Retiree / Pensionado Visa

Best for: Retirees with at least 3x SMMLV in monthly pension income from a government source.

Income requirement

The 2026 floor is 5.252.715 COP per month (about USD $1,310 at current TRM). This is 3x the Colombian minimum monthly wage (SMMLV), which the government adjusts each January.

Accepted income sources

• Government pension (any country)
• Military pension
• Social Security (US, Canada CPP, UK State Pension, etc.)

Does not qualify

• Private 401(k) or IRA withdrawals (use M Rentista)
• Annuity income from private accounts (use M Rentista)

Required documents

• Passport (6+ months remaining)
• Passport-style photo (4x5cm white background)
• Apostilled pension letter (from government agency) translated into Spanish by a registered Colombian official translator
• 3 to 6 months of bank statements showing the pension deposits
• Travel health insurance (until EPS coverage is set up)

Government fees

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:

• 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.
• You become eligible for EPS Colombian national health insurance, typically USD $90 to USD $200 per month (around 12.5% of declared income).

Dependents

Spouse and children under 25 in school ride on the main visa with no additional income requirement.

Path to residency (R)

After 5 years on M Pensionado, apply for R. Time on M is cumulative across renewals.

Common mistakes

• Pension letters not apostilled or not translated by a registered official translator
• Confusing private retirement income with government pension (private = Rentista)
• Missing the 15-day cedula registration window

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.