Hiring Foreign Workers in Colombia 2026: Visas and Requirements

## Legal framework for foreign workers in Colombia

Colombia regulates the employment of foreign nationals mainly through Resolution 5477 of 2022 from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (which unified the visa regime) and the Substantive Labor Code.

The general rule: any foreign national working in Colombia needs a visa that authorizes work.

Visas that allow you to work

Worker Visa (M - Trabajador) The most common one for formal employment. Requires a signed employment contract or a letter of intent. Processed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Documents required from the employer: - Proof of the company's existence and legal representation - Up-to-date tax registration (RUT) - Financial statements for the last year - A letter of invitation and job offer stating salary and duties

Duration: up to 3 years, renewable.

Digital Nomad Visa (M - Digital Nómada) For remote workers who work for companies abroad but live in Colombia. It doesn't create a Colombian employment relationship — the work is performed for a foreign employer.

Resident / Permanent Visa (R) Foreign nationals who have held an M visa for 5 years can apply for residency. A resident can work without restrictions.

Foreign worker quota in a company

Article 74 of the Substantive Labor Code establishes that employers with more than 10 employees can't have more than 10% of their workforce made up of ordinary foreign workers, and no more than 20% in positions of trust and management (executives, managers, specialized technical staff).

Exceptions: - Companies with fewer than 10 employees - Venezuelan migrants under special permanence status (PPT, PEP) - Roles where no qualified Colombian workers are available

Social security for foreign workers

Foreign workers with a work visa must enroll in the Colombian social security system just like a Colombian worker: - Health (EPS): 8.5% employer + 4% employee - Pension (AFP): 12% employer + 4% employee (unless a bilateral agreement applies) - Occupational risk insurance (ARL): based on risk class, paid by the employer - Family Compensation Fund: 4% of salary

Pension exception: if the worker already contributes to a pension system in their home country and Colombia has a bilateral agreement with that country (Spain, Italy, Uruguay, Ecuador, among others), they may be exempt from contributing in Colombia.

Venezuelan migrants: a special regime

Venezuelans with a Temporary Protection Permit (PPT) or Temporary Protection Status (ETPV) can work legally in Colombia without a work visa. The PPT functions as an identity document for employment purposes.

For employers: hiring Venezuelans with a PPT follows all standard Colombian labor rules; the employer must enroll them in social security just like any other employee.

Consequences of hiring foreign workers without authorization

• Fines for the employer of up to 100 times the minimum monthly wage
• Deportation of the foreign worker
• Immigration sanctions for both parties

Do you want to hire a foreign worker, or are you a foreign national looking to regularize your employment status in Colombia? We can guide you through the visa process and the employer's obligations.

El asistente jurídico digital de Jurídiconline analiza tu situación específica. La revisión inicial es gratuita.