Moving to Colombia: complete checklist for the first 90 days

By Francisco Viloria · Updated: 13 October 2026

Quick answer: To move to Colombia, organize the process in three stages: before traveling (passport, visa, apostilled documents and insurance), the first week (temporary lodging, SIM and transport) and the first 90 days (visa registration, foreigner ID card, bank account, housing, healthcare and budget).

Moving to another country is far easier with a plan in stages, and even more so when that country has procedures that depend on deadlines. This checklist gathers what is best resolved before traveling, during your first week and across your first 90 days in Colombia: visa and documents, housing, banking, healthcare, communication, transport, family and budget. It is not a rigid list but a logical order so that the urgent does not bury the important. Immigration rules and deadlines change, so confirm each procedure with the official source, and use the links in each section to go deeper. If you prefer a more general guide, also see Complete Guide to Moving to Colombia 2026.

How to think about the move: three stages

Divide the process into three blocks. The first happens before traveling and focuses on documents, insurance and fundamental decisions, such as the visa category. The second is the first week, where you resolve the basics to function: sleeping, communicating, getting around and eating. The third covers the next 90 days, when procedures are formalized and routine is built. This sequence avoids common mistakes, such as signing a long lease without knowing the city or letting an immigration deadline lapse because you are busy settling in. The most frequent mistakes are summarized in The 10 Most Common Mistakes When Moving to Colombia.

Before traveling: passport, visa and documents

Check that your passport has enough validity for the time you plan to stay and for the visa you need. Define your visa category according to your real activity, whether work, study, investment, a pension, a family tie or remote work, and confirm the requirements with the Foreign Ministry; see Colombia Visa Types: A Complete Explained Guide. Many foreigners first enter as visitors and process the visa from within the country, but the visitor stay permit has a day limit, so it pays to know in advance how long you have. Gather the documents from abroad you may need, such as marriage or birth certificates, background checks and degrees, with apostille and official translation: Apostille and translations for Colombia visas. Make digital copies and keep them in the cloud and offline: Digital document backup for expats.

Before traveling: insurance, money and health

Buy insurance with medical and evacuation coverage for the first months, even if you later join an EPS or buy a local plan. If your visa requires proof of coverage, confirm the type of insurance your category accepts. Tell your home bank about your trip, check your cards' withdrawal limits and bring a backup payment method. Carry the medications you take with a prescription naming the active ingredient, and review recommended vaccines with a travel doctor. More details in Healthcare in Colombia for foreigners: EPS, prepaid plans, private policies and international insurance and Vaccines and arrival in Colombia.

Before traveling: belongings, pets and shipping

Decide what you bring and what you leave. An international move involves transport costs, customs procedures and long lead times, and it often makes sense to bring only the essentials and furnish locally. If you will ship belongings, see International Moving to Colombia: What to Expect and Mail, packages and mailboxes. If you travel with a pet, learn well in advance the health and entry requirements of the competent authorities and the airline: Bringing Your Pet to Colombia. These procedures take weeks.

First week: temporary lodging

Book temporary lodging for the first weeks, in a safe, well-connected area representative of the city where you might live. Avoid signing a long contract blindly: knowing the neighborhood by day and night, the noise, the transport and the altitude or climate changes the decision a lot. Compare short stays with long leases in Airbnb vs long lease for foreigners. If you already have a city in mind, you can explore Medellín neighbourhoods for foreigners or Best cities to live in Colombia for expats: comparison.

First week: communication and getting around

Get mobile data as soon as possible, with either a local SIM or an eSIM, and compare plans in SIM and eSIM in Colombia for foreigners and Prepaid vs postpaid mobile. Download transport, delivery and map apps, and learn which areas to avoid at night. To get around, use authorized transport or apps of recognized reputation, and see Personal safety for foreigners in Colombia. If you plan to drive, see Driving in Colombia as a foreigner. Save 123, the single emergency number, from day one.

First week: health and physical adaptation

The first days may bring jet lag, altitude, changes in food and a different climate. Rest, hydrate, eat moderately and do not over-schedule yourself. If you arrive in a high-altitude city such as Bogotá, give your body time. Read Sleep and jet lag on arrival in Colombia, Water and food: taking care in the first days in Colombia and First month: landing checklist.

