Colombians are one of the largest foreign communities in Spain, and their passport is in a very favourable position: visa-free entry, a dual nationality treaty, driving licence exchange and a social security agreement. On top of that, almost every document can be apostilled online by the Colombian Foreign Ministry. Here are the most common routes and what to prepare before you travel.
Key facts
- Entry: Colombian passport holders can stay in the Schengen area visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This does not allow work and does not, on its own, let you settle.
- Citizenship: as a national of an Ibero-American country you can apply for Spanish citizenship after 2 years of legal, continuous residence. The Spain–Colombia dual nationality treaty lets you keep Colombian nationality.
- Documents: Colombia is party to the Hague Convention, so an apostille is enough; the Foreign Ministry (Cancillería) issues it online, and no translation is needed.
- Driving: there is an exchange agreement. Once resident you can drive for six months on your Colombian licence and exchange it without a test for cars and motorcycles.
- Social security: the Spain–Colombia agreement lets contributions paid in both countries count towards your pension.
How people usually move
- Studies. A degree, master’s or vocational course (FP) with a study authorisation, which allows work up to 30 hours a week. Time as a student does not count towards the 2 years for citizenship. Study permit
- Work in Spain. A contract with a Spanish company, a highly qualified professional profile or an EU Blue Card. Employment permit
- Remote work. The digital nomad visa suits people working remotely for companies or clients outside Spain, with a relationship of at least three months. You can apply at the consulate or from Spain while legally there. Digital nomad
- Family. Marriage or registered partnership with a Spanish or EU citizen; if your relative is a non-EU resident in Spain, the route is family reunification (reagrupación familiar). Family member of a Spanish or EU citizen
- Arraigo after 2 years in Spain. It is a legal route, but it means spending a period in irregular status, with the risk of an expulsion order that can later complicate the application. It is not a good way to plan your move. Arraigo
- Ancestry. If your father or mother is Spanish by origin and born in Spain, you can opt for citizenship with no residence period. The grandchildren route under the Democratic Memory Law closed in October 2025. If you were born outside Spain and your father, mother, grandfather or grandmother was originally Spanish, you can apply for citizenship by residence after just 1 year of legal, continuous residence. Spanish citizenship
Documents and apostille
- Criminal record certificate (certificado de antecedentes judiciales) from the Policía Nacional. It is apostilled online on the Cancillería portal: state that it is for migration purposes and choose Spain as the destination country.
- Birth and marriage records (registros civiles): copies from the notary’s office or the Registraduría where the record is held, apostilled.
- University degrees: before the apostille, the Ministry of National Education (Ministerio de Educación Nacional) has to verify them. Allow for this step if you plan to have your degree recognised or apply for a skilled visa.
- Passport valid long enough for the procedure, and health insurance with no co-payments or waiting periods where the visa requires it (for example, non-lucrative residence).
What to keep in mind
- National visas are handled by the Consulate General of Spain in Bogotá. Since May 2024 most are filed by appointment at the BLS International centre; self-employment and residence recovery visas are handled directly by the consulate.
- In study season (May to September) appointments run out. As certificates usually need to be recent (often less than three months old), book the appointment first and request your criminal record and apostilles afterwards.
- Even without a visa, border officers may ask for a return ticket, a hotel booking or letter of invitation (carta de invitación) and proof of funds.
- In Spain: register at the town hall (padrón) and, if you came with a residence visa, apply for your TIE within the first month. If you have ever applied for asylum, check how it affects arraigo before your next step.
Frequently asked questions
Can I enter as a tourist and apply for residence from Spain?
For some permits, yes. While legally in Spain you can apply for the digital nomad visa, the highly qualified professional permit, a study authorisation or residence as a family member of a Spanish or EU citizen. Others, such as employment or non-lucrative residence, require a visa from Bogotá. If you stay beyond 90 days without a permit, your stay becomes irregular.
When can I apply for Spanish citizenship, and will I lose my Colombian nationality?
After 2 years of legal, continuous residence, passing the CCSE test of the Instituto Cervantes; the DELE language test is not required because Spanish is an official language of Colombia. Under the dual nationality treaty you keep Colombian nationality.
Do my Colombian documents need translating or legalising?
No. Colombian documents are in Spanish, so they need no sworn translation, and Colombia is party to the Hague Convention, so they are not legalised: the Cancillería apostille is enough, and in most cases it is done online.