What should I do in the first week after arriving in Colombia?

Priority order: (1) Get a local SIM (Claro or Movistar at the airport), (2) Set up Nequi (digital wallet) for local payments, (3) Join the main expat Facebook group for your city, (4) Register with your embassy (US STEP or UK FCDO), (5) Activate health insurance, (6) Start exploring neighborhoods before committing to long-term housing.

Can I ship my belongings to Colombia duty-free?

Duty-free import of household goods (menaje de casa) is legally available only to holders of Migrant (M) or Resident (R) visas — not for tourist entry or TP-7 Digital Nomad visa holders. Without this status, imported goods face Colombian import duties (arancel). Most expats simply buy furniture and appliances locally — they're affordable and widely available.

How do I get a Colombian SIM card?

Buy one at the airport immediately upon arrival. Claro, Movistar, and Tigo all have kiosks at major airports. A prepaid SIM costs COP 10,000–25,000 ($2.50–6). Activate with your passport. Top up with a prepaid plan — Claro's 3GB data plan runs COP 20,000 ($5); monthly unlimited WhatsApp + calls plans start at COP 50,000 ($13). Claro has the best national coverage.

Is it easy to bring pets to Colombia?

Yes, reasonably straightforward. Dogs and cats need: a health certificate from an accredited vet (USDA Form 7001 for US residents), rabies vaccination (within 30 days), and parasite treatment. There's no quarantine period. The certificate must be endorsed by your country's agriculture authority. Bring the original paperwork — Colombian ICA officers at the airport will check it.

What are the best Facebook groups for new expats in Colombia?

The most active and useful ones are: 'Medellín Expats' (largest expat group in the city — housing, recommendations, meetups), 'Bogotá Expats & Nomads', 'Expats in Colombia' (national), 'Medellín Digital Nomads' (remote work focused), 'Cartagena Expat Connection', and 'Expat Women in Colombia'. These groups provide real-time answers faster than any other resource.

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🇨🇴 Colombia

Moving Guide

Moving to Colombia is logistically straightforward for most Western nationalities — arrive on a tourist stamp, settle in, then apply for the right long-term visa. The key is doing the first 90 days right..

90 days

Visa-Free Tourist Entry

Extendable to 180 days for most nationalities

COP 10,000–25,000

SIM Card Cost

Claro/Movistar prepaid, available at airports

$2,500–5,000

Container Shipping (20ft, US)

Varies by origin port and season

$80–150/mo

Spanish Classes (Intensive)

Group classes; private from $15–25/hr

Required

Health Insurance (Day 1)

Private prepagada or international policy

Last updated: March 2026

Overview🌸Medellín 🏙️Bogotá 🏖️Cartagena

🛂Visa 🏥Healthcare 💰Finance 🏠Housing 💼Working 🌆Daily Life ✈️Moving 📚Education 🌅Lifestyle 📈Investing

Overview

Key Takeaways

Health insurance: arrange international health coverage before departure — SafetyWing ($45/mo), Cigna Global, or GeoBlue all accepted for visa purposes
Airport arrival: get a local SIM at the airport (Claro or Movistar kiosks — from COP 10,000); Uber or airport taxi to your accommodation
Luggage-only move: the most common strategy — buy furniture and appliances locally (very affordable in Colombia)
SIM card: Claro has the best coverage nationally; Movistar and Tigo are strong in cities; prepaid SIMs from $2.50, monthly plans from $13
International schools: Colegio Nueva Granada (Bogotá), Columbus School (Medellín), Colegio Rochester (Bogotá) — enroll 3–6 months in advance; $8,000–18,000/yr

Pre-Arrival Checklist

The most important preparation happens before you board the plane. Getting these items sorted in advance saves significant stress and time during the first weeks.

Health insurance: arrange international health coverage before departure — SafetyWing ($45/mo), Cigna Global, or GeoBlue all accepted for visa purposes
Finances: activate a Wise card and/or Schwab debit card for fee-free ATM withdrawals — don't rely on your home bank card
Accommodation: book furnished apartment for the first 4–6 weeks via Airbnb or a Facebook expat housing group — don't sign long-term leases sight unseen
Spanish basics: complete Duolingo Spanish through at least the first 3 sections — 'survival Spanish' makes arrival dramatically smoother
Medications: bring a 3-month supply of any prescription medications — some are unavailable or require Colombian prescription locally
Phone plan: check if your current provider has a Colombia data plan, or plan to buy a local SIM on arrival
Research neighborhoods: spend time on Nomadlist.com/medellin, expat Facebook groups, and Reddit r/medellin before deciding where to stay

The First 90 Days: Arriving & Settling In

The first three months are about exploration, building your local network, and laying the groundwork for long-term life — visa, banking, housing, and community.

