Working Formally in Colombia as a Foreign National
The Migrante Trabajador visa is Colombia's work visa for foreign nationals employed by Colombian companies under a formal employment contract. It grants legal residence and full work authorization tied to the sponsoring employer. Unlike some Latin American countries, Colombia has no annual foreign worker quota system — employers can hire qualified foreigners for roles they cannot fill domestically, subject to immigration authorization.
Who Qualifies
Any foreign national with a valid employment contract from a Colombian-registered employer qualifies to apply. The position must be genuine and remunerated — not an internship or unpaid role (those use the Práctica Empresarial visa). The employer must be legally constituted in Colombia with a current Cámara de Comercio registration.
Required Documents
| Document | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Employment contract | Signed by both parties. Must specify position, salary (minimum 1x SMMLV for most roles), start date and duration. |
| Employer's Cámara de Comercio certificate | Certificado de Existencia y Representación Legal — issued within 90 days. |
| Employer's RUT | DIAN tax registration confirming the company is a legal taxpayer. |
| Criminal background check | Country of origin + 3-year residence countries. Apostilled. Within 90 days. |
| Medical assistance plan | Resolution 5477-compliant, all 7 coverages, full visa duration. (EPS enrollment may become available once formally employed.) |
| Valid passport | Min 6 months validity beyond visa period. |
| Professional credentials | Degree/certification apostilled + Spanish translation, if the role requires a professional license in Colombia. |
Changing Employers
The Worker Visa is employer-specific. If you leave your sponsoring employer, your visa technically no longer covers the work activity. You have options: apply for an annotation (anotación) to update the employer on your existing visa, or apply for a new Worker Visa with the new employer. Do not simply begin working for a new employer without updating your immigration status — this constitutes an immigration violation.
EPS After Starting Work
Once formally employed under a Colombian employment contract, you become eligible to enroll in Colombia's contributory health system (EPS) through your employer's payroll. At the application stage, before employment begins, you still need a private medical assistance plan compliant with Resolution 5477. CoVisas can issue a short-term plan to cover the application-to-employment gap.
From Worker Visa to Permanent Residency
After 5 continuous years of legal residence in Colombia under the Worker Visa category, you become eligible for the Residente visa (permanent residency). Maintaining uninterrupted, valid visa status throughout those 5 years is essential — gaps due to employer changes or visa lapses can interrupt the clock.
Sources: Resolution 5477 of July 22, 2022. Cancillería Colombia — cancilleria.gov.co. Informational only.
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