OPEN BETAYou may hit bugs. Tell us in one click and we fix it fast.Report a bug →·Try the live demo →

Colombia residence and citizenship

The lowest comparable cited investment amount on file for a residence route in Colombia is $53,546, for the M shareholder or business owner. Ordinary naturalisation in Colombia needs 5 years of legal residence.

Last updated: 11 November 2026

Checked — Sources last checked 11 November 2026 by the automated residence and citizenship review.

Residence routes in Colombia

Investment, own-income, remote-work and permanent routes. Scroll across the table to see every column.

RouteKindMinimumProcessingTo citizenship
M investor — real estateResidence by investment$187,413—10 years
M investor — registered foreign direct investmentResidence by investment$348,052—10 years
M shareholder or business ownerInvestor$53,546—10 years
M pensionerRetirement or own income——10 years
V digital nomadRemote work———
R permanent residence after qualifying M visaPermanent residence———
R residence under Venezuelan temporary protection statutePermanent residence———

"Minimum" is a cited investment threshold in its stated currency. A USD figure appears only when a supported conversion is on file; "—" means no supported amount is on file, not that it is free. "To citizenship" counts the years of residence before a naturalisation application. A zero-year entry states no residence wait; citizenship still needs a separate decision.

Work, family, study and other routes (12)
RouteKindMinimumProcessingTo citizenship
M recognized refugeeResidence permit——10 years
M recognized stateless personResidence permit——3 years
V rentista passive-income stayResidence permit———
Migrant employee visa (M trabajador)Work——10 years
M independent professionalWork——10 years
M internationalization specialistWork——10 years
M spouse of Colombian citizenFamily——5 years
M permanent partner of Colombian citizenFamily——7 years
M parent of Colombian citizen by birthFamily——4 years
M parent or dependent child of Colombian citizen by adoptionFamily———
M Mercosur nationality residenceEU / EEA free movement———
M Andean nationality residenceEU / EEA free movement———
Each route's conditions and sources

M investor — real estate

Property acquired in the applicant's name at 350 SMMLV (COP 612,816,750 in 2026). USD 187,412.61 uses 10 Nov 2026 TRM; the threshold is indexed to the wage and the USD amount changes. Five M years to R plus five R years to ordinary citizenship. No verified filing fee or bounded end-to-end processing time.

Sources: M property investor visa (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), 2026 statutory monthly minimum wage (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (official legislation compilation)), Banco de la República TRM, 10 November 2026 (Banco de la República), R visa after accumulated M time (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Colombian residence to citizenship (Global Citizen Solutions, summary)

M investor — registered foreign direct investment

Registered foreign direct investment must exceed 650 SMMLV (COP 1,138,088,250 in 2026); the displayed USD 348,051.99 is the value at the cited 10 Nov 2026 TRM, not a fixed USD legal floor. Five M years to R, then five R years to ordinary citizenship. The investor must maintain the investment. No verified route-specific fee or bounded end-to-end processing time.

Sources: M investor foreign direct investment (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), 2026 statutory monthly minimum wage (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (official legislation compilation)), Banco de la República TRM, 10 November 2026 (Banco de la República), R visa after accumulated M time (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Colombian residence to citizenship (Global Citizen Solutions, summary)

M shareholder or business owner

Founder or qualifying shareholder with paid company capital of at least 100 SMMLV (COP 175,090,500 in 2026), equal to USD 53,546.46 at 10 Nov 2026 TRM. Five M years to R plus five R years to ordinary citizenship. This is separate from the 650-SMMLV direct-investor visa. No verified fee or bounded processing time.

Sources: M shareholder or owner visa (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), 2026 statutory monthly minimum wage (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (official legislation compilation)), Banco de la República TRM, 10 November 2026 (Banco de la República), R visa after accumulated M time (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Colombian residence to citizenship (Global Citizen Solutions, summary)

M pensioner

Foreign pensioner with lifetime monthly pension of at least three SMMLV and qualifying health cover; pension is income, not investment. M visa can accumulate five years to R, followed by five R years to ordinary naturalization. No verified fee or bounded processing time.

Sources: M pensioner (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), R visa after accumulated M time (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Colombian residence to citizenship (Global Citizen Solutions, summary)

V digital nomad

Visa-exempt passport holder working remotely for foreign clients or employer, with income of three SMMLV monthly; visa valid up to two years. This is a V visitor category and no M-to-R residence clock is asserted. Eligible nationality is defined by the ministry's visa-exempt list rather than a broad passport group. No verified fee or bounded end-to-end processing time.

