Colombia digital nomad visa in 2026: requirements, fees, and which eSIM to use

Disclosure: MedTravel Colombia may be compensated by clinics or travel partners when readers inquire or book through this site. Compensation never changes our prices, verification rules or what we say about a clinic.

Colombia’s digital nomad visa — officially the Visa V – Nómada Digital — lets remote workers live in the country for up to two years on foreign income. The test is simple and set in pesos: three times the Colombian minimum wage, every month, for three months. Most short-stay visitors, including patients on treatment trips, don’t need it at all. This guide covers both, then the practical question every arrival faces: which Colombia eSIM to install before you land.

01What is the Colombia digital nomad visa?

The Visa V – Nómada Digital is a visitor-category visa for people who work remotely for employers or clients outside Colombia. It is valid for up to two years.¹ Its rules are set out in Resolución 5477 of 2022, the Foreign Ministry’s visa regulation.²

02Requirements

• Nationality. A passport from a country whose citizens don’t need a visa for short stays in Colombia. US citizens qualify.
• Income. Bank statements showing income of at least three times the SMMLV (the monthly minimum wage) in each of the last three months.¹
• Health insurance. A full-risk policy valid in Colombia for the whole stay, covering accident, illness, maternity, disability, hospitalization, death and repatriation.

With the 2026 minimum wage at COP 1,750,905,⁵ the threshold works out to COP 5,252,715 a month — roughly USD 1,400 at recent exchange rates, per one secondary source.⁶ Because the minimum wage changes every January, the threshold does too; check it against the current SMMLV when you apply.

Does my health insurance need to cover medical treatment?

The visa requires comprehensive cover valid in Colombia. Note that standard travel insurance generally excludes trips taken for the purpose of treatment — see travel insurance for treatment in Colombia.

03Fees and how to apply

The Cancillería’s fee schedule lists two charges: a study (application) fee of USD 56 and a visa issuance fee of USD 183 — USD 239 in total. Applicants in Europe and Cuba pay EUR 44 and EUR 141.³

You apply online through the Cancillería’s visa portal: tramitesmre.cancilleria.gov.co.⁴

1. GatherDocuments. Passport, three months of bank statements showing the income, and the health insurance policy. Check the portal’s current document list.
2. ApplyOnline form. Submit on the Cancillería portal; the USD 56 study fee applies.
3. DecisionIssuance. The USD 183 visa fee completes the USD 239 total.

04Or just come as a tourist

If your trip is shorter than three months — which covers nearly every dental or surgical visit — you don’t need a visa. US citizens can stay 90 days or less per entry, up to 180 days per calendar year. You can request a 90-day extension from Migración Colombia before the first 90 days end; overstaying brings a fine.⁷

• Your passport must be valid for the whole stay; six months’ validity and one blank page are recommended.
• Colombia may deny entry without a return ticket.
• Declare cash over USD 10,000 on entry or exit.

The Cancillería also lists a Tratamiento Médico (medical treatment) visa category. We haven’t researched its requirements.

05Check-MIG: the form to fill in before you fly

Check-MIG is Colombia’s online migration pre-registration, and it is still required in 2026. The US State Department puts it plainly: complete Colombia’s free online Check-MIG form between 1 and 72 hours before your flight.⁷ Migración Colombia’s form applies to nationals and foreigners entering or leaving the country.⁸ It is free — ignore any site that charges for it.

Fill it in again for your departure flight home.

06Colombia eSIM options

An eSIM is the easiest way to have data from the moment you land — for ride-hailing apps, messaging your clinic and maps. Three widely used providers sell Colombia plans:⁹

Do I need calls and SMS, or just data?

For most visitors, data is enough — WhatsApp handles calls and messages with clinics, drivers and hosts. If you need a Colombian number (some banks and apps require one), buy a local prepaid SIM from a carrier store.

Does my phone support eSIM?

Most recent iPhones and many Android phones do, but the phone must be carrier-unlocked. Check before you buy.

07Colombia’s mobile networks

Colombia’s mobile market is now a two-horse race. By CRC data from September 2025, Claro held 44.02% of mobile lines and Tigo-Movistar 43.02%, with WOM at 6.68%. The merger of Tigo and Movistar closed in February 2026.¹⁰ In practice, any eSIM will run on one of these networks; Holafly states it uses Movistar’s.

Having treatment in Medellín? Most treatment trips fit comfortably within the 90-day visa-free stay. Plan the medical side with our guides to dental implants in Colombia and plastic surgery in Colombia, and budget a longer stay with cost of living in Medellín and recovery stays in Medellín.