Retire in Colombia: The Pensionado (M) Visa Explained

Asking about Colombia's pensionado visa usually means you already have a pension and a few cities in mind. This page is for retirees who want the official income rule, costs and steps in plain words, not a tour of the best neighbourhoods.

Here is a fact many guides skip. Colombia's income bar for retirees is set in pesos, and the peso figure rose by 23% in a single year. The 2025 minimum wage was COP 1,423,500. The 2026 minimum wage is COP 1,750,905 (Decreto 1469 de 2025, November 2026). Your pension did not change. The bar did.

The short answer: As of November 2026, Colombia's Migrant visa for pensioners (Visa M Pensionado) asks for a lifetime pension of at least three monthly minimum wages (SMMLV) (Resolución 5477 de 2022, Art. 77, November 2026). In 2026 that is COP 5,252,715 a month, or about US$1,584 at the official exchange rate (TRM) of COP 3,316.70 per dollar valid from 14 to 17 November 2026 (TRM, Superintendencia Financiera on datos.gov.co, November 2026). There is no minimum age. The visa lasts up to three years, and after five years you can apply for resident status.

The pensionado visa at a glance

The money test in pesos and dollars

The rule asks for a certificate confirming a monthly lifetime pension paid to you, of no less than three SMMLV. It must come from the competent body, apostilled and translated. It can also come from the diplomatic or consular mission of the country that pays your pension (Res. 5477, Art. 77, November 2026).

The visa covers a pension paid by a state or by a private pension fund. So a US Social Security benefit, a government pension or a company pension can all fit, if they pay for life. A savings pot you draw down yourself has no lifetime promise. Ask the consulate before you rely on one.

Why the dollar figure moves

Your pension is in dollars. The bar is in pesos. That means two things can push the bar up:

• A new minimum wage each January. The 2026 rise was 23%, set by Decreto 1469 de 2025. The Consejo de Estado suspended that decree for a time in February 2026, and the government set the same COP 1,750,905 figure again in a transitional decree (Decreto 0159 de 2026, November 2026). The amount did not change.
• A stronger peso. If the peso gains against the dollar, your dollars buy fewer pesos. The dollar figure of the bar then goes up.

Leave room above the minimum. A pension of exactly US$1,584 today could fall short next year.

If you live on investments instead

Colombia also has a Visitor visa for rentistas. It asks for a periodic income of at least ten SMMLV, lasts up to two years, and does not allow work (Res. 5477, Art. 56, November 2026). It is not on the list of visas that count toward resident status (Art. 90). For most retirees with a pension, the M Pensionado is the better fit.

Who you can bring

The visa lets the main holder apply for visas for beneficiaries (Res. 5477, Art. 77, November 2026). The resolution defines beneficiaries as family members who depend on you financially: a spouse or permanent partner, children up to age 25, or a child with a physical or mental disability (Art. 3). Article 77 does not add an extra income amount per beneficiary. The consulate can still ask for more proof that you can support everyone.

The documents you need

The general rules apply to every visa (Res. 5477, Art. 24, November 2026). You need an online application form, a recent digital photo and a passport valid for at least six months. Every document issued abroad must be apostilled or legalised, with an official Spanish translation (Art. 21).

For the pensionado category, Article 77 adds:

1. Your pension certificate, showing a lifetime monthly pension of at least three SMMLV.
2. A police or criminal record certificate from the country where you lived for the last three years, apostilled and translated.
3. A medical certificate from a Colombian doctor or the health authority of your home country, showing you are physically and mentally fit.
4. Proof of health cover in Colombia, or a health policy that covers you in Colombia against accident, illness, disability, hospital stays, death or repatriation for your whole stay.

Fees: what you pay and when

Colombia charges in two stages. You pay a study fee when you apply. You pay the issue fee only after approval. The fee resolution of 26 March 2026 sets the Migrant (M) visa at US$56 for the study and US$204 for the issue, a total of US$260. Stamp tax is not included (Resolución 03969 de 2026, Art. 4, November 2026).

One warning. The Cancillería's online fee list still showed US$279 for the issue fee of the pensioner visa in November 2026 (Cancillería, Migrant fees, November 2026). Budget for the higher figure and check the amount on the payment screen.

