Colombia Investor (M) visa: published requirements

Colombia's Migrant (M) visa includes an Investor category for qualifying direct foreign investment or property ownership. Published rules cover investment evidence, visa duration, family beneficiaries, fees and residence pathways.

Locator map showing the position of Colombia — Locator map of Colombia. Original drawing from Natural Earth public-domain boundary data.

Legal basis and decision authority

Resolution 5477 sets Colombia's visa types, scope, conditions, requirements, and application process. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs may grant an M visa to a foreign national seeking temporary establishment in Colombia. The visa authority receives and reviews applications, then decides them.^[2]

The official visa application guidance directs applicants to submit an online form and supporting documents through the Ministry's platform. The authority's decision is sovereign and discretionary under the resolution, so the published criteria describe requirements for review, not an entitlement to a visa.^[2]

Investor category and qualifying routes

The Investor M category covers a foreign national who has made a direct foreign investment or acquired real estate in their own name, and maintains that investment or acquisition during the visa's validity. The resolution identifies two routes, each with a different published threshold.^[2]

For direct foreign investment, the applicant submits a communication from the Foreign Exchange Department of Banco de la República documenting registration of an investment in the applicant's name exceeding 650 monthly legal minimum wages at the application date.^[2]
For a property investment, the resolution states a minimum value equivalent to 350 monthly legal minimum wages. It calls for a property title certificate showing ownership exclusively in the foreign applicant's name and, under the stated interim condition, a Banco de la República communication registering the foreign investment for the purchase.^[2]
The application also includes bank statements from the three months before filing to show financial solvency, and evidence of health coverage in Colombia or a qualifying policy for the intended stay.^[2]
For a second or later Investor M application, the resolution requires evidence that the investment or property possession was maintained throughout the prior visa's validity.^[2]

Fees published for the investor category

The Ministry's fee page lists a study fee and a visa issuance fee for Migrant Investor applications. Amounts differ by service region. Colombia and the rest of the world form one region, and Europe and Cuba form another.^[3]

Published Migrant Investor fees
Service region	Application study	Visa issuance
Colombia and rest of world	USD 56	USD 279^[3]
Europe and Cuba	EUR 44	EUR 191^[3]

Duration, stay, and beneficiaries

An Investor M visa may be valid for up to three years. The investment or property acquisition must be maintained during its validity. The M visa expires automatically if its holder stays outside Colombia for more than 180 consecutive days within a 365-day period counted from issuance.^[2]

The Investor category allows the principal holder to apply for beneficiary visas. The resolution defines eligible dependent family beneficiaries as a spouse or permanent partner, children up to age 25, or a child with a physical or mental disability. Beneficiary status depends on economic dependence on the principal visa holder.^[2]

Residence and citizenship pathways

Time under an Investor M visa may count toward an application for a Resident visa under the resolution's terms. The applicable residence terms are those referenced in Article 90.^[2]

Holding an Investor M visa does not by itself establish Colombian tax residence.^[2]

Questions and answers

What investment routes qualify for the Investor M visa?

The published category covers registered direct foreign investment above 650 monthly legal minimum wages, or property in the applicant's own name valued at no less than 350 such wages. The investment or property acquisition must be maintained during the visa's validity.^[2]

How long can an Investor M visa be valid?

The resolution sets a maximum validity of three years. It also states that the visa expires automatically after more than 180 consecutive days outside Colombia within a 365-day period counted from issuance.^[2]

Which family members may receive beneficiary visas?

The principal holder may apply for beneficiary visas for economically dependent family members. The definition includes a spouse or permanent partner and children up to age 25. It also includes a child with a physical or mental disability.^[2]

What are the published investor visa fees?

For Colombia and the rest of the world, the listed study fee is USD 56 and issuance fee is USD 279. For Europe and Cuba, the listed amounts are EUR 44 for study and EUR 191 for issuance.^[3]

Can Investor M visa time count toward permanent residence?

The resolution says Investor M time may accumulate toward a Resident visa under Article 90.^[2]

Related glossary terms

Golden visa: Golden visa is a common label for residence permits connected to investment, though official programs use different names and conditions for each route.
Residence by investment: Residence by investment links an investment to residence status or a permit. Each country sets its own investment rules, as well as income and family rules.