Colombia

Visa M Pensionado

Colombia's Visa M Pensionado is a Migrant-type residence visa for foreign nationals who receive a lifelong pension, allowing them to reside in Colombia on the basis of their retirement income. Established under Article 77 of Resolución 5477 of 2022, it requires a monthly pension of at least 3 SMMLV (approximately USD 1,300 for 2026) from any lawful source — whether government, private, or institutional. The pension must be a lifelong ("pensión vitalicia") payment; lump-sum retirement savings, annuities with a defined end date, or voluntary withdrawals from retirement accounts do not qualify. Social Security retirement benefits from countries such as the United States generally do qualify.

• Must receive a lifelong pension from a lawful source
• No minimum age requirement — eligibility is based on pension income, not age
• No nationality restrictions
• No specific education or professional experience requirements

• Valid passport with at least 6 months remaining validity
• Recent passport-style photograph (white background, max 300 KB, JPG format)
• Certification recognizing the payment of a lifelong pension of at least 3 SMMLV, issued by the competent entity, apostilled or legalized and translated to Spanish (issued within 3 months of application)
• Criminal background certificate from country of residence during the last 3 years (apostilled/legalized, translated to Spanish)
• Health insurance valid in Colombia covering accident, illness, maternity, disability, hospitalization, death, and repatriation

The application is submitted online through the Cancillería's visa portal. Applicants complete the electronic form including a declaration of the origin of pension income, upload documents, and pay a non-refundable study fee of USD 54. The Ministry reviews the application within 30 calendar days and may request additional documentation or an interview. If approved, the issuance fee of USD 270 must be paid within 10 calendar days. The e-visa is then delivered to the applicant's email.

• Register with Migración Colombia within 15 calendar days of entry or visa issuance
• Obtain the cédula de extranjería (foreign ID card) within the same 15-day period; failure to register can result in fines up to 7 SMMLV
• Report any changes in address or circumstances to Migración Colombia within 15 days

The visa does not permit the holder to work in Colombian territory. Holders may not engage in employment or provide services to Colombian companies. However, holders may study in Colombia if the visa validity is 90 days or more.

Absence from Colombia exceeding 180 consecutive calendar days results in automatic termination of the visa. Short trips abroad are permitted and do not interrupt the accumulation of time toward permanent residency.

Foreign nationals present in Colombia for 183 or more days within any 365-day period become tax residents and must report worldwide income to DIAN. Pension income from foreign sources becomes taxable once fiscal residency is established. Colombia has double taxation treaties with several countries that may affect the treatment of foreign pension income.

The Pensionado visa differs from the Visa V Rentista in key ways: it requires only 3 SMMLV (vs. 10 SMMLV for the Rentista), is valid for up to 3 years (vs. 2 years), and most importantly counts toward permanent residency as a Migrant-type visa (the Rentista, classified as Visitor-type, does not).

After holding the Visa M Pensionado continuously for 5 years, the holder may apply for a Visa R (Residente). Under the previous framework, pension holders could obtain residency directly; Resolución 5477 eliminated this pathway in October 2022. The Visa R is valid for 5 years and can lead to Colombian citizenship through naturalization.

Links

• https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/v/pensionado
• https://tramitesmre.cancilleria.gov.co/tramites/enlinea/solicitarVisa.xhtml
• https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/en/procedures_services/visa/costs-means-payment-service-offices
• https://www.migracioncolombia.gov.co/cedula-de-extranjeria

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