Table of Contents
With the entry of Resolution 5477 on October 21, 2022, the countdown of the transition regime began, which implies the mandatory processing of the visa transfer by any foreigner holding a resident visa in Colombia in force and whose issuance has been effective under previous regulations.
What is the Transition Regime about?
Consequently, in 2022, the Colombian Government determined that the process must be carried out within a grace period of two (2) years from the effective date of the aforementioned resolution. Within that time, all permanent residences that applied to this case must had to be reissued to prevent possible sanctions that may affect their validity.
On September 27, 2024, the Colombian government issued a new Resolution (Resolution 9316 of 2024) extending the deadline for residents who still need to complete the Visa Transfer process. In this sense, the new deadline to complete the process and transfer the visa is October 31, 2026. This extension provides Colombian residents with an additional opportunity to comply with the visa transfer requirements.
At expatgroup.co, we have provided support to more than 3.100 clients regarding the various modifications introduced by the new resolution. However, we are concerned about the lack of awareness of the foreign community regarding this process.
In this blog, we will examine the crucial aspects of visa transfer introduced by the new resolution, so that you can comply with all regulations on time and ensure your stay in Colombia without inconveniences.
What is a visa transfer in Colombia?
For immigration purposes, visa transfer means a modification in the data contained in a stay permit through the issuance of a previously issued visa.
This process can be performed with any type of visa, depending on each particular case, and constitutes an essential process to ensure that the information contained in it is real and reliable.
Article 105 of Resolution 5477 of 2022 introduces several cases in which you can carry out the visa transfer process:
- Lost or Stolen Passport: If you lost the document with which you applied for the visa, you must start the process immediately after obtaining the new passport.
- Change of passport: If you obtain a new passport, you can transfer your visa to this new document. This option is recommended and only applies to passports issued by the same country. If you wish to use another nationality, you will need to apply for a new visa with that citizenship, which will cancel the previous visa.
- Correction of typing errors: If the visa was issued with errors and you did not request the correction within fifteen (15) days after its issuance, you will have to process the transfer.
- Change of Contracting Party’s Corporate Name: If you are the holder of a visa that requires an employment contract or a document linked to a company, and your employer changes the name of the company without changing the identification number, you will need to transfer your visa.
- Inclusion of additional employer: If you are a holder of a visa that requires an employment contract and you wish to add a new authorized employer, it is necessary to perform the process. Please note that the activity of the new employer must be the same as the one related to your current visa.
- Resident Visa Holders: All Resident visa holders must carry out a visa transfer every five (5) years, one month prior to the expiration date.
Visa Transfer is for foreigners needing a visa re-issuance due to loss, passport change, error correction, information modification, or to update their Resident visa every five years.
Click on the button and get professional advice today.
Can my residency in Colombia expire if I do not transfer my visa?
Failure to comply with the process every five (5) years may result in the termination of the visa under Article 108, which states that the expiration date marks the end of the visa.
Furthermore, there is an additional case contemplated in Article 123 of Resolution 5477, that was modify in 2024 by Resolution 9316, which deals with the transition regime of the present Resolution and stipulates that, although residence visas issued under previous Resolutions will remain in force, all holders must complete the visa transfer before October 2026.
Transition Regime: Deadline of the Visa Transfer
If the transfer process is not initiated, Article 111 states that, after the termination of the validity of a visa, you will have thirty (30) days in a regular migratory situation during which you must leave the country or apply for a new visa. If you extend your stay beyond the term of the self-cancellation of a visa, you will be imposed an economic penalty based on Article 13 of Decree 1067 of 2015, which demarcates this particular fact as a cause of moderate infraction.
Economic sanctions for immigration irregularities
| Irregularity time | With extenuating circumstances | Without extenuating circumstances |
|---|---|---|
| 0 days | $1.423.500 | $2.847.000 |
| 1 - 30 days | $1.992.900 | $3.416.400 |
| 31 - 60 days | $2.847.000 | $4.270.500 |
| 61 - 90 days | $4.270.500 | $5.694.000 |
| 91 - 120 days | $5.694.000 | $7.117.500 |
| > 121 days | $7.117.000 | $8.541.000 |
Remember that you must prove that you have not been out of the country for more than two (2) continuous years through a Certificate of Migratory Movements that shows immigration information since the foreigner obtained the first Resident Visa.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under its discretionary power, may request additional documentation.
Don’t miss the opportunity! Time is running out and you must start the process before the price increases in the rates of migratory processes in Colombia for 2025.
How is the visa transfer process?
Verify that you meet the requirements and gather documentation
The first step is to make sure that you meet the requirements and are a holder of a residence visa in Colombia. In addition, your current visa must be valid at the time of initiating the process, and you must gather all the necessary documents for your application, which have been indicated by the Resolution in Article 106.
Requirements to apply for a Visa Transfer in Colombia
Visa
Copy of the visa you wish to transfer
Cédula de Extranjería
Copy of the foreigner ID card related to the visa.
Migratory Movements
With information since you obtained the first Resident Visa.
Current Activities
Provide a document accrediting the foreigner's activity in the country.
Letter
Letter of justification stating the reason for the transfer.
Complete the online application and make the corresponding payments
The next step involves completing the online application through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs web portal. Be sure to provide accurate and complete information.
Apply for a new Cédula de Extranjería (Foreign ID Card)
After completing the process, it is essential to apply for a new cédula de extranjería.
It is important to note that even though the Resolution has indicated these requirements, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under its discretionary power, could request additional documentation to proceed.
Before initiating any procedure, we recommend seeking advice from professionals specialized in immigration matters so that your application does not suffer any setbacks.
Get a quote now
We offer expert guidance on immigration processes, business opportunities, housing, and investment, ensuring you have all the resources for a successful and smooth transition to life in Colombia.
