🇨🇴 Colombia · Work Visa
Work permit categories, eligibility, sponsorship, application steps, and processing times.
Quick answer
Foreign workers usually get a Migrant (M) visa for work, applied for online with Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; you need an employment contract or sponsorship, and after arrival you register for a foreigner ID card (Cédula de Extranjería).
Visas are issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; entry and stay are controlled by Migración Colombia. The M (migrant) visa category covers work.
- The M (migrant) visa covers work and longer-term stays.
- Visas are applied for with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Foreign nationals register with Migración Colombia and obtain a foreigner ID (cédula de extranjería).
Step-by-step
- 1
Secure a job and sponsorship
Secure a job with a Colombian employer that will sponsor your Migrant (M) work visa.
- 2
Prepare the visa documents
Prepare the employment contract, the employer’s obligations letter and your civil and financial documents.
- 3
Apply for the M visa online
Apply for the Migrant (M) visa through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ online platform and pay the fees.
- 4
Receive the visa
The visa is issued electronically once approved.
- 5
Register for the Cédula de Extranjería
Within the required period after entry, register with Migración Colombia for the foreigner ID card (Cédula de Extranjería).
- 6
Renew and consider a Resident (R) visa
Renew the M visa; after several continuous years you may qualify for the Resident (R) visa.
Checklist
- Job with a sponsoring Colombian employer
- Employment contract + employer obligations letter
- Civil + financial documents
- Migrant (M) visa application online (Foreign Affairs) + fees
- Visa issued electronically
- Cédula de Extranjería (Migración Colombia)
- Social-security affiliation
- Resident (R) visa pathway considered
Official authorities
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Visas
Visa issuance.
- Migración Colombia
Entry, stay and foreigner ID.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Migrant (M) visa?
It is the visa category for foreigners with a qualifying tie to Colombia such as employment; work is one of its sub-types.
What is the Cédula de Extranjería?
It is the foreigner identity card issued by Migración Colombia to visa holders staying beyond a set period.
Can the M visa lead to residence?
Yes — after continuous time on an M visa you can generally apply for the Resident (R) visa.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.