Colombia Retirement Visa (M-11) 2026 — How to Qualify & Apply

To qualify for the Colombian Retirement Visa, applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria and provide the necessary documentation. Meeting these requirements ensures a smooth application process and increases the likelihood of approval.

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1. Stable Pension Income

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Applicants must demonstrate a stable, verifiable pension income equivalent to at least three times the Colombian minimum wage (COP5,250,750). The minimum wage is adjusted annually, and as of 2026, this requirement translates to approximately USD $1450 per month.

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Acceptable Proof of Pension Income:

• Official pension letter issued by a government entity or private pension provider. This is normally a 1 or 2 page document that states how much per month you receive, and that the pension or social security is for life.

• Bank statements are not required for the application, only the pension letter.

• The pension letter provided in your application need to be less than 90 days old, apostilled and translated. 

2. Valid Passport

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The applicant must have a valid passport that meets the following conditions:

• At least six months of validity remaining at the time of application.

• Sufficient blank pages for visa stamps and future renewals.

• A clear, readable scan of the main passport page and any pages with previous Colombian visas (if applicable).

3. Health Insurance Coverage

Colombian immigration authorities require proof of health insurance coverage valid in Colombia for the duration of the visa. This ensures that retirees can access medical services without relying solely on the public healthcare system.

Health Insurance Requirements:

• Coverage must include hospitalization, emergencies, and routine medical care.

• The policy must remain active for the full duration of the visa (up to three years).

• The insurance provider must be international, but the policy must be valid within Colombia.

• The international health insurance must be for USD$50,000.00 cover, and have no deductible.

4. Criminal Record

Colombian immigration authorities require a background check to verify the applicants criminal history. Most people are of the belief that a clean criminal history is required, however we have had many applicants with a criminal background get approved for the retirement visa. If you have a criminal history, we reccomend writing a 1 or 2 page letter explaining the charge or conviction. In most cases, if a sufficient explanation is provided, the Cancilleria will most likely approve the visa if the charge is nothing too serious.

Criminal Record Requirements:

• A federal criminal background check, done with your fingerprints. The check needs to be federal, and cannot be from a reseller or broker of criminal background checks.

• The document needs to be apostilled, and less than 90 days old.

• Once apostilled, if in a language other than spanish, your background check and apostille will need to be translated by an official translator.

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5. Guidance for US Applicants

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US citizens make up the largest single group applying for the Colombia retirement visa, and the documentation process has a few US-specific details worth knowing before you start.

Your pension letter (SSA applicants): If your qualifying income is US Social Security, the fastest way to get your pension certification letter is to log into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov and generate and download the benefit verification letter directly as a PDF. This is available immediately with no waiting. The letter shows your monthly benefit amount and confirms it is a lifetime benefit. Once you have the letter, it needs to be apostilled. Because SSA letters are federal documents, the apostille must come from the US Department of State Office of Authentications, not your state Secretary of State. Budget 4 to 6 weeks if mailing, or 2 to 3 weeks if using a Washington DC courier service.

Your criminal background check (FBI check): US applicants must use an FBI Identity History Summary as their criminal background check. You can request this electronically through the FBI's edo.cjis.gov portal. Fingerprints can be done at a participating USPS location or through an FBI-approved channeler. Electronic processing typically takes 2 to 5 business days after fingerprint submission. Once you receive the FBI check, it needs to be apostilled through the US Department of State, the same office as the SSA letter, not your state office. Add another 4 to 6 weeks by mail.

Start the FBI check first: This is the single most common mistake US applicants make. The FBI check and its apostille are almost always the longest lead item in the entire application. If you try to gather everything else first and do the background check last, it becomes the bottleneck that delays your submission. Start it the day you decide to apply.

Total realistic timeline for US applicants: From the day you decide to apply to the day you are ready to submit, budget 6 to 10 weeks for document gathering, assuming you start the FBI check immediately.

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6. Letter From Your Doctor

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You will be required to provide a letter from your doctor or general practitioner, stating that you have no major physical or mental health issues. This letter needs to also have the doctors professional card or credentials. Once you have this letter, it needs to be apostilled then translated, and less than 90 days old.