Independent Professional
Profesional Independiente · Art. 76, Res. 5477/2022
People exercising a regulated profession or independent activity in Colombia.
Figures verified for 2026
Headline requirement
Recognized profession + apostilled title
At a glance
- Validity
- up to 3 years
- Work rights
- RestrictedLimited to the registered profession/activity.
- Cédula de extranjería
- Required (within 15 days)
- Counts toward residency
- After 5 years
- Beneficiaries
- Spouse / children eligible
- Issuance fee
- US$230 approx.
Worth verifying before you apply
- A specific income threshold is not confirmed in the official text for this visa — verify before applying.
- Issuance fee (≈ US$230) is subtype-dependent — confirm on the official cost filter.
The longer-term path
Independent Professional M years count toward the R Resident visa after 5 years.
See what a pack unlocks
A sample of the guided journey. Every pack works like this, tailored to its visa.
Valid passport
Bio page, with enough validity left
Background check — apostilled
The document most likely to slow you down
Each document opens into a how-to:
where to order it, the apostille step, the official Spanish translation, the freshness window it must stay inside — and the mistakes that trigger a requerimiento.
⏱ typical timing notedcost estimate noted
Proof of income
Official statements for the recent months
- Annotated form walkthrough — a watermarked practice copy of the government form with every field explained. You still file the real one yourself.
- Progress that follows you — checklist state saves to your account and syncs across devices.
- Figures kept current — every peso threshold derives from one verified source, with citations and a last-verified date on the page.
Ready to walk the full process?
The guided journey takes you through all five stages for the Independent Professional visa — eligibility self-check, the document checklist, an annotated walkthrough of the government form, the decision window, and the steps after approval.
Start the Independent Professional journeyOne-time pack · US$39 launch price (US$49 after launch) · no subscription · already purchased? It opens right up.
Common questions
Who is the Colombian Independent Professional visa for?
People exercising a regulated profession or independent activity in Colombia.
How long is the Independent Professional visa valid?
Up to 3 years, subject to the authority's decision on each application.
Does the Independent Professional visa require a cédula de extranjería?
Yes. Holders must register for the cédula de extranjería with Migración Colombia, generally within 15 calendar days of the visa being issued.
Does the Independent Professional visa count toward Colombian permanent residency?
Yes. It can count toward the Resident (R) visa after 5 years of qualifying time.