V · Article 36

V Visa — Student

For in-person, virtual, or distance study (arts and trades, preschool through secondary, work-and-human-development programs, and higher education), student internships, or academic exchange under a higher-education agreement. Passport holders from visa-exempt countries or territories do not need this visa if their stay in Colombia will not exceed 180 calendar days.

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Visa catalog

V · Art. 33V Visa — Airport Transit
V · Art. 34V Visa — Tourism
V · Art. 35V Visa — Business
V · Art. 36V Visa — Student
V · Art. 37V Visa — Tratamiento médico
V · Art. 38V Visa — Trámites administrativos y/o judiciales
V · Art. 39V Visa — Tripulante
V · Art. 40V Visa — Trabajador agrícola de temporada
V · Art. 41V Visa — Eventos
V · Art. 42V Visa — Religioso
V · Art. 43V Visa — para estudiantes/voluntarios entidades religiosas
V · Art. 44V Visa — Voluntario o Cooperante
V · Art. 45V Visa — Producción cinematográfica o audiovisual
V · Art. 46V Visa — Digital nomads
V · Art. 47V Visa — Cubrimiento periodístico
V · Art. 48V Visa — Corresponsal permanente
V · Art. 49V Visa — Asistencia Técnica
V · Art. 50V Visa — Empresarios TLC
V · Art. 51V Visa — Oficiales no acreditados
V · Art. 52V Visa — Vacaciones y Trabajo
V · Art. 53V Visa — Práctica laboral
V · Art. 54V Visa — Prestador de Servicios, Obra o labor
V · Art. 55V Visa — Fomento a la Internacionalización
V · Art. 56V Visa — Rentista
V · Art. 57V Visa — Casos no previstos
V · Art. 58V Visa — Cortesía Diplomáticos Visitantes
V · Art. 59V Visa — Programa ICETEX
V · Art. 60V Visa — Cortesía Compromisos internacionales
V · Art. 61V Visa — Cortesía Ley de Cine
V · Art. 62V Visa — Medida Complementaria al Refugio
M · Art. 67M Visa — Spouse
M · Art. 68M Visa — Compañero(a) permanente de nacional colombiano
M · Art. 69M Visa — Madre o Padre o hijo(a) de nacional colombiano por adopción
M · Art. 70M Visa — padre o madre de nacional colombiano por nacimiento
M · Art. 71M Visa — Migrante Mercosur
M · Art. 72M Visa — Migrante Andino
M · Art. 73M Visa — refugiado
M · Art. 74M Visa — Worker
M · Art. 75M Visa — Partner or owner
M · Art. 76M Visa — Profesional independiente
M · Art. 77M Visa — Pensioner
M · Art. 78M Visa — Fomento a la internacionalización
M · Art. 79M Visa — Investor
R · Art. 89R Visa — Renuncia a nacionalidad colombiana
R · Art. 90R Visa — Accumulated time

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Who is it for?

Foreign students who will study in Colombia beyond a short visa-exempt visit — or whose nationality is not on the short-stay exemption list. The program must match art. 36: study, a student internship, or an academic exchange.

General eligibility

Confirm the current short-stay exemption list (Resolución 5488 de 2022 and its amendments). If you are exempt and the stay will not exceed 180 calendar days, you typically do not file this visa. If you need more time, or your nationality is not exempt, this is the category. A second or later student visa also needs proof that you attended and finished the prior course, studies, or internship.

Rights / scope

Carry out the studies, student internship, or academic exchange authorized in the visa (art. 36).
Visa validity: up to two (2) years, with multiple entries (art. 27).
Stay: the visa itself authorizes presence in Colombia while it is valid (art. 15). Unlike V Negocios or V Turismo, art. 36 does not cap stay at 180 days per year.
University postgraduate students may work up to twenty (20) hours a week if the employer reports it to Migración Colombia and the Ministry of Labour.

Restrictions

For in-person programs, absence from Colombia of more than ninety (90) calendar days automatically ends the visa. That absence rule does not apply to virtual or distance study.
Work is not open. Only university postgraduate students get the 20-hour weekly permit, after the employer’s report. A program internship (paid or unpaid) is part of the study activity, with the school’s letter — it is not a general work permit.
Does not allow applications as a beneficiary, except when the principal is a postgraduate student.

Application checklist

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Complete the online visa application (SITAC / Cancillería) for category V — Student.
Recent digital color photo on a white background (neutral expression; max 300 KB; face fully visible, head centered).
Passport or accepted travel document valid at least six (6) months from the application date, in good condition, with a blank page if a sticker may be needed — plus a copy of the bio page.
If applying from inside Colombia: copy of the most recent entry stamp or equivalent Migración Colombia authorization / salvoconducto (art. 24.4).
If applying from a country that is not your nationality: proof of regular stay there (short-stay-exempt nationalities) or resident status (nationalities that need a short-stay visa) — art. 24.5.
Personal filing (art. 31) or legal-entity sponsor (art. 32), whichever applies.
Admission or enrollment certificate stating the grade or program and its duration.
For a student internship (paid or unpaid): letter from the educational institution endorsing it and stating the duration.
Health policy covering Colombia for accident, illness, maternity, disability, hospitalization, death, or repatriation for the planned stay.
For a second or later student visa: certificate that you attended and completed the prior course, studies, or internship.
Pay the study fee within the calendar deadline Cancillería sets after filing; if approved, pay the issuance fee within its deadline.

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Validity / stay

Validity: up to two (2) years. Stay: while the visa is valid (art. 15) — not the 180-day yearly cap used in V Negocios or V Turismo. For in-person study, more than 90 calendar days outside Colombia ends the visa automatically; virtual or distance study is excepted from that absence rule.

Work authorization

Not a general work permit. University postgraduate students may work up to 20 hours a week if the employer reports it to Migración Colombia and the Ministry of Labour. Other programs in this category do not get that permit. A school-endorsed internship is study activity under art. 36, not open employment.

Beneficiaries

As a rule, this visa does not allow applications as a beneficiary. The exception is when the principal is a postgraduate student.

Informational — not legal advice. Cancillería has discretionary authority over every application. Confirm the current nationality list and official text before filing.

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Discussion is stored on article 36 of Resolución 5477 in CLKR Norms.