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Digital nomad visa in Colombia: remote work for foreign employers

Last verified: 2026-10-27 · Status: Stable

Nationals of visa exempt countries who work remotely for foreign companies, or start a digital content or IT venture, can live in Colombia for up to two years on a V Nómadas Digitales visa, with family beneficiaries. They need average income of at least three minimum wages a month over the last three months (COP 5,252,715, about US$1,663 in 2026) and health insurance, and may not be paid by persons or companies domiciled in Colombia. The visa costs US$194; it is a visitor visa, so it does not count toward permanent residence, and remote workers staying under 180 days a year can skip it.

USD figures use the TRM (tasa representativa del mercado) of COP 3,157.94 per US dollar valid on 27 October 2026, from the official TRM series of the Superintendencia Financiera on the national open data portal (datos.gov.co). Peso thresholds use the 2026 minimum wage of COP 1,750,905 (Decreto 1469 de 2025) and fines use the 2026 UVT of COP 52,374 (DIAN Resolución 000238 de 2025). Visa fees are fixed in US dollars or euros; Cancillería sets its own peso conversion rate every four months, so peso amounts for visa fees are orientation only.

Key facts

Digital nomad visa: minimum monthly income (3 minimum wages)	5252715 COPResolución 5477 de 2022 art. 46, as of 2026-10-27 · in force
Digital nomad visa: minimum monthly income in USD at TRM 3,157.94	1663.34 USDResolución 5477 de 2022 art. 46, as of 2026-10-27 · in force
Digital nomad visa: maximum validity	2 yearsResolución 5477 de 2022 art. 46, as of 2026-10-27 · in force
Days in Colombia within 365 that create tax residence (more than)	183 daysEstatuto Tributario art. 10, as of 2026-10-27 · in force

The rule

1. Requirements. For remote work or telework from Colombia through digital means exclusively for foreign companies, as employee or independent, or to start a digital content or information technology venture of interest to the country. The applicant must hold a passport of a visa exempt country; a letter in Spanish or English from the foreign employer or clients stating the relationship and pay (or the contract, or proof of being a partner of a foreign company working remotely); for entrepreneurs, a motivation letter describing the project and resources; bank statements showing income of at least three minimum wages a month during the last three months; and health insurance covering Colombia.
Cost to do it: Visa US$194 (about COP 612,640); income test COP 5,252,715 a month (US$1,663.34).
Example: A Canadian UX designer paid CAD by a Toronto agency shows three months of deposits averaging the equivalent of COP 8 million. / About US$2,533 a month, above the US$1,663 test.Resolución 5477 de 2022, Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Art. 32 num. 4 and 46, 2022-07-22 official text · verified 2026-10-27

2. Term and limits. Valid up to two years; beneficiaries allowed. The visa does not permit work or paid activity for any person or company domiciled in Colombia. Nomads from visa exempt countries can instead enter on a Migración Colombia permit if no Colombian company pays them and they stay no more than 90 days, extendable to 180 days in a calendar year.
Cost to do it: Permit route: PTP extension COP 150,000 (US$47.50).
Example: A nomad staying four months uses visa free entry plus an extension instead of the visa. / US$47.50 rather than US$194.Resolución 5477 de 2022, Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Art. 46 (vigencia, beneficiarios, restricciones and par.), 2022-07-22 official text · verified 2026-10-27

3. Visitor status and residence. V visas are for temporary activities without domicile; time on a V visa does not count toward an R visa, which accumulates only M visa time. Nomad visas valid over three months still require registration with Migración and a cédula de extranjería, because the exemption list covers only V tourism, business, crew and events visas.
Cost to do it: Cédula de extranjería COP 294,000 (US$93.10).
Example: A two year nomad visa holder registers within 15 days of arrival and pays COP 294,000. / US$93.10.Resolución 5477 de 2022 (art. 23, 90, 118 as amended by Res. 9316 de 2024); Decreto 1067 de 2015 (art. 2.2.1.11.4.1), Res. 5477 art. 23, 90, 118; Decreto 1067 art. 2.2.1.11.4.1 and 2.2.1.11.4.4, 2022-07-22 official text · verified 2026-10-27

4. Tax residence is separate. Spending more than 183 days in Colombia within any 365 day period makes an individual tax resident, taxed on worldwide income; the nomad visa does not change that test.
Cost to do it: See the tax and social security page for consequences.
Example: A nomad who spends 200 days in Colombia in a 365 day period becomes tax resident. / Same.Estatuto Tributario (Decreto 624 de 1989), art. 10 as amended by Ley 1607 de 2012 art. 2, Art. 9 and 10, 2012-12-26 official text · verified 2026-10-27

Worked example

A UK software engineer employed by a London fintech moves to Medellín. The UK is on the exempt list.
The engineer files the employer letter in English, three months of salary deposits (well above COP 5,252,715, about US$1,663) and insurance, pays US$194, and adds a spouse as beneficiary for another US$194.
After arrival, both register and obtain cédulas (COP 294,000 each). Because they will stay over 183 days, the engineer reviews Colombian tax residence and the UK position before the second year.

Step by step

Confirm the passport is visa exempt.
Gather the employer or client letter, contract and three months of bank statements.
Buy health insurance covering Colombia.
File online, pay, register with Migración within 15 days.
Track days for tax residence and avoid any Colombian paid work.

Common traps

Invoicing a Colombian client breaches the visa (art. 46).
Nationals of countries that need a visa cannot use this route.
Two years on the nomad visa give no credit toward permanent residence.
Tax residence after 183 days can make worldwide income taxable in Colombia.

Sources

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