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Becoming Colombian: naturalization under Ley 2332 de 2023

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

Foreigners can apply for Colombian nationality by adoption after five continuous years of domicile counted from the issue of an R visa, reduced to two years for those married to or in a permanent union with a Colombian, with Colombian children, or from countries granting reciprocity. Applicants hold an R visa, sit tests on the Constitution, history, culture and geography (and Spanish if not their mother tongue) unless exempt, and are vetted by Migración, intelligence and DIAN; the fee is COP 808,558 (about US$256) in 2026. Colombia allows dual nationality, but naturalised citizens cannot hold certain senior public offices.

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

Years of domicile after R visa for naturalization	5 yearsLey 2332 de 2023 art. 9, as of 2026-10-27 · in force
Reduced domicile (Colombian spouse, partner or child, or reciprocity)	2 yearsLey 2332 de 2023 art. 9, as of 2026-10-27 · in force
Naturalization fee	808558 COPResolución 3969 de 2026 art. 10, as of 2026-10-27 · in force
Dual nationality allowed for naturalised citizens	yes booleanLey 2332 de 2023 art. 28, as of 2026-10-27 · in force

The rule

1. Domicile and visa. When filing and throughout the process the applicant must hold, as principal or beneficiary, an R visa and prove domicile of at least five continuous years immediately before the application, counted from the R visa issue date. This drops to two years for applicants married to or in a permanent union with a Colombian, with Colombian children, or where the applicant's state treats Colombians reciprocally. Leaving Colombia for one year or more before filing interrupts domicile.
Cost to do it: Fee COP 808,558 (US$256.04) under Resolución 3969 de 2026 art. 10.
Example: An investor who obtained an R visa in 2027 can apply in 2032; one married to a Colombian, in 2029. / About US$256.Ley 2332 de 2023, Art. 9 and par. 2, 2023-09-25 official text · verified 2026-10-27

2. Documents, tests and vetting. The application includes a motivated letter to the minister, the R visa and cédula, passport, birth certificate, proof of profession or activity, family evidence, and any Colombian school or university diploma. Applicants take tests on the Constitution, history, culture and geography and, if Spanish is not their mother tongue, a Spanish test, at the governor's office of their domicile; those with a Colombian school or university degree, people over 60 and some others are exempt. The ministry reviews documents within three months of payment; gaps must be cured within six months (extendable once by three months). It obtains reserved reports from Migración Colombia, the national intelligence directorate and DIAN, and may interview the applicant.
Cost to do it: Fee COP 808,558; tests can be taken twice.
Example: A manager with a Colombian MBA is exempt from the tests. / Same fee.Ley 2332 de 2023, Art. 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 18, 2023-09-25 official text · verified 2026-10-27

3. Oath, refusal and dual nationality. Approved applicants receive a naturalization letter and swear allegiance before the mayor of their domicile within six months, extendable on justification. A refusal can be followed by a new application only after two years. Naturalised citizens need not renounce their original nationality; dual nationals must always enter and leave Colombia as Colombians. Naturalised citizens cannot hold offices reserved by the Constitution and law, and those with dual nationality also cannot be members of Congress, ministers or directors of administrative departments. A naturalisation can be lost by a conviction for crimes against the existence and security of the State.
Cost to do it: Naturalization certificate COP 64,000 (US$20.27) under Res. 3969 de 2026 art. 12.
Example: A US national naturalises and keeps the US passport, but uses the Colombian document to enter Colombia. / Same.Ley 2332 de 2023, Art. 21, 28, 29, 30, 33, 34 and 35, 2023-09-25 official text · verified 2026-10-27

4. Children. A naturalising parent can extend nationality to minor foreign children domiciled in Colombia who hold R beneficiary visas, if requested together with the application. Adult R beneficiaries may apply in parallel; if the main holder is naturalised, beneficiary visas end.
Cost to do it: Included in the application.
Example: A naturalising executive includes a 14 year old child. / Same.Ley 2332 de 2023, Art. 10 and 11, 2023-09-25 official text · verified 2026-10-27

Worked example

A Chilean country manager gets an M Trabajador visa in 2026, an R visa after five years (2031) and becomes eligible for naturalization five years later (2036).
If the manager marries a Colombian, the domicile drops to two years after the R visa.
The 2026 fee is COP 808,558 (about US$256); the manager can keep Chilean nationality.

Step by step

Obtain an R visa and keep it valid.
Count domicile from the R visa date; avoid absences of a year or more.
Prepare documents and pay the fee; take the knowledge tests unless exempt.
Answer requests within six months; attend any interview.
Swear the oath before the mayor within six months of the naturalization letter.

Common traps

Time on M visas does not count for naturalization domicile; the clock starts with the R visa (art. 9).
A year abroad before filing interrupts domicile (art. 9 par. 2).
After a refusal, wait two years (art. 29).
Dual nationals must use the Colombian document to enter and leave Colombia (art. 34).

Sources

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