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Colombia

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At a glance

Living index rating
Affordable
Monthly rent
COP 900,000 – COP 1,800,000 for a shared room (Bogotá and Medellín higher)
Monthly food
COP 700,000 – COP 1,200,000
Other monthly expenses
COP 400,000 – COP 800,000 (transport, phone, health insurance, personal)
Visa processing time
About 2 – 4 weeks
Family allowed for students
Limited

Visa requirements

  • V (visitor) visa for students, applied for online with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería) for courses over 180 days
  • Acceptance or enrolment letter from an approved Colombian institution
  • Proof of financial means for your stay (a minimum based on the monthly minimum wage), or a scholarship or sponsor
  • Health insurance valid in Colombia and a criminal record certificate
  • Register with Migración Colombia and get a foreigner ID (Cédula de Extranjería) after arrival
  • Work is limited: postgraduate students may work up to 20 hours a week; check the conditions on your visa

Work permit after studies

  • No post-study work visa
  • Graduates need a job offer and a V or M work visa sponsored by an employer

Citizenship route

  • Resident (R) visa usually after 5 years on qualifying M (migrant) visas; time on a student V visa generally doesn't count
  • Naturalisation after 5 years as a resident (2 years if married to a Colombian, with a Colombian child, or for Spanish nationals; 1 year for some Latin American nationals)

Family details

  • Only postgraduate students can include family members as beneficiaries on their visa
  • Beneficiaries can't work on that visa

Universities in Colombia

Top-ranked

All other universities and colleges (272), A–Z

This guide is for general information. Visa and immigration rules change often, so always check the official government website before you apply. Last updated 6 October 2026.