CoVisas Colombia: complete guide to getting your Colombian visa with immigration law specialists
How CoVisas Colombia handles Colombian visa applications end to end: visitor, migrant and resident categories, usual requirements, compliant health insurance, timelines, common mistakes and how to get started.
Getting a Colombian visa can be a simple process or a headache, depending on preparation. Requirements change by category, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' application platform demands precision and a badly presented document can delay a decision by months. CoVisas Colombia is a service specializing in Colombian immigration law, with more than twenty years of experience, that handles visa applications from start to finish for foreigners who want to visit, work, invest or live in Colombia. In this guide we explain how CoVisas works, what its service includes and how to prepare for your application.
What CoVisas Colombia is
CoVisas Colombia is an immigration advisory firm led by Francisco Viloria, known as Pacho Viloria, a specialist in Colombian immigration law with more than twenty years of experience. Its service covers advice on choosing the right visa, preparing documents, uploading the application to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería) platform and arranging the health insurance required by regulations.
CoVisas is part of a network of services for foreigners in Colombia that includes travel and health insurance, real estate services with Medellín Advisors and informative content for expats.
How visa applications work in Colombia
Colombian visas are applied for at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through its online platform. The applicant must create an account, complete the form, attach the documents required for the category and pay the relevant fees. The Ministry reviews the application and can approve it, refuse it or request additional information.
Since Resolution 5477 of 2022, Colombian visas are organized into three broad categories: visitor, migrant and resident, each with several types depending on the purpose of the stay.
Why work with a specialist
Choosing the right category. A poorly chosen visa can be refused even if the documents are in order.
Complete, correct documents. Translations, apostilles, validity periods and formats.
Accurate upload to the platform. An error can lead to refusal or a request for more information.
Insurance that meets regulations. Not every international policy is accepted.
Follow-up until the decision.
How CoVisas works
A distinctive feature of the CoVisas method is that it prefers to upload the documents to the Ministry's platform itself, from scratch, so the client doesn't have to upload anything on their own. To keep control and follow-up of each case, it usually creates a dedicated email address per client, whose access it hands over to the applicant. That way all communication with the Ministry is centralized and the client has access at all times.
Usual requirements
Each visa type has its own requirements, but some documents come up again and again:
| Document | Comment |
|---|---|
| Valid passport | With blank pages and sufficient validity |
| Photograph | Meeting the Ministry's specifications |
| Documents for the visa type | Contracts, letters, statements, certificates |
| Health insurance | With the cover required by regulations |
| Criminal record certificate | Apostilled and translated into Spanish |
CoVisas asks for a criminal record certificate, apostilled and translated into Spanish, as a general requirement for all visa types in its quotes, even though the rules don't always require it for every category. It uses it as a quality filter for the file.
Health insurance for the visa
Many Colombian visa applications require proof of health insurance with specific conditions. CoVisas works with medical assistance plans designed to comply with current regulations, in particular Resolution 5477 of 22 July 2022. Among the plans it quotes to clients are options with different amounts, such as Simply 35K, 55K and 100K, Lite 30K and Terrawind 60K. We have a dedicated guide to health insurance for the Colombian visa.
Types of clients it serves
Digital nomads who want to live in Colombia while working remotely.
Retirees who choose Colombia for their retirement.
Investors buying property or investing in companies.
Professionals and workers with contracts in Colombia.
Spouses and partners of Colombian citizens.
Students taking programs in the country.
Advantages of CoVisas
More than twenty years of experience in Colombian immigration law.
Complete handling of the application, with direct upload to the platform.
Health insurance that meets regulations.
Direct support via WhatsApp.
Integration with real estate and insurance services for those settling in Colombia.
How to get started with CoVisas
- Message +57 324 367 5333 on WhatsApp or visit covisascolombia.com.
- Explain your situation: nationality, purpose of stay, planned length, family.
- Get guidance on the right visa category and a quote.
- Gather the documents indicated, including the apostilled and translated criminal record certificate.
- Take out health insurance that meets regulations.
- CoVisas uploads the application and follows it up until the decision.
Timelines
The Ministry's response times vary by category and workload. The most important thing to avoid delays is to submit a complete file from the start, avoiding requests for additional information. Start early, especially if your permitted stay as a visitor is about to expire.
After the visa
Once the visa is approved, there are further steps, such as registering with Migración Colombia and obtaining the foreigner ID card (cédula de extranjería) where applicable, depending on the visa type and length. CoVisas advises on these steps so the process is complete.
Common mistakes by people applying alone
Choosing a category that doesn't match their situation.
Submitting documents without an apostille or translation.
Using insurance that doesn't meet regulations.
Letting their visitor stay expire while applying.
Errors when uploading to the platform.
CoVisas and the rest of your life in Colombia
Settling in Colombia involves more than a visa: housing, healthcare, connectivity, banking and, in many cases, investment. In our network, Medellín Advisors and Premium Propiedades support foreigners with real estate, legal and accounting matters; Genki and SafetyWing offer health insurance for nomads; and Olé Life offers US-dollar life insurance for residents of Latin America.
