The Complete DIY Visa Guide 2026
Reviewed by: Laura Morales, licensed bilingual Colombian attorney · Written by: Andrés Contreras, co-founder of Expat Expert · Last updated: October 2026
Thinking about applying for your Colombia visa yourself? This guide explains what a do-it-yourself (DIY) Colombian visa application involves in 2026, what can go wrong, and how to choose between Expat Expert’s four options: the DIY Package ($109), the Guided DIY Package ($209), the Premium DIY Package ($319), and our Full-Service visa application (COP 2,500,000). Whether you want to save money and file on your own or hand everything to a bilingual attorney in Medellín, you will know exactly which plan fits you by the end of this page.
Key facts: DIY Colombia visa 2026
- Can you apply for a Colombian visa yourself? Yes. Colombian visas are requested online through Cancillería (Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs). You do not legally need an attorney.
- Which visa our DIY packages cover: the Colombia Digital Nomad Visa (Type V), for remote workers and online business owners earning income from outside Colombia.
- Income requirement (2026): at least 3 times the Colombian minimum wage, about COP 5,252,715 per month (roughly USD 1,640).
- Government fees (paid directly to Colombia, never to us): visa study fee about USD 50–80; visa issuance fee about USD 280–380 if approved, depending on your country and the exchange rate; cédula de extranjería about COP 330,000.
- Processing time: the regulation allows up to 30 calendar days once your application is complete; in our experience most decisions arrive in about 15 to 40 days.
- Expat Expert DIY plans: $109 (attorney-written guide), $209 (guide + 30-minute attorney consultation), $319 (guide + consultation + attorney review of your documents before you submit).
- Full service: COP 2,500,000 (about USD 780); our attorney prepares and submits the whole application for you. Available for Digital Nomad, Marriage, Student and Business visas.
- Upgrade anytime: 100% of what you paid is credited toward a higher plan.
What does a DIY Colombian visa application involve?
Applying on your own means you are responsible for every part of the process: confirming that you qualify, gathering the right documents in the right format, completing the Cancillería online form, uploading everything correctly, paying the fees and following up until the visa is issued. After approval, you still need to register and get your cédula de extranjería (foreign resident ID) with Migración Colombia.
The process is very doable for organized people. Where most applicants run into trouble is not the big picture but the details.
Where DIY applicants usually get stuck
Without giving away the step-by-step method in our paid guide, these are the areas we see cause the most delays and rejections:
- Proving income the way Cancillería expects. Having enough income is not the same as documenting it correctly. The type of proof, the period it covers and how it is presented all matter.
- Document formalities. Foreign documents often need apostilles, official translations or specific formats. A document that is valid at home can still be rejected in Colombia.
- The online form itself. The Cancillería platform is in Spanish, some fields are easy to misread, and choosing the wrong option can send your application down the wrong path.
- Uploads. Each upload slot has its own rules for file type, size and content. Uploading the right document in the wrong place is a common reason for extra requests.
- Timing and immigration status. If you are already in Colombia, you must keep a lawful status while your application is processed. Submitting an application does not, by itself, regularize your stay.
- After approval. Many people do not realize the cédula de extranjería is a separate process with its own appointment system, fee and deadline.
Each of these is covered in detail, with real screenshots and attorney notes, inside our DIY packages.
Expat Expert DIY visa plans compared
| DIY Package | Guided DIY | Premium DIY | Full Service | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $109 | $209 | $319 | COP 2,500,000 (≈ USD 780) |
| Attorney-written PDF guide (31 pages) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Not needed, we do it for you |
| Screen-by-screen walkthrough of the Cancillería form | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ handled by us |
| 30-minute video consultation with our attorney | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ ongoing support | |
| Attorney review of your documents before you submit | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| We prepare and submit the application for you | ✓ | |||
| Visas covered | Digital Nomad | Digital Nomad | Digital Nomad | Digital Nomad, Marriage, Student, Business |
| Who submits the application | You | You | You | Expat Expert |
| Best for | Confident, organized self-filers | Self-filers with a few questions | Self-filers who want a safety check | Anyone who wants it done right, hands-off |
Government fees are separate in every plan and are always paid directly to the Colombian authorities.
DIY Package: $109
Best for: organized, confident applicants who are comfortable filling out official forms and want the lowest-cost way to apply with expert instructions.
The DIY Package is our 31-page, attorney-written PDF guide to the Colombia Digital Nomad Visa, emailed to you right after purchase. It was prepared by Laura Morales, our co-founder and lead attorney, based on her day-to-day work with real applications and the official regulation. Inside you get:
- A clear explanation of who qualifies and what Cancillería looks for
- What documents you need and the formalities each one requires
- A screen-by-screen walkthrough of the online application form, with real screenshots
- What to upload in each slot, and what not to upload
- How payment works, what happens after you submit, and how to get your cédula
- Official sources and links, plus an edition date so you always know the information is current
You keep full control and full privacy: you prepare and submit your own application. The DIY Package does not include a consultation, but you can upgrade at any time.
