Colombian Visa Services
Colombia Marriage Visa
Marriage Visa & Permanent Partner Visa · Spouse or Permanent Partner of a Colombian National

Colombia Marriage Visa

Two related Migrant visas cover foreigners partnered with a Colombian national: the Marriage Visa for legal marriages, and the separate Permanent Partner Visa for registered unión marital de hecho. Both let you live and work in Colombia and lead to the Resident (R) visa — the timelines and waiting periods differ.

Get Started Check Eligibility
Google
Top rated on Google
1,400+ clients supported
Bilingual attorneys
Daniela Córdoba

Written and reviewed for accuracy by

Daniela Córdoba — Lead Attorney, Colombian Visa Services

Complete 2026 Colombia Marriage Visa Guide

This guide covers both pathways to the Colombian Marriage Visa (formally known as the M-1) — legal marriage and unión marital de hecho (de facto union) — including same-sex relationships, foreign marriages registered in Colombia, the three-month document freshness window, apostille and certified translation requirements, the Cancillería application process, the Cédula de Extranjería, and how the marriage visa leads to the Resident (R) visa in three years and Colombian citizenship in five.

  • 1,400+ Clients Supported
  • Bilingual Legal Team
  • Fully Virtual Process
  • Direct Attorney Support

Overview

Colombia Marriage Visa at a Glance

Colombia offers two closely related Migrant visas for foreigners partnered with a Colombian national: the Marriage Visa (for those legally married) and the Permanent Partner Visa (for a registered unión marital de hecho). Both are valid for one to three years, both let you live, work, and study in Colombia, and both lead to the Resident (R) visa. Nearly every step — documents, fees, process, renewal — is the same across the two visas.

Two differences matter. First: you can apply for the Marriage Visa as soon as you're married, but you must wait 365 days after your permanent partnership is registered before you can apply for the Permanent Partner Visa. Second: the Marriage Visa qualifies you for the Resident (R) visa after 3 continuous years on it; the Permanent Partner Visa qualifies you after 5. From there, it's another 2 years on the Resident visa to Colombian citizenship.

Who This Visa Is For

Is the Colombia Marriage Visa right for you?

Two separate but closely related visas cover foreigners partnered with a Colombian national. Which one applies to you depends on how your relationship is legally recognized:

Marriage Visa — legally married to a Colombian national

You are legally married to a Colombian and the marriage is registered in Colombia — either married in Colombia, or married abroad and later registered with a Colombian notary. You can apply for the Marriage Visa as soon as your marriage is registered in Colombia — there is no waiting period. The marriage certificate must have been issued within three months of your application date. After 3 continuous years on the Marriage Visa, you qualify for the Resident (R) visa.

Permanent Partner Visa — registered unión marital de hecho

You are not legally married, but you and your Colombian partner have formally registered your relationship as a unión marital de hecho — through a notarized public deed (escritura pública), a judicial decision, or a conciliation certificate from an authorized conciliation center. Two important differences from the Marriage Visa: (1) you must wait at least 365 days after your unión marital de hecho is registered before you can apply for the Permanent Partner Visa; and (2) the qualifying period to reach the Resident (R) visa is 5 continuous years, not 3. Same-sex unions are formally recognized on identical terms.

Not sure which visa applies to you? Many couples in long-term relationships who are not formally married are still fully eligible through the Permanent Partner Visa route — but note the 365-day waiting period after registering the unión marital de hecho, and the longer 5-year timeline to the Resident (R) visa. Contact us before assuming you don't qualify or picking a path.

Relationship Evidence

Proving a Genuine Relationship to Cancillería

Beyond the marriage certificate or unión marital de hecho document, the Cancillería evaluates whether the relationship itself is genuine and substantive. The threshold is higher for recently formalized relationships and lower for long-established marriages — but every applicant benefits from a strong evidence file. Here is what counts.

You do not need every category — strong evidence in three or four well-documented areas is typically more persuasive than a thin showing across all seven. We help clients assess which categories carry the most weight for their specific situation before they assemble the file.

Requirements

Colombia Marriage Visa Requirements

Valid passport

Valid for at least six months beyond the date you apply. At least two blank pages is required.

Marriage certificate or de facto union proof

The core eligibility document. Must be issued within three months of your application date — not the wedding date. Foreign certificates must be apostilled and translated into Spanish.

