🇨🇴 Colombia vs 🇧🇷 Brazil · Digital nomad
Brazil or Colombia digital nomad visa?
Both countries have a dedicated visa for remote workers paid from abroad, with similar income bars. Colombia gives you a longer first stay; Brazil lets you qualify on savings alone and apply from inside the country.
In short
Brazil asks for US$1,500 a month or US$18,000 in savings and gives up to a year, renewable for the same period. Colombia asks for three times its minimum wage — COP 5,252,715 a month in 2026, about US$1,400 — and gives up to two years in one go. Neither visa counts directly toward permanent residence.
Side by side
| 🇧🇷 Brazil digital nomad visa (VITEM XIV) | 🇨🇴 Colombia digital nomad visa (Visa V) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Remote workers whose employers or clients are all outside Brazil | Remote employees, freelancers and digital entrepreneurs paid from outside Colombia |
| Money you must show | US$1,500 a month from a payer abroad, or US$18,000 in the bank | 3× the Colombian minimum wage over the last 3 months: COP 5,252,715 a month in 2026 (about US$1,400). No savings-only option |
| How long | Up to 1 year, renewable for the same period | Up to 2 years |
| Where you apply | VITEM XIV at a Brazilian consulate, or residence from the Ministry of Justice if you're already in Brazil | Online, through the Cancillería's visa portal. Your passport must be on Colombia's visa-exemption list |
| Local work | Not allowed: no Brazilian employer or clients | Not allowed: no Colombian employer or clients |
| Path to permanent residence | Not directly. You'd switch to another route to stay long term | No. Time on Visa V doesn't count toward Colombia's resident (R) visa |
| Tax | Brazil generally treats you as tax resident after 183 days in any 12 months, and then taxes worldwide income | Tax resident after 183 days in any 365-day period, then taxed on worldwide income |
Which one fits you
🇧🇷 Brazil
Choose Brazil if your income is uneven but you have savings, if you're already in Brazil and want to switch status without leaving, or if your passport isn't on Colombia's exemption list.
Check my Brazil optionsDigital nomad visa check →Tax residency check →Brazilian naturalization →🇨🇴 Colombia
Choose Colombia if you want two years of status from a single application and your monthly income comfortably clears about US$1,400.
Worth knowing
- Colombia's threshold moves every January with the minimum wage, so the dollar figure changes with both the wage and the exchange rate.
- Colombia's health insurance rule is specific: cover for accident, illness, maternity, disability, hospitalization, death and repatriation, valid in Colombia.
- Brazil's savings route (US$18,000) is unusual: it lets freelancers with irregular income qualify.
Rather talk to an immigration lawyer first?
Send a short note to an independent immigration lawyer who uses Emigro. If they offer a paid call, you can pick a time on their calendar right away; otherwise they reply by email.
Official sources
Resolution CNIg nº 45/2021 (digital nomad), Ministry of Justice ↗
Visa V – Digital nomad, Cancillería de Colombia ↗
Checked against official sources on October 25, 2026. Emigro gives preliminary guidance, not legal advice. Emigro is a private company, not affiliated with any government. Emigro is not a law firm and does not provide legal services. Lawyers listed are independent, registered with the OAB, and solely responsible for their advice. Rules for countries other than Brazil are summarized for comparison; confirm them with a qualified adviser in that country.
Common questions
Which is cheaper to qualify for?
They're close. Colombia's 2026 bar is about US$1,400 a month and Brazil's is US$1,500, but Brazil also accepts US$18,000 in savings instead of income.
Which lasts longer?
Colombia: up to two years from one application. Brazil gives up to a year, renewable for the same period.
Can I apply from inside the country?
Brazil, yes: you can ask the Ministry of Justice for residence without leaving. Colombia's application is online, so where you are matters less than whether your passport is visa-exempt.
Can I work for local clients on either visa?
No. Both are for income from abroad only. Local work needs a different visa in each country.
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