Colombia Nomad Visa

What is the Colombia digital nomad visa?

It is a visitor (V) visa for people who work online for companies outside Colombia. It was created by Resolución 5477 of 2022 from Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería), which took effect on 21 October 2022, and it is still listed as article 46 of that resolution.

The visa covers remote work or teleworking from Colombia, done through digital means, exclusively for foreign companies. You can be a salaried employee or an independent contractor. It also covers people starting a digital content or information technology venture that Colombia considers of interest.

The key restriction: you may not work for, or be paid by, any person or company based in Colombia.

Who can apply for the Colombia digital nomad visa?

Only people whose passport comes from a country on Colombia's list of nationalities exempt from short-stay visas. This is the first specific requirement in article 46, and it is what rules out most Nigerian applicants.

The exempt list is set by Resolución 5488 of 2022, last amended in 2026. It includes the EU states, the UK, the US, Canada and about 100 other countries and territories. Nigeria is not on it. In fact, Nigeria appears on Colombia's separate list of nationalities that need a visa even to change planes at a Colombian airport.

If you hold a second passport from an exempt country, you can apply with that passport. Visas issued on one nationality cannot be transferred to another, so you would enter and live in Colombia on that passport.

How much income do you need for the Colombia digital nomad visa?

You must show, through bank statements, income of at least three Colombian legal monthly minimum wages (SMMLV) during the last three months. The figure is tied to the minimum wage, so it changes every year.

News reports and KPMG Colombia put the 2026 minimum wage at COP 1,750,905 a month (Decreto 1469 of 2025), which would make the threshold about COP 5.25 million a month. That decree has been through court challenges this year, so confirm the current minimum wage before you rely on this figure.

How long can you stay, and can you renew it?

The visa is granted for up to two years. Article 46 does not describe an extension, so if you want to stay longer, ask Cancillería about applying again or switching to another visa category before your visa expires.

Because the visa lasts more than three months, holders are issued a cédula de extranjería, the foreigner identity card, by Migración Colombia. It is used only for identification and must match the visa you hold.

People from visa-exempt countries can also work remotely in Colombia without this visa for short periods: up to 90 days, extendable to 180 days in a calendar year, as long as they are not paid by Colombian companies.

How much does it cost?

Colombian visa fees are paid in two stages. Under Resolución 3969 of 2026, a type V visa costs:

• USD 56 for the study of the application (paid when you submit, not refundable)
• USD 138 for issuing the visa (paid only if it is approved)
• USD 194 in total, or €44 + €106 (€150) if you apply from the eurozone

The fee does not include Colombia's stamp tax, and some nationalities pay reduced or no fees under specific agreements. You have 10 calendar days to pay each stage, or the application is treated as withdrawn.

What documents do you need?

Article 46 lists these specific requirements:

• A passport from a country exempt from Colombian short-stay visas
• A letter in Spanish or English from one or more foreign companies you work for, stating the type of relationship and how you are paid; if you have a contract with the company, include it. Alternatively, proof that you are a partner or co-owner of a company abroad, plus a letter saying you work for it remotely
• For entrepreneurs, a motivation letter explaining the project and the financial and human resources behind it
• Bank statements showing income of at least three minimum wages over the last three months
• Health insurance valid in Colombia covering accident, illness, maternity, disability, hospitalisation, death and repatriation for your whole stay

You also need the general documents every visa application requires, such as your passport details page and a photo. Foreign documents need an apostille or legalisation and an official Spanish translation, although the resolution lets you submit bank statements without either.

How do you apply from Nigeria?

With a Nigerian passport alone, you cannot. If you also hold a passport from a visa-exempt country, the process looks like this:

1. Line up remote work for a company or clients outside Colombia. Our remote jobs board lists roles open to people in Nigeria.
2. Collect three months of bank statements showing at least three minimum wages a month, your employer letter or contract, and Colombian health insurance.
3. Fill in the electronic visa form on the Cancillería platform and upload your documents.
4. Pay the USD 56 study fee within 10 calendar days of submitting.
5. Wait for the decision. If Cancillería asks for more documents or an in-person check, respond quickly.
6. If approved, pay the USD 138 issuance fee within 10 days, then register with Migración Colombia for your cédula de extranjería after arrival.

If you only hold a Nigerian passport, look at countries whose remote work visas accept Nigerians, such as Costa Rica, Panama or Brazil. Our Premium membership includes nomad visa assistance if you want help choosing.

How long does processing take?

Once the form is complete and the study fee is paid, Cancillería has up to 30 calendar days to decide. The resolution says this can run longer when it needs to consult other agencies.

If you apply from inside Colombia, you must keep a legal immigration status the whole time your application is being processed.

Do you pay tax in Colombia on a digital nomad visa?

Possibly. Under article 10 of Colombia's tax code, as applied by the tax authority DIAN, a foreigner who spends more than 183 calendar days in Colombia, continuously or not, within any 365-day period becomes a tax resident.

DIAN has said that a foreign tax resident is taxed on both Colombian and foreign income for that period. A two-year visa holder who lives in Colombia full time would usually cross that line, so get advice on how your foreign salary or fees would be treated, and whether Nigeria and Colombia have any tax arrangement that applies to you. This is general information, not tax advice.

Can you bring your family?

Yes. Article 46 allows beneficiary visas for the main holder's family. Under the resolution, beneficiaries are a spouse or permanent partner and children under 25 who depend on you financially (or older children with a certified disability).

Each beneficiary applies separately with a copy of your visa, civil records proving the relationship, and a signed letter from you accepting financial responsibility.

What to know before you move

• Time difference: Colombia is on UTC-5 all year, six hours behind Lagos. A 9am Lagos meeting is 3am in Bogotá, while US Eastern time clients are in the same zone or one hour off.
• Getting paid: the visa does not allow income from Colombian payers, so your pay must keep coming from abroad.
• Health insurance: you need a policy valid in Colombia for the full stay, and it must cover the risks listed in the resolution.
• Renting: you will need an address in Colombia, and your cédula de extranjería makes it easier to deal with landlords and banks.