The visitor visa for digital nomads will be given to people who wish to provide services as remote workers or telework from Colombia, exclusively for foreign companies without presence in Colombia. It can also be used by people who wish to start a business in the field of digital or information technology.
If a company wants to have a physical presence in Colombia, a change of visa category must be made for workers, since they will no longer be eligible for a digital nomad visa.
The digital nomad visa is for people who want to stay more than 180 days per year in Colombia. To be eligible for this visa, the foreign national may not receive any type of remuneration from any company with presence in Colombia.
Another requirement is that the person applying for this visa must have a health insurance policy with coverage for any unforeseen event that may arise while in Colombia.
The digital nomad visa will be issued for a period of up to two years.
Under the new law, the immigration authorities will adjudicate visa applications within 30 days, compared to the current 5-8 business days. Upon approval, e-visas will be issued within 10 business days instead of the current 3 business days.
For social security purposes, Colombian law requires that all persons residing in Colombia must be affiliated with the health insurance company (EPS), regardless of whether they work for a Colombian or foreign company.