Colombia · Spouse visas
Colombia Spouse of a citizen
Migrant (M) Visa - Spouse of a Colombian national
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Spouse of a citizen is a spouse visas route for Colombia. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- Government fees
- $56 · $279
- 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$56 · $279
- $56Application study fee, Migrant (M) spouse of a Colombian, paid when applying in Colombia or anywhere outside Europe and Cuba (EUR 44 (≈ $49) in Europe and Cuba).
- $279Visa issuance fee, Migrant (M) spouse 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 3 years of residence
Time as a holder of this Migrant (M) visa counts toward the Resident (R) visa, which needs 3 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
- Legally married to a Colombian citizen and intending to live with the spouse in Colombia.
What you must show and pay2
- A fee of $56 · Application study fee, Migrant (M) spouse of a Colombian, paid when applying in Colombia or anywhere outside Europe and Cuba (EUR 44 (≈ $49) in Europe and Cuba).
- A fee of $279 · Visa issuance fee, Migrant (M) spouse of a Colombian, paid on approval in Colombia or anywhere outside Europe and Cuba (EUR 191 (≈ $210) in Europe and Cuba).
Documents5
- Authentic Colombian civil marriage registry issued within the last 3 months.
- Letter signed by the Colombian spouse requesting the visa and stating that they live together, with phone and address.
- Copy of the Colombian spouse's cédula de ciudadanía.
- Special power of attorney recognised before a notary or Colombian consul so the foreign spouse can apply.
- Migration movement certificates of both spouses 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 marriage ends or the couple stops living together.
- After 3 years as holder of this visa the spouse 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 married to a Colombian citizen who will live with the spouse in Colombia. It gives an open work permit and counts toward Resident (R) visa after 3 years. 1 2
What you must show and pay
- A fee of $56 · Application study fee, Migrant (M) spouse 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 $279 · Visa issuance fee, Migrant (M) spouse of a Colombian, paid on approval in Colombia or anywhere outside Europe and Cuba (EUR 191 (≈ $210) in Europe and Cuba). 2
Requirements
- Legally married to a Colombian citizen and intending to live with the spouse in Colombia. 1
- Authentic Colombian civil marriage registry issued within the last 3 months. 1
- Letter signed by the Colombian spouse requesting the visa and stating that they live together, with phone and address. 1
- Copy of the Colombian spouse's cédula de ciudadanía. 1
- Special power of attorney recognised before a notary or Colombian consul so the foreign spouse can apply. 1
- Migration movement certificates of both spouses 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 marriage ends or the couple stops living together. 1
- After 3 years as holder of this visa the spouse can apply for the Resident (R) visa; it is not granted automatically. 1
Stay
- Visa valid up to 3 years; 3 years as holder count towards the Resident (R) visa, which is not automatic.
- Visa validity: 36 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.
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
Spouse of a citizen and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse of a citizen | – | – | Yes |
| Partner 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 Spouse of a citizen?
A fee of $56. Application study fee, Migrant (M) spouse of a Colombian, paid when applying in Colombia or anywhere outside Europe and Cuba (EUR 44 (≈ $49) in Europe and Cuba). A fee of $279. Visa issuance fee, Migrant (M) spouse 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 Spouse of a citizen?
Visa valid up to 3 years; 3 years as holder count towards the Resident (R) visa, which is not automatic.
How long does the Spouse 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 Spouse of a citizen?
Yes. Open work permit: any lawful activity is allowed.
Can I bring my family on the Spouse 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 Spouse of a citizen lead to permanent residence in Colombia?
Time on the Spouse of a citizen counts toward permanent residence in Colombia, which the rules allow after 3 years of residence. Time on the Spouse of a citizen doesn't count toward citizenship.
How are Spouse of a citizen holders taxed in Colombia?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Spouse 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 2026-10-10 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.