Colombian spouse's cédula photocopy

A clear copy of the Colombian national's cédula de ciudadanía. Both sides if the format requires it.

Notarized support letter from spouse

A signed, notarized letter from your Colombian spouse formally requesting the visa on your behalf — including their cédula number, the relationship, and an explicit request.

International health insurance

Coverage valid in Colombia for the full visa period. Standard travel insurance does not satisfy this requirement.

Financial documentation

Evidence that you or your Colombian spouse can support you. No hard minimum income figure is published, but the documentation must be credible.

We guide you through preparing and validating every required document to help avoid delays or rejections.

Requirements may vary based on individual circumstances and current Colombian immigration regulations.

A note on background checks.

A criminal background check is only a formal requirement for the pension (retirement) visa. But as Colombia tightens security and immigration screening, Cancillería is increasingly requesting a police or criminal record certificate on other visa types too — even where it isn't formally listed. We recommend having a recent one ready, apostilled and translated into Spanish, so a request doesn't hold up your application. We'll tell you whether your case is likely to need one.

Most delays happen before the application is submitted

We review every apostille, translation, and supporting document with you before filing — catching the issues that cause Cancillería to send the case back.

See how the process works

The Process

How the Colombia Marriage Visa Application Process Works

We guide you through every step. No surprises, no confusing paperwork, no figuring it out on your own.

See how we navigate the Cancillería process with hundreds of clients each year.

  1. Determine which visa applies

    We confirm whether you're applying for the Marriage Visa (legal marriage registered in Colombia) or the Permanent Partner Visa (registered unión marital de hecho), and review the documents available. This decides your timeline — including the 365-day wait for the Permanent Partner Visa and the 3- vs 5-year path to the Resident (R) visa.

  2. Gather and prepare documents

    We give you a precise checklist. We advise on apostilles, certified translations, and the three-month freshness requirement.

  3. Coordinate spouse documentation

    Your spouse provides a notarized support letter and a copy of their cédula. We walk both of you through what's needed.

  4. File the application

    We submit through the Cancillería online portal and monitor for any government requests for additional documents.

  5. Receive your visa

    Once approved, you receive your M-1 electronically. You must register with Migración Colombia within 15 days.

  6. Cédula de Extranjería

    After arriving in Colombia with your visa, you apply for your Cédula de Extranjería through Migración Colombia. Required for all M visa holders.

Why Work With Us

Why clients choose Colombian Visa Services

The marriage visa is not complicated in theory, but the document requirements — timing windows, apostilles, de facto union proofs, portal compliance — create real opportunities for rejections that could have been avoided.

  • Licensed Colombian immigration attorneys — not intermediaries or document mills

  • Experience with both marriage and de facto union applications, including complex cases

  • Bilingual team: we communicate in English and handle all filings in Spanish

  • Fully virtual — we work with clients in any country, at any stage of their application

The Colombian Visa Services team

4.9 stars on Google · Trusted by 1,400+ clients

What Our Clients Say

Real Google reviews

4.9 · Google Reviews
Google
"Save yourself A LOT of stress and time and contact Daniela. My M1 marriage visa application was rejected twice when I attempted doing it myself on the Cancilleria's website. I just returned from Migración with my passport stamped and my cédula number, just four weeks after contacting Daniela. She and her staff speak English and I had no problems sending my documents online from Bogota to Colombian Visa Services in Medellin. Update 6/2024: my M1 marriage visa renewal also went smoothly with Colombian Visa services. Update May 2026: My second marriage visa renewal went smoothly. Very happy with Daniela and Natalia's professionalism."

Steve Wilking

Google Review

Google
"I cannot say enough positive things about Colombian Visa Services. They were extremely helpful in helping my partner and I to apply for my Colombian Spousal Visa. We tried 3 times to do this on our own and we were not successful. From the moment I made contact, they assumed the responsibility and walked us through the entire process and submitted all documentation on our behalf. I am beyond excited to report that I am now the proud holder of a Spousal Visa. I have to mention the professionalism of Natalia (Senior Attorney) who communicated with me every step of the way. I could not have done it without her."

Frank Riley

Google Review

Google
"I used Colombian Visa Services to help me get a Migrant Visa for spouse of a Colombian national. They helped me in each step of the process and quickly answered any question that I had. The process was straight forward and took less than 2 months. I would highly recommend Colombian Visa Services for anyone looking for help in getting a Colombian visa."

