Special Visitor Visa: A tool for stability and dignity for Venezuelan migrants in Colombia
On June 4, 2025, Ángel Antonio Martínez, a skilled Venezuelan physical trainer, received the Special Visitor Visa (Type V)—a document that represents much more than legal status. For Ángel, it symbolizes stability, opportunity, and a hopeful future in Colombia.
Regulated by Resolution 12509 of 2024, this new type of visa sets a meaningful precedent for migrants. Ángel’s successful application, supported by Heartland Alliance International, demonstrates that with the right guidance, migrants in irregular situations can access legal alternatives to regularize their status and protect their rights.
What Is the type V Visa and why does it matter?
The Special Visitor Visa (Type V) allows Venezuelan nationals to remain legally in Colombia for up to two years. While it is a temporary visa, it can pave the way toward obtaining a Type M (Migrant) Visa, under certain conditions.
This visa enables:
- Legal stay in Colombia
- Access to essential services such as health care, education, and formal employment
- Progress toward full social and economic integration
Why is this a significant step?
According to Migración Colombia, more than 2.8 million Venezuelans currently live in Colombia, with nearly 459,000 still in an irregular migration situation. These individuals often face exclusion from services, rights, and dignified living conditions.
The type V Visa offers:
- A legal and humanitarian pathway to stability
- An alternative for those unable to access other regularization processes like the Permiso por Protección Temporal (PPT)
- A step toward formal employment and social inclusion
Who can apply for the type V Visa?
To qualify for this visa, applicants must:
- Be Venezuelan nationals
- Have entered Colombia before December 4, 2024
- Not have benefited from previous regularization processes
Steps to apply:
- Review your individual situation, including justification for staying in Colombia
- Collect required documents, such as:
- Proof of residence
- Financial documentation (income and expenses)
- Migration history
- Apply through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs platform
- Seek legal or institutional assistance, if needed
- Pay the required fees (approximately COP $565,000 total for processing, visa issuance, and foreign ID)
Once approved, visa holders must register their status within 15 calendar days at a Migración Colombia office.
Ángel’s story: a trainer with new hope
Ángel arrived in Colombia with a dream: to continue his career in physical training. But without legal documentation, he faced constant barriers—from fear of deportation to exclusion from the health system and the formal job market.
The lack of documentation made me feel like I was invisible. I couldn’t work, and I constantly lived in fear, Ángel recalls.
With the support of Heartland Alliance International’s legal assistance team, Ángel received step-by-step help:
- Submitting his visa application
- Gathering legal and financial documents
- Demonstrating community ties
- Completing the process with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Today, Ángel has:
- Legal status
- Access to health care
- Formal employment
- Peace of mind
This visa gave me back my dignity and the ability to work and live without fear, he says with gratitude.
Where to get guidance and support
If you are in a similar situation, these institutions can help:
- Migración Colombia
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Ombudsman’s Office
- Intégrate Centers
- Social organizations like Heartland Alliance International, which offer free legal assistance for migrants
Legal recognition is a pathway to dignity
The Special Visitor Visa is more than a document—it’s a gateway to inclusion, safety, and possibility. It reflects Colombia’s commitment to protecting human rights and recognizing the contributions of migrants who seek to rebuild their lives with dignity.
