Colombia · Spouse visas
Colombia Partner of a citizen
Migrant (M) Visa - Permanent partner of a Colombian national
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Partner of a citizen is a spouse visas route for Colombia. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- $279 · $56
- Processing
- Up to 30 days
Cost, time and long term
To apply: 2 government fees listed below; decision: up to 30 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government fees$279 · $56
- $279Application study fee, Migrant (M) permanent partner of a Colombian, paid when applying in Colombia or anywhere outside Europe and Cuba (EUR 44 (≈ $49) in Europe and Cuba).
- $56Visa issuance fee, Migrant (M) permanent partner of a Colombian, paid on approval in Colombia or anywhere outside Europe and Cuba (EUR 191 (≈ $210) in Europe and Cuba).
RenewalRenewable
A new visa of the same type can be requested before the current one expires, and continuous Migrant visas add up toward the Resident visa.
Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of residence
Time as a holder of this Migrant (M) visa counts toward the Resident (R) visa, which needs 5 years of accumulated time and is not automatic.
CitizenshipTime here doesn't count
Naturalisation needs 2 years of domicile for the spouse or partner of a Colombian, counted from the date a Resident (R) visa is issued, so time on this visa does not count directly.
ProcessingUp to 30 days
The visa authority has up to 30 calendar days to decide once the application is complete and the study fee is paid; consultations with other agencies can extend this.
Where to applyAbroad or in-country
Apply online: from abroad through the consulate for your country of residence, or from inside Colombia through the Bogota office if you hold regular migration status.
Presence rulesAway max 180 of 365 days
The Migrant visa ends automatically if you are away from Colombia for more than 180 consecutive days within any 365 days counted from issue.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Time on this route doesn't count toward citizenship
What you'll need
Who can apply1
- In a marital union of fact (unión marital de hecho) with a Colombian citizen, formalised more than 1 year before applying.
What you must show and pay2
- A fee of $279 · Application study fee, Migrant (M) permanent partner of a Colombian, paid when applying in Colombia or anywhere outside Europe and Cuba (EUR 44 (≈ $49) in Europe and Cuba).
- A fee of $56 · Visa issuance fee, Migrant (M) permanent partner of a Colombian, paid on approval in Colombia or anywhere outside Europe and Cuba (EUR 191 (≈ $210) in Europe and Cuba).
Documents6
- Authentic public deed, court ruling or conciliation record declaring the union, issued within the last 3 months.
- Abroad: any document proving the union under the law of the place where it was declared, with foreign-document formalities.
- Letter from the Colombian partner requesting the visa and stating a single, constant and stable cohabitation.
- Copy of the Colombian partner's cédula de ciudadanía with contact details.
- Special power of attorney recognised before a notary or Colombian consul so the foreign partner can apply.
- Migration movement certificates of both partners from Migración Colombia.
Steps1
- Visa authority may request more proof of the bond or call the couple to an interview.
After you arrive2
- Visa ends early if the union ends or the couple stops living together.
- After 5 years as holder of this visa the partner can apply for the Resident (R) visa; it is not granted automatically.
What happens at day 183
How Colombia decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- More than 183 days in any period of 365 consecutive daysPresence 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 includedForeigners 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 Tax records checked
Full official text
For a foreigner in a formalised de facto union with a Colombian citizen. It gives an open work permit and counts toward Resident (R) visa after 5 years. 1 2
What you must show and pay
- A fee of $279 · Application study fee, Migrant (M) permanent partner of a Colombian, paid when applying in Colombia or anywhere outside Europe and Cuba (EUR 44 (≈ $49) in Europe and Cuba). 2
- A fee of $56 · Visa issuance fee, Migrant (M) permanent partner of a Colombian, paid on approval in Colombia or anywhere outside Europe and Cuba (EUR 191 (≈ $210) in Europe and Cuba). 2
Requirements
- In a marital union of fact (unión marital de hecho) with a Colombian citizen, formalised more than 1 year before applying. 1
- Authentic public deed, court ruling or conciliation record declaring the union, issued within the last 3 months. 1
- Abroad: any document proving the union under the law of the place where it was declared, with foreign-document formalities. 1
- Letter from the Colombian partner requesting the visa and stating a single, constant and stable cohabitation. 1
- Copy of the Colombian partner's cédula de ciudadanía with contact details. 1
- Special power of attorney recognised before a notary or Colombian consul so the foreign partner can apply. 1
- Migration movement certificates of both partners from Migración Colombia. 1
- Visa authority may request more proof of the bond or call the couple to an interview. 1
- Visa ends early if the union ends or the couple stops living together. 1
- After 5 years as holder of this visa the partner can apply for the Resident (R) visa; it is not granted automatically. 1
Stay
- Visa valid up to 1 year; 5 years as holder count towards the Resident (R) visa, which is not automatic.
