Worker / Employment
Trabajador · Art. 74, Res. 5477/2022
People hired to work in Colombia for a Colombian entity under a labor contract.
Figures verified for 2026
Headline requirement
Colombian employer + labor contract
At a glance
- Validity
- up to 3 years
- Work rights
- RestrictedTied to the registered employer.
- 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
- No fixed SMMLV income threshold is confirmed in the official text for this visa — verify the current requirement before applying.
- Issuance fee (≈ US$230) is subtype-dependent — confirm on the official cost filter.
The longer-term path
Worker M years count toward the R Resident visa after 5 years. The visa is tied to the registered employer; a change of employer generally requires a new application.
Ready to walk the full process?
The guided journey takes you through all five stages for the Worker / Employment visa — eligibility self-check, the document checklist, an annotated walkthrough of the government form, the decision window, and the steps after approval.
Start the Worker / Employment 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 Worker / Employment visa for?
People hired to work in Colombia for a Colombian entity under a labor contract.
How long is the Worker / Employment visa valid?
Up to 3 years, subject to the authority's decision on each application.
Does the Worker / Employment 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 Worker / Employment visa count toward Colombian permanent residency?
Yes. It can count toward the Resident (R) visa after 5 years of qualifying time.