Colombia · Retirement visa
Colombia retirement visa for US citizens
Short answer
The main route is the Pension visa (Visa M Pensionado). Retirees with a lifelong monthly pension from a government or a private pension fund.
- Money needed: A lifelong pension of about $1,591 a month; savings or investment income don't count
- How long it lasts: Up to 3 years; then you apply for a new one
- Leads to: Permanent residence after 5 years on pension visas
Key facts
- Money needed
- A lifelong pension of about $1,591 a month; savings or investment income don't count
- How long it lasts
- Up to 3 years; then you apply for a new one
- Leads to
- Permanent residence after 5 years on pension visas
- Apply from
- Online, from a consulate abroad or from inside Colombia if your stay is legal
- Processing time
- Up to 30 days once your file is complete; real waits Not yet verified
Checked against the law Rules read in the visa regulation and the 2026 fee schedule.
Still being checked Whether a US Social Security or private pension letter is accepted, and how a US pension is taxed.
What you need
- Passport: valid at least 6 months, plus the online form and a photo
- Pension certificate: from the payer, apostilled and translated, or issued by its consulate
- Criminal record check: from every country you lived in over the last 3 years
- Medical certificate: of physical and mental fitness
- Health insurance: covering you in Colombia for your stay
- Fees: visa $260; foreigner ID card about $89. Other costs Not yet verified
- ID card: register within 15 days of arriving or of the visa
Good to know
- No work: this visa doesn't allow work in Colombia.
- Don't stay away long: more than 180 days in a row abroad cancels the visa.
- Renew on time: each new visa must be granted before the old one expires, or the time stops counting.
Every Colombia residency route, compared → The full Colombia guide →
Questions people ask
How much income do I need for Colombia's retirement visa?
A lifelong pension of about $1,591 a month; savings or investment income don't count
How long does it last?
Up to 3 years; then you apply for a new one
Does it lead to permanent residence or citizenship?
Permanent residence after 5 years on pension visas
Where do I apply?
Online, from a consulate abroad or from inside Colombia if your stay is legal
How long does processing take?
Up to 30 days once your file is complete; real waits (Not yet verified)