What are the types of visas for Colombia?

Types of Visas in Colombia

Several types of visas are granted in Colombia to allow foreigners to enter and remain in the country for various reasons. Below, we will detail each type and explain what they entail. For a more in-depth understanding of the general process, you can consult our Complete Guide to Applying for a Colombian Visa: Steps, Requirements, and Tips 2025. To understand what happens if your application is not successful, you can read about What happens if my visa application is denied in Colombia?.

Type V Visa

This is a visitor visa, intended for short to medium-stay activities in the country. This visa comprises 29 categories:

1. Airport Transit
2. Tourism Tourist visa for Colombia
3. Business Type V Visa for business management
4. Studies How to obtain a student visa in Colombia according to Resolution 5477?
5. Medical Treatment
6. Administrative and/or Judicial Procedures Visa type V administrative or judicial procedures
7. Crew Member V-Type Visa for Vessel Crew or Offshore Platform Workers
8. Seasonal Agricultural Worker
9. Events
10. Religious Religious visa in Colombia How to obtain it?
11. Student/Religious Volunteer
12. Volunteers or Cooperators
13. Large-Format Film or Documentary Productions
14. Digital Nomad Digital Nomad Visa for Colombia
15. News Coverage
16. Permanent Correspondent
17. Technical Assistance
18. TLC Businesspeople
19. Non-accredited Officials
20. Vacation and Work
21. Work Placement
22. Service Provider-Labor Work
23. Promotion of Internationalization
24. Pensioner/Rentier Pensionado or rentista visa in Colombia
25. Courtesy Diplomats
26. ICETEX Program
27. Courtesy International Commitments
28. Courtesy Film Law
29. Complementary Measure to Refuge

Each of the above categories has different characteristics and requirements that can be consulted in detail on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/visas/larga-estancia). If you have frequently asked questions about visas for Colombia, we invite you to review our article Frequently Asked Questions about Visas for Colombia. You can also learn about The 10 Most Requested Visas in Colombia According to Resolution 5477 of 2022.

Type M Visa

This visa applies to foreigners who wish to establish themselves permanently in Colombia and is valid for up to 3 years. This type of visa comprises 14 categories, of which 5 do not allow work; 9 do, 6 with a work permit allowing any lawful activity in the national territory, and 3 have restrictions associated with the activity for which the visa was granted. To better understand the categories by resolution, check our article on Types of Visas offered in Colombia under Resolution 5477 of 2022.

The 14 categories are:

1. Spouse of a Colombian national Visa for spouse or permanent partner in Colombia
2. Permanent Partner of a Colombian national
3. Mother or father of a Colombian national by adoption
4. Father or mother of a Colombian national by birth
5. Mercosur Migrant Mercosur Visa
6. Andean Migrant
7. Refugee
8. Worker What is the Work Visa for Colombia?
9. Partner or Owner Visa Type M Partner or Business Owner in Colombia
10. Self-employed professional
11. Pensioner
12. Promotion of Internationalization
13. Investor Real Estate Investment Visa in 2025
14. Stateless person

All allow accumulating time for a resident visa after a minimum period of stay as a holder, which varies depending on the category. This type of visa may automatically lose its validity due to the holder's absence from the territory for more than 180 consecutive calendar days within a period of 365 days counted from the date of issuance of the visa. For more details on this type of visa, you can consult our article Types of Visas in Colombia 2025: Requirements and Recent Changes.

Type R Visa

This visa is for foreigners who wish to establish themselves permanently in Colombia; it includes a work permit allowing any lawful activity in the national territory and must be renewed every 5 years through the digital platform of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/tramites_servicios/visa). Learn more in our Resident Visa in Colombia 2025: Complete Guide to Obtaining Permanent Residency.

It comprises 4 categories:

1. By renunciation of nationality Renunciation of Colombian nationality
2. By accumulated time of residence in Colombia Resident Visa Based on Accumulated Time of Stay
3. By application of the Temporary Statute of Protection for Venezuelan Migrants
4. Special Peace

This visa may automatically lose its validity due to absence from the territory.

In conclusion, there are different options for legalizing your stay in Colombia. The most common are tourist, work, student, investment, and resident visas, each with its own requirements and procedures. It is important to be properly informed to obtain the visa corresponding to each foreigner's particular situation. If you need help, contact us. We also invite you to read about the Requirements and Process to Apply for a Colombian Visa 2025.

Bibliography

• https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/visas/larga-estancia