Colombian Citizenship
Guide to obtaining Colombian citizenship through naturalization. 5-year path for residents.
Colombia offers a straightforward path to citizenship for those willing to spend time in the country. With its growing digital nomad scene, affordable cost of living, and pleasant climate, it's an attractive option.
Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Naturalization |
| Residency requirement | 5 years (reduced for some) |
| Investment | None required |
| Dual citizenship | Allowed |
| Passport strength | 90+ visa-free countries |
Path to Citizenship
Step 1: Get a Visa
Options include:
- Migrant Visa (M) — For those with investment, employment, or pension income
- Digital Nomad Visa — For remote workers (newer option)
- Investor Visa — For significant investment
Step 2: Residency
After holding a visa for several years, you can apply for permanent residency (R visa).
Step 3: Citizenship
After 5 years of continuous residency, you can apply for naturalization.
Reduced timeline:
Requirements for Naturalization
- 5 years continuous residency (or reduced period)
- Basic Spanish proficiency
- Knowledge of Colombian history and constitution (test)
- No criminal record
- Financial stability
Cost of Living
Colombia is affordable:
- Married to a Colombian: 2 years
- Parent of Colombian child: 2 years
- From a Latin American/Caribbean country: 1 year
- Medellín: $1,200-2,500/month
- Bogotá: $1,500-3,000/month
- Smaller cities: $800-1,500/month
Popular areas for expats: Medellín, Bogotá, Cartagena, Santa Marta
Tax Considerations
Colombia taxes residents on worldwide income after residency is established. However:
- First 5 years: Only Colombian-source income taxed
- After 5 years: Worldwide taxation applies
This makes Colombia less attractive purely for tax purposes compared to territorial taxation countries.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Cons:
Is Colombia Right for You?
Colombia is a good choice if you:
- Affordable cost of living
- Pleasant climate (Medellín = "City of Eternal Spring")
- Growing expat/digital nomad community
- Good healthcare
- Dual citizenship allowed
- Relatively straightforward process
- Worldwide taxation after 5 years
- Spanish proficiency required
- Must actually live there
- Safety concerns in some areas
- Passport strength moderate (not top-tier)
- Actually want to live in Colombia
- Enjoy the Latin American lifestyle
- Don't mind learning Spanish
- Want an affordable base with good quality of life
For pure tax optimization, consider Panama or Paraguay instead.
Planning to run a US business from Colombia? Learn about our LLC formation services →