What happens if I am already enrolled in the EPS and need to renew my pensioner visa?

Cancillería may require disenrollment from the social security system as a condition to approve the visa renewal, pursuant to the regulations in effect since 2022.

What is the legal alternative to the EPS for foreign pensioners in Colombia?

An international medical assistance plan such as those offered by CoVisas, which meets all coverage requirements under Resolution 5477 (accidents, illness, hospitalization, disability, repatriation, and death) without EPS enrollment and with no age limit.

EPS Health Insurance for Foreign Retirees in Colombia: The Costly Mistake (2026)

Q: Can a foreign retiree join the EPS in Colombia?

No. Resolution 5477 of July 22, 2022, Article 77, states that the M Pensioner visa does not allow its holder to enroll in the Colombian Social Security System, except under bilateral or multilateral agreements currently in force.

The Legal Basis: Resolution 5477 of 2022

One of the most frequent and costly mistakes made by foreign nationals living in Colombia is enrolling in the EPS (Empresas Prestadoras de Salud — Colombia's managed health system) while holding a Pensioner visa.

Resolution 5477 of July 22, 2022, issued by Colombia's Foreign Ministry (Cancillería), states clearly in Article 77 regarding the M Pensioner visa:

      "This visa shall have a validity of up to three (3) years and does not allow the holder to work in national territory. This visa does not allow its holder to enroll in the Colombian Social Security System, except as provided under applicable bilateral or multilateral agreements."
    

In plain terms: foreign pensioners must not enroll in the EPS — doing so directly violates the conditions of their visa as defined by Cancillería. Colombian immigration authorities may declare a visa application inadmissible if they detect that the applicant is enrolled in the EPS, as this constitutes a breach of the Pensioner visa category restrictions.

Foreign retired couple enjoying retirement in Colombia with a Pensioner Visa — The Pensioner Visa allows foreign retirees to live in Colombia — provided they comply with the medical coverage requirements of Resolution 5477 of 2022.

Why Did Colombia Restrict EPS Access for Foreign Retirees?

The reason is straightforward: Colombia does not want its already-strained public health system flooded with older foreign enrollees who frequently present high-cost pre-existing conditions.

That is why all visa applicants must present a private medical insurance policy or plan demonstrating coverage for: accidents, illness, hospitalization, disability, repatriation, and death.

Doctor consulting an elderly foreign patient at a clinic in Colombia — Colombia offers world-class medical care — but EPS access for foreign pensioners has been legally restricted since 2022.

How Colombia's EPS Contribution System Works

Colombia's EPS is a contributory system: workers and employers fund it through monthly contributions based on declared income. Independent workers (those without a Colombian employment contract) must pay the following:

Contribution	Rate on Declared Income
Health (EPS)	12.50%
Pension	16.00%
ARL (occupational risk)	From 0.522% (Level I) to 6.960% (Level V)
Caja de Compensación Familiar	0.6% or 2% depending on benefits

Example: on Colombia's current minimum wage (1,790,905 COP), an independent worker would pay approximately 543,400 pesos per month, covering health, pension, occupational risk and family compensation.

Foreign pensioners receive no income from Colombian sources and are prohibited from paid work in the country — which makes EPS enrollment logically and legally impermissible in all cases.

The Renewal Problem: From a Historic Bargain to Forced Disenrollment

Under older regulations, this was not prohibited. In practice, thousands of foreign residents with Colombian visas accessed a comprehensive health system — with no coverage restrictions, no waiting periods, and coverage for any pre-existing or chronic condition — at rates as low as $50–70 USD per month.

For context: in the United States, retirees typically pay $200–500 USD per month for minimal coverage. In Colombia, they received unlimited medical appointments, diagnostic tests, medications, and surgeries. This unsustainable situation triggered regulatory reform, and access for foreign pensioners was restricted.

The only exception is bilateral or multilateral social security agreements between Colombia and the retiree's home country. To date, Colombia has not signed such agreements, leaving some normative grey areas.

      The renewal trap: many people who enjoyed this benefit are now finding — when renewing their visa after 2022 — that Cancillería requires full disenrollment from the social security system as a condition for approval. This is a stressful and often costly situation for foreign nationals who have been living in Colombia for years.
    

Private Colombian Insurers and Their Age Limits

Compounding the problem: most well-known Colombian private insurers — as in many countries — impose age limits on enrollment, typically capping coverage at 65, 69, or 70 years old. This automatically excludes many foreign retirees from local private insurance, supplementary plans, or policies.

Many Colombian insurers also require EPS affiliation as a condition of their supplementary plans — creating a direct conflict: foreign pensioners cannot enroll in the EPS, yet some private plans require it. This makes it especially difficult for retirees over 70 to meet the mandatory health coverage requirement.

As for international health insurance plans, options are scarce and often exceed $5,000 USD per year — difficult to sustain for someone living on a foreign social security pension.

Person signing a medical assistance plan contract for their Colombia visa — Choosing the right plan — not an EPS — is what prevents delays and rejections in the Colombian visa process.

CoVisas: The Right Solution for Foreign Retirees in Colombia

CoVisas offers international medical assistance plans that fully satisfy the health coverage requirement for Colombian visas: accidents, illness, disability, hospitalization, repatriation, and death — at accessible prices, with coverage options of 1, 2, or 3 years, and no age limit.

Stethoscope representing the health coverages included in CoVisas plans for Colombia visas — CoVisas plans include all 7 coverages required by Resolution 5477: accidents, illness, hospitalization, disability, maternity, repatriation, and death.

Why Foreign Retirees Choose CoVisas

✅ Complete medical assistance plans — valid for long-stay visa applications and renewals

✅ Best rate on the market and discounts for multi-year contracts

✅ Backed by qualified, certified providers

✅ Over 20 years of proven legal and financial experience

How to Get Your CoVisas Plan — Step by Step

Request your quote with your full name, date of birth, country of origin and desired coverage period (1, 2 or 3 years). Complete the digital due diligence form required under Colombian data protection, SARLAFT and OFAC regulations.

Review and select the quote that best fits your situation.

Choose your start date and coverage period. Ideally, activate the plan on the same day you submit your visa application through Cancillería's platform. Once the coverage starts, the start date cannot be changed.

Receive payment links once your application is approved.

Receive your documents: consular letter for your visa application, contract specifying all plan coverages and benefits, and a digital membership card with medical assistance contact channels.

We guarantee your visa requirement and your peace of mind!

Legal source: Resolution 5477 of July 22, 2022, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia (Cancillería), Article 77 on the M Pensioner visa. This content is informational and does not constitute individualized legal or immigration advice. For your specific situation, consult directly with CoVisas Colombia.