Colombia
What residency documents or visas did I need if I will be in Colombia for a while?
We asked expats what residency documents or visas they need when settling in Colombia. They wrote...
"The only documents Colombia required were Apostilled Letters from Social Security and our passports. We received our 3-year Pensionado visas within 3 weeks, and our Cedulas a few weeks after that. The process was about a third the cost we paid in Panama, and that process took about 6 months and required two trips across country to Panama City," remarked another expat who made the move to Medellin, Colombia.
"I secured a Spousal Visa 2 years ago... it was a little bit challenging. There were offices that Walter wasn't allowed to go into with me. But once they discovered that we needed his translation skills (LOL), he was promptly admitted. Fortunately, I had ALREADY had our Marriage License "legalized" with the Colombian Consulate in Miami, so that wasn't a problem. But we DID have to have our US Marriage License translated. We had this done at a local college very inexpensively. We also were required to travel to Bogota to get the Visa. But we were told that as all of my documentation is now on file, we can obtain my Residence Visa there in Cali," explained one expat living in Cali, Colombia.
Colombian Visa ServicesConnect
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Other Questions:
- What should I pack when moving to Colombia?
- Where should I setup a bank account in Colombia?
- Will I be able to find a job in Colombia?
- What is life like in Colombia?
- What do expats in Colombia appreciate most about the local culture?
- What do expats find most challenging?
- Is there a lot of crime in Colombia?
- Is there a lot of diversity? Are people in Colombia accepting of differences?
- What are the schools in Colombia like?
- What are healthcare services like in Colombia?
- What are medical services in Colombia like?
- Are healthcare and health insurance expensive in Colombia?
- What are emergency services like in Colombia?
- Will I need to travel to see a specialist?
- Are common prescription medications available in Colombia?
- How are local medical facilities in Colombia?
- As a foreigner living in Colombia, will I have access to public healthcare? What is it like?
- What have your experiences during the pandemic with the local healthcare system been like?
What residency documents or visas did I need if I will be in Colombia for a while?
If you live in Colombia, newcomers to Colombia would love to hear your answer to this question.
About the Author
Betsy Burlingame is the Founder and President of Expat Exchange and is one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat Exchange, Betsy worked at AT&T in International
and Mass Market Marketing. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University
with a BA in International Business and German.
Some of Betsy's articles include 12 Best Places to Live in Portugal, 7 Best Places to Live in Panama and 12 Things to Know Before Moving to the Dominican Republic. Betsy loves to travel and spend time with her family. Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn.
