Type R Visa for Permanent Residency in Colombia

In Colombia, the resident visa or type R is the highest immigration status, being that this visa is special for those foreigners who seek to remain in Colombian territory, this visa also allows entering or leaving Colombia as many times as desired with this visa, has an indefinite duration, and also allows to exercise any legal activity in the country, including those that are developed under an employment relationship. In order to acquire this status through investment, it is necessary to prove an investment of more than six hundred and fifty (650) legal monthly minimum wages in force, that is, about COP 650,000,000 Pesos ($ 170,900 USD). With this investment you will be able to apply for a permanent residence visa. ## What do I need to acquire the R type visa for investment? * Passport photocopy: a photocopy of the first page of your valid passport showing your biographical data. The photocopy can be in color or black and white. * Proof of legal entry into the country: a photocopy of the page of your passport showing the last entry or exit stamp of Colombia. * Photocopy of previously issued Visa: if you have had a previous Colombian visa, such as a student or tourist visa. * Passport photo: digital photo with white background, no earrings, caps or white shirt. The file must not exceed 100 KB. * Certificate of freedom and tradition * Documents certifying occupation and sources of income * Foreign Exchange Declaration Form F4. * Finally and most importantly, in order to receive the R type visa for investment, you must provide a communication issued by the International Exchange Department of the Banco de la República. This communication from the banks records foreign direct investment made by you on your behalf in an amount greater than 650 times the current minimum monthly salary. ## Where can I apply for the R type visa for investment? A visa applicant who wishes to invest in Colombia may apply for a Colombian investment visa online (to proceed with the process virtually, please click on the following [link](https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/tramites_servicios/visa)). But if you are outside the national territory, you must apply for this and any other Colombian visa in any of the Colombian consulates around the world. For greater security it is advisable to seek the advice of expert lawyers in Colombian immigration law, thus having the help of someone who knows the requirements and has the experience to successfully complete the process. ### Colombia Visa Lawyers We have [lawyers specialized in all types of visa procedures in Colombia](https://serviciolegal.com.co/en/services/inmigration-law/type-v-visa-for-colombia-fast-and-reliable-process). At Servicio Legal, you will find the support and legal advice you need for the processing of your R type Visa for Investment. [Talk to an Expert Lawyer](https://wa.me/+573003884986)

The type R visa in Colombia, also known as Residency Visa, is the document that allows any person to establish permanent residence in our country, as well as to develop any lawful activity within the national territory. ## Who can apply for an R type visa in Colombia? * Who has renounced Colombian nationality. * Father or Mother of Colombian national. * Holder of a migrant visa (M), as a refugee, worker, businessman, independent professional, religious, student, foreign direct investment, retiree or annuitant; for a minimum of five (5) years. * Holder of a migrant visa as spouse or permanent partner of a Colombian national for at least two (2) years. * Holder of an M type visa, with respect to residence agreements for Mercosur member states, Bolivia and Chile; for a minimum period of two (2) years. * Adult beneficiary of type R visa in a period of five (5) years. * When investments register an amount higher than six hundred and fifty (650) monthly minimum wages. **Important:** It must be taken into account that all stipulated time periods must be fulfilled in a **CONTINUOUS AND UNINTERRUPTED** manner. ## Requirements and processing of type R visa in Colombia ### General documents: * Valid passport or travel document, with free space for visa and in good condition. The copy must contain the identification data. * Document that accredits the legal, regular and authorized stay in the country where the applicant is located. * Document type photograph, size 3×4 and white background. Likewise, complementary documents must be attached according to the special case presented, such as: #### Minor or incompetent person: * Birth certificate or birth certificate of the minor. * Civil registry of parents, judicial sentence of assignment of parental authority or guardianship. * Visa application letter from parent or legal guardian and specifying who will be in charge of the minor or incapacitated person within the Colombian territory. * Letter of acceptance of responsibility from the person authorized to care for the minor or incapacitated person; provided that it falls on an individual other than the parents or whoever has parental authority or legal guardianship. #### When Colombian nationality was renounced: * Certificate of renunciation of nationality or letter of naturalization from a foreign country; in case of loss of nationality as a result of the 1986 Constitution, provide a document proving the acquisition of another nationality before 1991. #### Father