ColombiaVisas and rules
Colombia: deadline for transferring permanent resident visas is 31 October 2026
- Officially announced
- Sep 15, 2026
- Effective from
- Not confirmed
- Last checked
- Oct 22, 2026
Checked against official sources
Key points
Deadline in 8 daysOct 31, 2026
- Country
- Colombia
- Topic
- Visas and rules
- Who
- People living in Colombia (including Japanese citizens) who obtained a permanent resident visa under the previous rules. People who recently became permanent residents are generally not affected, unless a transfer ground in Article 105 of Resolución 5477 de 2022 applies. People without a permanent resident visa, such as students or Working Holiday applicants, are not affected.
- Effective date
- Not confirmed
- Deadline
- Oct 31, 2026
On 15 September 2026, Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería) reminded foreign nationals holding a Resident Permanent visa issued under the previous rules to complete the visa transfer (traspaso de visa) on time. The deadline is 31 October 2026. The procedure is online only and is required for issuing the foreigner ID card (cédula de extranjería).
cancilleria.gov.co (external site)
What changed
This is not a new rule: the Ministry is repeating the deadline set by Resolución 9316 de 2024.
It applies to people whose visa label (etiqueta) has expired or will soon expire, or whose visa was issued with no expiry date.
The Ministry gives the deadline as "a más tardar el 31 de octubre de 2026" (no later than 31 October 2026).
Who it applies to
- People living in Colombia (including Japanese citizens) who obtained a permanent resident visa under the previous rules.
- People who recently became permanent residents are generally not affected, unless a transfer ground in Article 105 of Resolución 5477 de 2022 applies.
- People without a permanent resident visa, such as students or Working Holiday applicants, are not affected.
When it applies
- Sep 15, 2026Officially announced
- Oct 31, 2026Deadline
- Nov 1, 2026End date
Deadline: 31 October 2026. The same deadline was also announced by the Ministry on 24 March 2026.
Exceptions
The Ministry describes the transfer as a mandatory requirement for renewing the permanent resident visa label and issuing the foreigner ID card. The announcement does not say what happens after the deadline.
Show details
The procedure is fully online and no intermediary is needed; the Ministry warns against using anything other than the official portal or using agents.
What to check or do
- Always check the official page for the latest information and your individual situation.
- 1.
- Check whether your permanent resident visa was issued under the previous rules and when your visa label expires.
- 2.
- If you are affected, apply by 31 October through the Ministry's official online portal (tramitesmre.cancilleria.gov.co).
- 3.
- If you are not sure whether you are affected, contact the Ministry's official service channels.
Official sources
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cancilleria.gov.co (external site)
