Colombia's visa system, restructured under Resolution 5477 of 2022, requires a medical assistance plan for every long-stay Migrante visa. But the specifics — what the plan must cover, how long it must be valid, and what documentation is required — are the same across all categories. What differs is the primary eligibility requirement for each visa type.
This guide walks through every major Colombian visa category available to foreigners in 2026 and explains what the medical plan requirement means in each context. Whether you are applying as a pensioner, digital nomad, investor, student, spouse, or entrepreneur, this article tells you exactly what you need.
Article 49 of Resolution 5477 establishes that applicants for Migrante-category visas must present, as a mandatory supporting document, a medical assistance plan covering:
The plan must be valid for the full duration of the requested visa. A one-year visa requires a one-year plan. A three-year visa requires a three-year plan. There is no minimum coverage amount specified in the resolution, but the plan must genuinely cover each of the seven categories — a plan that lists them nominally but excludes them through fine print is non-compliant.
The pensioner visa is designed for foreign nationals receiving a qualifying pension from a government or private pension fund. The minimum pension income threshold is three Colombian minimum wages per month (approximately USD 900 as of 2026).
Medical plan requirement: Standard Resolution 5477 compliance. The plan must cover the full visa period — up to three years. CoVisas's 3-year continuous plan is particularly well-suited for pensioner visa holders who intend to stay long-term and want to avoid annual renewal administrative burden.
Key documents alongside the plan: Pension income certificate (apostilled, translated), criminal background check (within 90 days), valid passport.
Introduced under the Resolution 5477 framework, the digital nomad visa is for remote workers and independent contractors who earn income from clients or employers outside Colombia. Applicants must demonstrate a monthly income of at least three minimum wages from remote sources.
Medical plan requirement: Standard Resolution 5477 compliance. Digital nomads who travel frequently between Colombia and other countries should note that the plan is tied to their Colombian visa period — coverage during international travel from Colombia depends on specific plan terms.
Key documents alongside the plan: Proof of remote income (contracts, payment records, bank statements), criminal background check, valid passport.
The investor visa requires a qualifying investment in Colombia — in real estate, a Colombian company, or other eligible assets — above the minimum threshold set by the resolution. The investment must be active and documented through official channels.
Medical plan requirement: Standard Resolution 5477 compliance. Investor visa holders often apply for two or three-year visas, making CoVisas's multi-year plan particularly relevant.
Key documents alongside the plan: Investment certificate from Colombia's investment registry or notarized property deed, criminal background check, valid passport.
Foreign nationals married to or in a permanent partnership with a Colombian national, or with a foreigner holding a valid Colombian long-stay visa, can apply for this Migrante visa. The relationship must be legally documented.
Medical plan requirement: Each visa holder — including the spouse or partner — requires their own individual medical assistance plan. The plan of the Colombian national spouse or the primary visa holder does not cover the dependent applicant.
Key documents alongside the plan: Marriage certificate or registered partnership documentation (apostilled and translated), criminal background check, valid passport, evidence of the relationship's authenticity.
Foreign nationals who are the biological or legally recognized parent of a Colombian national child can apply for this Migrante visa. Proof of the child's Colombian nationality and the parent-child relationship is required.
Medical plan requirement: Standard Resolution 5477 compliance for the parent applicant. The child, as a Colombian national, is not a visa applicant and does not require a foreign medical assistance plan.
Foreign students enrolled in a recognized Colombian educational institution at any level — language school, university, postgraduate program — can apply for the student visa. The institution must provide an official enrollment letter.
Medical plan requirement: Standard Resolution 5477 compliance. Many Colombian universities additionally require proof of medical coverage as a condition of enrollment — a CoVisas plan satisfies both the immigration requirement and the university's independent requirement.
Key documents alongside the plan: Enrollment letter from the institution, proof of tuition payment, criminal background check, valid passport.
Foreign nationals with a formal employment contract with a Colombian employer can apply for the worker visa. The Colombian employer typically acts as the sponsor and must meet certain registration requirements with Migración Colombia.
Medical plan requirement: Standard Resolution 5477 compliance. Note that an employed foreign worker in Colombia who obtains a cédula de extranjería may also affiliate with the EPS through their employer — but this EPS affiliation does not substitute for the medical assistance plan required at the visa application stage.
Foreign nationals who can demonstrate passive income — from investments, rental properties, dividends, or other non-labor sources — above the minimum threshold may apply for this visa. Monthly income of at least three minimum wages from passive sources must be documented.
Medical plan requirement: Standard Resolution 5477 compliance. Rentista de capital holders are often retirees or investors who benefit from CoVisas's no-age-limit policy.
Foreign nationals who own or are partners in a Colombian-registered company can apply for this visa. The company must be active, registered with the Chamber of Commerce, and generating documented revenue.
Medical plan requirement: Standard Resolution 5477 compliance. Business owners who plan to expand their Colombian operations may wish to consider a 3-year plan aligned with their business investment horizon.
| Visa Category | Plan Required? | Duration | Individual Plan per Person? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pensionado | Yes | Full visa period | Yes |
| Nómada Digital | Yes | Full visa period | Yes |
| Inversionista | Yes | Full visa period | Yes |
| Cónyuge / Compañero | Yes | Full visa period | Yes |
| Padre / Madre Nac. Colombiano | Yes | Full visa period | Yes |
| Estudiante | Yes | Full visa period | Yes |
| Trabajador | Yes | Full visa period | Yes |
| Rentista de Capital | Yes | Full visa period | Yes |
| Socio / Propietario Empresa | Yes | Full visa period | Yes |
| Visitante / Tourist PIP | Recommended | Stay duration | Yes |
CoVisas Colombia issues compliant plans for every visa category listed above. With over 20 years of experience and recognition by Migración Colombia, CoVisas is a trusted reference for the plan certificate required regardless of which visa pathway you are pursuing. Contact CoVisas by WhatsApp or email to obtain a plan certificate that matches your specific visa category and duration.
Yes. All Migrante-category long-stay visas require a medical assistance plan compliant with Resolution 5477, covering the seven mandatory risks for the full visa duration.
Yes. The Colombia Digital Nomad Visa is a Migrante-category visa and requires a full Resolution 5477-compliant plan covering all seven mandatory risks for the entire visa period.
Yes. Each visa holder needs an individual plan. A spouse or family member applying for their own Migrante visa must have their own plan certificate.
No. The Resolution 5477 plan requirement is identical across all Migrante categories — same seven coverages, same duration matching the visa period.
Yes. CoVisas issues compliant plans for every Migrante visa category, calibrated to any visa duration from 1 to 36 months.
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