Colombia Marriage Visa 2026 — Spouse Visa Requirements and Process
The marriage visa is the fastest path to permanent residency in Colombia. If you are legally married to a Colombian citizen or in a registered civil union (Union Marital de Hecho), you can apply for an M-type visa that leads to residency in just 3 years, compared to 5 years for most other M-type visas.
Who Qualifies
You qualify if you are legally married to a Colombian national or have a formalized civil union registered with a Colombian notary. The marriage or union must be legally recognized in Colombia. Foreign marriages are accepted if apostilled and translated, but must then be registered at a Colombian notaria to obtain a Colombian Registro Civil de Matrimonio.
Requirements
- Legal marriage to a Colombian citizen or registered civil union
- Colombian spouse must file a carta de responsabilidad (letter of financial responsibility)
- Colombian spouse must provide bank statements or proof of income
- No specific income threshold for the foreign spouse
- Both partners must be available for interviews
Required Documents
- Valid passport (6+ months remaining)
- Colombian Registro Civil de Matrimonio (issued within the last 3 months)
- Notarized carta de responsabilidad from the Colombian spouse
- Colombian spouse's cedula de ciudadania (copy)
- Bank statements from the Colombian spouse showing financial solvency
- Comprehensive international health insurance
- Poder (Power of Attorney) if using an immigration lawyer
- Digital passport photo per Cancilleria specifications
The Registro Civil must be recent. A marriage certificate from 2020 will not be accepted. You need to request a fresh copy within 3 months of your application date.
The Civil Union Option
If you are not married but have been living with your Colombian partner for at least 2 years, you can formalize a Union Marital de Hecho (civil union) at a Colombian notary. This is a legal declaration signed by both partners before a notary public, sometimes with witnesses who can attest to the cohabitation period.
The civil union carries the same legal weight as marriage for visa purposes. Many expat couples choose this route because it is faster, cheaper, and does not require a religious ceremony. The notarial process takes 1-2 days and costs around 200,000-400,000 COP.
The Interview
Expect to be interviewed. The Cancilleria conducts virtual or in-person interviews for marriage visa applications, and since 2024, these have become nearly universal rather than random. Each partner is interviewed separately.
Common questions include:
- How and where did you meet?
- What is your daily routine together?
- Names and details of each other's family members
- Where do you currently live? Describe the apartment.
- What are your shared financial arrangements?
They may also request supporting evidence: WhatsApp conversation screenshots, photos together with timestamps, joint lease agreements, shared utility bills, or flight itineraries showing visits.
Application Process
- Obtain or update your Registro Civil de Matrimonio — must be less than 3 months old
- Colombian spouse writes carta de responsabilidad — notarized
- Register at Cancilleria portal — tramitesmre.cancilleria.gov.co
- Pay study fee — ~$54 USD
- Submit application with all documents
- Attend interview(s) — both partners, separately
- Wait for decision — 45-90 days
- Pay visa fee upon approval — ~$230 USD
- Register with Migracion Colombia within 15 days
Costs and Timeline
- Study fee: ~$54 USD
- Visa fee: ~$230 USD
- Cedula de extranjeria: ~300,000 COP (~$83 USD)
- Notarized civil union (if applicable): 200,000-400,000 COP
- Processing time: 45-90 days (longer than other visa types due to interviews)
- Visa duration: Up to 3 years
- Path to residency: 3 years (fastest of any visa category)