Visas
Transitioning from Migrant (M) Visa to Permanent Resident (R) Visa
The roadmap from holding a 2 to 5-year Migrant Visa to permanent Colombian residency, continuous stay calculations, and citizenship paths.
- Author
- María Fernanda Duarte
- Published
- Reading time
- 3 min read
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Moving Towards Permanent Residency in Colombia
Holding a Migrant (M) visa is often the foundation for foreign nationals wishing to plant long-term roots in Colombia. Under current immigration regulations, individuals who hold certain types of M visas continuously can apply for the Visa R (Residente).
Time Accumulation Requirements
- Marriage / Companion Visa (M Cónyuge / Compañero): Requires 3 continuous years holding the M visa.
- Investor Visa (M Inversionista): Requires 5 continuous years.
- Pensioner Visa (M Pensionado): Requires 5 continuous years.
- Worker Visa (M Trabajador): Requires 5 continuous years.
Continuous Stay Rule
You cannot be outside of Colombia for more than 180 continuous days during the qualifying holding period, or the residency clock resets.
Consult with our legal department to audit your entry and exit stamps before initiating your Visa R petition.
