Move to Medellín. The basics, sourced.
Independent English guides for foreigners moving to Medellín, Colombia. Every rule is dated and linked to the official source: Cancillería, Migración Colombia, DIAN and the US State Department.
General information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Medellín Basic 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
90 / 180
Days per entry permit / max days per calendar year (visa-exempt visitors)
Visas & stays
- Visas & staysDigital nomad visa: 2026 checklistColombia digital nomad visa requirements for 2026: income of COP 5,252,715 a month, US$56 + US$183 fees, documents and work rules, each linked to Cancillería.Last verified: Oct 19, 2026
- Visas & staysThe 90/180-day ruleColombia's 90/180 day rule: entry permits of up to 90 days, and no more than 180 days per calendar year in total. Sourced from Migración Colombia.Last verified: Oct 19, 2026
- Visas & staysExtending your stay (PTP / prórroga)How to extend your stay in Colombia with a PTP (prórroga de permanencia): COP 150,000 in 2026, apply 5 business days before your permit expires.Last verified: Oct 19, 2026
- Visas & staysCédula de extranjeríaCédula de extranjería requirements and cost: needed for visas over 3 months, within 15 calendar days, COP 294,000 in 2026. Sourced from Migración Colombia.Last verified: Oct 19, 2026
- Visas & staysHealth insurance for visasColombia visa health insurance requirements: coverage in Colombia for your whole stay, including maternity, hospitalization and repatriation (Res. 5477/2022).Last verified: Oct 19, 2026
- Visas & staysWhat Resolución 12189/2026 changedResolución 12189 of 2026 put Israel back on Colombia's visa-exempt list (100 countries) from Sept 4, 2026. Nothing changed for US, Canadian, UK or EU citizens.Last verified: Oct 19, 2026
Money & taxes
- Money & taxesBanking as a foreignerOpening a bank account in Colombia as a foreigner: what Bancolombia asks for, and declaring cash over US$10,000 on DIAN Form 530. Official sources linked.Last verified: Oct 19, 2026
- Money & taxesTax residency: the 183-day ruleColombia tax residency: more than 183 days in any 365-day period makes you a resident taxed on worldwide income, whatever your visa. Sourced from DIAN.Last verified: Oct 19, 2026
Living there
- Living thereSafety: the State Dept advisoryMedellín safety in 2026: the US State Department rates Colombia Level 3, Reconsider travel (Mar 31, 2026). What the advisory says, plus emergency numbers.Last verified: Oct 19, 2026
- Living thereNeighborhoods overviewMedellín neighborhoods guide for expats: 16 comunas and 249 barrios, the areas newcomers look at, estratos and rental rules, from Alcaldía and DANE data.Last verified: Oct 19, 2026
Every rule is sourced and dated
Each guide links the official page behind every rule (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
Photo: RH Ruggles, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: CONOCER (Wikivoyage shared), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Steffen Schmitz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Minoh09, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons