box will be filled in with the application number that was sent to the email address, when it has been a previously registered application. If it is a first-time application, this part is left blank.

Upon completion of the form, the system will assign a number that you will receive in your email.

Next, you must choose one of the options shown in the drop-down menu for each box, for example: visa type, application type, etc. It is important that no box is left blank. To learn more about the different Types of Visas in Colombia 2025: Requirements and Recent Changes.

Then, you must continue completing everything requested with truthful information and avoiding typing errors.

Next, a recent document-type photograph is attached, in color, with a white background and facing forward in JPG format and weighing a maximum of 300 KB.

After this, the supporting documents are uploaded in order, as they appear in the list. Remember that the documents required are those required for the type of application and must be in PDF format.

Finally, you must select the office to which the visa application will be submitted and choose the method of payment.

It is essential to check your email, as this is where you will receive the application number and all notifications concerning the process.

Can the spouse or permanent partner visa be applied for from abroad?

The visa application process can be carried out online through the Chancellery's website. You can also go to a Colombian consulate.

Does this visa allow you to work in Colombia?

Yes, this visa allows you to work and carry out any lawful activity in Colombia. It's important that as a foreigner with a Type M visa, you are aware of Affiliation to EPS for Foreigners with Visa Type M in Colombia.

Points to Consider

Once you have the Type M visa as a spouse or permanent partner of a Colombian citizen and wish to stay indefinitely in Colombia, you can apply for a Resident visa (Type R) after 2 years of residence in the country. For more details on this type of visa, see our article: Resident Visa in Colombia 2025: Complete Guide to Obtaining Permanent Residency.

If you are interested in applying for a Type R visa, we invite you to review the article titled "Resident visa for marriage in Colombia" published on our website.

At Servicio Legal, we have expert lawyers in Immigration Law who can offer you the legal advice you need for processing a spouse visa in Colombia. Contact our Immigration Lawyers Colombia.

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