--- title: "Colombia Andean free movement requirements 2026: 2-year stay" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/colombia/free-movement-can/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-10 --- Colombia # Colombia Andean free movement **First stay:** 2 yrs Andean Migration Statute (Andean Community nationals) First checked against official sources on 10 Oct 2026, some details partly verified [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **First stay:** 2 yrs (Visa M valid for up to 2 years, granted once; 2 years as holder count towards the Resident visa.) - **Renewal:** Not renewable - **Who can apply:** 3 nationalities (Nationals of Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru (Andean Community members)) - **Work:** Yes (The visa carries an open work permit for any lawful activity, subject to the rules for regulated professions.) ## Key facts Andean free movement is a long-stay route for Colombia. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source. - **First stay:** 2 yrs ## Why this route may not fit Check this before you apply. - Can't be renewed - Only for passports from Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - The applicant is a national of a state party to the Andean Migration Statute, that is Bolivia, Ecuador or Peru. #### Documents - A passport valid for at least 6 months, and a copy of the entry stamp or migration card if already in Colombia. - A criminal record certificate from the country of nationality or places lived in during the last 5 years, apostilled or legalised and translated. #### Steps 1. Submit a written statement of the purpose of establishing temporary residence and the means of subsistence available. #### After you arrive - The visa is granted once for 2 years and counts as time towards the Resident (R) visa. - After 2 years as holder, the person can apply for the Resident visa, though the time served does not guarantee it. ## What happens at day 183 How Colombia decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records. - **Stay on this route:** **Up to 2 years in total** - **Tax residence:** - **More than 183 days in any period of 365 consecutive days** Presence in Colombia, continuous or not, including entry and exit days (art. 10 no. 1) - **More than 183 days in any 365 consecutive calendar days, entry and exit days included** Foreigners become Colombian tax residents by presence over 183 days; where the period spans two tax years, residence starts in the second year. - **Foreign-source income:** Individuals, Colombian or foreign, who are tax residents are taxed on both Colombian-source and foreign-source income and gains and on assets held inside and outside Colombia; non-residents are taxed only on Colombian-source income. [All tax rules for Colombia](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/colombia/tax/) Tax records checked 10 Oct 2026 ## What you need to arrange - **Certified translation** A criminal record certificate from the country of nationality or places lived in during the last 5 years, apostilled or legalised and translated - **Police certificate and civil documents** A criminal record certificate from the country of nationality or places lived in during the last 5 years, apostilled or legalised and translated Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts. **Full official text** Nationals of Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru can get a Visa M Migrante Andino in Colombia, valid for 2 years with an open work permit, which counts towards permanent residence. (sources 1, 2, 3) #### Requirements - The applicant is a national of a state party to the Andean Migration Statute, that is Bolivia, Ecuador or Peru. (sources 1, 2, 3) - A passport valid for at least 6 months, and a copy of the entry stamp or migration card if already in Colombia. (sources 1, 2) - A criminal record certificate from the country of nationality or places lived in during the last 5 years, apostilled or legalised and translated. (sources 1, 2) - Submit a written statement of the purpose of establishing temporary residence and the means of subsistence available. (sources 1, 2) - The visa is granted once for 2 years and counts as time towards the Resident (R) visa. (sources 1, 2) - After 2 years as holder, the person can apply for the Resident visa, though the time served does not guarantee it. (source 2) #### Stay - Visa M valid for up to 2 years, granted once; 2 years as holder count towards the Resident visa. - Initial permitted stay: 24 months. - Visa validity: 24 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay. - Not renewable according to our source. #### Nationality Nationals of Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru (Andean Community members) Open to: Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru. #### Work The visa carries an open work permit for any lawful activity, subject to the rules for regulated professions. #### Family The holder can request visas for dependants: spouse or permanent partner, children up to 25, and a child with a disability. Checked 2026-10-10 · partly verified ## Official sources 1. [Necesito una visa - Visa M Migrante Andino](https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/atencion-y-servicio-al-ciudadano/tramites-y-servicios/visa/necesito-un-visa) · Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Colombia · checked 2026-10-10 2. [Resolución 5477 de 2022 - Visas (artículos 72 y 90)](https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/normograma/compilacion/docs/resolucion_minrelaciones_5477_2022.htm) · Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Colombia · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2022-07-22 3. [Países Miembros](https://www.comunidadandina.org/quienes-somos/paises-miembros/) · Comunidad Andina · checked 2026-10-10 ## Andean free movement and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Andean free movement | – | 2 yr | Yes | | [Visa-free stay](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/colombia/visa-free-180d/) | – | 6 mo | Remote only | | [Visa-free stay](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mexico/visa-free-180d/) Mexico | – | 6 mo | No | | [Free movement by treaty](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/brazil/free-movement-brazil-uruguay/) Brazil | – | – | – | | [Mercosur residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/argentina/free-movement-mercosur/) Argentina | – | 2 yr, renewable | Yes | ## Questions people ask ### How long can I stay on the Andean free movement? Visa M valid for up to 2 years, granted once; 2 years as holder count towards the Resident visa. ### Can I work on the Andean free movement? Yes. The visa carries an open work permit for any lawful activity, subject to the rules for regulated professions. ### Can I bring my family on the Andean free movement? The holder can request visas for dependants: spouse or permanent partner, children up to 25, and a child with a disability. ### Who can apply for the Andean free movement? Nationals of Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru (Andean Community members) Open to: Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru. ### How are Andean free movement holders taxed in Colombia? No special regime in our records is tied to the Andean free movement. The standard rules apply: Individuals, Colombian or foreign, who are tax residents are taxed on both Colombian-source and foreign-source income and gains and on assets held inside and outside Colombia; non-residents are taxed only on Colombian-source income. There is no new-resident exemption for foreign-source income. ## Similar visas elsewhere [🇨🇦 Visa-free stay (6 months)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/canada/visa-free-180d/) [🇺🇾 Mercosur residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/uruguay/free-movement-mercosur/) [🇨🇱 Mercosur residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/chile/free-movement-mercosur/) [🇵🇪 Visa-free stay (6 months)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/peru/visa-free-183d/) [🇦🇬 CARICOM free movement](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/antigua-and-barbuda/free-movement-caricom/) [🇧🇸 Visa-free stay (8 months)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/the-bahamas/visa-free-240d/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-10 against 3 official sources.** Status: partly verified; the page marks the facts an official source does not fully confirm. Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out. 1. [Necesito una visa - Visa M Migrante Andino](https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/atencion-y-servicio-al-ciudadano/tramites-y-servicios/visa/necesito-un-visa) · Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Colombia · checked 2026-10-10 2. [Resolución 5477 de 2022 - Visas (artículos 72 y 90)](https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/normograma/compilacion/docs/resolucion_minrelaciones_5477_2022.htm) · Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Colombia · checked 2026-10-10 3. [Países Miembros](https://www.comunidadandina.org/quienes-somos/paises-miembros/) · Comunidad Andina · checked 2026-10-10 Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.