Move to Colombia. The basics, sourced.
Independent English guides to visas, money and daily life in Colombia, starting with Medellín.
Every rule sourced to official pages · Last verified Oct 19, 2026
General information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Colombia Basics is an independent guide, not a law firm or visa agency, and is not affiliated with the Colombian government. We summarize official sources and don't answer individual case questions. How we work
Start here
Visiting
Staying long-term
Money
Cities
Visas & stays
- Apostille for visa documentsWhich visa documents need an apostille, where to get one, and in what order.Last verified Oct 21, 2026
- Entry requirementsPassport, exit ticket, optional Check-MIG, yellow fever rules and the USD 10,000 cash declaration.Last verified Oct 20, 2026
- Check-MIG formMigración Colombia's free, optional pre-registration form: official link, 72-hour to 1-hour window, what you need.Last verified Oct 19, 2026
- Spouse and partner visaThe M Cónyuge (up to 3 years) and M Compañero permanente (up to 1 year) visas: documents, USD 56 + 279 fees, work rights.Last verified Oct 19, 2026
- Digital nomad visa: 2026 checklistIncome, fees, documents and work rules for Colombia's visa for remote workers.Last verified Oct 21, 2026
- Retirement visa (M Pensionado)What the M Pensionado visa asks of retirees: pension, documents and fees.Last verified Oct 21, 2026
- The 90/180-day ruleHow long visa-exempt visitors can stay, and how the yearly day count works.Last verified Oct 20, 2026
- Extending your stay (PTP / prórroga)How and when to extend your entry permit with a PTP, and what it costs.Last verified Oct 20, 2026
- Cédula de extranjeríaWho needs the foreigner ID card, the deadline to get it and the 2026 fee.Last verified Oct 21, 2026
- Health insurance for visasThe health cover Colombia expects visa applicants to have for their stay.Last verified Oct 19, 2026
- What Resolución 12189/2026 changedWhat the 2026 resolution changed on the visa-exempt list, and for whom.Last verified Oct 19, 2026
Money & taxes
Living in Colombia
- Renting long termLey 820 de 2003 for tenants: no cash deposits, increases capped at last year's IPC (5.10% for 2026), early-exit rules.Last verified Oct 23, 2026
- Safety: the State Dept advisoryWhat the US State Department advisory says, plus emergency numbers.Last verified Oct 23, 2026
- Colombia travel advisoryWhat the US, Canada and UK advisories say about Colombia, with dates.Last verified Oct 23, 2026
- Is Santa Marta safe?What the US, UK and Canada advisories say about Santa Marta, with dates.Last verified Oct 22, 2026
- Neighborhoods overviewComunas, barrios and estratos: a factual look at the areas newcomers consider.Last verified Oct 19, 2026
- Cost of livingSourced 2026 numbers: wages, inflation, rent, electricity and metro fares.Last verified Oct 23, 2026
- Living in BogotáAsking rents by area, TransMilenio fares and the State Department advisory.Last verified Oct 21, 2026
- Living in CartagenaAsking rents by area, TransCaribe fares and the advisory’s boat-safety notes.Last verified Oct 21, 2026
How we verify
Every rule links to the official page behind it (Cancillería, Migración Colombia, DIAN, the US State Department) and shows when we last checked it. If an official page says something different, the official page is right.
Read our editorial policy