Month 1: visa, registration and foreigner ID card

If your visa was approved, check the resolution for the deadlines to register it and request the foreigner ID card from Migración Colombia; they are short deadlines and missing them can bring fines. Book the biometrics appointment when it applies: Migración Colombia appointments and biometrics. Keep the visa, ID card and passport in a safe place, with copies. If your visa is in process, keep your stay permit up to date and see Cédula de Extranjería: What It Is and How to Get It. For immigration questions, Colombia Visa Legal can guide you.

Month 1: bank account and money

With a visa and ID card, open a local bank account and define how you will receive money from abroad. Compare fees, commissions and the 4x1000 exemption. See How to open a bank account in Colombia as a foreigner: complete guide, Sending money to Colombia: fees and Dynamic keys and banks. Over time, start building history: How to build a credit history in Colombia (Datacrédito) as a foreigner.

Month 1: housing

Once you know the city and the neighborhood, look for housing calmly. A long-term lease usually requires documents, a deposit, a guarantor or rental insurance, and a clear contract. Read How to find an apartment in Colombia as a foreigner: complete guide, Checklist before signing a lease and Utilities and public services when renting in Colombia. If you settle in Medellín, Medellín Advisors and Premium Propiedades can assist you in finding a rental or a purchase. Contract internet and utilities calmly (Fiber internet and plans in Colombia).

Month 2: healthcare, insurance and routine

Define your health scheme: EPS enrollment if your situation allows, a prepaid medicine plan, a private policy or international insurance. Ask for quotes and compare exclusions; CoVisas can help with visa-related insurance. Locate your nearest clinic, pharmacy and supermarket, and see Supermarkets and delivery apps. Start building your exercise and rest routine.

Month 2: family, school and language

If you have children, research schools early, because calendars and admissions have deadlines; see Schools for foreign families in Colombia and School calendar for families. If your Spanish is limited, enroll in classes: Learning Spanish in Colombia: Schools and Methods. Language is the biggest lever of integration and reduces everyday stress.

Month 3: taxes, RUT and budget

Review your tax obligations and tax residence, and consult an accountant if you have local or foreign income: Basic taxes for foreigners in Colombia. Decide whether you need an RUT for your economic activity (Tax ID (RUT) for foreigners). Adjust your peso budget with the real expenses of your first three months and assess whether your chosen city suits you. Read Budget for the first 90 days to see how to organize it.

Budget for the first 90 days

Include temporary lodging, deposit and first month's rent, visa and ID card fees, insurance, transport, internet and phone, furniture or household items, food, leisure and a contingency fund. Budget with room to spare: the first months tend to cost more than expected because of setup purchases and learning mistakes. Costs of living vary a lot between cities; compare in Cost of Living in Medellín 2026: Complete Breakdown and Cost of Living in Bogotá 2026 and, if you earn income in another currency, remember the exchange rate can move your budget.

Integration and wellbeing

Beyond paperwork, adapting includes making friends, understanding social norms and managing distance from your family. Join local activities, learn the culture and avoid shutting yourself in a bubble of foreigners. If you feel lonely or stressed, look for support: Culture Shock and Integration in Colombia and Loneliness and support network for expats.

Frequent mistakes in a move

Letting the foreigner ID card deadline lapse, signing a long lease without knowing the neighborhood, bringing too many belongings, having no medical insurance in the first months, trusting intermediaries who promise immigration results, not keeping document copies, underestimating the budget and not learning the language. Almost all are avoided with a realistic calendar and a periodic review.

Summary calendar

Before traveling: passport, visa, documents and insurance. Days 1 to 7: temporary lodging, SIM, transport and orientation. Days 8 to 30: visa, ID card, bank account and housing search. Days 31 to 60: healthcare, school, language and routine. Days 61 to 90: taxes, budget and an assessment of whether the city suits you.

