Formally Visa V – Nómadas Digitales, created by Resolución 5477 de 2022. It has one of the lowest income bars in the Americas and one of the strictest evidence rules anywhere.
Requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Monthly income | 3× minimum wage ≈ COP 5,252,715 (~US$1,400) |
| Averaging | Not accepted |
| Valid proof | Official bank statements only (extractos bancarios) |
| Remote work history | 6 months minimum |
| Health insurance | Required, valid in Colombia, full duration |
| Passport validity | 6+ months remaining |
| Processing | Up to 30 calendar days |
Every month must clear the bar on its own
This is the rule that catches applicants who technically earn enough.
Averaging is not accepted. If the threshold is COP 5,252,715 and your last six months were 8M, 7M, 9M, 3M, 8M, 7M, you do not qualify — despite averaging comfortably above. The single low month fails you.
For freelancers with lumpy invoicing this is a genuine obstacle, and it is more restrictive than most programmes. Costa Rica wants twelve months of statements but is less rigid about each one individually; Croatia offers a lump-sum alternative entirely.
Practical response: if your income is irregular, time the application after a run of consistent months, or invoice on a schedule that smooths the deposits before you apply.
Only bank statements count
The only valid documents to prove monthly income are official bank statements — extractos bancarios.
Not invoices. Not contracts. Not an accountant's letter. Not PayPal or Wise exports unless they constitute official statements from a recognised institution.
Money must visibly land in a bank account, monthly, above the threshold. Anyone paid in crypto, or holding earnings in a payment processor rather than sweeping to a bank, needs to change that pattern several months before applying.
The threshold moves every year
Three times the salario mínimo mensual legal vigente (SMMLV), which Colombia revises each January — usually by a meaningful margin given inflation.
The 2026 figure of roughly COP 5,252,715 will not be the 2027 figure. Like Spain and Portugal, any guide quoting a Colombian threshold without a year attached is unreliable.
The dollar figure moves twice over — once when the SMMLV is revised, and again with the COP/USD rate. Budget above the line.
What else you need
- Six months of remote work history — client contracts, reference letters, or an official letter in Spanish or English describing the arrangement
- Health insurance valid in Colombia covering medical care, hospitalisation and emergencies for the whole visa period
- Passport with at least six months' validity
Processing runs up to 30 calendar days — fast by comparison with Portugal's two-stage AIMA process or Italy's consulate queues.
Where Colombia fits
| Country | Monthly income | Duration | Notable constraint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colombia | ~$1,400 | 2 years | No averaging; bank statements only |
| Mauritius | $1,500 | 6 mo – 1 yr | Short duration |
| Malaysia | $24,000/yr tech | 12 mo + renewal | $60k+ if non-tech |
| Costa Rica | $3,000 | 1 yr + renewal | 12 months of statements |
Colombia is the most accessible option in the Americas on the raw number — roughly half Costa Rica's requirement. The evidence rules are what make it harder in practice than the figure suggests.
If your income is steady and lands in a bank monthly, it is one of the easiest qualifications available. If it's irregular, Costa Rica's averaging tolerance or Croatia's lump-sum route will suit you better despite the higher headline numbers.
What the process is actually like
[Author section — first-hand or sourced. Whether Wise/Payoneer statements are accepted is the most-asked unanswered question on this visa.]
Frequently asked questions
How much income do I need for Colombia's digital nomad visa? Three times the national minimum wage — approximately COP 5,252,715, about US$1,400 per month in 2026.
Can I average my income across months? No. Each month must individually meet the threshold. A single month below the line disqualifies the application.
What counts as proof of income? Official bank statements only. Invoices, contracts and accountant letters are not accepted as income proof.
How long does processing take? Up to 30 calendar days.
Do I need health insurance? Yes, valid in Colombia and covering medical care, hospitalisation and emergencies for the full visa duration.
Will the threshold change? Yes. It is three times the SMMLV, which Colombia revises each January.
Official sources
Verified 29 July 2026. The threshold is indexed to Colombia's minimum wage and revised annually. Confirm the current figure before applying.