Moving to Colombia as a
Digital Nomad

Colombia offers several visa pathways for digital nomads and expats. The most popular for remote workers is the Digital Nomad Visa (Nómada Digital), launched to attract location-independent professionals. Applications are submitted online through Cancillería de Colombia.

Colombia's rental market is highly accessible. Medellín (especially El Poblado and Laureles) and Bogotá (Chapinero, Usaquén) are the top expat hubs. Short-term furnished apartments are easy to find on Airbnb, Facebook Groups, and local platforms like Ciencuadras and Metrocuadrado.

• Long-term leases typically require a Colombian co-signer (fiador) — this can usually be replaced by a higher deposit when renting as a foreigner.
• Rental prices are quoted in Colombian Pesos (COP). Always confirm whether utilities (agua, luz, gas, administración) are included.
• Furnished apartments for expats often include fast fibre internet (50–300 Mbps) at no extra charge.
• Expect to pay 1–2 months' rent as a security deposit. Leases are typically 12 months with automatic renewal.
• Short-stay platforms like Airbnb are unregulated for the renter — great for your first 1–2 months while you explore neighbourhoods.

Colombia is home to some of Latin America's best private hospitals. Medellín's Clínica El Rosario and Bogotá's Clínica de Marly are internationally accredited facilities. Healthcare costs are significantly lower than in the US or Western Europe.

• The Digital Nomad Visa requires proof of international health insurance covering Colombia for the duration of your stay.
• Private health insurance (EPS plans) for foreigners costs $50–$150/month and provides access to Colombia's excellent private clinic network.
• Over-the-counter medications are inexpensive and widely available at pharmacy chains like Drogas La Rebaja and Cruz Verde.
• Specialist consultations at private clinics typically cost $30–$80 USD without insurance.
• SafetyWing, Cigna Global, and Allianz are popular health insurance options among nomads in Colombia.

Opening a local bank account in Colombia is possible once you have a valid visa and your Cédula de Extranjería (foreigner ID card). In the meantime, international accounts like Wise and Revolut work well for day-to-day spending.

• Nequi (a Bancolombia digital wallet) is the easiest first step — open it with just your passport and a local SIM card.
• Bancolombia and Davivienda are the largest local banks. Accounts require a valid visa, cédula de extranjería, and proof of income.
• Wise (formerly TransferWise) offers competitive USD/COP exchange rates and is widely used by expats for international transfers.
• ATM fees can be high ($3–$5 per withdrawal). Maestro/Cirrus networks offer better rates than Visa/Mastercard-branded ATMs.
• Colombia has no restrictions on bringing in or taking out foreign currency below $10,000 USD.

Tax residency in Colombia is triggered by spending 183 or more days in the country within a 365-day rolling period. Tax residents are taxed on worldwide income; non-residents are taxed only on Colombian-sourced income. Always seek advice from a Colombian accountant (contador).

• Colombia's income tax rates range from 0% to 39% for residents, applied on progressive brackets.
• Non-residents (under 183 days) pay a flat 35% withholding tax on Colombian-sourced income only.
• Colombia has tax treaties with several countries (Spain, Chile, Canada, etc.) to avoid double taxation.
• Foreigners in their first year of tax residency may only be taxed on Colombian-sourced income, regardless of worldwide income.
• A Número de Identificación Tributaria (NIT) or RUT is required to file taxes or operate formally in Colombia.

• Get a local SIM on arrival — Claro, Movistar, and Tigo offer affordable prepaid plans with strong 4G coverage in cities.
• Use Rappi for food delivery, groceries, and even pharmacy orders; it's faster and cheaper than most alternatives.
• InDriver and Uber (officially off-market but operational) are safer alternatives to hailing taxis on the street.
• Learn basic Spanish numbers and greetings — most market vendors and landlords don't speak English.
• Bring or buy a VPN. Some streaming services and banking apps geo-restrict content in Colombia.
• Colombia's altitude varies dramatically — Bogotá sits at 2,600m. Give yourself a few days to acclimatise if you're coming from sea level.