Colombian Partner or Spouse Visa
The shortest path for anyone married to or in a serious partnership with a Colombian. Builds to R in 2 years instead of 5.
cancilleria.gov.co before applying. Always work with a licensed Colombian immigration attorney.
Best for: Foreigners married to a Colombian or in a registered civil partnership (union marital de hecho) with a Colombian.
Required documents
- Passport (6+ months remaining)
- Passport-style photo (4x5cm white background)
- Marriage certificate (apostilled and translated if issued outside Colombia) OR notarized union marital de hecho declaration with 2 years of cohabitation evidence
- Colombian partner's cedula de ciudadania
- Proof of the relationship (joint accounts, photos, lease, etc.)
Government fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| 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
- 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.
- Create an account at
visas.cancilleria.gov.co. - Start the application. Select this visa type. Upload PDFs (max 2MB each, readable scans, not phone photos).
- Pay the study fee by credit card.
- Wait for review. Processing is typically 5 to 30 business days. You may receive a requerimiento (request for more documents). Respond within 30 days.
- Pay the issuance fee once approved.
- Download the visa PDF. It arrives by email. Print it.
- 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:
- Register with Migracion Colombia (the RNE · registro de extranjeros). Free.
- Apply for your cedula de extranjeria. The fee is set annually by Migracion and sits in the 220.000 to 235.000 COP range in 2026. Card arrives in 10 to 15 business days.
Path to residency (R)
After 2 years on M Partner (vs 5 for other M categories). After R, 2 more years to naturalize as Colombian.
Common mistakes
- Union marital de hecho declarations without the required 2 years of cohabitation evidence
- Marriage certificates issued abroad without apostille and official Spanish translation
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 CatalinaWhen 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.
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.