Colombia has beautiful  exotic weather, world-grade healthcare, and some of the best coffee in the world. Coupled with a low cost of living and inexpensive minimum income for a retirement visa, Colombia is one of the most enticing options for settling down abroad. Here is everything you need to know about obtaining a retirement visa  or other types of Visa for Colombia. Know the rules and the requirements, whether you are planning for a short vacation or a long term life near the exotic mountains and beaches there are various Visa types you can choose

Travelers can  find the basic rules on the Cancillería website,  (https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/  )and their can be instance in which the travelers are  asked for additional paperwork.

Travelers  can find more information about each visa type and the documentation.

Major Points to Consider when choosing the right kind of visa

• There are many categories of visas presented for Colombia and choosing the right one  is the first and most important step in getting a visa without any hassle. The best part is that you can apply for a Colombia visa in person as well as online, which makes the whole visa process even easier. There are three types of visa available for Colombia: visitor visa, migrant visa and resident visa.
• V visas are generally easier to qualify for than M or R visas because they are not designed for long-term residents.

• The M independent workers visa does require a certified degree in the field in which you are working. Unfortunately, that means that if you are a Opera Performing actor with an Biology degree, you probably ain’t gonna get an M visa. , the Ministry of Education was taking up to four months to certify those degrees.
• And if the Traveler wants to provide investment for an investor visa, you can’t get the documentation you need from the Banco de la Republica if you are a tax resident in Colombia. Anyone who’s been in the country for 6 months counts as a tax resident, no matter what their visa status is.

Updates after COVID-19 on the  Colombian visa system

Colombian visa authorities  now have had the discretion to request other documentation to understand or clarify the sort of activities that visa applicants will carry out in Colombia. The types of visa can be found here.

In January, before the pandemic hit Colombia, the Colombian Ministry of Health issued a decree which aimed to provide extra resources for the country’s social security system, in order to prevent it from being evaded or abused. Ever since, the Ministry of Foreign affairs has been checking V visa applications for evidence of international medical insurance, including during the pandemic, for proof that applicants will not be a “burden” for the country’s health service.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs can also request proof of academic qualifications — or equivalent proof of license to carry out a profession — at its own discretion for M and V Visas. This requirement was introduced in 2018 for independent worker M visas, and the ministry has recently begun to also request the extra documentation for some contractual employment visas. 

This proof of academic qualification must be apostilled (officially certified by a qualified representative that the document is legally recognized) in the country where it was issued. Although universities and colleges do not typically offer this service, applicants can send their degree to an official apostille service and expect to pay around £80, €90 or U.S. $105.

This apostilled degree must then be translated into Spanish and stamped by a government-recognized official translator. In Colombia, this service tends to cost approximately COP$200,000. It must then be certified by the Colombian Ministry of Education. 

When Colombia reopens its borders, will visa applications be processed as normal? Will people be able to enter the country on (V) visas?

The Colombian government has recently extended the health emergency until November 30, 2020, via a decree issued at the end of August.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that tourists will be allowed to enter the country on V visas “when conditions — such as the reopening of airports and the entire tourist industry — permit.”

How long are visas taking to process?

Once paid for, the turnaround time for visa processing — according to the cancillería website — is five business days. This may be extended up to 30 calendar days in the event that additional documentation, or an interview, is required. If this is the case during lockdown, however, waits beyond 30 days can be expected. We know of various cases that have been in process for weeks, so don’t expect it to be fast.

For foreigners outside of Colombia who have had their visas in limbo during lockdown, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs re-opened all Colombian visa processing on June 24. This can be done online via a Colombian consulate in the applicant’s country of residence. Some Colombian consulates are now offering in-person services, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends checking online first.

The Colombian Retirement  Settelment Visa

For those receiving monthly Social Security income of about $750 (three times Colombia’s minimum monthly wage of $262) or $2,500 from a private pension or 401(k), a retirement visa is available in Colombia

A Rough information about the retirement visa can be found  can be found on the government’s website, https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/en/special-temporary-pensioners-visa-0  

Initially this visa is issued for three years and can be renewed. Retirees can apply for a Colombia resident visa after having a retirement visa for five years. Also along with the Retirement visa A beneficiary’s visa may be conferred to the spouse, permanent partner, parents and children who are economically dependent upon the foreign temporary visa holder as a pensioner, following prior proof of the relationship or kinship.