Mark Fischer

Google Review

Google
"My experience with Colombian Visa was excellent. Natalia was very detailed and always accommodating to our needs. I had applied for a marriage visa as a foreigner from the United States and the process was very intense. Natalia kept us on track providing us great direction and was always very attentive to our needs. Needless to say I was approved and now me and my wife can enjoy our lives in Colombia. Thanks to the Colombian Visa Team!"

Joseph Pauly

Google Review

Google
"I was looking for an agency to help me get the marriage visa and I was concerned about all the requirements. Colombian Visa Services made it very clear, easy and professional on what to do and how to prepare the documents. I got the visa in just less than one week after they applied on behalf of me. I appreciate all the work they do, especially Ms. Natalia."

Adnan Muthanna

Google Review

Google
"I'm a Canadian who married a Colombian woman and needed to apply for a Colombian spousal Visa. Natalia from CVS was excellent — guiding the way through every step in the process, keeping me informed and up to date on everything. They have all the necessary referrals from translators to criminal checks etc. My application was accepted and I received my Colombian Visa in no time. My wife and I are very happy."

Karl Bernhardt

Google Review

Not sure if this visa is right for you?

Take the qualifier or speak with our bilingual legal team before you apply.

Book a Free ConsultationTake the Qualifier

Timeline & Costs

Processing time and costs

Processing time

the Cancillería has 30 calendar days to decide a complete application. In practice, applications often take the full 30 days, and often uses the full window.

Visa validity

Typically 1 year on first application. Renewals can be issued for up to 3 years.

Government fees

Approximately USD $324 total — a study fee of about $54 (paid when you apply) plus an issuance fee of about $270 (paid only after approval). Plus Cédula de Extranjería ~COP 294,000.

Additional costs

Apostille fees, certified Spanish translations, notarization of the spouse's letter, and health insurance premiums. We provide a full estimate upfront.

How Applications Are Reviewed

How Cancillería Evaluates Marriage Visa Applications

the Cancillería reviews M-1 applications case-by-case under Resolution 5477. The relationship itself is the qualifying basis, so reviewers focus on two things: that the relationship is formally documented under Colombian law, and that supporting evidence shows the relationship is genuine and ongoing.

  • Formal relationship documentation

    Either a marriage certificate (registered in Colombia if performed abroad) or a formalized unión marital de hecho — established through a public deed (escritura pública), a judicial decision, or a conciliation certificate. The document must be issued within three months of the application date — the freshness window is non-negotiable.

  • Proof of the Colombian partner's nationality

    A clear photocopy of your Colombian spouse or partner's cédula de ciudadanía. Both sides if the format requires it. The cédula must be currently valid — expired or replaced cédulas trigger requests for the updated version.

  • Notarized support letter from the Colombian partner

    Your Colombian spouse must sign a notarized letter that explicitly requests the visa on your behalf — naming you, citing the relationship, and confirming financial and emotional support. This is more than a formality: it is the Cancillería's primary signal that the Colombian partner is informed and consenting.

  • Evidence of a genuine, ongoing relationship

    Beyond the formal document, reviewers look for substance: shared lease or property deeds, joint bank accounts, photos together across multiple dates and locations, travel records, communication history, family relationships, and (when applicable) children together. Stronger evidence speeds processing and reduces follow-up requests.

  • Financial documentation

    Either the applicant or the Colombian spouse must demonstrate the financial means to support the household. There is no published income threshold for the marriage visa, but documentation must be credible — bank statements covering several months, employment letters, business income, pension statements, or a combination.

  • Clean criminal background check

    While the marriage visa does not formally require a background check the way the Retirement Visa does, the Cancillería increasingly requests one across all M-category applications. U.S. applicants use the FBI Identity History Summary; other countries use their national-level criminal record certificate. Apostilled, translated, and dated within 90 days of filing.

The strongest signal of an approvable M-1 is a complete application package where the formal documentation, the relationship evidence, the spouse's support letter, and the financial documentation all line up coherently. the Cancillería approves applications that tell a consistent story.

Rejection Reasons

Why Marriage Visa Applications Get Rejected or Delayed

Outright denials of M-1 applications are uncommon when the relationship is genuine. What is much more common: refile requests, document corrections, and processing delays. Here are the patterns we see most often — every one is preventable with proper preparation.

Talk to an Attorney

Married — or in a de facto union — with a Colombian national?

