Visa M · Migrante

Pensionado (Retirement)

Pensionado · Art. 77, Res. 5477/2022

Holders of a lifetime pension from a government or private source — US Social Security qualifies.

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

Monthly income of at least

COP 5,252,715(≈ US$1,638)

At a glance

Validity: up to 3 years
Work rights: Not permitted
Cédula de extranjería: Required (within 15 days)
Counts toward residency: After 5 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

Issuance fee (≈ US$230) is subtype-dependent — confirm on the official cost filter.
183+ days/year in Colombia generally makes you a tax resident; Colombian tax can reach worldwide pension income — consult a cross-border accountant.

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.

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

Pensionado years count: after 5 continuous years on the M visa you can apply for the R Resident visa (5-year validity, near-permanent status). Never stay outside Colombia more than 180 continuous days — the M visa is automatically voided if you do.

See what a pack unlocks

A sample of the guided journey. Every pack works like this, tailored to its visa.

Sample view

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 Pensionado (Retirement) visa — eligibility self-check, the document checklist, an annotated walkthrough of the government form, the decision window, and the steps after approval.

Start the Pensionado (Retirement) 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 Pensionado (Retirement) visa for?

Holders of a lifetime pension from a government or private source — US Social Security qualifies.

What is the financial requirement for the Pensionado (Retirement) visa?

Income ≥ COP 5,252,715 (≈ US$1,638) / month. Figures are indexed to the current Colombian minimum wage (SMMLV); the COP amount is the binding one. Always confirm on the official Cancillería portal before applying.

How long is the Pensionado (Retirement) visa valid?

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

Does the Pensionado (Retirement) 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 Pensionado (Retirement) visa count toward Colombian permanent residency?

Yes. It can count toward the Resident (R) visa after 5 years of qualifying time.