Colombia's digital nomad visa, officially the Visa V Nómada Digital, lets people who work remotely for foreign employers or clients live in Colombia for up to two years. It is a visitor-class visa issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería), and the whole application is filed online.
The income test is tied to Colombia's minimum wage. Applicants must show income equal to three monthly minimum wages over the last three months. With the 2026 minimum wage at COP 1,750,905, that works out to COP 5,252,715 a month, or very roughly US$1,300 to US$1,500 depending on the exchange rate.
That makes Colombia one of the lower-threshold nomad visas in the Americas. The trade-offs are a strict health insurance rule, a ban on working for Colombian companies, and a tax system that can apply quickly once you spend more than half a year in the country. The details below reflect official sources checked in October 2026.
Key takeaways
- The Visa V Nómada Digital is granted for up to two years and is open to nationals of countries that do not need a Colombian tourist visa.
- The income test is three times the monthly minimum wage over the last three months, which is COP 5,252,715 per month in 2026.
- You need health insurance valid in Colombia that covers accidents, illness, maternity, disability, hospitalization, death and repatriation.
- The visa does not allow paid work for a company or person based in Colombia, and time on it does not count toward permanent residence.
- Spending more than 183 days in Colombia within any 365-day period generally makes you tax resident there, with tax on worldwide income.
How Colombia's digital nomad visa works
Colombia created the category in Resolution 5477 of 2022, the visa regulation that took effect in October 2022. The visa sits within the "V" (visitor) family of visas. It is designed for people who keep their job or clients abroad and simply move where they work from.
The Cancillería's visa page describes three types of eligible applicants:
- Remote employees of one or more foreign companies.
- Freelancers and contractors who provide services to foreign companies.
- Digital entrepreneurs who want to develop a digital content or technology project from Colombia.
All three must keep their income outside Colombia's labor market. The visa does not permit paid work for a company or individual based in Colombia.
Nationality limit
Only nationals of countries or territories that are exempt from Colombia's short-stay visa can apply. This includes the United States, Canada, the UK, EU countries and many others. Nationals of countries that need a tourist visa for Colombia have to look at other visa types.
Colombia digital nomad visa requirements
| Requirement | Detail (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Passport | From a country exempt from Colombia's short-stay visa |
| Income | Three monthly minimum wages, shown in bank statements for the last three months |
| 2026 amount | COP 5,252,715 per month (3 x COP 1,750,905) |
| Work proof | Letter from the foreign employer or client, in Spanish or English |
| Entrepreneurs | Letter describing the digital or tech project and its resources |
| Insurance | Full-risk health policy valid in Colombia for the whole stay |
| Duration | Up to two years |
| Dependents | Can apply as beneficiaries of the main holder |
The income test in 2026
Colombia's minimum wage for 2026 was set at COP 1,750,905 a month, a rise of about 23% on 2025. The decree went through a legal challenge early in 2026, and the government reissued it with the same amount, so the figure in pesos stayed the same. Because the visa threshold is three times that wage, it rose sharply this year as well.
Bank statements need to show the income arriving over the most recent three months. Exchange rates move, so applicants paid in dollars or euros often show a margin above the minimum.
The employer or client letter
The letter must come from the foreign company or companies you work for. It needs to state the type of relationship (employee or contractor) and how you are paid. If there is a contract, include it. Owners of a foreign company provide proof that they own part of it, plus a letter that confirms they work for it remotely.
Health insurance
This is the requirement that trips up the most applicants. The Cancillería asks for a policy valid in Colombia that covers all risks, including accidents, illness, maternity, disability, hospitalization, death and repatriation, for the full length of your stay. Many travel policies leave out one or more of these items, such as maternity, so read the policy wording against the list before you apply. Our overview of private health insurance costs by country is a useful starting point for budgeting.
How to apply, step by step
- Gather documents. Passport scan, photo, employer or client letter, contracts, bank statements and the insurance certificate. Documents not in Spanish or English may need a translation.
- File online. Applications go through the Cancillería's online visa platform. You can apply from abroad or from within Colombia if you entered legally.
- Pay the study fee. A non-refundable fee is charged to review the application. The current amounts appear in the Cancillería's fee table, and some nationalities pay different issuance fees under reciprocity rules.
- Wait for a decision. Under Resolution 5477, the ministry can take up to 30 calendar days to decide on a complete file. It may also ask for more documents.
- Pay the issuance fee. If approved, you pay the visa fee and receive an electronic visa.
- Register with Migración Colombia. Visas longer than three months require registration with Migración Colombia and a foreigner ID card, the cédula de extranjería. The registration has a short deadline after the visa is issued or after you arrive, so plan for it in your first weeks.
Limits worth knowing
The visa is a visitor visa, not a residence visa. Time spent on it does not count toward Colombia's resident (R) visa, which generally requires years on a migrant (M) visa or another qualifying route.
It is also tied to your remote work. If you lose your job or your foreign clients and can no longer meet the conditions, the visa may no longer match your situation.
Finally, the visa is not needed for short stays. Nationals of visa-exempt countries can already enter Colombia without a visa for up to 90 days, extendable to 180 days in a calendar year, and remote work for foreign companies is allowed in that time as long as no salary is paid from Colombia. The nomad visa is for people who want to stay longer than that.
Tax rules for digital nomads in Colombia
Immigration status and tax status are separate questions in Colombia. Under the Tax Statute, which the tax authority DIAN administers, an individual becomes tax resident after spending more than 183 days in Colombia, continuously or not, within any 365-day period. If that period spans two calendar years, residence generally applies in the second year. Our explainer on the 183-day rule covers how this type of test works.
Colombian tax residents are taxed on worldwide income, at progressive rates that reach 39% at the top. Non-residents are taxed only on Colombian-source income. Colombian law can treat pay for services performed inside Colombia as Colombian-source income, so the place where you do the work matters even when the client is abroad.
A visa that allows two years means many holders will cross the 183-day line. People in this position often ask a Colombian adviser about filing duties, whether any tax treaty applies, and how their home country treats the move. Our guide to tax residency for digital nomads explains the general logic, and our article on tracking your days for tax residency covers record keeping.
How Colombia compares
Colombia's income bar is low compared with programs such as Costa Rica's US$3,000 test, and the two-year term is generous. The insurance rule and the visa-exempt nationality condition narrow the pool. For a side-by-side view of other programs, see our list of digital nomad visas in 2026 and our guide to low-tax and territorial tax countries in Latin America.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do I need for the Colombia digital nomad visa in 2026?
You need income equal to three monthly minimum wages over the last three months. In 2026 that is COP 5,252,715 per month, which is very roughly US$1,300 to US$1,500 depending on the exchange rate.
How long can I stay on the Colombia digital nomad visa?
The visa is granted for up to two years. The exact term on your visa depends on the decision, so check the dates on the electronic visa you receive.
Can I work for Colombian clients on this visa?
No. The visa does not allow paid work for a company or individual based in Colombia. Your income must come from foreign employers or clients.
Do I pay tax in Colombia on a digital nomad visa?
It depends on your days and facts. Spending more than 183 days in Colombia within any 365-day period generally makes you a tax resident, taxed on worldwide income. A Colombian tax adviser can confirm how the rules apply to you.
Does the Colombia digital nomad visa lead to residency?
No. Time on a visitor (V) visa does not count toward Colombia's resident visa. People who want to stay long term usually look at the migrant (M) visa categories.
Important: This article is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Rules change often and depend on your personal circumstances. Speak with a qualified professional in each relevant country before you act.