Guide for Canadian Expats in Colombia 2026: Social Security Agreement, DIAN Income Tax, Passport Renewal from Bogotá, and the Res. 5477 Plan When OHIP Expires

When Claire — a 44-year-old registered nurse from Toronto — landed in Bogotá in September 2024 with a newly approved digital nomad visa, her biggest worry was not Spanish or the food: it was her Ontario pension. She had contributed for sixteen years to the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan. No one in her union knew for sure what happened to that money if she became a Colombian tax resident. Neither did her financial advisor in Toronto. This guide covers what the more than 12,000 Canadians estimated to live in Colombia need to know about the four issues no general expat guide answers: the Canada–Colombia Social Security Agreement, the implications of Colombian income tax for recipients of Canadian pensions, the process of renewing a Canadian passport from Colombia, and why Canadian travel insurance (including provincial coverage) expires exactly when they need it most.

The Canada–Colombia Social Security Agreement

Canada and Colombia signed a Social Security Agreement that entered into force in 2015. This agreement specifically covers contributions to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS), and Colombian pensions (Colpensiones). What the agreement does: it avoids double contributions to the pension system (you will not have to contribute to both countries' pension systems at the same time if you work in Colombia for a Colombian employer), and it lets you add up contribution periods to meet the minimum eligibility requirements for pensions in both countries. What the agreement does not do: it does not remove the Colombian tax obligation on Canadian pension income for Colombian tax residents. CPP and OAS keep being paid to accounts abroad without reduction — but if you are a tax resident of Colombia (more than 183 days in any calendar year), those payments must be declared on your Colombian income tax return with the DIAN.

Colombian Income Tax for Canadian Tax Residents

This is the part that surprises Canadians the most. Colombia does not have a full double taxation treaty with Canada (unlike its treaties with Spain, Switzerland, Chile and several other countries). This means that if you are a Colombian tax resident (more than 183 days in the calendar year in Colombia) and receive Canadian income — CPP, OAS, rental income from property in Canada, dividends from Canadian shares — that income is potentially taxable in Colombia. The marginal Colombian income tax rate in 2026 ranges from 0% (income below approximately COP 41 million a year) up to 39% in the highest brackets. The good news: Colombia allows credits for taxes paid abroad, so Canadian tax withheld at source on pensions can be credited against your Colombian tax liability. Advice from a Colombian accountant experienced with Canadian expats is essential before your first Colombian return.

Renewing a Canadian Passport from Colombia

Canada does not have a consulate that processes passports in Bogotá the same way as in Canadian territory. The process to renew a Canadian passport from Colombia:

1. Download form PPTC 153 (Adult Simplified Renewal) or PPTC 054 (Adult General) from the IRCC website (ircc.canada.ca). The simplified application applies if your current passport expired less than a year ago and was issued when you were 16 or older.
2. Complete the application and gather documents: Your current or most recent passport, two passport photos that meet IRCC specifications (white background, clear face, recently taken), and the fee payment (CAD 120 for a 5-year adult passport, CAD 160 for 10 years).
3. Send by registered mail to: The application goes to the Service Canada Passport Program. The mailing address depends on your registered province of residence in Canada — use the last province where you lived. Processing time from abroad: 8–16 weeks standard, 3–4 weeks urgent (extra cost).
4. Alternatively, visit the Embassy of Canada in Bogotá (Cra 7 #114-33, Bogotá) for consular services for Canadian citizens. The embassy does not issue passports directly but can certify applications and offers urgent service in documented emergencies. Consular hours: Monday–Friday 8am–12pm. Phone: +57 601 657-9800.

The Canadian Provincial Health Insurance Problem

Each Canadian province has its own suspension rule for provincial health insurance (OHIP in Ontario, MSP in BC, RAMQ in Quebec, etc.) when residents go abroad. Most provincial plans suspend coverage after 6 to 7 months outside the province. For Canadians moving to Colombia permanently or semi-permanently, this means: your provincial health insurance ends, your travel insurance expires (most Canadian travel policies are capped at 183–212 days), and you need Colombia's Res. 5477 plan as your primary health coverage. The right sequence: before leaving Canada, buy a Colombian Res. 5477 plan (CoVisas can arrange this from Canada before you arrive), confirm the suspension date of your provincial plan, and make sure there is no coverage gap between the two. Colombia's Res. 5477 plan covers hospitalization, emergencies, surgery and repatriation — it is real health coverage, not just travel insurance.

Canadian Communities in Colombia

Canadians in Colombia are concentrated mainly in Bogotá (the north — Usaquén, El Chicó), Medellín (El Poblado) and the coffee region. Active Facebook groups include "Canadians in Colombia" and "Expats in Medellín / Bogotá" with English-speaking subcommunities. The Canada–Colombia Chamber of Commerce (cancham.com.co) holds regular networking events in Bogotá and has an active network of Canadian business members.