Jobs in Colombia With Visa Sponsorship for Foreigners

Both competent and inexperienced Colombian jobs will be able to sponsor foreign visas! Colombia’s breathtaking culture attracts people from all over the world, both as tourists and as employees. A work visa is a fantastic method to travel and work in Colombia. However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that not every company will be able or eager to sponsor employees for work visas.

Before delving into the specifics of Colombian visa sponsorship jobs for foreign workers, it is important to understand that workers must fill out the proper application if they require a work permit. They can register online at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website by sending in the required paperwork. The applicant must follow the payment guidelines given by the authorities after their application has been filed, reviewed, and approved.

This article will tell you about the jobs that are available in Colombia for foreigners with visa sponsorship, what you need to do to acquire a job, which jobs are in demand in Colombia, what not to do when looking for work in Colombia, and much more.

Visa Sponsorship jobs in Colombia for Foreigners

Check out the various visa sponsorship jobs in Colombia for foreigners listed below.

• Financial Advisor Associate
• Sr. Financial Analyst
• PC Technician
• Help Desk Analyst
• RCM AR Specialist
• IT/Software Professsional
• Civil Engineering Analyst
• Support Consultant
• Analytical Consultant
• Project Manager
• Customer Project Manager
• Javascript Developer
• Assistant Store Manager
• IT Project Specialist
• Store Associate
• Healthcare Data & Analytics Testing Lead
• Sales Development Representative
• Junior Systems Administrator
• Environmental Planner
• Security Engineer
• Customer Brokerage Entry Processing Supervisor
• Full-Stack Developer

Colombian Job Prospects

Since many multinational companies set up their South American headquarters in Colombia, there are plenty of professional prospects in the country’s major cities of Medellin, Bogota, and Cali.

Companies including Google, IBM, AON, KPMG, and Ernst & Young have moved to Colombia in the last ten years. These companies employ foreigners and Colombians for a range of jobs.

There are also a lot of start-up companies in Colombia, and many people decide to build their own companies here.

Native English speakers find teaching English to be quite popular, and numerous businesses throughout Colombia are seeking teachers. Colombian schools require students to study English, and many of them provide highly competitive compensation packages to teachers who are native English speakers and have received the necessary training.

Both international and Colombian employees are needed by foreign embassies in Bogota, the capital of Colombia, as well as by travel agencies.

Benefits

• Legal Employment and Residency: The primary advantage is the ability to work and live in Colombia legally. With the current work visa, the Migrant (M-5) visa, you are granted temporary residency and given a Foreign ID Card (Cédula de Extranjería), which is necessary for daily activities including opening a bank account, signing a lease, and using services.
• Pathway to Permanent Residency: Working lawfully in Colombia for a period of time can be counted toward a Resident (R) visa, which is a major benefit of the M-5 visa. You can apply for the R visa, which offers indefinite residency and is a step toward possible citizenship, after maintaining an M-5 visa consistently for a predetermined amount of time (usually five years).
• Access to Healthcare and Social Security: You will be enrolled in Colombia’s social security system as a lawfully employed worker. One major advantage of this is that it gives you access to the nation’s public healthcare system. A lot of companies also provide additional private health insurance as a benefit.
• Legal Protections and Labor Rights: You have the same legal protections and labor rights as a Colombian citizen if you have a valid work visa. This comprises regular working hours, equitable treatment at work, and other benefits specified by Colombian labor laws.
• Dependents: Dependents, including a spouse or permanent partner and minor children (or children with disabilities regardless of age), may be included by the principal visa holder under the terms of the work visa. A temporary beneficiary visa will be granted to these family members, enabling them to live in Colombia and, in some situations, pursue education.
• Stability and Predictability: Stability is a benefit of having a sponsored visa. You can usually anticipate having your visa renewed as long as you continue to work and abide by all immigration and tax laws, preventing the uncertainty of having to leave the country. The visa is linked to your employment contract.
• Cultural and Professional Integration: A sponsored work visa enables a more thorough understanding of Colombian culture and the country’s business environment. You may contribute to and be a part of a thriving and expanding economy while developing your language skills, advancing your career, and gaining priceless international experience.

