As part of the planned reform of Colombia's visa regulations, changes to the requirements for the pensioner visa (visa de migrante como pensionado) are imminent.
Currently, the pensioner visa is one of the easiest visas to apply for. Essentially, the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs requires an official certification of the amount of the pension. The amount of the pension must be at least above the threshold of three Colombian minimum monthly wages (currently totaling COP §3,000,000 - as of 2022).
It appears that this threshold will continue to be adhered to. However, according to a draft resolution recently presented by the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to revise visa regulations, additional mandatory requirements are to be added:
- Criminal background check
- Medical certificate showing the applicant's "medical and mental fitness".
- Proof of health, accident and disability insurance valid for Colombia.
In particular, the new "medical and mental fitness" criterion could complicate the visa process for certain applicants in the future.
The draft resolution clarifies that the pensioner visa does not entitle the holder to engage in gainful employment in Colombia.
It remains to be seen when and with what final content the draft resolution will enter into force.
In any case, foreigners who wish to apply for a Colombian pensioner visa should, at best, still implement this plan under the regulations in force to date.
