Colombia Digital Nomad Visa: How to Apply [4 Steps]

The new Colombia digital nomad visa is now officially accepting applications from remote workers. 

Colombia has been a long-time favorite digital nomad destination, thanks to its affordable cost of living, colorful lifestyle, and reliable wifi connections. Namely, Bogota and Medellin are frequently full of visitors carrying laptops in their backpacks, searching for a place to set up their workspace for the day. 

In fact, the number of tourists coming to Colombia skyrocketed by 200% between 2010 and 2019. 

The announcement of a Colombia digital nomad visa is exciting and revolutionary for digital nomads. As of now, most visitors can only stay in the country for 180 days out of the year. 

However, with the Colombia digital nomad visa, remote workers will have the opportunity to live in the country for up to two years! 

One interesting aspect of this visa is the opportunity to start a business in digital technology in Colombia. This is a unique feature that most digital nomad visas do not allow. 

Applicants may bring their spouses and dependents with them on the Colombia digital nomad visa too.

While applying for the Colombia digital nomad visa may seem fairly simple, relocating to a new country isn’t so easy. With Nomads Embassy’s hand-selected local immigration lawyers, you can confidently and smoothly move to Colombia.

Colombia is one of the first countries in South America to offer a long-term living solution to digital nomads with this new visa. They join Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador, Peru, and Argentina in this innovative movement. 

What is a Digital Nomad Visa?

A digital nomad visa is a temporary residence permit allowing remote workers to live abroad from six months to five years, depending on the country. 

To be eligible for a digital nomad visa, you must already work as an employee, freelance with clients, or own a business located outside of the country you wish to apply for the visa. 

Digital nomad visas are excellent solutions for those who want to settle down temporarily in a destination. Rather than moving from one country to the next every few months and living on tourist visas, remote workers can relax and truly get to know a destination when they apply for a digital nomad visa. 

Colombia Digital Nomad Visa Requirements

To be eligible to apply for the Colombia digital nomad visa, you must meet certain requirements. 

• Valid Passport – Your passport must be valid for at least six months when applying for the visa
• Work Remotely – You must work as an employee, freelancer, or own a business outside of Colombia
• Earn $1,100/month – You must meet the minimum income requirement
• International Health Insurance – You must have health insurance coverage for accidents, maternity, sickness, death, repatriation, and disabilities 
• Letter of Employment – You must submit a letter written either in English or Spanish from your employer proving you work remotely 
• No Entry Visa Required – You must not require an entry or tourist visa to enter Colombia
• Clean Criminal Record – You must present proof of a clean criminal background check from your country of residence
• In Good Standing as a Self-Employed Individual – If you are self-employed, you must present proof that you are in good standing (taxes paid, etc.)

If you meet the requirements, then you may begin your Colombia digital nomad application.

Steps to Apply

As with all Colombia visas, the application process for the digital nomad visa will take place online through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Step 1: Gather Documents

Before you begin your Colombia digital nomad visa application, it’s a good idea to gather and digitize all of the required documents. Below is a list of the documents you will need to submit with your application.

• Copy of Passport
• Color Passport-Size Photo
• Bank Statements from the Previous Three Months
• Proof of Remote Work
• Motivational Letter (if applicable)
• Proof of Health Insurance Coverage in Colombia
• Criminal Background Check with Apostille
• Letter of Good Standing with Apostille (if self-employed)
• Proof of Business Ownership with Apostille (if self-employed)
• Proof of Relationship to Dependents with Apostille (if applicable)

Some documents may require legalization, translation, and an apostille.

Official documents may be no older than 60 days, except for the bank statements.

Step 2: Submit Application

You can access the Colombia digital nomad visa application through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’s online portal here.

The Colombia digital nomad visa is considered a visitor visa or V visa. This is important to know when selecting which visa you are applying for on the country’s visa application platform.

While the platform is fairly straightforward, you can review instructions for how to use it in this PDF guide.

You will also have to pay your application fee of $52 USD. You may pay via credit card. There is a simple guide for how to do this here.

Step 3: Wait for Approval

It will take about 30 days to receive an answer concerning your Colombia digital nomad visa application.

You can always check the status of your application through this form.

If the ministry requests an additional document or revision, you will have ten days to comply or the application will be rejected.

Step 4: Pay Visa Fee

Upon approval of your Colombia digital nomad visa, you must pay the visa fee. Depending on various factors, such as your dependents, this fee can be between $170 and $230 USD.

Once you have paid the fee, your Colombia digital nomad visa will be electronically delivered within ten days.

The visa term will begin on the day that you receive your Colombia digital nomad visa.

Colombia for Digital Nomads

One of the top digital nomad destinations in the world is Medellin, Colombia. Known as the City of Eternal Spring, you’ll expect to find ideal weather, blossoming flowers, and a booming digital nomad community. 

While Colombia may have a questionable reputation due to its past, more and more digital nomads are falling in love with this beautiful country. With an affordable cost of living, delicious cuisine, and colorful culture, it’s no wonder digital nomads want to live here. 

Coworking spaces and cafes with free wifi are plentiful throughout major cities such as Medellin and Bogota. You’ll quickly find other remote workers setting up shop while sipping on fresh Colombian brewed coffee. 

As an up-and-coming tech startup hub, Colombia is a fantastic place for entrepreneurs to network and start new businesses. In just a few years, we can count on Colombia to thrive for digital nomads and travelers alike. 

Let Us Help You Apply for the Colombia Digital Nomad Visa

Are you ready to enjoy the beautiful weather and lively culture while working remotely for a year in Colombia?

With our hand-selected immigration lawyers in Colombia, our readers can experience an easy and stress-free digital nomad visa application and relocation with our Colombia Done-for-You Digital Nomad Visa service.

With our innovative platform, you can securely upload your sensitive documents and application for your lawyer to review.

Are you ready to connect with an immigration lawyer and discuss applying for the Colombia digital nomad visa?

Simply complete the contact form in this article to request a consultation today!

Frequently Asked Questions

While articles like this are helpful and informative, you may still have some questions about the Colombia digital nomad visa. 

Below are some answers to the most common questions we receive about the visa.