The Digital Nomad Visa and then Cédula de extranjería are a practical path if you have remote income from outside Colombia. Below: requirements, filing, payment, and getting your cédula based on real experience. Rules change — check current forms on Cancillería and Migración sites.
This is not legal advice. Forged documents can lead to refusal and fines — submit only correct paperwork.
Who it fits
If you have remote income from outside the country, you can apply for the Digital Nomad / “digital nomad” visa.
Requirements
Work outside the country
Income must come from abroad (contract / HR letter + employer contacts: email, phone, website).
Income
Target: a stable ~$1,000 / month. Formally they often cite 3 Colombian minimum wages (~$800), but in practice that is too low for Migración — aim above $1,000. You need bank statements for the last 3 months, preferably in USD or EUR.
How they read statements
What matters is income landing in each calendar month (1st through 30th/31st), not “on average over the quarter.” If one month is below the threshold, they may refuse even if the 3-month total looks fine. For balance / turnover, people often cite ~$1,500 as a guide.
Health insurance
Must cover the full stay. Bank / fintech policies (Tinkoff, Revolut, etc.) work; local insurance is even better. Prefer a bank policy over a small individual insurer — easier to verify. Double-check the insurer link, coverage period, countries, and covered events.
Passport and entry stamp
Passport + Migración entry stamp from the airport after arrival.
Contact details
Social profiles and applicant email.
The income threshold for this visa is among the lowest of nomad visas. Migración usually does not call your bank to “verify” income — they review the document package.
Filing the application
- Filing portal: tramitesmre.cancilleria.gov.co — solicitar visa
- Fill in your details and visa type.
- Attach documents from the list above.
- Pay the processing fee and wait. Status In study can sit for 3+ weeks with no extra requests.
If they ask for extra documents — add them quickly. From experience: 6-month insurance → visa granted for 6 months. With longer policies they may ask for proof of funds on balance.
Check status: consultar estado solicitud. Expect ~3 weeks.
Payment and receiving the visa
Once documents are approved — pay for the visa. After payment the status changes to “Paid.”
You get a receipt; the approved e-visa arrives by email (in practice — about a week after payment).
Card payment (Visa/Mastercard) is unreliable — even with Colombian banks: sometimes they charge but the payment “does not go through.” Try different cards or alternatives; PSE often works better.
Cédula de extranjería
E-visa in hand — next, the cédula. Print the visa (print shop) and make a copy of your passport.
- Book a slot: citasmigracion.iq-online.net.co/citas. Many book while the visa is still processing.
- After booking, complete the form: formulario registro Migración (clunky interface).
Medellín example: Migración office at Cl 19 #80A-40, Belén, Medellín, Antioquia. The entrance is not directly from the street — inside the block; locals can point you.
Bring: printed visa, passport copy and original, cash.
At the entrance
Say “Cédula de extranjería” and show your booking — they direct you to the first desk.
1st desk
On the printed visa they ask you to write: first and last name, address, phone, email, blood type.
Then
Document check → photo → fingerprints → ID processing fee → pickup date (often 14 days, sometimes up to a month).
Pickup
On the assigned day again say “Cédula de extranjería,” bring passport and visa stamp, queue, sign — ID in hand.
Timelines, costs, fines
Timelines
Ballpark: up to ~1 month for the visa + up to 2–3 months for the cédula (depends on slots). A pre-booked slot saves time after visa approval.
Costs
Roughly $100 + $30 total (exchange rates, services, possible fines change the figure).
Important
After the visa you have about a month to start cédula processing. If you delay — they may fine you: e-visa only, without the required stamp/processing. Amount depends on how late you are.