Why Colombia attracts so many foreigners
Colombia combines a moderate cost of living, modern cities, a pleasant climate in many regions, a warm culture and a growing international community. Medellín, Bogotá, Cartagena, Santa Marta and the Coffee Region welcome nomads, retirees and investors from all over the world. For many, the visa is the first step in a life project, and getting it right from the start avoids future problems.
Visas for families
When a family moves to Colombia, the main visa holder can include beneficiaries, such as a spouse or children, depending on the category and current requirements. Each beneficiary needs their own documents, including apostilled and translated proof of relationship. Planning the family application together prevents any member from ending up in an irregular situation.
Communication and follow-up
During the process, the Ministry communicates by email and through the platform. That's why CoVisas centralizes communications in a dedicated email per client, which the applicant can access. That way no request gets lost among personal emails and follow-up is transparent.
The three visa categories in detail
Visitor visa (V). Designed for temporary stays without intending to settle: extended tourism, business, events, medical treatment, short academic exchanges, remote work as a digital nomad and other specific activities. It's the entry category for many foreigners who later decide to stay.
Migrant visa (M). For those who want to settle in Colombia for a longer period with a defined purpose: working for a Colombian employer, practicing an independent profession, investing, studying, retiring or accompanying a Colombian spouse or permanent partner. It's one of the most requested categories among retirees and investors.
Resident visa (R). For those who already have a long-term link with the country, for example after accumulating the required time on migrant visas, through a larger investment or as parents of Colombians. It's the category that offers the most stability.
The choice depends on profile, income, ties to the country and future plans. A good adviser doesn't just process today's visa but plans the sequence of visas that will lead the applicant to residence if that's the goal.
How a solid file is prepared
A solid file isn't just a pile of documents: it's a coherent set that shows the Ministry the applicant meets the category's requirements. That means dates, amounts, names and personal details must match across all documents; translations must be official where required; apostilles must be valid and correctly issued; and the motivation letter, where applicable, must clearly explain the purpose of the stay.
CoVisas reviews every document before uploading it and flags those that need to be corrected or replaced. This prior work is what prevents most requests for information and refusals.
What to do if the Ministry asks for more information
Sometimes, even with a careful file, the Ministry requests additional information or documents. When that happens, there's a deadline to respond. CoVisas receives the request in the client's dedicated email, explains what's being asked, helps gather the document and uploads it within the deadline. Responding on time and accurately is key to keeping the application moving.
What happens if a visa is refused
A refusal isn't always final. Depending on the reason, it may be possible to submit a new application correcting the points that led to the decision. What matters is understanding why it was refused and not repeating the same mistake. An experienced specialist can analyze the case and propose the best strategy for reapplying.
Honest advice from the first contact
Part of the value of working with an experienced adviser is getting an honest assessment of a case's chances before investing time and money. If the profile doesn't fit the desired category, it's better to know from the start and look for alternatives, rather than submitting an application with little chance of success.
A service designed for foreigners
Many CoVisas clients don't speak fluent Spanish or are outside Colombia when they start the process. That's why support is direct, with clear explanations of each step, and the process is designed so the applicant can move forward from any country, without unnecessary travel or in-person steps that aren't mandatory.
Where to find CoVisas
All service information, health insurance quotes for visas and direct contact are at covisascolombia.com. From there you can start your inquiry, learn about the visa types handled and request a personalized quote. If you'd prefer an immediate conversation, WhatsApp +57 324 367 5333 is the fastest channel.
Preparing for life after approval
Once your visa is approved, a new stage begins: settling in Colombia.
Checklist to get started
- Valid passport.
- Purpose and length of stay defined.
- Criminal record certificate apostilled and translated.
- Category-specific documents.
- Health insurance that meets regulations.
- Contact with CoVisas via WhatsApp.
For English-language information on the health insurance required for the visa, see insurancevisacolombia.globalinsurancemall.com; and for practical expat life in the country, Colombia Untold publishes guides on cities, costs and paperwork.
Conclusion
CoVisas Colombia offers comprehensive visa handling backed by more than twenty years of experience in Colombian immigration law, direct upload of the application, insurance that meets regulations and support until the decision. If you want to live, work, invest or retire in Colombia, message us on WhatsApp at +57 324 367 5333 and we'll guide you to the right visa.
Frequently asked questions
What does CoVisas Colombia do?
It advises on and handles Colombian visa applications to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from start to finish, including the health insurance required by regulations.
How many years of experience does it have?
More than twenty years in Colombian immigration law, under the direction of Francisco Viloria, also known as Pacho Viloria.
Do I have to upload the documents to the platform myself?
Not necessarily. CoVisas prefers to do the complete upload to the Ministry's platform and usually creates a dedicated email per client for follow-up.
What health insurance do I need for the visa?
One that meets current regulations, such as Resolution 5477 of 2022. CoVisas quotes plans designed for that purpose.
Why is a criminal record certificate requested?
CoVisas asks for it apostilled and translated as a general requirement in its quotes, as a quality filter for the file.
How do I contact CoVisas?
Via WhatsApp at +57 324 367 5333 or through covisascolombia.com.