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M visa

Parent of a Colombian Visa

For foreigners who are parents of a Colombian citizen (typically a child born in Colombia). Builds to R in 2 years.

Not legal advice. The numbers below reflect the rules in effect in 2026. Verify current thresholds at cancilleria.gov.co before applying. Always work with a licensed Colombian immigration attorney.

Best for: Mixed-nationality couples where the child was born in Colombia, and similar situations.

Duration
3 years, renewable
Government fees
USD $54 study + USD $230 issuance
Processing time
10 to 30 business days
Path to R
2 years on this visaRenewals stack toward residency.

Required documents

Government fees

FeeAmount
Study fee (paid at submission)USD $54
Visa issuance fee (paid on approval)USD $230

All Cancilleria fees are payable by credit card during the online application.

How to apply

  1. Gather documents. All foreign-issued documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, pension letters) must be apostilled in the country of issue and translated into Spanish by a translator registered with the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Relations.
  2. Create an account at visas.cancilleria.gov.co.
  3. Start the application. Select this visa type. Upload PDFs (max 2MB each, readable scans, not phone photos).
  4. Pay the study fee by credit card.
  5. Wait for review. Processing is typically 5 to 30 business days. You may receive a requerimiento (request for more documents). Respond within 30 days.
  6. Pay the issuance fee once approved.
  7. Download the visa PDF. It arrives by email. Print it.
  8. Register with Migracion Colombia within 15 days, and apply for your cedula de extranjeria. In Medellin, Migracion is at Calle 19 #80A-40 in Belen.

After you are approved

Once your visa is granted, you have 15 days after entering Colombia (or after approval if applying in-country) to:

Path to residency (R)

After 2 years on M Parent (vs 5 for other M categories).

Have questions about your situation?

Chat with Catalina, our concierge. She can answer follow-up questions and connect you with a Medellin-based immigration attorney when you are ready to apply.

WhatsApp Catalina

When you are ready to apply

We work with a Medellin-based immigration attorney who is bilingual and reliable. He handles the application end-to-end, including the appointment at Migracion. Mike has used his services personally.

Attorney details available on request · contact us via WhatsApp or email.

Email us for the referral →

Last updated: 2026-05-26. The 2026 SMMLV (Colombian minimum monthly wage) is 1.750.905 COP. All income floors on this page are multiples of that figure.