Colombia

Business visit visa / Work visa

Business travelers entering Colombia for up to 180 days require either a business visa (V-3 Visitor Visa) or a Tourism Permit (Permiso de Turismo or PT). V-3 Visitor Visas require prior authorization from the immigration authorities in Colombia and allow a stay of up to 180 cumulative days in a 365-day period. Tourism Permits are only available to visa-exempt nationals and can be obtained on arrival in Colombia. The Tourism Permit allows a stay of 90 continuous days, extendable for an additional 90 days, or 180 cumulative days per calendar year.

For urgent, short-term technical assistance, the 30-day Permit to Develop Other Activities (POA) is available for visa-exempt nationals, when the host company is unable to find a specialized Colombian worker to assist. The POA must be processed approximately five business days before entry and an imminent urgency must be demonstrated to ensure its approval.

Foreign nationals who engage in work activities in Colombia must obtain either a V-13 Visitor Visa valid for two years or an M-5 Migrant Visa valid for three years, depending on their intended length of stay. In addition to a visa, professional foreign nationals (those who hold university degrees in a regulated profession) must obtain the applicable professional permit, degree validation, or professional license from the appropriate Colombian professional board.

Foreign nationals are eligible for resident status after five years of continuous and uninterrupted residence in Colombia under an M-5 Visa. The M-5 Visa becomes void if the holder remains outside Colombia for more than 180 consecutive days.