Visa M · Migrante

Parent of a Colombian (by birth)

Padre / Madre de nacional colombiano · Art. 70, Res. 5477/2022

The foreign parent of a Colombian-by-birth child.

Figures verified for 2026

Peso amounts are indexed to the 2026 minimum wage () and USD equivalents are indicative — COP is the binding figure. Always confirm current figures on the official Cancillería visa portal before applying.

Headline requirement

Parent of a Colombian-by-birth child

At a glance

Validity: up to 3 years
Work rights: OpenOpen work permission.
Cédula de extranjería: Required (within 15 days)
Counts toward residency: After 2 years
Beneficiaries: Spouse / children eligible
Issuance fee: US$230 approx.

Time outside Colombia

180 continuous days / 365 — or the M visa terminates.

Worth verifying before you apply

Fast-track residency (2 years) applies to the parent of a Colombian by birth — confirm the current accumulated-time rule (Art. 90).
Issuance fee (≈ US$230) is subtype-dependent — confirm on the official cost filter.

Getting your apostille

Planning ahead: the slowest document in this visa's checklist is the FBI background check with its federal apostille.

Do it yourself

Order the FBI check, then mail it to the US Department of State for the Apostille: An official certificate attached to a document that makes it legally valid in another country. US federal documents (like the FBI background check) are apostilled by the US Department of State in Washington, DC; state documents (like birth certificates) by the issuing state. — only official fees, but realistically 6+ weeks all-in, and the sequencing is on you. The step-by-step is in the document guide.

One hand-off through our partner

Our US apostille partner runs the background check through an FBI-approved channeler: A private company authorized by the FBI to submit fingerprints and return your background check, usually within about a day — much faster than mailing the FBI directly. The result is the same official document. (about a day) and walks it through the Washington, DC apostille — typically about 2–2.5 weeks total. Use code SUNWARD at checkout for a discount.

See the partner service →

We may earn a referral fee if you use our partner — it costs you nothing extra, and the choice is entirely yours. Our partner handles federal (US) documents only; state-issued documents (birth or marriage certificates) are apostilled by the issuing state.

The longer-term path

This is a fast track to residency: parent-of-a-Colombian M years count toward the R Resident visa after just 2 years. Don't stay outside Colombia more than 180 continuous days.

Ready to walk the full process?

The guided journey takes you through all five stages for the Parent of a Colombian (by birth) visa — eligibility self-check, the document checklist, an annotated walkthrough of the government form, the decision window, and the steps after approval.

Start the Parent of a Colombian (by birth) journey

One-time pack · US$39 launch price (US$49 after launch) · no subscription · already purchased? It opens right up.

Common questions

Who is the Colombian Parent of a Colombian (by birth) visa for?

The foreign parent of a Colombian-by-birth child.

How long is the Parent of a Colombian (by birth) visa valid?

Up to 3 years, subject to the authority's decision on each application.

Does the Parent of a Colombian (by birth) 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 Parent of a Colombian (by birth) visa count toward Colombian permanent residency?

Yes. It can count toward the Resident (R) visa after 2 years of qualifying time.

Headline requirement

At a glance

The longer-term path

Ready to walk the full process?

Common questions

Sources & last verified on July 3, 2026