Colombia work visa (M Trabajador)

The visa is for foreigners who will work in Colombia for a legal entity under an employment contract. Short assignments under a services, work or labour contract use a separate V visa (prestador de servicios, up to two years), and technical assistance of up to 180 days a year uses the V technical assistance visa. Nationals of visa-exempt countries may do urgent technical assistance of up to 30 days without a visa if they receive no salary in Colombia; any other paid work requires a visa regardless of nationality.

The employer and the foreigner sign the contract summary form published by the Cancillería, recording the main terms of the job. The employer adds a letter of motivation explaining the applicant's suitability, duties and training, why a Colombian is not being hired for the role and how many direct jobs the company creates, together with bank certificates or statements in its name for the last four months showing average monthly income of 100 minimum monthly wages.

For an unregulated profession the applicant provides the apostilled or legalised and translated degree, or work certificates proving experience. For a regulated profession (for example medicine, engineering or law) the employer and the foreigner must obtain the permit or licence from the competent professional council; it is compulsory from the second visa onwards. State bodies, international organisations and diplomatic missions only need a request letter.

The principal holder can request beneficiary visas for a spouse or permanent partner, children up to 25 and children of any age with a disability, provided they depend economically on the holder. A beneficiary visa never lasts longer than the principal's. After five years as principal holder of valid M visas the worker can apply for a resident (R) visa by accumulated time; gaps covered only by a salvoconducto do not count.

The work authorisation lasts as long as the visa and is restricted to the position, employer, profession or activity named on it. Both parties must comply with the Labour Code, social security rules, profession-specific rules and the obligation to report the worker for immigration control. The employer undertakes to pay the return travel of the worker and family when the contract ends. Adding a second employer for related work is done through a visa transfer (traspaso), which does not extend the validity.

If the holder spends more than 180 continuous days outside Colombia within any 365-day period counted from issue, the M visa lapses automatically.