Retirement migrant visa
If you can demonstrate 3 minimum wages (about $800) per month, then you are eligible for a retirement migrant visa. The regular pension payments must come from a government source or from widely recognized private pension providers.
The Colombia retirement visa allows multiple re-entries into Colombia. Please note that even though Colombia retirement visa is valid for 3 years, it will lose its validity if you stay out of Colombia for more than six months consecutively.
A new rule on visas was announced by Ministry of Foreign Relations Resolution 5477 of July 22, 2022.
This rule will apply changes in the category of various types of visas and will require adjustments in Colombian Visa Application System.
According to this resolution, the new visa rules will be applicable starting October 22, 2022.
The most popular visa, the retirement or pension visa has new set of rules which are the following:
Please note that pension letters such as social security letters don’t come from Embassy anymore. These letters are now accepted only if they are notarized and have an apostille.
The Colombia retirement visa allows multiple re-entries into Colombia. Please note that even though Colombia retirement visa is valid for 3 years, it will lose its validity if you stay out of Colombia for more than six months consecutively.
A new rule on visas was announced by Ministry of Foreign Relations Resolution 5477 of July 22, 2022.
This rule will apply changes in the category of various types of visas and will require adjustments in Colombian Visa Application System.
According to this resolution, the new visa rules will be applicable starting October 22, 2022.
The most popular visa, the retirement or pension visa has new set of rules which are the following:
- New rules will apply to certain applicants who may be eligible to apply for this retirement visa type will only be able to apply for a Visitors Rentista Visa.
- A mental and physical fitness certificate is required that will prove that applicants especially veterans are not suffering from mental, health issues such as PTSD.
- Criminal background certificate either from Colombia or country of prior residence is required.
- Requires a proof of health insurance.
Please note that pension letters such as social security letters don’t come from Embassy anymore. These letters are now accepted only if they are notarized and have an apostille.
What Documents Are Required for Colombia Retirement Visa?
Passport Photocopy. A photocopy of the first page of your valid passport showing your biographical data. The photocopy can be either in color or black and white.
Entry Or Departure Stamp. A photocopy of the page of your passport showing the most recent entry stamp if you are in Colombia or the most recent exit stamp if your are out of Colombia.
Proof Of Pension. A letter or certificate issued by government, publicly held or privately company (private pensions are more difficult to approve than public pensions), foreign entity or diplomatic or consular mission from the country that the foreign national receives a pension. This letter or certificate must show that the applicant receives a monthly income as pension of no less than three times the current legal minimum monthly salary.
Passport Photo. Digital visa photo, white background,100 Kb max size, jpg file. No ear rings, no hats, no white shirts.
Health Insurance. All foreigners applying for retirement or pension visa are required to have health insurance which covers them for all risks and repatriation of their body if they die. So many people with premium insurance in Colombia may find that the insurance covers everything except the repatriation of their body.
For that reason many people find that they just have to buy a traveler insurance policy which is similar to health insurance in many ways but also covers repatriation expenses.
A small rewrite of EPS section can still state now that EPS as of October 21, 2022 is not a requirement for visas but its still a cheap and great insurance to cover you in Colombia. The EPS payments are still 5% of your income by law. Pension visa holders are now exempt from this requirement as the new visa law prohibits them from obtaining this insurance.
Keep in mind that paying for medical services in Colombia WITHOUT INSURANCE is more economic than paying for medical services in the UNITED STATES with insurance!
Entry Or Departure Stamp. A photocopy of the page of your passport showing the most recent entry stamp if you are in Colombia or the most recent exit stamp if your are out of Colombia.
Proof Of Pension. A letter or certificate issued by government, publicly held or privately company (private pensions are more difficult to approve than public pensions), foreign entity or diplomatic or consular mission from the country that the foreign national receives a pension. This letter or certificate must show that the applicant receives a monthly income as pension of no less than three times the current legal minimum monthly salary.
Passport Photo. Digital visa photo, white background,100 Kb max size, jpg file. No ear rings, no hats, no white shirts.
Health Insurance. All foreigners applying for retirement or pension visa are required to have health insurance which covers them for all risks and repatriation of their body if they die. So many people with premium insurance in Colombia may find that the insurance covers everything except the repatriation of their body.
For that reason many people find that they just have to buy a traveler insurance policy which is similar to health insurance in many ways but also covers repatriation expenses.
A small rewrite of EPS section can still state now that EPS as of October 21, 2022 is not a requirement for visas but its still a cheap and great insurance to cover you in Colombia. The EPS payments are still 5% of your income by law. Pension visa holders are now exempt from this requirement as the new visa law prohibits them from obtaining this insurance.
Keep in mind that paying for medical services in Colombia WITHOUT INSURANCE is more economic than paying for medical services in the UNITED STATES with insurance!
Applying for Retirement Visa from Colombia
Once you receive online visa approval, if doing this in Colombia, you need to travel to Bogotá to get the visa in your passport. Visas in Colombia are issued at the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores office in Bogotá. Their office is located at Avenida 19 # 98-03, Torre 100 Building, 3rd Floor. It’s open from 7:30 am until noon
The major challenge with getting a Colombian visa yourself is dealing with a government bureaucracy, making a trip to Bogota and not understanding the laws properly if you are not fluent in Sanish.
If you need more help, please contact us!
If you need more help, please contact us!