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4worldlovers: Are you looking to live in Colombia part or full time, then you’ll need to have a Colombian visa allowing you to do so.

As a foreigner in Colombia, few things are more complicated or inspire bigger headaches than the process of acquiring a visa to reside in the country. Tales of people getting their applications rejected more than 10 times are common. Colombia is far from alone in this boat. Every year, countries all over the world tighten borders, complicate regulations and make it harder for people to obtain a visa.

In 2017 Colombia changed its visa classifications to three types of visas:

If you are a citizen of one of these countries, and plan to spend less than 180 days per year in Colombia, you do not need a visitor’s visa to enter the country:

Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Korea, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Finland, France, Germany, Granada, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Indonesia, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Norway, New Zealand, Netherlands, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, USA and Venezuela. A visitor’s visa is not required for those who have a Hong Kong – SAR passport. A visitor’s visa is not required for citizens of Ecuador, as it is a member of the Andean Community of Nations CAN. Citizens of the following countries do not require a business visa to enter Colombia: Ecuador, Japan, South Korea, Spain, and the United States.

If you are not from one of the countries mentioned above, then here is a list of the conditions that can help you get a visitor’s visa:

When being in transit in a Colombian airport and destined to enter a third country.

When developing business activities, market studies, plans or procedures of direct investment and constitution of commercial society, negotiation, conclusion of contracts or commercial representation.

Participate in an academic exchange program, advance training in art or trade, or undertake different studies in a primary, secondary or undergraduate higher education program.

Attend medical consultation, intervention or treatment or accompany the person who attends consultation, intervention or medical treatment.

To carry out administrative/judicial proceedings before entities/ authorities in Colombia.

Enter and work in Colombian jurisdictional waters as a boat crew member or offshore platform.

Participate in an event as a lecturer, exhibitor, artist, athlete, jury, contestant or logistical staff.

Volunteer in development cooperation projects or in the promotion and protection of human rights.

Perform journalistic coverage or stay temporarily as a foreign media correspondent.

Hold a position in a Colombian branch of a company with presence abroad, by virtue of inter-corporate transfer of personnel.

Coming as a foreign government official or foreign government trade representative, on a mission that does not imply accreditation to the Colombian government.

Visit Colombia under holiday-work programs agreed by Colombia with other States through treaties in force.

The Migrant visa is valid from 1-3 years and in order to apply, you will need to comply with one of the following conditions.

Be a national from a country in the Mercosur agreement, Bolivia or Chile.

Have permanent or long-term employment in Colombia by virtue of a labor agreement or contract of services rendered with a private individual or a company domiciled in Colombia. The private individual contracting you must document a monthly income of at least $2.310 USD during the previous 6 months. If you are being contracted by a company, the company must have a minimum monthly income of $23.100 USD during the previous 6 months..

Have constituted or acquired participation in the capital stock in a commercial company valued at least 100 times the minimum monthly wage in Colombia ($23.100 USD).

Have qualification or expertise to practice a profession independently and documenting monthly income of at least $2.310 USD.

Come to Colombia as religious, missionary or religious in formation of a church or religious denomination, duly recognized by the Colombian State.

Be admitted or enrolled in primary, secondary or a higher education program at an undergraduate educational institution in Colombia (With Resolution of Ministry of Education).