For any of you looking to get your hands on a second passport, the new wave of citizenship by investment schemes must certainly be appealing. Though, with so much choice on offer, confusion is never far around the corner. So, understanding how each country’s scheme can benefit you should hopefully make your decision easier, and today we’ll be looking specifically at Colombia, one of Latin America’s finest options for second citizenship!
Colombia is situated in the north-western part of Latin America, with coastline to the north along the Caribbean Sea, and east with the Pacific Ocean, immediately singling the nation out as an idyllic spot for relocation and relaxation. In terms of bordering nations, Panama, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru and Ecuador find themselves along the country’s periphery, meaning you’ll never be far away from other beautiful nations in the region. Bogotá is the capital city, situated in the Andes mountains at altitude, but don’t let the dizzying heights distract you from other picturesque locations you could be drawn to upon receiving your residency in Colombia.
The investors residency in this case comes from the acquisition of real estate or investment in a business, and if this interests you, which it should, we’ll explain some more below!
How do I apply?
First of all, it is worth noting that the minimum amount which has to be invested is US$24,000, while the maximum is around US$180,000 and upon making this investment in either of the pathways to residency mentioned above, you become able to live and work in the country.
Now we have this established, if you’re considering going ahead with the process, you’ll have to first present a form called Form DP-FO-67 (which is a visa application form underneath the confusing name) and it must be signed by you, as this is all done in the name of the applicant.
Now for some of the documentation requirements, firstly, your passport must be shown, and when it is, you should make sure it has two or more blank pages and valid for at least
180 days. Alongside this, you will also need to show some passport photos, three to be precise, as well as a passport photocopy. As is usually the case, evidence of your clean criminal records will be necessary too, as well as a proof of health insurance.
Now we know what you need, these are the three types of investor visa on offer:
1. Partner-Entrepreneur Business Investment Visa (the cheapest at US$24,000 and means you have to live in Colombia for 6 months per year to renew it)
2. Real Estate Property Investment Visa (US$83,000)
3. Residency Visa for Large Investments in Businesses or Real Estate (around
US$180,000, costs more because it grants permanent resident status, to remain in
this category you should be looking to live in Colombia for a 2-year period)
How long until I get my passport?
This is interesting because it depends on which of the options you go for. For example, the last of the options above is valid for 5 years, and if you stay the entire time by the end of it you can apply for citizenship and get your hands on the Colombian passport.
The other options depend on renewing your visa and remaining a resident in Colombia for 5 years. Obviously, in this case, you need to ensure you comply with the requirements for renewal in order to remain as a resident but all being well it will result in the passport being in your hands eventually.
As and when you become a citizen, you’ll be able to enjoy unrestricted access to 131
countries across the globe, including the entire European Union!
So, if you are interested in finding out more, contact us today! Below this article you will
find a link to set up a free fifteen-minute consultation with us to discuss your options
further. Also, if you want to access our other great content, subscribe to our YouTube channel! At Creimerman, our team of professional global citizens would be happy to help
you with your personal or professional cross-border ventures and help make them a success.