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Colombia — Digital Nomad Visa (Type V “Nómadas digitales”): everything you need to live and work remotely in Colombia

Knowledge Base – QUESTRAVEL

By Víctor Pizarro, Co-founder of QUESTRAVEL

Why Colombia (at a glance)

Colombia blends creative cities (Medellín, Bogotá), extraordinary nature, and a competitive cost of living. Since 2022, the country offers the Type V Digital Nomad Visa, tailored for people who work remotely for foreign employers/clients and want a legal stay beyond the 90-day tourist period. This guide distills the official rules and the on-the-ground practice we see every week at QUESTRAVEL. (Cancillería)

What it is & who it’s for

The Type V (Visitor) Digital Nomad Visa allows you to perform remote work/telework from Colombia for companies domiciled abroad (employees or freelancers). It may also cover entrepreneurs starting digital-content/IT projects of interest to Colombia. It does not authorize employment with Colombian employers. Validity up to 2 years, with the option to include dependents (spouse/children). (Cancillería)

Who regulates it & where to apply

The competent authority is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería). Applications are filed online through the SITAC platform.

  • Official visa page – Digital Nomad (Type V): cancilleria.gov.co/v/nomadadigital. (Cancillería)
  • Apply online (SITAC): tramitesmre.cancilleria.gov.co/tramites/enlinea/solicitarVisa.xhtml. (tramitesmre.cancilleria.gov.co)

Created under Resolution 5477 of 2022, which sets the current visa regime and details the Digital Nomad subcategory under Type V.

  • Resolution 5477 (official text): PDF & normograma. (Cancillería)

Duration, activity limits & family

  • Validity: up to 2 years.
  • Dependents: spouse and children can apply as beneficiaries.
  • Restriction: no employment for a Colombian-domiciled employer (income must be foreign-sourced). (Cancillería)

Key requirements (what they really ask for)

  • Passport from a short-stay-visa-exempt country (per current lists).
  • Letter (Spanish or English) from your foreign employer/client(s) explaining the relationship and compensation; if you’re a partner, a letter certifying you work remotely for that company.
  • Income threshold: bank statements proving at least 3 SMLMV (legal monthly minimum wages) for the last 3 months. For 2025, Colombia’s SMLMV is COP $1,423,500, so 3× SMLMV ≈ COP $4,270,500/month as a reference. (Cancillería)
  • Health insurance policy with coverage in Colombia for the entire requested period (accident, illness, hospitalization, repatriation). (Cancillería)
Tip: If your nationality is tourist-visa-exempt, you may enter as a tourist and stay up to 90 days, extendable to 180 days per calendar year—but this doesn’t replace the visa and doesn’t allow Colombian-source employment. (Tourist rules appear under Cancillería’s general guidance.) (Cancillería)

Step-by-step (how we do it at QUESTRAVEL)

  1. Income evidence: gather the last 3 months of bank statements and a clean employer/client letter that states your job is 100% remote for a foreign entity. (Cancillería)
  2. Insurance: purchase a policy that explicitly covers Colombia for the whole visa period. (Cancillería)
  3. Apply in SITAC: upload PDFs and a 3×4 cm photo (JPG), respecting file sizes/weights required by the platform. (tramitesmre.cancilleria.gov.co)
  4. Pay the fees and monitor Cancillería’s messages (the process is fully digital; in-person attendance only if requested). (tramitesmre.cancilleria.gov.co)
  5. Approval & e-stamp: once approved, download your electronic visa. If you’re traveling with family, apply beneficiaries in the same window. (Cancillería)

Quick answers (FAQ)

  • How much must I earn? At least 3× SMLMV monthly. For 2025 that’s COP $4,270,500/month (≈ 3 × 1,423,500). We recommend a buffer above the minimum. (mintrabajo.gov.co)
  • Can I invoice Colombian clients? No. The visa is for foreign-source income only. (Cancillería)
  • Can I build a startup? Yes, if it’s digital/IT and of interest to Colombia, with a motivation letter and proof of financial capacity (per Resolution 5477). (Cancillería)
  • Digital Nomad Visa – official page (Cancillería): cancilleria.gov.co/v/nomadadigital. (Cancillería)
  • Apply online (SITAC): tramitesmre.cancilleria.gov.co/tramites/enlinea/solicitarVisa.xhtml. (tramitesmre.cancilleria.gov.co)
  • Resolution 5477 of 2022 (legal basis): PDF/normograma. (Cancillería)
  • Visa overview (Ministry site): cancilleria.gov.co/tramites_servicios/visa. (Cancillería)
  • 2025 Minimum Wage (for the 3× SMLMV calculation): Ministry of Labor & Presidency notices. (mintrabajo.gov.co)


QUESTRAVEL’s take

Cases most often slow down due to poorly drafted letters (they must clearly say the work is exclusively remote for a foreign employer/client) and bank statements that don’t show 3× SMLMV cleanly. Our QUESTRAVEL professor-concierge approach keeps it simple: airtight proof of income, insurance with explicit coverage, and a narrative aligned to the visa’s purpose.

💡 Want us to pre-check your documents before you apply? Book a 1:1 with QUESTRAVEL and leave with a package that’s ready for Cancillería: fromquestravel.com.

Updated on: 03/11/2025