Spouse of a Colombian
Cónyuge de nacional colombiano(a) · Art. 67, Res. 5477/2022
The foreign spouse of a Colombian citizen, where the marriage is registered in the Colombian civil registry.
Figures verified for 2026
Headline requirement
Registered marriage to a Colombian · no income floor
At a glance
- Validity
- up to 3 years
- Work rights
- OpenOpen work permission — any lawful activity.
- Cédula de extranjería
- Required (within 15 days)
- Counts toward residency
- After 3 years
- Beneficiaries
- Spouse / children eligible
- Issuance fee
- US$230 approx.
Time outside Colombia
Worth verifying before you apply
- Issuance fee (≈ US$230) is subtype-dependent — confirm on the official cost filter.
- Spouse (Art. 67) and permanent partner (Art. 68) differ in validity and years-to-residency — see the Permanent Partner visa if you are not formally married.
The longer-term path
The spouse M visa has the fastest road to permanence: after 3 continuous years you can apply for the R Resident visa. Keep the relationship documented (shared address, joint accounts) — renewals and the R application revisit it. 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 Spouse of a Colombian visa — eligibility self-check, the document checklist, an annotated walkthrough of the government form, the decision window, and the steps after approval.
Start the Spouse of a Colombian 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 Spouse of a Colombian visa for?
The foreign spouse of a Colombian citizen, where the marriage is registered in the Colombian civil registry.
How long is the Spouse of a Colombian visa valid?
Up to 3 years, subject to the authority's decision on each application.
Does the Spouse of a Colombian 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 Spouse of a Colombian visa count toward Colombian permanent residency?
Yes. It can count toward the Resident (R) visa after 3 years of qualifying time.