Sources: V digital nomad (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Digital nomad visa (Fragomen, summary)

R permanent residence after qualifying M visa

Continuous qualifying M-visa time varies by category: two years for Andean/Mercosur migrants and certain parents, three for Colombian spouses, and five for most M categories. R requires a separate application. Naturalization then requires five R years ordinarily or two where the statutory family or reciprocity exception applies; there is no single total for this general route. No investment floor, verified R fee or bounded processing time.

Sources: R visa after accumulated M time (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Naturalization residence clock (Congress of Colombia (official legislation compilation)), Reduced naturalization residence period (Congress of Colombia (official legislation compilation))

R residence under Venezuelan temporary protection statute

Venezuelan citizen covered by ETPV with five qualifying years of PEP/PPT and a current PPT may apply for R. Ordinary naturalization then requires five R years, or two where reciprocity or a family exception applies. No universal total citizenship clock, investment floor, verified visa fee or bounded processing time.

Sources: R visa under Venezuelan temporary protection statute (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Naturalization residence clock (Congress of Colombia (official legislation compilation)), Reduced naturalization residence period (Congress of Colombia (official legislation compilation))

M recognized refugee

For a person formally recognized as a refugee by Colombia. Five qualifying M years can lead to R and five further R years to ordinary naturalization, unless a statutory reduction applies. Eligibility follows the ministry's refugee-recognition requirement. No investment floor or bounded processing time. The 2026 tariff exempts recognized refugees from both M-visa fee stages; the visa fee is USD 0.

Sources: M recognized refugee (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), R visa after accumulated M time (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Naturalization residence clock (Congress of Colombia (official legislation compilation)), Refugee M-visa fee exemption (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

M recognized stateless person

For a person formally recognized as stateless by Colombia. Two qualifying M years can lead to R; the statute permits a naturalization application after one further R year. Eligibility follows the ministry's recognition requirement. The statute makes naturalization free, but a visa fee and bounded visa processing time were not verified.

Sources: M recognized stateless person (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), R visa after accumulated M time (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Stateless naturalization after one R year (Congress of Colombia (official legislation compilation))

V rentista passive-income stay

Foreigner with lawful periodic passive income of at least ten SMMLV monthly. Income is not investment; this two-year V visitor route does not itself accumulate time for an R visa. No verified fee or bounded processing time.

Sources: V rentista (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Migrant employee visa (M trabajador)

The 2026 M-visa schedule has study and issuance stages. Location and nationality exemptions alter the amount; the visa is tied to the approved employer and role. Five M years can lead to R, followed by five R years for ordinary naturalization; approval is discretionary.

Sources: Migrant worker visa requirements (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), 2026 migrant-visa fee schedule and exceptions (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), R visa after accumulated M time (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Naturalization residence clock (Congress of Colombia (official legislation compilation))

M independent professional

Professional seeking to practice a regulated profession or an exceptionally approved activity, with recognition/licensing where required and average income of at least five SMMLV monthly. Income is not an investment. Five M years to R and five R years to ordinary citizenship. No verified fee or bounded processing time.

Sources: M independent professional (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), R visa after accumulated M time (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Colombian residence to citizenship (Global Citizen Solutions, summary)

M internationalization specialist

Qualifying postgraduate or designated professional sponsored by a Colombian institution for internationalization work. Five M years to R plus five R years to ordinary citizenship. No investment floor, verified fee or bounded processing time.

Sources: M internationalization specialist (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), R visa after accumulated M time (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Colombian residence to citizenship (Global Citizen Solutions, summary)

M spouse of Colombian citizen

Foreign spouse in a genuine marriage and cohabitation with a Colombian citizen. The current R accumulation table requires three M years; citizenship can be sought after two R years as a qualifying spouse. The individual M-spouse page still says five M years, so the amended R table controls. No investment floor, verified fee or bounded processing time.

Sources: M spouse of Colombian citizen (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), R visa after accumulated M time (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Reduced naturalization residence period (Congress of Colombia (official legislation compilation))

M permanent partner of Colombian citizen

Foreign de facto permanent partner of a Colombian citizen with formally declared union. The current R table requires five M years; a qualifying partner can seek citizenship after two R years. No capital minimum, verified fee or bounded processing time.

