The Colombia nomad visa has the lightest financial bar among formal nomad visas in the Americas — about $909/month or 3× the Colombian minimum wage. Documentation is moderate but entirely online, making it accessible to applicants worldwide without travel to a Colombian consulate.
Eligibility
- Any non-Colombian national, aged 18+.
- Remote work or freelance activity for foreign entities. Services to Colombian employers or clients require a different visa type.
- Income of at least 3× the Colombian monthly minimum wage (~$909 in 2026), documented for the last 3 months.
- Valid health insurance covering Colombia for the duration of stay.
- Clean criminal record — generally not required in documentation, but reserved for background checks.
Income threshold
| Year | Colombian min wage (monthly) | 3× = required income |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | COP 1,300,000 (~$290) | ~$870/mo |
| 2025 | COP 1,423,500 (~$305) | ~$909/mo |
| 2026 | COP 1,500,000+ (estimate) | ~$950/mo (estimate) |
Evidence: 3 months of bank statements showing qualifying deposits. Cryptocurrency balances and savings on their own do not satisfy the test — the visa specifically requires regular income.
Document checklist (fully online submission)
- Passport valid for at least 6 months with 2 blank pages (scan of bio page)
- Recent passport-sized photo (digital, white background, 3×4 cm)
- Bank statements for the last 3 months showing qualifying income
- Employment contract, freelance contracts with foreign clients, or business registration if self-employed (translated to Spanish by a certified translator)
- Letter of intent (motivation statement) explaining your purpose in Colombia (1–2 paragraphs in Spanish)
- Health insurance policy valid in Colombia for the full 2-year visa term (international or Colombian provider)
- Proof of accommodation in Colombia (hotel reservation for initial stay or rental agreement — short-term reservations are typically accepted for the application)
- Visa application fee payment (~$223)
Document translation
Non-Spanish documents (employment contracts, degrees if relevant, English-language bank statements from some banks) require certified Spanish translation. Cancillería maintains a list of approved traductores oficiales. Cost: ~$30–80 per document depending on length.
Family application
Spouses, civil partners, and dependent children under 25 (if studying or economically dependent) can be added to the same application. Each dependent is a separate file with relationship evidence (marriage or birth certificate, translated and apostilled) and adds ~$50% to the income threshold per dependent.
Common rejection reasons
- Income inconsistency — dipping below the 3× threshold in any of the last 3 months.
- Untranslated documents — employment letter in English alone is typically rejected.
- Missing accommodation proof — a specific hotel or rental reservation must be shown.
- Insufficient health insurance coverage — travel insurance sometimes rejected; Colombian insurance providers (Sura, Colsanitas) are safer choice.
- Prior immigration issues in Colombia (overstays, denied entries) — surface in review and can block approval.