Colombia relocation

Colombia has two straightforward visas for people moving there on foreign income: the digital nomad visa for remote workers and the pensionado visa for people with a lifetime pension, including US Social Security. Both use the same income test, three times Colombia's legal monthly minimum wage, which is COP 5,252,715 a month in 2026. Both are applied for online through Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería).

Who this route suits

The digital nomad visa suits employees, contractors, freelancers and business owners whose work and pay come from outside Colombia. The pensionado visa suits retirees whose pension is certified for life by the paying entity. Neither visa allows paid work for a Colombian employer or client. If you only want a few months, visa-exempt visitors get an entry permit of up to 90 days, extendable to 180 days in a calendar year, so you may not need a visa at all for a trial stay.

The main options at a glance

	Digital nomad visa (Visa V)	Pensionado visa (Visa M)
Income test (2026)	COP 5,252,715 a month in remote income, shown for the last three months	Certified lifetime pension of COP 5,252,715 a month
Main evidence	Bank statements plus employer letter, client contracts or proof of business ownership	Pension certificate, apostilled and translated into Spanish
Length	Up to two years	Up to three years, renewable
Path to residence	Temporary visa; family can join as beneficiaries	Counts toward the Resident (R) visa after at least five years
Common sticking point	Insurance length can cap the visa's validity	The apostille step and health insurance

Work in pesos, not dollars

The threshold is set in pesos and moves every year with the minimum wage, which rose about 23% to COP 1,750,905 for 2026. Flat dollar figures circulating online are usually out of date: the peso strengthened against the dollar between mid-2025 and 2026, so older estimates of around US$1,300 to US$1,400 understate what you now need. At rates reported in 2026, the threshold works out to roughly US$1,600 to US$1,700 a month. If you are paid in another currency, leave a margin so a weak month does not push you under the line. The 2026 minimum wage decree is also under challenge in Colombia's Council of State, so recheck the figure if a ruling comes before you apply.

The order to tackle things

1. Match your income to the visa. Remote workers should read the Colombia digital nomad visa requirements. Retirees, especially those on Social Security, should read Colombia pensionado visa requirements and Social Security. Savings are not income for either visa.
2. Gather and apostille documents early. Foreign documents need an apostille and an official Spanish translation where required, and the pension certificate's apostille is where many pensionado applications stall.
3. Buy insurance that matches the visa length you want. Cancillería can limit the digital nomad visa to the period your policy covers, so a 12-month policy can produce a 12-month visa.
4. Apply on the Cancillería portal. You can apply from abroad or from inside Colombia if your current status is regular, and Cancillería may ask for extra documents or an interview.