Job Applications in Colombia

General Overview

• Online Platforms: The most significant means of finding jobs, especially in larger cities like Bogotá and Medellín, is through online job platforms and professional social networks.
• Networking: In-person networking and word-of-mouth are highly valued in Colombia’s job market, particularly for smaller businesses and in rural areas.
• International Candidates: Foreign workers are often recruited for roles in various industries, with teaching being a popular choice. Many expat jobs are found in the larger cities.
• Language: Fluency in Spanish is crucial for finding a job, as many local websites and employers may not speak English. It’s also important to have your resume and other documents translated into Spanish.

Job Application Methods

1. Online Job Boards and Search Engines:
   • International Platforms: Indeed and similar websites are well-known in Colombia and frequently offer a good range of bilingual and English-speaking jobs. Another effective tool for professional networking and locating employment openings with domestic and foreign businesses is LinkedIn.
   • Local Platforms: A thorough job search requires access to a number of well-known job sites in Colombia and Latin America. Among them are Jobomas, Elempleo, and Computrabajo, which is among the biggest in Latin America.
   • Specialized Platforms: ReliefWeb may be helpful for people looking for NGO or charity work, while websites like XPATJobs are made especially to assist foreigners in finding work in Colombia.
2. Company Websites: Many businesses, particularly multinational conglomerates, post job postings directly on their own websites. Finding organizations you wish to work for and routinely visiting their careers website is frequently a smart move.
3. Recruitment Agencies: In Colombia, staffing and recruitment firms such as Adecco help with both temporary and permanent postings in a range of industries.
4. In-Person and Local Methods:
   • Direct Contact: Businesses in Colombia frequently place a high priority on in-person communication. It is standard practice to drop off a resume at a company’s site if you are in the nation, and it can be a good approach to strike up a conversation.
   • Local Advertisements: Jobs may be posted on community bulletin boards or in local newspapers in smaller towns and for smaller companies.

How to Obtain a Colombia Work Visa

Key Eligibility Requirements

You must fulfill a number of requirements in order to be eligible for an M-5 visa, most of which are connected to your employment and the sponsoring employer:

• Job Offer: A written, valid job contract or other comparable administrative document from a Colombian business or employer is required.
• Relevance: The work you will be performing and your skills must complement the requirements of the position and the sponsoring employer’s business operations.
• Justification: The employer must show that hiring a foreign candidate for the job is necessary.
• Professional Credentials: You might be required to present documentation of your professional credentials, such as a university degree or professional certificate. Foreign-issued documents must be translated into Spanish and apostilled or authorized.

Required Documents

You must prepare a number of digital papers before submitting an online application for a Colombian work visa. Although the precise list may change, the following are the most typical requirements:

• Passport: A current passport that has at least two blank pages. It is also necessary to have a copy of the main page that contains your personal information and any recent entry or departure stamps.
• Application for a Visa: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs website is where this is done online.
• A recent 3×4 cm color passport-sized photo with a white backdrop.
• Employment Contract: The formal agreement or administrative record from your Colombian employer that both sides need to sign and certify. It should outline the contract’s objectives, terms, and pay.
• Employer’s Documents: The employer is required to present documentation attesting to their financial stability and legal corporate existence. A certificate of existence and legal counsel are two examples of this.
• Proof of Qualifications: A letter from the employer attesting to your experience-based qualifications, professional certificates, or diplomas.
• Criminal Background Check: You could need a criminal record check or a certificate of good behavior.
• Health Insurance: Many visa categories frequently need proof of health insurance.

Changes to Colombian Work Visa Requirements

It is now increasingly difficult to obtain a Colombian work visa, especially for international experts. Recent governments have strengthened the rules to make sure that foreign workers fulfill certain requirements and that their employment is warranted. Based on the information supplied, the following is an overview of the main modifications and specifications, with a focus on the “homologation” of degrees.

