Requirements for Colombia Visa M Inversionista
Colombia's Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (Cancilleria) issues investor visas under the consolidated visa framework, Resolution 5477 of 2022.
There are two separate migrant visa routes for investors.
Visa M Inversionista is for a foreign national who has made qualifying foreign direct investment, or who has acquired real estate exclusively in their own name in Colombia, and who maintains that investment or property during the visa's validity.
Visa M Socio o Propietario is a separate route for a foreign national who has constituted a company or acquired participation in the paid-in capital of an operating commercial company registered in Colombia. Shares acquired on the secondary market do not qualify.
Investment thresholds are calculated in SMLMV (salario mínimo legal mensual vigente, Colombia's official minimum monthly wage), which is updated annually by government decree. The 2026 SMLMV is COP 1,750,905 per Decreto 159 de 2026.
Investment Thresholds (2026)
COP figures apply to 2026 only. Thresholds are always calculated in SMLMV at the application date.
All applicants must also:
- be aged 18 or over;
- hold a valid passport with at least 180 days remaining and at least two blank pages;
- provide bank statements for the preceding three months demonstrating economic solvency;
- hold health coverage or a health policy covering Colombia for the intended stay;
- have a clean criminal record;
- demonstrate the legal origin of investment funds.
For the real estate route, the property must be registered exclusively in the applicant's name. Second and subsequent applications must show the investment or property was maintained during the previous visa's validity.
Discover 9 most popular Golden Visa programs and choose the best one for your goals.
Application Process for Colombia Visa M Inversionista
Applications for the Colombia investor visa are filed through the Cancilleria digital platform. The steps below reflect the standard process; individual cases may vary depending on investment structure and documentation.
1 day
Open a bank account
Open a bank account in Colombia to transfer the investment capital. You will need a valid ID, proof of address, and evidence of income or net worth.
Open a bank account in Colombia to transfer the investment capital. You will need a valid ID, proof of address, and evidence of income or net worth.
1–2 weeks
Make the qualifying investment
Choose your investment route (foreign direct investment or real estate acquisition) and complete the transaction. Register the foreign investment with Banco de la Republica and obtain the required registration extracts. If you are incorporating a company under the Visa M Socio o Propietario route, register with the Colombian Chamber of Commerce.
Choose your investment route (foreign direct investment or real estate acquisition) and complete the transaction. Register the foreign investment with Banco de la Republica and obtain the required registration extracts. If you are incorporating a company under the Visa M Socio o Propietario route, register with the Colombian Chamber of Commerce.
1–2 weeks
Prepare documents
Required documents generally include:
- completed application form;
- valid passport with at least 180 days remaining and at least two blank pages;
- digital photograph meeting Cancilleria specifications;
- Banco de la Republica investment registration extracts;
- bank statements for the preceding three months demonstrating economic solvency;
- proof of health coverage in Colombia.
Required documents generally include:
- completed application form;
- valid passport with at least 180 days remaining and at least two blank pages;
- digital photograph meeting Cancilleria specifications;
- Banco de la Republica investment registration extracts;
- bank statements for the preceding three months demonstrating economic solvency;
- proof of health coverage in Colombia.
1 day
Apply online
Submit your application through the Cancilleria digital platform. Upload the required documents and pay the non-refundable study fee online. Applicants who are already in Colombia must be in regular immigration status at the time of application.
Submit your application through the Cancilleria digital platform. Upload the required documents and pay the non-refundable study fee online. Applicants who are already in Colombia must be in regular immigration status at the time of application.
Up to 30 calendar days
Authority review
After a complete application and study-fee payment, the Cancilleria has up to 30 calendar days to issue a decision. This can take longer if inter-agency consultation is needed. The authority may request additional information or call an interview. Approval, refusal, and any other outcome are discretionary and case specific.
After a complete application and study-fee payment, the Cancilleria has up to 30 calendar days to issue a decision. This can take longer if inter-agency consultation is needed. The authority may request additional information or call an interview. Approval, refusal, and any other outcome are discretionary and case specific.
