Know the correct visa with which you can begin your investment in our country without inconvenience.
If you’re interested in investing in our country, but don’t know which type of visa allows you to do it correctly, we explain it to you next:
There are two categories of visas, from which different types arise.
(V) for Visitors, which is intended for those foreigners who come to Colombia to temporarily develop some activity for up to 2 years, and (M) for Migrants, which has been created for those foreigners who want to establish their residence in Colombia, but don’t meet the conditions to be residents.
(V) VISITOR-TYPE VISA
DIGITAL NOMAD VISA
For those who decide to provide remote work services (telecommuting) from Colombia, through digital media and the Internet. Exclusively for foreign companies, as an independent or labor-related, or also for initiating entrepreneurship of digital content or information technologies of interest for the country.
PROMOTION OF INTERNATIONALIZATION VISA
Created for productive, innovation, or investigation activities aimed at the adoption and adaptation of technologies that complement or develop products, processes, or services that contribute to strengthening the country’s competitiveness.
For activities that contribute to incorporating knowledge into the priorities of national, regional, and territorial development plans.
For activities or professions preestablished by the Directorate of Immigration, Consular Affairs, and Citizen Service, that contribute to the country’s internationalization.
TLC ENTREPRENEURS VISA
Created to facilitate the mobility of entrepreneurs or businesspeople, from countries that have signed and in force Free Trade Agreements.
V BUSINESS VISA
It is destined for foreigners with nationalities that are NOT exempt from visas for short visits, or for those who, being exempt from that type of visa, need a longer stay in the country.
With this visa, foreigners can conduct business management, market studies, direct investment procedures, incorporation of a commercial company, negotiation, conclusion of contracts, or commercial representation.
(M) MIGRANT-TYPE VISA
PROMOTION OF INTERNATIONALIZATION VISA
Validity: Up to 3 years
Created for foreigners with master’s degrees, doctorates, or postdocs in basic or applied sciences, engineering, mathematics, and related, whose profiles adjust to the priorities required by the country in its public and private plans of internationalization.
Aimed at professionals of areas preestablished by the Directorate of Immigration, Consular Affairs, and Citizen Service, whose exercise contributes to the adoption and/or adaptation of technologies that strengthen the country’s competitiveness.
M MERCOSUR VISA
Validity: 2 years
Applies to member countries of the MERCOSUR agreement (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay). With this visa, foreigners can carry on any activity in the country.
ANDEAN MIGRANT VISA
Validity: 3 years
Applies to member countries of the Andean Community (CAN). With this visa, foreigners can carry on any activity in the country.
PARTNER OR OWNER VISA
Validity: 3 years
Created for foreigners who have incorporated a business or have acquired a share in the capital stock of a commercial company in operation. This visa allows foreigners to accumulate time for a Resident’s visa, after a minimum time of 5 years of permanence as a holder.
In the case of the entrepreneur who establishes or acquires a share in the capital stock of a commercial community in operation, this visa will have job permissions for exclusive application in the community in which that person is a partner, shareholder, or owner.
TO KEEP IN MIND…
The foreigners with nationalities that are NOT exempt from short-stay visas, must consider if they entered the country with a Visitor type visa, as they will not be able to make the change request to a Migrant or Resident type visa within the national territory.
The time accumulated to obtain a Resident type of visa is calculated based on the date the foreigner entered the country.
Once the visa expiration date is reached, the foreigner in Colombia will have 30 days to leave the country or request a new visa.
Colombia has different entities that accompany the foreign direct investment cycle in the different sectors of the economy. Check here the type of visa you need to start business operations in Colombia: https://vui.gov.co/es/portafolio-de-tramites/migracion
Posted on: March 1st, 2023
By: Admin
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