or mother of Colombian national by birth * Authenticated Civil Registry of Birth of the Colombian child; with the respective annotations of validity that allow accrediting nationality or domicile in Colombia of any of the parents at the moment of the child’s birth. * **Letter as appropriate:** * When the **child is a minor**, it must be signed by the other parent; additionally, it must state that the applicant complies with all the maintenance obligations that correspond to him/her. In case of not having the consent of the other parent, a certification from a Colombian family authority must be attached specifying the non-existence of protection measures, as well as the pertinent evidence to demonstrate the non-compliance of the absent parent with his or her child support obligations. * When the **child is of legal** age, he/she will be the one to request the visa for the foreign parent; likewise, he/she must attach a photocopy of the citizenship card. #### Period of time with migratory visa (M) * Certification of migratory movements and safe-conduct if applicable. * Certification of occupation and/or source of income. * Certification of the conditions or circumstances that allowed the granting of the last visa. #### Time accumulated as R type visa beneficiary * Migratory certificate issued by the Special Administrative Unit of Migration Colombia. * Safeguards obtained. * Certification of occupation and/or source of income. * Certification of the conditions or circumstances that allowed the granting of the last visa. #### Foreign direct investment * Certification from the International Exchange Department of the Banco de la República (Central Bank), specifying the foreign direct investment by the applicant and that it exceeds the amount of six hundred and fifty (650) smmlv. **Important:** The documents presented, with the exception of the identity card and travel document, must NOT have been issued more than three (3) months prior to the date of filing the visa application. Likewise, all documents of foreign origin must be duly apostilled and translated into Spanish when issued in another language; additionally, such translation shall be delivered apostilled and duly legalized. The competent authorities may check the applicant’s police record in the database of the National Police or require the applicant to present a record from his or her country of origin. The institution is empowered to verify compliance with all requirements and length of stay, when applicable.  ### 2\. Application form for type R visa in Colombia: Any application for a type R visa in Colombia must be registered in advance through the online visa application form, from the web page of the Colombian Embassy of the Republic of Colombia. [chancellery]https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/tramites_servicios/visa) or filed at the points of on-site attention; likewise, the previously stipulated documents must be attached to said form. ### 3\. Payment study request: The payment must be made within fifteen (15) days following the registration of the visa application, whether virtual or in person. ### 4\. Response to request: The competent authority must respond to the application filed within a period not exceeding five (5) days from the date of payment. However, in case it is necessary to clarify or add information, the response time may be extended for up to thirty (30) calendar days. ### 5\. Payment for issuance of type R visa in Colombia: Once the application is approved, the corresponding payment must be made for the issuance of the Visa. ### 6\. Stamping of Visa in the Passport: When the person is within the Colombian national territory, he/she must request, before the office that issues the visa, that it be stamped in the passport. On the other hand, if the visa was acquired abroad, you will have thirty (30) days from the date of arrival in Colombia to go to the Visa Office in Bogotá and have the visa stamped; once the term has expired, you must request the transfer of the visa. **Important:** The process for the issuance of type R visa in Colombia, or residence visa, can be done both virtually and in person. It is essential to take into account that due to the sanitary emergency caused by Covid-19, visa stamping is suspended for those visas valid for 3 months or more. ## Terms and Pricing In general, the time stipulated for the process is eight (8) working days; taking into account that, once the registration and payment of the visa application has been made, the institution has five (5) working days to issue a response and if approved, the entity must issue and send the visa to the interested party within three (3) days following the registration of the expedition payment. The fees to be paid for the R type visa adjudication process in Colombia are as follows: **Visa Application Study:** * Europe and Cuba= 40.00 euros * Colombia and rest of the countries = US$52.00 **Visa issuance:** * Europe and Cuba= 301.00 euros * Colombia and other countries = US$ 391.00 ## Validity of type R visa in Colombia Currently, the term is no longer indefinite and is only awarded for a specific period of time, which will be defined by the competent authority and in no case may be longer than 5 years. Finally, when the holder of the type R visa in Colombia is absent from the country for a period of 2 years or more, in a continuous manner, he/she will lose the right granted.