Our analysis

The costliest mistakes in a move are not expenses but deadlines: letting visa registration lapse or paying a long rent without knowing the city. A staged plan, with temporary lodging at the start, reduces both risks. If you plan to rent or buy in Medellín, Medellín Advisors and Premium Propiedades can guide you; for the visa, Colombia Visa Legal; and for travel coverage during the transition, Protege Tu Viaje.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to get the foreigner ID card?

It depends on your visa resolution. The deadlines are short.

Should I bring apostilled documents?

If you will need them for a visa, marriage or studies, apostille and translate them before traveling.

How much money do I need to start?

It depends on your city and lifestyle. Budget for temporary lodging, deposit, paperwork, insurance and a contingency fund.

Is it better to rent as soon as I arrive or wait?

The prudent approach is temporary lodging for the first weeks to get to know neighborhoods before signing a long lease.

Do I need medical insurance from day one?

It is highly recommended. Some visas require it and an emergency without coverage can be costly.

Can I open a bank account as soon as I arrive?

It depends on the bank and your status; with a visa and ID card it is easier. With only a tourist stamp, options are limited.

What should I do in my first week in Colombia?

Register your visa if applicable, get a SIM, secure stable housing and start basic procedures. Prioritize anything with legal deadlines.

How do I get a mobile line?

Through local operators, normally with your passport or ID.

What is the RUT and when do I need it?

It is the DIAN's Registro Único Tributario; banks, landlords and employers ask for it in several procedures. Whether you need it depends on your case.

When do I apply for the cédula de extranjería?

After obtaining a visa that requires it, within the legal deadline set by Migración Colombia.

How do I get around cities?

Using public transport, taxis and ride apps. Each city has its own systems and cards.

Do I need a Colombian driver's license?

Rules for driving with a foreign license depend on your visa and length of stay.

How do estratos work?

It is a classification of residential properties that influences utility rates.

How do I set up utilities?

With the service companies, normally with your lease or deed. Some require a deposit.

What delivery apps and services exist?

Several delivery and online grocery platforms exist. Coverage varies by city.

How do I handle the language at first?

Learn basic phrases and use classes or apps. Many procedures are carried out in Spanish.

How do I meet people?

Expat communities, classes, coworkings and sports activities make it easier.

How much budget do I need at the start?

It depends on the city and lifestyle; consider rent, deposit, food and transport. Include a cushion for surprises.

What about pets?

Bringing pets in involves ICA health requirements.

What insurance should I have from day one?

Health or travel insurance with medical coverage and, if relevant, renters or home insurance.

When should I review my immigration status?

Periodically, and always before your permit or visa expires. Note the key dates.

What is the weather like during the year in Colombia?

There are no marked seasons: climate depends on altitude. Coastal areas are hot, Medellín is mild and Bogotá is cool, with rainy and drier periods.

Which electrical outlets are used?

Colombia uses type A and B plugs at 110 V and 60 Hz, like North America.

What currency is used and how do I handle cash?

The Colombian peso. Cards and digital payments are widely used, but it helps to carry some cash for taxis, markets and small towns.

How does mass transit work in Medellín?

The Metro de Medellín, with train, tram, Metrocable and integrated bus lines, is paid with the Cívica card.

What is TransMilenio?

It is Bogotá's bus rapid transit system, paid with the TuLlave card.

What public holidays are there in Colombia?

There are many national holidays, several moved to Mondays, which creates frequent long weekends and higher demand for transport and lodging.

How does VAT work on purchases?

The general rate is 19% and is usually included in the displayed price.

How much should I tip?

At restaurants a voluntary 10% service charge is usually suggested and shown on the bill.

What about mail and parcels?

Courier companies deliver to the property address or pickup points, and in gated complexes the front desk usually receives them.

Where can I get help settling in Medellín?

Medellín Advisors and Premium Propiedades help foreigners with housing, paperwork and settling-in services in the city.

If you are evaluating housing or investment, Medellín Advisors can guide you on search, title review and the purchase or rental process. Always hire independent legal review.

Related guides

• Basic taxes for foreigners in Colombia
• Gyms and sports for expats
• Savings vs checking account

General information based on current rules and practice; it may change. Confirm your case with the official source or an authorized professional. Not legal, tax or medical advice.