Colombian Visas
As of July 2013, the Colombian Government released a new set of criteria for Colombian Visas. Below is a short summary of the visa names and types taken from the Ministry of Foreign Relations.
There are now three categories: Business, Temporary and Resident.
BUSINESS
NE1 : – for the purpose of undertaking commercial and entrepreneurial activities, promoting economic exchange, making investments and creating companies
NE 2: to enter Colombia temporarily as a business person within the framework of international instruments in force, among others: free trade agreements, association agreements and within the scope of the Pacific Alliance with the purpose of carrying out entrepreneurial management activities; promoting business transactions; developing investments; establishing the commercial presence of a company; promoting the trade of cross-border goods and services.
NE 3: to enter the the country as the head or representative of a governmental foreign commercial foreign office, or to the one acting as such, for the promotion of economic and commercial exchange in or with Colombia.
NE 4: to enter the Colombia as the president or senior executive of a multinational company to make investments and create companies.
TEMPORARY VISAS
TP1: Foreigners who wish to enter the country to be student and student-practitioner, educators, professional or qualified technician that intend to do internships, conference lecturers or language assistants, entering the country under existing cooperation agreements in which Colombia is a State party or promoted by the Colombian Institute of Educational Credit and Technical Studies Abroad “Mariano Ospina Pérez”, ICETEX, or when it is shown that they are programs or activities of academic or cultural exchanges.
TP 2: to enter the national territory as a crew member or as a member of an international means of transportation, of a fishing or of a dredging vessel.
TP 3: to enter the country for the development of an academic program, with or without a scholarship, taught by an educational or formation center duly certified to that end, or by virtue of an academic exchange agreement or for the carrying out of student internships; likewise, when the foreigner wishes to enter the national territory to be trained in an art or trade.
TP 4: to enter the Colombia by virtue of a labor relation or a service rendering contract with an individual person or a legal entity domiciled in Colombia, or to artistic, sports, or cultural groups entering the country with the purpose of a public performance.
TP 5: to enter the national territory in his/her capacity as a religious member of a cult or creed duly acknowledged by the Colombian State.
TP 6: to enter the country as a volunteer of a non-governmental or not-for-profit organization acknowledged by the Colombian State.
TP 7: to enter Colombia for the development of any of the following activities or occupations: as a pensioner; as a partner or owner of a company; to get medical treatment and to the foreigner accompanying the one receiving the medical treatment;; for the carrying out of independent trades or activities; the owner of real estate (When, as an investor, he/she has recorded a foreign investment, before the Banco de la República, for an amount exceeding three hundred and fifty (350) monthly minimum legal salaries in force.
TP 8: to enter the national territory for the development of any of the following activities: to carry out proceedings for the adoption of minors as well as to take part in judicial or administrative proceedings.
TP 9: to the foreigner who wishes to enter, or has entered the national territory, who is considered a refugee by the National Government, according to the Advisory Committee for the Determination of Refugee Status, and pursuant to the international instruments in force on the subject matter.
TP 10: to enter Colombia as the spouse or permanent/life partner of a Colombian national.
TP 11: to enter the country for leisure or pleasure.
TP 12: to enter the national territory to attend or take part in, with or without an employment contract, academic, scientific, artistic, cultural or sports activities, to be interviewed in a personnel selection process of public or private entities, entrepreneurial training, commercial or entrepreneurial contacts, or for journalism coverage purposes.
TP 13: to enter Colombia with the purpose of rendering specialized technical assistance, with or without an employment contract, to public or private entities.
Mercosur: State membership in the Mercosur agreements offers a temporary residence permit for two years that may be granted as long as the State corresponding to the nationality of the holder grants equivalent advantages for Colombian nationals in order to obtain a Visa. Based on criteria of reciprocity, the only ones that can apply for this visa are the citizens from: Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Chile, and Ecuador.
RESIDENT
RE: the Resident Visa shall be granted to the foreigner who wishes to enter the country with the purpose of taking up residence in it. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs may issue this visa to the foreigner who wishes to stay in the national territory in the following cases:
When the foreigner is the father or the mother of a Colombian national.
When both parents of the Colombian national are foreigners.
The children of foreigners shall be Colombian nationals when any of their parents is domiciled in the country upon the birth of the minor. The foreigners are domiciled when they are holders of a valid resident visa.
Pursuant to Law 43 of 1993, when the foreigner who had been a Colombian, by adoption/naturalization or by birth, has renounced his/her Colombian nationality; in this case the visa shall be indefinite.
When he/she has been the holder of one of the TP visas that appear below for a period of five (5) continuous and uninterrupted years:
TP-3, TP-4, TP-5, TP-7, TP-9
When he/she has been the holder of a TP-10 Visa for a minimum period of three (3) continuous and uninterrupted years;
When the foreigner, who is legally of age, has been the beneficiary of an RE visa for, at least, a period of five (5) continuous and uninterrupted years;
When, as an investor, he/she has recorded a foreign investment, before the Banco de la República, for an amount exceeding six hundred and fifty (650) monthly minimum legal salaries in force.
The foreigner who is a holder of an RE Visa shall be authorized to carry out any legal occupation in the country, including those developed by virtue of a labor relation or an employment contract. This visa will be issued without prejudice to the legal requirements defined for practicing each profession or occupation in the national territory.
CO Peso Exchange Rate
To obtain a TP7 visa how much income would a pensioner need to have?. To get aTP10 visa would the Colombian have to show enough income for both or could the foreigner demonstrate this? If so how much income would be necessary? I feel this would be very valuable information since this or marriage would be the most typical situation.
Dean,
Expat community boards are often filled with incorrect information and it is best to consult with an immigration specialist like Sandra Serna at Steckenreiter Serna and Associates.
In reviewing the TP10 information on a spousal visa there appears to be no financial requirements with a Spousal Visa. For the Pensioner’s Visa, the amount dictated as of this date is 3 times the minimum salary which is 589.500 as of 2013. The minimum salary increases every year in January.