Retirement Visa in Colombia

March 25, 2023

The Retirement Visa in Colombia was created for those who receive a pension in their State of origin or from a private fund and want to settle in a different country at this stage of their lives.

For many years, Colombia has proven to be one of the most visited tourist destinations by foreigners in Latin America for many reasons. This is due to its strategic geographic location that allows easy travel to other nearby countries in the continent. Additionally, it has several tourist attractions such as beaches and mountains, as well as different climates depending on the preferences of visitors.

On the other hand, Colombia has affordable housing, transportation and leisure prices for foreigners with foreign income, making the country a highly attractive destination to travel and live.

In this blog, we will tell you about the Retirement Visa in Colombia and what are the requirements to apply for it before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country. At our firm, AGT Attorneys, we have an expert legal team in the presentation of immigration procedures before the Ministry, such as the application for a retirement visa. Our lawyers will analyze each specific case, so that your application is viable at the time of filing.

Do not hesitate to contact us by filling out this Contact Form or by phone call to WhatsApp +57 3105706331.

What type of Visa does the Retirement Visa in Colombia belong to?

Resolution 5477 of 2022, modified the migratory system in Colombia so that it responds to the current migration flows in our country. The three (3) main types remain the same and are:

• Courtesy Visa Type V.
• Migrant Visa Type M.
• Resident Visa Type R.

In this sense, the M Migrant Visa is granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to foreigners who wish to settle temporarily in the country. Within the fourteen (14) visa subcategories that are contained in the resolution, one of them is the Retirement M Visa.

Who can apply for the Retirement Visa in Colombia?

Those foreigners who have a constant monthly income that constitutes a pension may apply for the Retirement Visa in Colombia. The pension in question may be granted by a State or by a private pension fund.

As for its validity term, this type of visa will be valid for up to three (3) years. However, when you have a retirement visa, this allows you to accumulate time to access the Resident Visa.

On the other hand, as it is a type M Visa is granted to people who have a secure income in the form of a pension, it will not grant a permit to work in the country. Also, it will not allow its holder to affiliate to the Social Security System in principle. However, it does offer the possibility for the holder to ask for a beneficiary visa.

What should be the amount of the pension to apply for this visa?

Resolution 5477 of 2022 establishes that those foreigners who earn a pension and want to apply for the Retirement Visa must receive more than three (3) monthly minimum wages.

Hence, the minimum monthly wage in Colombia for 2023 is at $1,160,000 COP, therefore, foreigners wishing to apply for a resident visa must have a pension of at least $3,480,000 COP per month.

• **In dollars, the pension should be approximately US $740 per month.

What documents are required to apply for a Retirement Visa in Colombia?

In order to apply for a retirement visa in Colombia, there are general requirements that all applications must meet, and specific requirements for each visa subcategory.

General Requirements

All visa applications submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must meet the following requirements:

1. Complete the visa application form electronically.
2. Recent digital color photograph with white background following the specifications established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
3. Have a valid passport or equivalent travel document.
4. Provide a copy of the main page of the passport where the most recent entry stamp to the country can be found.

On the other hand, each visa subcategory will require specific documents to be provided in the application. Therefore, for the Retirement Visa, the following documents must be attached:

Specific requirements

1. Attach the certificate that recognizes and supports the monthly payment of a life pension to the applicant foreigner. The amount must not be less than three (3) monthly minimum wages.
2. Certificate of judicial and criminal record issued by the competent authority in the country where he/she has stayed the last three (3) couple of years.
3. Provide a medical certificate of psychophysical aptitude of the applicant.
4. Demonstrate that the applicant has health coverage in Colombia or the respective health policy.

Do you need to consult your case with an expert lawyer in Immigration Law?

Colombia is one of the favorite destinations for foreigners who want to live and travel in a new country. With its multiple tourist destinations, geographical location and competitive housing prices, our country is an excellent option for those who are looking for a quiet and beautiful place to enjoy their retirement.

In our firm, AGT Attorneys, we have professional experts in Immigration Law in Colombia in charge of providing personalized advice regarding all the requirements to apply for the Retirement Visa in Colombia. Our lawyers will provide you with personalized advice for your visa application before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, guiding you in the presentation of the documents duly apostilled and translated depending on the case.

Write to us on our Contact Form, schedule your legal appointment with our lawyers through the following link or contact us at +57 310 5706331. We will be happy to assist you!

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