Sources: M permanent partner of Colombian citizen (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), R visa after accumulated M time (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Reduced naturalization residence period (Congress of Colombia (official legislation compilation))

M parent of Colombian citizen by birth

Foreign parent of a Colombian citizen by birth, subject to documented birth and nationality conditions. Two M years can lead to R, followed by two R years to a family-based naturalization application. No investment floor, verified fee or bounded processing time.

Sources: M parent of Colombian citizen by birth (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), R visa after accumulated M time (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Reduced naturalization residence period (Congress of Colombia (official legislation compilation))

M parent or dependent child of Colombian citizen by adoption

Foreign parent or dependent child under 25 of a Colombian citizen by adoption. Two qualifying M years can lead to R. A parent of a Colombian child can seek naturalization after two R years; a child normally needs five R years unless another exception applies. There is no single citizenship clock, investment floor, verified visa fee or bounded processing time.

Sources: M visa for family of Colombian citizen by adoption (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), R visa after accumulated M time (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Naturalization residence clock (Congress of Colombia (official legislation compilation)), Reduced naturalization residence period (Congress of Colombia (official legislation compilation))

M Mercosur nationality residence

Two qualifying M years permit an R application. The current naturalization law then requires five R years ordinarily, or two for applicants whose origin state offers reciprocity or who meet a family exception. A single citizenship clock for all eligible nationalities is therefore not established. No verified fee or processing bound.

Sources: M Mercosur migrant (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), R visa after accumulated M time (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Reduced naturalization residence period (Congress of Colombia (official legislation compilation)), Colombian residence to citizenship (Global Citizen Solutions, summary)

M Andean nationality residence

Two qualifying M years permit an R application. The current naturalization law then requires five R years ordinarily, or two for applicants whose origin state offers reciprocity or who meet a family exception. A single citizenship clock for all eligible nationalities is therefore not established. No verified fee or processing bound.

Sources: M Andean migrant (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), R visa after accumulated M time (Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Reduced naturalization residence period (Congress of Colombia (official legislation compilation)), Colombian residence to citizenship (Global Citizen Solutions, summary)

Citizenship in Colombia

  • Years of residence before naturalisation: 5 years
  • Years before permanent residence: not stated
  • Dual citizenship allowed: Yes
  • Language: Spanish knowledge exam when Spanish is not the applicant's native language, subject to statutory exam exemptions.
  • Residence and presence: Continuous domicile from issuance of a Resident (R) visa; an absence from Colombia of one year or more interrupts the required period.

Ordinary naturalization requires five continuous years of domicile after the R visa is issued. The current law reduces this to two R years for a Colombian citizen's spouse or permanent partner, a parent of a Colombian child, or an applicant whose origin state offers reciprocity; it does not grant a blanket one-year period to Latin American nationals. Recognized stateless people have a separate one-year, free naturalization route. R eligibility generally follows two M years for Andean/Mercosur migrants, qualifying parents and stateless people; three for spouses; five for most other M holders. Approval remains discretionary. One year's continuous absence interrupts the naturalization domicile period; two consecutive years abroad ends R visa validity. The permanent-residence wait is route-dependent, so no single national value is entered.

What is the cheapest residence visa in Colombia?

The lowest comparable cited investment amount on file for a residence route in Colombia is $53,546, for the M shareholder or business owner. Routes for people living on their own income or working remotely (M pensioner; V digital nomad) ask for proof of income, not an investment.

How many years to citizenship in Colombia?

Ordinary naturalisation in Colombia needs 5 years of legal residence. Continuous domicile from issuance of a Resident (R) visa; an absence from Colombia of one year or more interrupts the required period.

Does Colombia allow dual citizenship?

Yes. Colombia lets a new citizen keep another nationality, subject to the other country's rules.

Tax and residence days

A residence permit and tax residence are different tests. See the Colombia tax rates, count your days with the Colombia day test and see what changed in the data, day by day.

Sources

The Colombia profile cites 35 sources, 30 of them from a government or a statute. Data as of 2026-Q4.

Rules, fees and minimums change, and many routes have conditions not shown here. Did you find an error? Tell us, with the source.

Other countries in Latin America: Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua. See every country.

This page is general information. It is not legal, immigration, tax or investment advice. Check the official source and ask a qualified immigration lawyer before you apply or invest.