Guided DIY Package: $209
Best for: self-filers who want the guide plus the chance to ask an attorney their specific questions.
Everything in the DIY Package, plus a 30-minute video consultation with our bilingual attorney. Use it before you start to confirm you qualify and plan your documents, or halfway through when something does not fit your situation. After purchase, tell us your time zone and two dates and times that work for you, and we confirm within one business day.
Premium DIY Package: $319
Best for: applicants who want to file themselves but do not want to risk a rejection over a missed detail.
Everything in the Guided package, plus a pre-submission review of your documents by our attorney. Before you press submit, Laura checks your documents and flags anything that could cause a delay, a request for more information or a denial. It is the closest you can get to full service while still applying on your own.
Full-Service Visa Application: COP 2,500,000
Best for: busy professionals, couples and families, applicants who do not speak Spanish, and anyone who prefers to hand the whole process to an expert.
With full service, our attorney handles your application from start to finish: eligibility review, document preparation guidance, completing and submitting the application, and following up with Cancillería. You will always know where your application stands, and you talk directly with the co-founder and the attorney, in English or Spanish. Full service is available for the Digital Nomad, Marriage, Student and Business visas.
Which plan should you choose?
- Choose the DIY Package ($109) if you are organized, comfortable with official paperwork and online forms, and mainly want trustworthy, up-to-date instructions.
- Choose the Guided DIY Package ($209) if you have a slightly unusual situation (freelance income, several clients, a family member coming with you) and want to confirm your plan with an attorney.
- Choose the Premium DIY Package ($319) if you want to file yourself but a rejection or delay would be costly for you, for example because of travel dates, a lease or a job start date.
- Choose Full Service (COP 2,500,000) if you would rather not deal with Spanish-language forms and documents at all, are applying for a visa other than the Digital Nomad Visa, or simply value your time more than the savings.
Not sure? Start with the DIY Package. If you decide halfway that you want more help, you only pay the difference.
Start small and upgrade anytime: 100% credit
Whatever you have already paid Expat Expert counts in full toward a higher plan. Examples:
| You bought | You upgrade to | You pay |
|---|---|---|
| DIY ($109) | Guided DIY ($209) | $100 |
| DIY ($109) | Premium DIY ($319) | $210 |
| Guided DIY ($209) | Premium DIY ($319) | $110 |
| Guided DIY ($209) | Full Service (COP 2,500,000) | the difference in pesos |
| Premium DIY ($319) | Full Service (COP 2,500,000) | the difference in pesos |
To upgrade, message us on WhatsApp with your name, order number and the plan you want. We send you a personal code so you pay only the difference.
Why Expat Expert?
- A licensed Colombian attorney behind every plan. Our guides and reviews are prepared by Laura Morales, a licensed bilingual Colombian attorney.
- Fast, personal answers. We are known for responsive, dependable service; you talk to the people doing the work, the same day.
- Rated 5.0 on Google. Clients regularly mention clear communication, honesty and bilingual support.
- Based in Medellín. We live and work here, and we help expats with visas, legal services, real estate and Airbnb management.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for a Colombian visa without a lawyer?
Yes. Colombian visas are requested online through Cancillería and an attorney is not legally required. Many applicants succeed on their own with good instructions; others prefer professional help to avoid delays and rejections.
What is included in the $109 DIY Package?
A 31-page, attorney-written PDF guide to the Colombia Digital Nomad Visa, emailed right after purchase, including requirements, document formalities, a screen-by-screen walkthrough of the Cancillería online form, upload instructions and what to do after approval.
What is the difference between the $209 and $319 packages?
Both include the guide and a 30-minute video consultation with our attorney. The $319 Premium package adds an attorney review of your documents before you submit your application.
Do the DIY packages include government fees?
No. Government fees (the visa study fee, the issuance fee and the cédula fee) are paid directly to the Colombian authorities and are never included in any Expat Expert plan.
Do your DIY packages cover other visas?
Our DIY packages currently cover the Colombia Digital Nomad Visa. For Marriage, Student and Business visas, we offer our full-service application.
How much does full service cost?
Our full-service visa application costs COP 2,500,000 (about USD 780, depending on the exchange rate), plus government fees.
Can I upgrade later?
Yes. Everything you paid is credited 100% toward the higher plan, so you only pay the difference.
Does buying a package guarantee my visa?
No. Cancillería makes every visa decision and approval is never guaranteed. Our plans are designed to help you submit a complete, correct application and avoid the most common mistakes.
Important: Expat Expert is a private legal and consulting services company. Visas are reviewed, approved and issued only by the Colombian government. Government fees are paid directly to the Colombian authorities, are not included in our service fees, and may change without notice. Buying a DIY guide does not create an attorney-client relationship unless you separately hire Expat Expert.
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