Current Work Visa: Migrant (M-5) Visa

The TP-4 visa was superseded by the Migrant (M) Visa, category 5 (M-5) as the work visa in Colombia. during a maximum of three years, a foreign national with this visa is permitted to reside and work in the nation during the term of their employment contract. One important distinction is that if a someone departs the country for more than six consecutive months, their visa would expire, preventing them from obtaining long-term residency under this category.

Increased Scrutiny and Document Requirements

The current government has made the visa application process more stringent, focusing on two main areas:

1. Professional Credentials: You must provide certificates or credentials that support your expertise for the job you are being hired for. This means your professional background must be directly relevant to the role.
2. Degree Homologation: A key change is the potential requirement for your foreign degree to be homologated (formally recognized and validated) by the Colombian government.

Understanding Degree Homologation

The procedure by which a foreign academic degree is accepted as being on par with a Colombian degree is known as homologation. Although it’s not usually necessary, an immigration officer might ask for it, particularly if your line of work is restricted in Colombia. The Ministry of National Education oversees the procedure.

Here’s how it generally works:

• Application: You must submit an application with the necessary documents, which include your degree diploma (apostilled or legalized and officially translated), academic transcripts, and other supporting materials.
• Review: The Ministry of Education will analyze your academic program, including the curriculum, duration, and quality of your home institution.
• Decision: The Ministry will make a decision based on criteria such as whether your program is from a recognized institution or if there is a similar “administrative precedent” of a degree from the same institution being approved.
• Professions: This is particularly relevant for professions that are regulated by law in Colombia, such as those in the healthcare, legal, and engineering fields.

Average Salary

Average Salary: In Colombia, the average monthly pay is about 4,500,000 Colombian Pesos (COP), or $1,073 USD. All workers are included in this number, though, and highly qualified foreign experts will usually make far more.

Salary Range: Colombia offers a wide variety of salaries. High-paid professionals can make over 20,900,000 COP (about $4,987 USD) every month, while low-paid workers can make as little as 1,423,500 COP (the current minimum wage, or about $338 USD) per month.

Website to Find Jobs in Colombia

1. Professional Networking Sites

• LinkedIn: This is one of the most effective tools. You can search for jobs in Colombia and filter by keywords like “visa sponsorship,” “expat,” or “relocation.” International companies often use LinkedIn to attract foreign talent. It also allows you to network directly with recruiters and hiring managers at companies you’re interested in.

2. General Job Boards

While a sponsored visa is not always explicitly stated, it’s common for larger, international companies to be open to it. Your strategy here should be to target these companies.

• Indeed: Use the advanced search features on Indeed to filter jobs by location (e.g., Bogotá, Medellín) and then look for roles within multinational companies.
• Computrabajo: This is one of the largest job boards in Latin America. While it’s primarily in Spanish, it’s a great resource for finding local companies that may be willing to sponsor a foreign worker if you have specialized skills.
• Elempleo: Another major Colombian job board, similar to Computrabajo, where you can find opportunities in various sectors.

3. Specialized Websites and Resources

• Recruitment Agencies: Companies like Adecco have a strong presence in Colombia and often work with international companies that hire foreigners. They can be a valuable resource for finding roles that include visa sponsorship.
• Company Careers Pages: Large international corporations with offices in Colombia (e.g., in the technology, finance, or manufacturing sectors) will often have a dedicated “careers” section on their website. Check these pages directly for openings. This is often where they post positions requiring specific skills that they may have difficulty finding locally.
• For Teaching Jobs: If you’re a qualified teacher, websites specializing in international teaching jobs are an excellent resource. Many international schools and language institutes in Colombia hire foreign teachers and will assist with the visa process.

Conclusion:

For qualified and even some entry-level international workers looking for visa sponsorship, Colombia’s developing economy and increasing number of multinational corporations provide a variety of alternatives. Although knowing Spanish is a big plus, having specific knowledge in fields like IT, engineering, finance, and education offers openings in big cities like Cali, Medellín, and Bogotá.

A legitimate route to work, benefits, and potentially permanent residency is offered by the Migrant (M-5) visa. In one of the liveliest and most culturally diverse countries in South America, international workers can find steady work by focusing on the appropriate industries, utilizing professional networks, and preparing the necessary paperwork.

Frequently Asked Questions