The Marriage Visa pathway is straightforward when the relationship paperwork is solid — and complicated when it isn't. Tell us about your situation (marriage, partnership, location of the wedding) and we'll outline the cleanest path to your visa and eventual residency.

  • Bilingual Colombian immigration attorneys
  • Fully virtual process — work with us from anywhere
  • Direct attorney support, not call-center intermediaries
  • 1,400+ clients supported · 4.9★ on Google

No obligation · We respond within one business day

Path to Residency

From the Marriage or Permanent Partner Visa to the Resident (R) visa — and to citizenship

  1. Year 0

    You are here

    Marriage Visa or Permanent Partner Visa

    Approved as spouse (Marriage Visa) or as registered unión marital de hecho partner (Permanent Partner Visa) of a Colombian national. Both valid up to 3 years, renewable.

  2. 2

    Year 3 or Year 5

    Resident (R) Visa

    Apply after 3 continuous years on the Marriage Visa, or after 5 continuous years on the Permanent Partner Visa. The Marriage-Visa route is fast-tracked vs. the standard 5 years on most other Migrant visas.

  3. Year 5 or Year 7

    Colombian Citizenship

    Both spouses and permanent partners qualify after 2 years on the Resident (R) visa — about 5 years total from the Marriage Visa, or ~7 years total from the Permanent Partner Visa.

Both the Marriage Visa and the Permanent Partner Visa are Migrant (M) visas. Time on either one counts toward Colombia's Resident (R) visa requirement — but the qualifying period differs.

To the Resident (R) visa — Marriage Visa: After 3 continuous years on the Marriage Visa, you're eligible to apply for the Resident (R) visa. The R visa is valid for five years and renewable indefinitely.

To the Resident (R) visa — Permanent Partner Visa: After 5 continuous years on the Permanent Partner Visa (which itself required a 365-day wait after registration before you could apply), you're eligible for the Resident (R) visa on the same terms.

To Colombian citizenship: Spouses and permanent partners of Colombian nationals qualify for the reduced citizenship pathway — 2 years on the Resident (R) visa instead of the standard 5. So the full timeline for the Marriage Visa is 3 years M + 2 years R = ~5 years to citizenship; for the Permanent Partner Visa it's 5 years M + 2 years R = ~7 years. The Marriage Visa is the fastest route to Colombian citizenship available to most foreigners.

Family & Beneficiaries

Bringing Children and Dependents on the Marriage Visa

Dependents can be added as beneficiaries once the principal applicant's marriage visa is approved — beneficiary applications are filed AFTER the principal is granted, not simultaneously. Beneficiaries receive their own visa stamps tied to the principal, do not need their own qualifying basis, and follow the principal's renewal cycle. Who qualifies and what's required:

  • Biological and adopted children up to age 25

    Children up to age 25 — biological, adopted, or step-children from a prior relationship — qualify as beneficiaries on either parent's M-1 application. Apostilled and translated birth certificates establish the parental relationship. Adoption decrees follow the same authentication path.

  • Adult children (25+) with disabilities

    Adult children 25 and older can qualify as permanent beneficiaries if they have a documented disability that prevents economic independence. Medical documentation of the disability — apostilled and translated — accompanies the standard beneficiary paperwork.

  • What beneficiaries get

    Each beneficiary receives their own marriage visa stamp tied to the principal, must obtain their own Cédula de Extranjería within 15 days of arrival, and follows the principal's renewal cycle. They do not need to demonstrate their own income or qualifying basis — the principal's relationship to the Colombian partner is the qualifying tie for the whole family group.

  • When the children themselves are Colombian

    If you have a Colombian-born child, that child is a Colombian national — and you have an additional qualifying pathway through the Parent of a Colombian Visa (M-2), which has its own benefits. We help families compare paths when multiple qualifying ties exist.

Related Pages

Renewal & Long-Term

What Comes After the Marriage Visa

The M-1 is the entry point for spouses and permanent partners of Colombians — but it's not the endpoint. The marriage visa unlocks the fastest pathway to the Resident (R) visa and citizenship available to most foreigners. Here's what your options look like over time.

  • Renew the marriage visa (years 1–3)

    The first M-1 is typically issued for one year. Subsequent renewals can be for up to three years at a time. Renewal verifies the spousal or unión marital de hecho relationship remains active. Most clients renew at least once before transitioning to the Resident visa.

