Colombia Forum

Elexpatriado
Joined 2017
Posts: 6580

2 years ago

Recent experience with Colombian Visa

2 years ago

Anybody have recent experience with gettng a Colombian Visa lately?

First note I CANNOT consider a marriage visa or a government Pension Visa for reasons I dont want to get into.

I also do not want an "R" visa to keep clear of tax issues and for other reasons. Colombia is not a preferred location for a second passport.

I also do not want an inversionista visa, because I am not interested in tieing up major funds in Colombia, let alone any developing country.

For the last 10 years I have been getting a Rentista Visa (now a type "M" rentista).

For this you have to guarantee 10 Salarios Mínimos or more.

The paper work and documentation is getting more and more onerous. every year, and they seem to be only giving 1 year visas now, unless you "luck out" and get a 3 year visa.

I have to get documentation in Canada that goes through a long and onerous legalization process in Canada, which takes 2 weeks minimum.

I cant afford it time and money wise to stay in Canada an extra 2 weeks every year to take care of this, so my sister has been doing this, and she is getting pizzed off.

Even so it costs me $500 to $800 ($400 to $650)Canadian for notarization, legalization , courier charges , in Canada, plus the ever increasing charges in Colombia- not including and legal, translation and copying charges, which people with a lot of time on their hands can minimize (somewhat) themselves.

And now , in the near future , with the new legislation, they will be requiring new documentation. in addition to the letter confirming your income from a private institution...additional documentation includes a "Certificate of Status..or Good standing" for your financial institution, stating they are in good standing, a legal entity and have completed all "annual returns" in the province or state of incorporation. Doesnt matter if you are getting your pension from Microsoft, Exxon, Chase Manhattan, Charles Scwab, this document will still be required.

Plus a Police certificate saying you have no criminal record.

And further items that may be required is a physical and psycological record from a medical professional proving you are in "good Health" mentally and physically.

This is in addition to the requirement for proof of registration in an EPS. Note that Travel Insurance or Medicina Prepagada is not acceptable, at least in my case, when renewing the Rentista visa-even though the coverage in both cases is or potentially could be far superior to that provided by an EPS.

So my question is , for people who have RECENTLY renewed their visa (in the last 4 months), what documentaion and requirements have the Visa department asked for?

Allthough I am specifically interested in Rentisa visa, and I repeat, I am not interested in or am eligible for a Pensionada , Investment, or Marriage visa, it would be interesting to see what type of documentation and requirements people have been asked for for other types of Visas., and what other options there may be

It is quite ironic that my step son, who is Venezuelan, and who I am supporting recently got a 10 year resident card.

It wasnt cheap or easy (But this was because of the Venezuelan government, not the Colombian government), but a lot easier than for me.

In his mom´s case, the 10 year residency card is coming soon, and has very litte cost,though there is a bit of a delay, She has 2 year residency now.

To be honest, if the boy wasnt just starting school in Colombia, I would be out of here now, and off to Ecuador, Mexico, Argentina-wherever I am treated best. I can still come back to Colombia a few months of the year as a tourist, But for now, have to stay here for at least 2 or 3 more years.

My Canadian friend who lives in Cabo San Lucas, tells me "Move to Mexico-it is way easier to get a visa here, and there are cheaper places to live, as well..dont have to live in the "Gringo ghetto"

William Russell

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William Russell

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William Russell

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