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Employment under a contract with a legal entity in Colombia allows you to obtain an M Trabajador migrant visa and legally reside in the country. After five years of residence as the primary holder of this visa, you may apply for an R permanent resident visa. To do so, you must maintain a valid basis for your immigration status and comply with the continuous residence requirements.
colombia
residency
- managers and key specialists
- IT specialists and technical experts
- employees of international companies
- professionals planning to relocate to Colombia and work there long term
Type: Visa de Migrante tipo M — Trabajador
Basis: an employment contract with a legal entity hiring a foreign national to work in Colombia. The position and qualifications must correspond to the stated activity.
Authority: the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores — Cancillería issues visas; Migración Colombia handles immigration control, registration and the issuance of the cédula de extranjería (foreign national identity card).
Who it is for
- lawful residence and employment
- the option to obtain visas for family members
- accumulation of qualifying time to apply for permanent residence after five years on an M Trabajador visa
- an open work permit upon obtaining an R visa on this basis, subject to the rules governing regulated professions
The M Trabajador category does not set a separate personal savings or passive income threshold for the applicant. However, the employment basis, qualifications and employer’s financial standing are assessed. To obtain visas for family members, the principal applicant must demonstrate sufficient means to support them.
Benefits of work-based residence
- a diploma with an apostille or legalization and a translation, or employment and experience records demonstrating the applicant’s qualifications
- a valid passport with at least six months of validity remaining at the time of application
Documents for the main applicant
Process
STAGE
WHAT WE DO
ACTIONS
TIMELINE
01
Preparation of the employment basis and application for an M Trabajador visa
- the employer, contract, position and qualifications are reviewed
- the applicant’s and company’s documents are collected, and translations and any required professional permits are arranged
The process may be started from abroad or from within Colombia, provided that the applicant has lawful immigration status and meets the application conditions
02
Registration and obtaining a cédula de extranjería
- after a visa valid for more than three months is issued, registration and a cédula de extranjería are required
- an in-person visit to Migración Colombia is necessary
The identity card application must be submitted within 15 calendar days of the visa being issued in Colombia, or of entry into the country if the visa was obtained abroad
03
Work visa renewal
- to accumulate qualifying time for permanent residence, you must maintain valid visas without gaps and comply with the residence requirements
- absence from Colombia for more than 180 consecutive calendar days within a 365-day period results in automatic loss of the M visa
04
Application for permanent residence
After five years on an M Trabajador visa, you may submit a separate application for an R resident visa, subject to the applicable requirements
- the statutory processing period for a complete application for which the required fee has been paid is up to 30 calendar days
- once the visa has been approved and issued, the electronic document is sent within ten business days
- document preparation, entry into Colombia and obtaining the cédula take approximately 30 days
Processing Times
Transition to Permanent Residence
An M Trabajador work visa is initially issued for up to three years. The qualifying period to be accumulated is five years.
After five years — an R resident visa.
After obtaining an R visa, you may work subject to the rules governing regulated professions. The visa document is reissued every five years.
The next stage is citizenship, subject to compliance with the naturalization requirements. After obtaining citizenship, you may obtain a Colombian passport.
Frequently asked questions
A spouse or permanent partner and financially dependent children under 25 are eligible. The principal applicant’s parents are not included in this category.
To live in the country and obtain a cédula de extranjería, you must travel to Colombia and complete the required procedure in person.
Yes. After obtaining an R visa, you may apply for citizenship through naturalization if you meet the requirements. As a general rule, five years of continuous domicile in Colombia are required, counted from the date the R resident visa is issued.
Knowledge of Spanish, Colombian history, geography and the Constitution is assessed, subject to the exceptions established by law.
Knowledge of Spanish, Colombian history, geography and the Constitution is assessed, subject to the exceptions established by law.
After five years as the principal holder of an M Trabajador visa, provided that the requirements concerning visa continuity and presence in Colombia are met. Permanent residence requires a separate application; completing five years does not mean that the status is granted automatically.
The visa restricts employment to the conditions under which it was issued. Before moving to a new employer, you must arrange the change to the basis of your visa with Cancillería.
Yes, provided that your stay is lawful and you meet the application conditions. Eligibility depends on your nationality and current status: some V visa holders face restrictions on changing to an M visa from within Colombia.
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