Visa for students in Colombia

Colombia Student Visa Type M: A Complete Guide

If you are a foreigner interested in coming to Colombia to study, you will need a Type M visa. Keep in mind that this visa is only granted to those who have been accepted into an educational institution. To learn more about different Types of Visas in Colombia 2025: Requirements and Recent Changes, you can consult our Complete Guide to Applying for a Colombian Visa: Steps, Requirements, and Tips 2025.

General Requirements

There are documents required for all visas. These are:

• Valid passport or travel document. It must be in good condition and have space for a visa.
• Copy of the main page of the passport or travel document. This allows for access to the person's biographical data.
• If you are in Colombia, you must prove that you are in regular immigration status and show the last entry, exit stamp, or safe conduct, as applicable.
• If you are outside Colombia and apply for the visa abroad, you must attach a copy of the document proving your regular stay in that country.
• 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.

Important Considerations:

• Documents must be issued within 3 months of submitting the application (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 Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs may request criminal background information.

For a more detailed explanation of the general requirements, you can read our article on General Requirements for Colombia 2023 Visas.

Specific Requirements

Besides the general requirements, to apply for a student visa in Colombia you will need:

1. Documentation proving how study and living expenses in the country will be covered (scholarship certificate or bank statements from the applicant or the person who will cover the costs).
2. Certification of admission or enrollment in an educational institution authorized by the Colombian government.

It is important to have Medical Insurance in Colombia. Colombian Visa Requirements. If you obtain a Type M visa, you will also be interested in knowing about Affiliation to EPS for Foreigners with Visa Type M in Colombia.

Requirements Checklist

The documents required to apply for a student visa in Colombia are:

Costs of the Student Visa Process in Colombia

This process has two fees:

First: Payment at the time of application (study cost). This varies depending on the location of the process:

• Europe and Cuba: €12.00
• Colombia and rest of the world: US$16.00
• Ecuadorian nationals: €23.00 (Europe and Cuba), US$30.00 (rest of the world).
• Spanish nationals: No cost.

Second: Payment upon approval of the application (visa issuance cost):

• Europe and Cuba: €40.00
• Colombia and rest of the world: US$51.00
• Nationals of Peru (Amazon and Putumayo river basins), Ecuadorians, Spaniards, Japanese, and Koreans: Free.

Duration of the Student Visa Process in Colombia

To understand the duration of this process, it's important to know its two stages: application and e-visa issuance.

• Application: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has up to 5 business days to issue an opinion, or up to 30 calendar days if additional information is required.
• Issuance: After payment for visa issuance, the authority has up to 3 business days to issue and send the e-visa.

Minimum Passport Validity Period

The passport must have a minimum validity of 6 months from the date of application registration.

Visa Validity

The migrant visa (Type M) has a validity of three years, or less if the study period is shorter. The visa ends early if the study conditions end.

Does This Visa Allow Work in Colombia?

Foreigners arriving in Colombia to pursue primary, secondary, high school, and undergraduate studies are not permitted to work in the country.

Visa Renewal if Studies Exceed Three Years

In Colombia, there is no such thing as visa renewal. Therefore, in these cases, a new application must be submitted before the current visa expires.

At Servicio Legal, we have lawyers specializing in Immigration Law who can offer you the legal advice you need for your Colombian student visa application. Learn more about Immigration Law on our blog. If you have more questions, check out our Frequently Asked Questions about Visas for Colombia.

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