10 business days
Receive the electronic visa
After approval and payment, the Cancilleria issues the electronic visa and sends it by email within 10 business days. Foreign nationals aged 7 and over with a visa valid for more than 3 months must apply for a Cedula de Extranjeria (foreigner ID) with Migracion Colombia within 15 calendar days after entry into Colombia, or within 15 calendar days after visa issuance if the visa was obtained while in Colombia.
After approval and payment, the Cancilleria issues the electronic visa and sends it by email within 10 business days. Foreign nationals aged 7 and over with a visa valid for more than 3 months must apply for a Cedula de Extranjeria (foreigner ID) with Migracion Colombia within 15 calendar days after entry into Colombia, or within 15 calendar days after visa issuance if the visa was obtained while in Colombia.
Up to 3 years
Maintain the investment and renew
The Visa M Inversionista is valid for up to 3 years. You may apply to renew it, provided the qualifying investment or real estate has been maintained during the visa's validity. Absence from Colombia for more than 180 continuous calendar days within a 365-day period may cause the visa to terminate automatically.
The Visa M Inversionista is valid for up to 3 years. You may apply to renew it, provided the qualifying investment or real estate has been maintained during the visa's validity. Absence from Colombia for more than 180 continuous calendar days within a 365-day period may cause the visa to terminate automatically.
Benefits of the Colombia Visa M Inversionista
The Visa M Inversionista and Visa M Socio o Propietario share several practical advantages:
-
Length of stay. Both visas are valid for up to three years, significantly longer than a tourist or visitor entry.
-
Business activities. Under the Visa M Socio o Propietario, you may conduct business activities related to the company in which you hold a stake. Activities are restricted to that specific company.
-
Multiple entries. Both visas allow multiple entries into Colombia during their validity.
-
Path towards long-term residence. Time as a Visa M Inversionista holder can count towards a Visa R Por tiempo acumulado, subject to a 5-year accumulation period and discretionary assessment. This is not automatic.
-
Access to services. As a legal visa holder, you may access certain social and healthcare services in Colombia.
-
Living in Colombia. A multi-year investor visa provides a stable basis for living in one of Latin America's most geographically and culturally varied countries.
Colombia is located in the northwestern part of South America. Its varied landscapes include tropical rainforests, mountains, grasslands, and deserts.
Residence and Naturalisation After a Colombia Investor Visa
Time held as a Visa M Inversionista holder can count towards a Visa R Por tiempo acumulado (permanent residence by accumulated time). Current official material indicates this accumulation period is 5 years for this route. Reaching 5 years does not automatically grant permanent residence; the application is subject to requirements and the authority's discretionary assessment.
A Residente Permanente visa must be renewed every 5 years and may terminate after two continuous years of absence from Colombia.
Naturalisation is a further, separate process. It requires a valid resident visa, with domicile counted from the date the resident visa was issued. The required domicile period varies by nationality: 1 year for Latin American and Caribbean nationals, 2 years for Spanish nationals, and 5 years for other foreign nationals. Marriage or a permanent partnership with a Colombian national, or having Colombian children, may reduce the required period by 2 years. The decision is sovereign and discretionary; filing or paying does not imply naturalisation will be granted.
Colombia does not operate a citizenship by investment programme.
Key Takeaways: Colombia Investor Visa
-
Colombia's investor visa is officially named Visa M Inversionista. A separate adjacent route, Visa M Socio o Propietario, covers company founders and shareholders.
-
Investment thresholds are set in SMLMV (Colombia's minimum monthly wage, updated annually). In 2026, the relevant figures are 650 SMLMV for foreign direct investment and 350 SMLMV for real estate acquisition in the applicant's own name. These are SMLMV figures, not fixed USD amounts.
-
The Cancilleria has up to 30 calendar days to decide after a complete application and study-fee payment. Review may take longer if inter-agency consultation is needed. All outcomes are discretionary.
-
Time held as a Visa M Inversionista holder may count towards a permanent residence visa (Visa R Por tiempo acumulado) after 5 years, subject to requirements and discretionary assessment. Naturalisation is a further separate process with its own conditions and sovereign discretion.
-
Colombia does not operate a citizenship by investment programme.
