# What visa can a US retiree get in Colombia?

Canonical: https://theretirementdecisionlab.com/answers/what-visa-can-a-us-retiree-get-in-colombia/
Section: Where does your money work hardest? (Retirement Decision Lab, Decision 3 · Week 3 · Wed Nov 18)
Facts checked: 2026-10-06 · Next review by: 2026-12-15
Reviewed by: Todd Allyn, Founding Director, Sovereo Intelligence Research

## Short answer

Most 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.

## Detail

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.

## Where it gets personal

Week 3 runs your own income against the places on your list. The Retirement Decision Lab: https://theretirementdecisionlab.com/

## Sources

1. Special temporary pensioners visa, Cancillería de Colombia: https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/en/special-temporary-pensioners-visa-0
2. Visa tipo M (Migrante), Cancillería de Colombia: https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/node/26933
3. Decreto 159 de 2026 (salario mínimo), Gobierno de Colombia, via Cancillería normograma: https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/normograma/compilacion/docs/decreto_0159_2026.htm
4. Visa de pensionado en Colombia, Affirma Legal: https://www.affirmalegal.com/blog/visa-de-pensionado-en-colombia/
5. Cómo obtener visa de pensionado en Colombia, ColombiaVisas: https://colombiavisas.com/como-obtener-visa-de-pensionado-en-colombia/

Education only. Not financial, tax, investment, immigration or legal advice.
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