Airport arrival: get a local SIM at the airport (Claro or Movistar kiosks — from COP 10,000); Uber or airport taxi to your accommodation
Register with your country's embassy (UK FCDO, US STEP program) within the first week — important for emergency assistance
Open Nequi account (Bancolombia digital wallet) with just your passport — useful for local payments before you have a Cédula
Join expat Facebook groups immediately: 'Medellín Expats', 'Bogotá Expats & Nomads', 'Expats in Colombia' — invaluable for recommendations
Explore multiple neighborhoods before choosing where to rent long-term — spend a week in El Poblado AND Laureles
Start Spanish classes in week 1 — language school enrollment is fast and cheap; classes 4–5x/week
Visit Migración Colombia to understand DN visa requirements if planning a long-term stay (offices in Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena)

Shipping Your Belongings

Most expats move to Colombia with luggage only or ship a small volume. Full container shipping is available but costly. Colombia allows expat household good imports duty-free under specific visa conditions.

Luggage-only move: the most common strategy — buy furniture and appliances locally (very affordable in Colombia)
Air freight: good for small volumes (<50kg) — DHL, FedEx offer door-to-door; budget $5–12/kg
LCL (less-than-container) sea freight: 1–3 CBM (a few boxes of personal items) — $800–2,000 from North America, $1,200–2,500 from Europe
Full 20ft container from US East Coast: $2,500–5,000 USD plus Colombian import processing
Duty-free import of household goods: available to holders of Migrant (M) or Resident (R) visas only — not tourist or DN visa holders
Colombian customs (DIAN) can be complex — use an experienced customs broker (agente de aduana) for any shipment
Buying locally: IKEA equivalent is Homecenter; MercadoLibre (Colombia's Amazon) for electronics and appliances; prices are reasonable

Administrative Setup: SIM, Banking & Registration

Building your Colombian administrative foundation — phone, bank access, and registration — takes 1–4 weeks depending on your visa status.

SIM card: Claro has the best coverage nationally; Movistar and Tigo are strong in cities; prepaid SIMs from $2.50, monthly plans from $13
Banking without Cédula: Nequi (Bancolombia digital wallet) and Daviplata (Davivienda) can sometimes be opened with a foreign passport — useful for local payments
Cédula de Extranjería: issued at Migración Colombia after visa approval — required for opening a full bank account, signing leases formally, and healthcare registration
DIAN RUT: if you plan to work for Colombian clients or register a business, you'll need a RUT tax ID — requires a Cédula
Health insurance registration: activate your prepagada plan (Colmédica/Sanitas) within the first 2 weeks and get your membership card
Embassy registration: US STEP program (step.state.gov), UK FCDO registration — takes 15 minutes and provides emergency support access
WhatsApp: set up with your Colombian number immediately — all appointments, deliveries, landlords, doctors, and services run through WhatsApp

Moving with Family & Pets

Colombia is family-friendly with excellent international schools, and pet importation is straightforward. Planning ahead for both makes the transition smoother.

International schools: Colegio Nueva Granada (Bogotá), Columbus School (Medellín), Colegio Rochester (Bogotá) — enroll 3–6 months in advance; $8,000–18,000/yr
Pet import: dogs and cats require a health certificate from a USDA/SENASA-accredited vet, rabies vaccination, and parasite treatment — no quarantine for most nationalities
ICA (Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario) is the Colombian authority for pet imports — check current requirements before flying
Airlines: Avianca allows pets in-cabin on many routes; most US carriers allow Colombian pet imports with advance documentation
Colombian public schools: free, excellent for Spanish immersion, but fully Spanish-medium — suitable for younger children adapting long-term
Spouse/partner visa: partners of DN visa holders should apply for a dependent visa simultaneously to ensure legal status for the full stay
Family-friendly neighborhoods: Envigado and Sabaneta (near Medellín), Usaquén and Cedritos (Bogotá) — quieter, suburban, excellent schools nearby

FAQs