- Visa validity: 12 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay.
Work
Open work permit: any lawful activity is allowed.
Family
The holder can request beneficiary visas for economically dependent family: spouse or partner, children up to 25, and a child with a disability.
Fine print
The Cancillería costs page prints USD 279 for the study and USD 56 for the visa in this category, the reverse of the spouse category (USD 56 and USD 279); the euro amounts are the same in both (EUR 44 (≈ $49) and EUR 191 (≈ $210)). The figures here are as the page prints them, and the total is USD 335 either way. Last checked 12 October 2026.
Official sources
- Resolución 5477 de 2022 (visas), texto compilado con Resolución 10434 de 2023 · Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Colombia · checked 2026-10-11
- Costos, pagos y oficinas de trámite (visa fees by category) · Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Colombia · checked 2026-10-12
- Resolución 5477 de 2022 (consolidated, incl. Res. 10434 de 2023) — visa types and requirements · Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Colombia · checked 2026-10-10
- Ley 2332 de 2023 (nationality law), arts. 4 and 9 · Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Colombia · checked 2026-10-11
Partner of a citizen and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partner of a citizen | – | – | Yes |
| Spouse of a citizen | – | – | Yes |
| Spouse of a citizen Mexico | – | 2 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Spouse of a citizen Costa Rica | – | 1 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Spouse of a resident Brazil | – | – | Yes |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Partner of a citizen?
A fee of $279. Application study fee, Migrant (M) permanent partner of a Colombian, paid when applying in Colombia or anywhere outside Europe and Cuba (EUR 44 (≈ $49) in Europe and Cuba). A fee of $56. Visa issuance fee, Migrant (M) permanent partner of a Colombian, paid on approval in Colombia or anywhere outside Europe and Cuba (EUR 191 (≈ $210) in Europe and Cuba).
How long can I stay on the Partner of a citizen?
Visa valid up to 1 year; 5 years as holder count towards the Resident (R) visa, which is not automatic.
How long does the Partner of a citizen take to process?
The visa authority has up to 30 calendar days to decide once the application is complete and the study fee is paid; consultations with other agencies can extend this.
Can I work on the Partner of a citizen?
Yes. Open work permit: any lawful activity is allowed.
Can I bring my family on the Partner of a citizen?
The holder can request beneficiary visas for economically dependent family: spouse or partner, children up to 25, and a child with a disability.
Does the Partner of a citizen lead to permanent residence in Colombia?
Time on the Partner of a citizen counts toward permanent residence in Colombia, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. Time on the Partner of a citizen doesn't count toward citizenship.
How are Partner of a citizen holders taxed in Colombia?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Partner of a citizen. 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.
More in Colombia
Spouse and partner visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 4 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
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.
- Resolución 5477 de 2022 (visas), texto compilado con Resolución 10434 de 2023 · Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Colombia · checked 2026-10-11
- Costos, pagos y oficinas de trámite (visa fees by category) · Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Colombia · checked 2026-10-12
- Resolución 5477 de 2022 (consolidated, incl. Res. 10434 de 2023) — visa types and requirements · Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Colombia · checked 2026-10-10
- Ley 2332 de 2023 (nationality law), arts. 4 and 9 · Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Colombia · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.