Top Residency visa options in Colombia Panama October - 2016
General Notions Colombia offers 17 different type of visas. Granting a visa is a sovereign act and depends on the Government s discretionary authority. Visas are renewable as long as their fundaments maintain.
SOME NATIONALITES DO NOT REQUIRE VISAS TO VISIT COLOMBIA EUROPE AMERICAS REST OF THE WORLD Germany Argentina Australia England Bolivia South Korea Italy Brazil UAE Spain Canada Japan France Chile New Zealand Ireland Ecuador Denmark USA Norway Mexico Netherland Peru Russia Uruguay Note: Chinese and Indian citizens require visas to visit
If you are not required a visa: You can visit the country as a tourist for as long as 180 days per calendar year, continuously or discontinuously. Upon entrance, an immigration officer will stamp your passport with the number of days that you ll be allowed in the country. Average: 90 days. If you wish to stay more than 180 days you need a visa
Types and Categories Colombia offers 3 types and several categories of visas VISA TYPE BUSINESS (NE) TEMPORARY (TP) RESIDENT (RE) CATEGORY BUSINESS ANALYSIS BUSINESS UNDER TREATY CEO PUBLIC ENTITY CEO PRIVATE ENTITY TOURISM TRAINING WORK SPOUSE RELIGIOUS STUDENT SPECIAL (7 sub-categories) REFUGEE FAMILY OF COLOMBIAN NATIONAL QUALIFIED INVESTMENT
Temporary Work Visa Term: Up to 3 years, multiple entrances Foreigners engaged via labor or professional services by a company or individual domiciled in Colombia. Requirement of average of funds at bank
Temporary Spouse Visa Term: 3 years, multiple entrances Foreigners validly married to Colombian nationals Foreigners eligible as permanent partners of Colombian nationals
Temporary Pension / Investment Visa Term: 1year, multiple entrances Pension abroad for at least 3 CMW (USD 700) Dividend yielding investment abroad for at least 15 CMW (USD 3.500) Capital contribution to a Colombian company for 100 CMW (USD 23.000) Real estate investment of 350 CMW (USD 82.000)
VALIDITY Temporary visas lose their validity if the visa holder remains more than 180 consecutive days without entering Colombia
Resident Visas Term: 5 years to indefinite, multiple entrances Investor Holder of temporary visa
Resident Visa for Investors Term: 5 years, multiple entrances Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Colombia for at least 650 CMW (USD 155.000) FDI comprehends real estate and capital contributions to corporations
Resident Visa for Temporary Visas holders Term: 5 years, multiple entrances Having held a temporary visa for at least 5 continuous and uninterrupted years Having held a spouse visa for at least 3 continuous and uninterrupted years
VALIDITY Resident visas lose their validity if the visa holder remains more than 2 consecutive years without entering Colombia
Am I eligible for citizenship?
CITIZENSHIP Hold a Resident Visa and complete 5 years of continuous domicile in Colombia If married to Colombian citizen or holder has Colombian children, term is reduced to 2 years
DOMICILE? A foreigner is considered to be domiciled in Colombia from the moment a Resident Visa is granted Domicile is interrupted if foreigner remains outside of Colombia for more than 1 continuous year
Beneficiaries Except for a few visa types, a visa holder can request beneficiary visas for these individuals, provided that they economically depend on visa holder Spouse Children under 25 Parents
Registration Visa holders and beneficiaries must register their visas within 15 days after: Visa is issued Their entrance to Colombia If visa was issued in Colombia If visa was issued abroad
Registration and Colombian ID Registration is done upon any local migratory authority s office (Migración Colombia) Registration triggers the delivery of a Colombian ID card (Cedula) with a term equal to the visa s term.
Embassies and Consulates KEEP IN MIND THAT: To consult the list of Colombian Embassies and Consulates around the world: https://tramites.cancilleria.gov.co/ci udadano/directorio/misiones/enext erior.aspx
WHO WE ARE JDG LAW ADVISORS 10 years of experience in providing personalized and client-oriented services specialized in foreigners 10 areas of practice (one stop shop) Real Estate / Corporate / Business / Immigration / Taxes / Accounting / Back Office Over 1.000 satisfied foreign clients Correspondents in other Colombian cities Bilingual
Contact Us jdg@jdglawadvisors.com Address: Carrera 43 B No. 16 41. Oficina 903. Medellin, Colombia Phone: +57 (4) 322 88 98