The R type visa for accumulated time is intended for foreigners who have remained in the national territory as holders of migrant visas, accumulating the time spent as holders of the visa. These are: 1. Spouse of a Colombian national: 3 years 2. Mother or father of Colombian national by adoption: 2 years 3. Father or mother of Colombian national by birth: 2 years 4. Mercosur Migrant: 2 years 5. Andean Migrant: 2 years 6. Stateless migrant: 2 years 7. Permanent partner of Colombian national: 5 years 8. Refugee: 5 years 9. Partner or owner: 5 years 10. Independent professional: 5 years 11. Pensioned: 5 years 12. Promotion of internationalization: 5 years 13. Investor: 5 years 14. Beneficiaries: 5 years For purposes of calculating accumulated time, continuity of time will be considered to exist when a visa has been granted before the expiration of the preceding visa. The safe conduct does not constitute a continuity factor for the calculation of time accumulation. Additionally, it is important to mention that compliance with the length of stay requirement does not constitute an automatic attribute that guarantees the granting of the Permanent Resident (R) visa, taking into account that the granting of the visa is of a sovereign and discretionary nature of the national government and does not constitute a right of the applicant. ## Specific requirements for the R-type visa application for accumulated time 1. Visa application letter explaining the source of income for the support of self and beneficiaries, when applicable; and describing how the circumstances or conditions that gave rise to the granting of previous visas subject to time accumulation are maintained. 2. Copy of the foreigner’s identification card, with the purpose of consulting the judicial antecedents. 3. For spouses or permanent partners: * Visa application letter signed by the Colombian spouse or permanent partner who supported the Migrant visa, stating the persistence of the relationship and the effective cohabitation, clearly stating his/her physical address, e-mail address and telephone number. * A simple copy of the citizen’s ID card * Special power of attorney granted before a notary public for a foreigner to apply for such visa. 4. The Visa and Immigration Authority may verify the applicant’s compliance with social security obligations. In the case of foreigners holding an M visa granted under the Mercosur Residency Agreement or under the Andean Migratory Statute, they must provide the additional requirements that may eventually be required of Colombian nationals in another member country of said Agreement or Statute in application of the principle of reciprocity. Finally, this visa allows its principal holder to apply for a visa for beneficiaries, who may apply for the R visa as principal holder, provided that they are of legal age and can prove their independence and economic solvency. ### Cybergraphy

The residence visa in Colombia is granted to a foreigner who wishes to settle permanently in the national territory, according to the specific conditions and requirements of the existing category applicable to the foreigner’s condition. The existing categories in this type of visa are: 1. Renunciation of Colombian nationality: for foreigners who, having been Colombians by birth or adoption, renounced Colombian nationality. 2. By accumulated time: for foreigners who have remained in the national territory as holders of valid migrant visas, accumulating time. 3. Venezuelans under ETPV: for Venezuelan citizens under the Temporary Protection Status for Venezuelan Migrants. 4. Special Peace Agreement: for foreigners who are former members of the FARC-EP, who have completed the process of laying down their weapons, have submitted to the Final Agreement for the Termination of the Conflict and the Construction of a Stable and Lasting Peace, and have made transit to legality. ## Formalities associated with the residence visa in Colombia This visa requires the principal holder to transfer every 5 years at least one month before the expiration date. This is the procedure by which, at the request of the holder, the reissuance of a visa already issued is authorized or not, as long as the holder uses the same nationality with which he/she obtained it. This procedure is carried out virtually through the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and requires compliance with the following requirements: 1. Valid passport or travel document, in good condition and with free space for visas. 2. Copy of the main page of the valid passport where the holder’s personal data is registered. 3. Copy of the page of the passport where the last entry or exit stamp of Colombia has been stamped, as the case may be. 4. Copy of the visa you wish to transfer. 5. Copy of the foreigner’s identification card, as the case may be. 6. Certificate of migratory movements issued by the Special Administrative Unit of Migration Colombia, with an issue date not greater than three (3) months. This requirement will not be necessary in the case of a Visitor visa, when the Migrant visa has been issued for less than six (6) months or the Resident visa for less than two (2) years. 7. Certification or document attesting to the validity of the circumstances circumstances or conditions or conditions that gave rise to the granting of the visa. ### Lastly The residence visa in Colombia allows its main holder to apply for a beneficiary visa and work with an open work permit that allows any lawful activity in the national territory. Additionally, it requires permanence in the territory, since the visa may automatically lose its validity when the holder is absent for two consecutive uninterrupted years.