The Cancillería says it has up to 30 calendar days to decide after you pay the study fee. After approval, you have 10 calendar days to pay the issue fee, or the approval lapses (Cancillería FAQ, November 2026).

After the visa: your cédula de extranjería

Any visa longer than three months must be registered with Migración Colombia. You do this within 15 calendar days of arriving, or of the visa being issued if you are already in Colombia (Cancillería FAQ, November 2026). You then get a cédula de extranjería, the ID card for foreign residents.

The 2026 fee is COP 294,000, about US$89 at the TRM above. You start online, then attend an appointment for fingerprints and a photo. The card is ready after about 10 working days (Migración Colombia, November 2026).

Health cover: read this part twice

You must prove health cover in Colombia, or hold a policy that covers you there (Res. 5477, Art. 77, November 2026). The same article says this visa does not let its holder join the Colombian social security system, except under bilateral or multilateral agreements.

So do not assume you can join the public system. Plan for private cover, and ask a licensed Colombian lawyer what options are open to you.

If you are American, Medicare usually does not cover care abroad. See our guide to Social Security and Medicare when you retire abroad. If you are over 75, read about health insurance for retirees over 75 abroad before you choose a policy.

Time abroad and the path to residence

An M visa ends automatically if you are away from Colombia for more than 180 continuous days within each 365-day period, counted from the date the visa was issued (Res. 5477, Art. 65, November 2026). A long summer with family back home is fine. Six months away in one stretch is not.

After five years as an M Pensionado holder, you can apply for the Resident (R) visa by accumulated time (Res. 5477, Art. 90, as amended by Resolución 10434 de 2023, November 2026). The R visa gives most holders an open work permit, but the rules make an exception for pensioners (Art. 87). An R visa ends if you leave Colombia for two consecutive years (Art. 88).

Tax: the 183-day rule

You become a Colombian tax resident if you spend more than 183 days in the country, in one stretch or in total, during any 365-day period (DIAN, November 2026). Tax residents are taxed on income from Colombia and from abroad, and on assets held inside and outside the country (DIAN Oficio 902748 de 2022, November 2026). For a retiree living there full time, your pension may be in scope. Speak to a regulated tax adviser who knows both Colombian and US rules. For context, see our list of countries that do not tax foreign pensions.

Common mistakes

Frequently asked questions

How much pension do I need for the Colombia retirement visa?

You need a lifetime pension of at least three monthly minimum wages. In 2026 that is COP 5,252,715 a month, or about US$1,584 at the TRM of mid-November 2026. The figure changes each January and with the exchange rate.

Is there a minimum age for the pensionado visa?

No. Resolution 5477 of 2022 does not set any minimum age for the M Pensionado visa. What matters is that you receive a lifetime pension that meets the income rule.

Can I use US Social Security for the pensionado visa?

The visa covers pensions paid by a state or a private pension fund, so a Social Security benefit can qualify if it meets the amount. Your certificate must be apostilled and translated into Spanish. Confirm the exact document with the consulate.

How long is the Colombia pensionado visa valid?

It is valid for up to three years and does not allow you to work. After five years as an M Pensionado holder, you can apply for the Resident (R) visa.

Can my spouse come with me?

Yes. The main holder can request beneficiary visas for a dependent spouse or permanent partner, and for dependent children up to age 25 or children with a disability. Each beneficiary needs their own application.

What are the benefits of the pensionado visa?

It lets you live in Colombia for up to three years with your dependants, and it counts toward resident status after five years. It does not allow work, and the rules say it does not let you join the social security system.

Your next step

Colombia's rule is short, but the bar moves every year and with the peso. Give yourself a margin, sort your health cover early, and count your days abroad.

If you are still comparing, read our guide to the best countries to retire abroad. Ecuador uses the dollar, so its bar does not move with an exchange rate: see the Ecuador jubilado visa. You can also compare Panama and Costa Rica, or check your own figures in our retirement visa finder.

When you are ready to see which countries fit your income and plans, take our free migration assessment.

This article is general information, not legal, immigration or tax advice. Rules and figures change. Always confirm with the official source and a regulated adviser before you act.