Running my own company with an Investment Visa

gringoloid (Trustee board) says on Jul 6, 2007, 12:30:

I am getting a business visa right now. You don't have to put up any money, just pay the $180 USD tax on the promise to open a business. This is not annoying, if you need a lawyer, I can hook you up. It takes 7 days to get a business visa, and a few days later to get the cedula. Your total outlay in time is one day to fly to either Caracas or Panama City. Total cost for this is about $1500 USD.

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getting better says on Jul 6, 2007, 12:48:

You guys know more than me but I think before you apply to the CC you need to go to the DIAN to get a RUT number. Not too difficult and I got it with a tourist visa, but I think that it is needed.

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usher127 says on Jul 6, 2007, 12:49:

Thanks... I can't believe there is yet another explanation of how to get the mysterious business visa. I'm going to cry in a minute. 7 days!? Most people tell me it takes several months. Really, I cant take anymore.

Does anyone have an answer to my original question? Sob Sob.

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pura vida mike says on Jul 6, 2007, 12:57:

I got a business visa in about 1 month with no major expense. If you have a company in the US, you can apply to get a business visa through the consulate to do business in Colombia. I had to provide some certified documents that took a few weeks, but I had the visa when I left the consulate. The process is on the consulate website.

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usher127 says on Jul 6, 2007, 13:03:

Unless i'm prepared to leave Colombia and come back, i'm told it requires an investment of 45 million pesos. I'd rather put my money into a flat.

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pedro (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 6, 2007, 13:20:

pedro (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 6, 2007, 13:24:

gringoloid (Trustee board) says on Jul 6, 2007, 13:39:

Pedro makes a helluva good point.........owning a business here is nothing but a hassel.

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usher127 says on Jul 6, 2007, 13:41:

I have sort advice from lawyers, friends and the web. My spanish is ok, but seemingly not good enough to deal with Visa information. I am loosing my nerve slightly because I cant seem to get consistent info about aquiring the business visa. Either way, I dont have 45 million pesos to invest in things that I dont need. Though I'm prepared to spend 100k on property.

I dont yet have a bank account. I assumed, that when I buy the property, I can send the money directly to the seller's account. At least, that is the advice I have received. I planned to open a bank account after I get the investment visa.

I am currently on a student visa until Nov. Presumably, if i buy a house before then, I wont need to leave the country?

Finally, thanks for answering my question. Capitol controls!!!??? Go on...

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latinlife says on Jul 6, 2007, 16:01:

Just got a business one year renewable visa in the consulate in London , I have a limited company in England so all I had to do was show I had sufficient money, copy of my incorporation and a letter to the consul showing that I will be possible looking to make investments in Colombia...total time 2 hours..............the consul told me I could have got this visa in panama or adjoining country.

Was living the lie now living my life !!!!....

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Timba says on Jul 7, 2007, 08:23:

Having seen this a number of times, I do believe that you have to deposit roughly USD$30,000 into your Colombian bank account for purposes of the business. You also have to set up a company and have an accountant to run your books.

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gringoloid (Trustee board) says on Jul 7, 2007, 10:52:

Timba: You do not have to deposit any money if you do this correctly. latinlife is correct.

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Miguel_Clavo says on Jul 7, 2007, 11:04:

If you own a foreign business (non-colombian) and you open a branch in Colombia, you can get a Business Visa for dirt cheap and no investment money other than what you spend on opening the branch.....reading the requirements from the Colombian consulates or embassy might really help some of you.........=)

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

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pedro (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 7, 2007, 11:59:

Start here:

http://www.minrelext.gov.co/wps/portal
Tramites o Servicios -> Tramites -> Visas.

Click through all the links. Whoever is telling you that the process with the consulate for the business visa is harder than the investor visa is wrong. Whoever is telling you that it takes several months to get the business visa is wrong. I did it in eight days.

If you are serious about starting a business, then you will need competent professional advice. Start by finding a good accountant. Print out the visa requirements for "temporal especial - socio" and ask them how easy it would be to draw up a set of accounts that satisfy the requirement. Mine cost 50k pesos.

If you want the investor visa, you will need to register your US$100k investment in your own name with the Banco de la Republica. Now I have not done this, but the obvious question is: can you register the investment once you've already bought the house, and no longer have the cash? Shouldn't you be registering it when you have the money in cash in Colombia? And how will you do this when the money is either outside the country or has already gone to the seller? Once again, I have no personal experience in this, would be interested to know the answer if you have it.

que nota!

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Shanidar says on Jul 11, 2007, 09:49:

I would have had mine in a week, but I found out I just didn't need it.

I know of americans operating in Medellin under the visa that lets you "expand" your US business into Colombia. These people's US business location is a MailBoxes R Us and a phone number.

Everything is possible, but you may have to make several calls... Call the consulate now and get the real info

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gringoloid (Trustee board) says on Jul 11, 2007, 10:20:

I registered my business with DIAN and the Camara de Comercio yesterday in less than an hour for $321.000 cop. Monday I fly to Panama City for my visa at the consulate. So about a week.

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