  • Transition to the Resident (R) Visa at year 3

    After three continuous years on the marriage visa (with the 180-day stay requirement maintained), you can apply for the Resident (R) Visa — Colombia's the Resident (R) visa. This is the fastest standard pathway: most other M-visa categories require five years on an M visa before R-visa eligibility. The R is valid for five years and renewable indefinitely.

  • Why the Resident visa matters

    Once you hold the Resident visa, your residency status no longer depends on the marriage. If the relationship changes — divorce, separation, the partner's death — your right to be in Colombia is independent. The R visa is also longer-lasting (five years vs. one to three for the marriage visa) and renewable without recurring relationship verification.

  • Apply for Colombian citizenship at year 5

    Spouses and permanent partners of Colombians qualify for citizenship after just two years on the Resident visa — half the five-year standard for other naturalizations. Counting from the start of your M-1: three years to the R visa, then two years on the R visa, for a total of roughly five years from marriage visa to Colombian citizenship. Colombia allows dual citizenship, so you keep your original nationality.

  • If the relationship ends mid-visa

    Divorce or formal dissolution of a unión marital de hecho during the marriage visa period triggers a reporting obligation to Cancillería. Depending on how much time you have on the visa, how integrated your life in Colombia has become (work, business, children, property), and what your goals are, options often exist — visa-category transitions, transition timing, or a faster move to the Resident visa if you are close to the three-year mark. Contact us promptly if the relationship changes.

Possible Next Steps

Colombia Resident (R) Visa

The next step after three years on the marriage visa.

Colombian Citizenship

The two-year citizenship pathway available to spouses of Colombian nationals.

Real Application Examples

Marriage Visa Application Scenarios We've Handled

Anonymized examples of how the marriage visa process plays out across different couple profiles. Details are illustrative; specific timelines and document needs vary case by case.

Foreign marriage, applying from outside Colombia

United States · California marriageApproximately 5 weeks from filing to approval

A U.S. citizen and her Colombian husband married in California. They wanted to relocate to Medellín on the marriage visa before arriving. We registered the U.S. marriage with the Colombian civil registry through a consulate, coordinated the federal apostille on the marriage certificate and FBI background check, and filed the marriage visa from outside Colombia.

  • •U.S. marriage; registered with Colombian civil registry via consulate
  • •Marriage certificate, FBI background check, and supporting evidence all apostilled federally
  • •Filed from the U.S. before relocating
  • •M-1 approved electronically; client traveled to Colombia and registered for Cédula within 15 days

Unión marital de hecho, no formal marriage

Canada · unión marital de hecho pathwayApproximately 4 weeks from filing to approval

A Canadian and his Colombian partner had lived together in Bogotá for nearly three years without formal marriage. They wanted long-term residency on the de facto union pathway. We coordinated an escritura pública with a Colombian notary, prepared supporting cohabitation evidence (shared lease, joint utility bills, dated photos, travel records), and filed M-1 directly.

  • •Three years of documented cohabitation in Bogotá
  • •Unión marital de hecho formalized via escritura pública at Colombian notary
  • •Strong supporting evidence file (lease, utilities, photos, travel)
  • •Applied from inside Colombia during the 180-day visa-free window

Same-sex marriage with children

United Kingdom · same-sex marriage with childrenApproximately 6 weeks from filing to family group approval

A British citizen and her Colombian wife married in the U.K. and had two children together via assisted reproduction — both children listed both partners as parents on apostilled U.K. birth certificates. The couple wanted marriage visas for the British partner and beneficiary visas for the children. We coordinated the foreign marriage registration in Colombia, federal apostille and translation of all documents, and filed the marriage visa with the two children as beneficiaries.

  • •U.K. marriage registered in the Colombian civil registry
  • •Both partners listed as parents on apostilled U.K. birth certificates
  • •marriage visa for the British partner; beneficiary visas for both children
  • •All documents apostilled through the U.K. FCDO and translated by a Colombian traductor oficial

Examples are illustrative composites — names, exact dates, and incidental details have been changed. Actual processing times and document requirements vary by case.

We handle government correspondence on your behalf

If Cancillería or Migración Colombia requests additional documentation, your attorney responds directly — no extra charges, no scrambling on your end.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to apply for the Colombia Marriage Visa?

Talk to our bilingual attorneys — free initial consultation.

Request a Free Consultation Check My Eligibility