Decision 3 · Week 3 · Wed Nov 18 · Country spotlight: Colombia
What visa can a US retiree get in Colombia?
SHORT ANSWERMost use the Migrant (M) visa for pensioners. Cancillería says it requires a pension of at least three times Colombia's monthly minimum wage: about COP 5.25 million a month in 2026.
In dollars that was about $1,640 at the October 6, 2026 rate of 3,210 pesos per dollar. The dollar figure moves with the exchange rate, so leave a margin.
Social Security counts as a pension when documented properly, usually with an apostilled benefit letter translated into Spanish. Confirm the current documents with a Colombian consulate or Cancillería before you apply.
M visas are issued for up to three years. After continuous time on M visas you can apply for a resident (R) visa. Practitioners report five years for pensioners; confirm the current period with Cancillería.
The 2026 minimum wage of COP 1,750,905 is under a pending court review, so the threshold could change.
Week 3 runs your own income against the places on your list.
Sources
- Special temporary pensioners visa · Cancillería de Colombia
- Visa tipo M (Migrante) · Cancillería de Colombia
- Decreto 159 de 2026 (salario mínimo) · Gobierno de Colombia, via Cancillería normograma
- Visa de pensionado en Colombia · Affirma Legal
- Cómo obtener visa de pensionado en Colombia · ColombiaVisas
Written and reviewed by Todd Allyn, Founding Director, Sovereo Intelligence
Facts checked Oct 6, 2026 · Next review by Dec 15, 2026
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