Moving to Colombia in 2026

Moving to Colombia: entry, first 30 days, 3-month budget

Russian citizens need no visa for trips to Colombia of up to 90 days. For long-term living the visa is applied for online through the Foreign Ministry: the digital nomad visa with foreign income from 3 minimum wages, about $1,610 a month, or retiree, investor, marriage or work visas. You can apply from inside the country, but it is better to do so before the visa-free period ends.

1. Before the trip. Income statements, a criminal record certificate with an apostille and Spanish translation, an online visa application.
2. Days 1-15. After the visa is issued, register with Migración Colombia and apply for the foreigner ID: you have 15 days.
3. Days 15-90. A lease, a bank account and private health insurance; landlords often ask for a guarantor or lease insurance.

A one-bedroom in El Poblado costs $600-1,200 and in northern Bogotá $500-900. One person with moderate needs manages on $1,200-1,800 a month in Medellín. A family budget depends on its size and visa; we calculate it in the chat.

Colombia in brief

Colombia is a country in north-western South America with coasts on the Pacific and the Caribbean and a population of about 53 million. The capital is Bogotá at about 2,600 metres, and the major cities are Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla and Cartagena. The economy rests on oil and coal, coffee, flowers, bananas, tourism and service centres serving American clients. After the 2016 peace agreement the country became noticeably calmer and opened up to newcomers. The language is Spanish, and the currency the Colombian peso.

Colombia suits remote workers and entrepreneurs who want modest costs, a spring-like climate in the mountain cities and a time zone convenient for working with the United States. It suits less those who are not ready to watch their safety and deal with bureaucracy in Spanish.

How to move in 2026

After several years on these visas you can obtain a resident visa, and citizenship after 5 years with it. The period is shorter for spouses of Colombians. Russian citizens enter visa-free for 90 days. More on the remote work visa on the page about the Colombian digital nomad visa.

Taxes

A person becomes tax resident after more than 183 days in Colombia within 365 days. Residents pay income tax on worldwide income on a scale from 0% to 39%, and non-residents 35% on Colombian income. Corporate tax is 35%, VAT 19% and capital gains tax 15%. Small businesses and self-employed professionals can choose a simplified regime with tax on revenue from 1.2%. More on the page about Colombian taxes.

Property

Foreigners buy flats and houses on the same terms as Colombians. Purchase funds are transferred from abroad officially and registered as foreign investment with the central bank: without this registration it is hard to repatriate the proceeds of a later sale legally. The deal is executed by a notary and registered in the property registry. The most active markets are Medellín, Bogotá and the Cartagena coast. More on the page about property in Colombia.

Cost of living

Colombia is noticeably cheaper than Europe and the United States: groceries, cafés, taxis and domestic flights are inexpensive, while rents in good parts of Medellín and Bogotá cost about as much as in smaller towns of southern Europe. Imported electronics and cars cost more than in the United States. Healthcare is public and private: private clinics in the big cities are of a good standard, and foreigners use them with private insurance.

Where to live

• Medellín. A spring-like climate of about 22 degrees all year; El Poblado, Laureles and Envigado are popular with remote workers.
• Bogotá. The capital and business centre, cool and rainy; newcomers live in Chapinero and Usaquén.
• Cartagena and Santa Marta. The hot Caribbean coast with a colonial centre and beaches.
• Cali. A warm salsa city in the south-west with cheaper housing.
• Pereira and the coffee region. Small mountain towns among coffee plantations, a calm life.

Practicalities

• Safety. Tourist areas of the big cities are calm, but phone theft is common; people use ride-hailing and do not show expensive items.
• Documents. With a visa of more than 3 months you receive a foreigner's identity card, used to open a bank account and join the health system.
• Climate. Depends on altitude rather than season: cool in the mountains, hot on the coast all year.
• Transport. Flying is easier between cities, and Medellín has a metro and cable cars.
• Language. Spanish; English is mainly known in tourism and business.

Who Colombia suits

Colombia is a convenient option for remote work with modest costs, a mild climate and good connections to the United States and the rest of Latin America. The nomad visa requires a modest income, and the path to residence and citizenship is clear. Write in the chat and we will choose a visa for your income and calculate the full cost of moving.