- Where to begin?
- Legal ways to move to Colombia for permanent residence
- All works are good
- Learning with pleasure
- You will be declared husband and wife
- Think for yourself, decide for yourself
When you mention Colombia, two things most often come to mind - drugs and emeralds. Indeed, the crime situation in the country leaves much to be desired, but this indicator has almost no effect on the number of immigrants annually registered by the country's Ministry of Internal Affairs. Several thousand people find legal ways of immigration every year, and the answer to the question of how to move to Colombia is often sought by Russian citizens.
Where to begin?
To cross the Colombian border for tourist purposes, Russian nationals do not need a visa. It will have to be issued only if the terms of the intended stay in Colombia exceed 90 days. Long-term visas are called immigration visas and are issued to foreigners who have a legal basis to study, work or reunite with their families in Colombia. A long-term national visa is also required for those who plan to open their own business in the South American republic.
Legal ways to move to Colombia for permanent residence
The grounds for obtaining a residence permit in Colombia can be considered:
- Family reunification. If the potential immigrant's close relatives are Colombian residents or citizens, the residence permit is issued on the basis of the right to reunite with them.
- Marriage to a citizen or citizen of Colombia is also a reason for moving. A temporary and then permanent residence permit gives a foreigner the right to stay in the country for three years, after which the immigrant can apply for Colombian citizenship.
- Investing in the Colombian economy. The minimum amount of funds invested must be 100 thousand US dollars. Direct investment gives a foreigner the right to obtain a residence permit.
- Getting an education. The conclusion of a contract for studying at universities in Colombia is the basis for providing a student with a residence permit.
- Working in a Colombian enterprise requires a work visa. It, and then the residence permit, is issued on the basis of a contract signed with the local employer.
Despite the high level of crime in the country, the authorities strictly enforce immigration laws. Only if all the conditions of stay are met, an immigrant can count on the extension of an expiring residence permit and obtaining permanent resident status.
All works are good
To move to live in Colombia, you can apply for a work visa. There are two types of them - temporary and resident visas. The first type of entry permit is issued to foreigners who have entered into an agreement with a local employer. It is valid for 24 months, after which a temporary residence permit on the basis of a work contract can be extended. A prerequisite for maintaining such a residence permit is not to travel outside the country for more than 180 days.
A resident visa is obtained by foreigners who have worked legally in Colombia for at least five years.
Learning with pleasure
About four dozen Colombian universities provide training services for international students. Before the start of the first semester, a foreigner must apply for a student visa, on the basis of which he can then obtain a temporary residence permit. A residence permit or student visa is valid for 12 months, after which it can be extended if the student has successfully passed to the next course.
Conditions for obtaining a student visa and the opportunities it provides:
- A foreigner has the right to receive education at a Colombian university, but the intensity of the curriculum must be at least 10 hours per week.
- A student can carry out labor practice, if it is provided as a necessary condition of the educational process.
- A foreigner, like a Colombian student, is given the right to participate in student programs.
You will be declared husband and wife
Legal marriage with a Colombian resident gives the foreigner the right to obtain a residence permit. Its duration is 2 years, after which the document is subject to renewal.
If the foreign spouse has lived in Colombia for at least three years after the wedding, he has a chance to become the owner of a Colombian passport. It is important not to leave the country for more than 180 days during this period of time.
The authorities will closely monitor the spouses and check the sincerity of their intentions. Newlyweds are required to live together and maintain a common household. Joint bank accounts, mortgage payments, family vacation trips and other evidence of true intentions will positively affect the decision of the authorities to grant Colombian citizenship to a foreign spouse.
Think for yourself, decide for yourself
Colombia recognizes dual citizenship and when you receive a passport of this country, you will not have to renounce Russian citizenship.
Children born in Colombia and who have at least one parent, a citizen of Colombia, are automatically eligible for the citizenship of the country.
Foreign citizens can start the naturalization process only after five years of legal residence in the country. An exception is made by persons who have married Colombians. To apply for a passport, they only need to legally spend three years in the country. For the naturalization procedure, you do not need to pass an examination in the knowledge of the Spanish language or the history of the country.
The status of a permanent resident and citizen of Colombia does not require paying taxes on profits earned abroad. That is, its subjects are not required to inform the Colombian tax authorities about capital gains or inheritance.
