Updated for 2026: What Travel Health Policy Options Are There For Visitors To Colombia?

Editor’s note: This article was published in 2020 during the COVID-19 health crisis. In March of that year, the government decided to close entry to the country to non-resident foreigners. Although the entry of foreigners into the country was reestablished in September, many regulations were constantly changing. The information presented in this article reflects the context of that moment regarding travel health policy options; however, the content has been edited to better represent the 2026 legal context and relevant information for travelers.

There is a lot of confusion right now regarding travel to and from Colombia during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Even the government seems confused about whether travelers must arrive with a recent negative coronavirus test, but what is important for the international traveler is to be prepared for any health contingencies during their travels, whether coronavirus-related or otherwise.

Finance Colombia spoke with colleagues at expatgroup.co to clarify the options available to travelers and visitors in order to protect their health and ensure proper coverage. Now more than ever, it is critically important to be properly protected in the case of illness or injury. Here is how travelers can take an essential fundamental first step towards a prudent visit.

The Colombian government has reopened the country for tourism. Still, passengers are concerned. What would you recommend for visitors or those seeking to live in Colombia for a time?

For all those foreigners who wish to come to Colombia either for a temporary or permanent stay, even if a negative COVID test is not required at this time, the recommendation is that they acquire a health policy with international coverage, which is valid in Colombia and also allows them to obtain health care in case of COVID-19.

But acquiring a travel health policy is not only recommended for those who enter Colombia for tourism. For foreigners who intend to apply for a visa and carry out activities other than tourism, having a health policy has become a priority.

Through Resolution 5477 of 2022, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has eliminated many of the gray areas that previously allowed certain policies to be used. Today, the law requires specific details, such as whether the travel health policy covers elements like funeral repatriation or certain pre-existing illnesses.

These elements are not included in many traditional travel health policies. This is why, at Expatgroup.co, we recommend EG Assist: a health policy designed to meet the regulations required for those seeking a visa for Colombia.

What travel health policies are available for foreigners visiting Colombia? Are there different options?

Of course. The most important thing is to understand that each foreigner who applies for a health policy for a visa has different needs:

Visa Category:

EG Assist, for example, offers different types of plans that adjust to applicants’ profiles: they cover digital nomads, retirees, investor, residents, and many more. Each one adapted to the visa’s requirements.

The available budget:

Depending on the profile, some people are willing to make a higher investment in their security policies. With EG Visa Protect Pro, a person can increase the maximum amount that the policy covers for accidents or pre-existing illnesses. It even adds protection for missing luggage, something that not many health policies offer.

Period of Coverage:

One of the main reasons the vast majority of travel health policies are not optimal for visa applications is the duration. According to Resolution 5477, the health policy must be valid for the intended length of stay in Colombia, and in recent years, the goverment has become stricter and pursues that the health policy match the maximum granted time for a visa.

And since most visas have a maximum granted time of three years, this means that most health policies that work on a yearly basis are not optimal for a visa application. Instead, a foreigner should look for options like EG Assist that offer flexible, long-term terms, available for up to 3 consecutive years.

Overall, a foreign student should not only look for a health policy that complies with the law but also one that adapts to their needs. With EG Assist, you can compare plans to choose the one that best suits you.

What requirements do travelers need to purchase a travel health policy for their stay? (Documents, etc.)

Any traveler who wishes to purchase an international health policy can easily do so by providing the following information:

– Copy of the main page of the passport.

– Date of departure to Colombia and date of birth.

– Personal and emergency contact information.

Buying a policy in the country is really not a complex procedure. In fact, with EG Assist, a person only needs to scan their passport, and their system will recognize key data, such as the document number, name, and nationality.

Please keep in mind that the travel health policy is designed for people applying for different types of visas, such as the Nomad Visa or the Retirement Visa. For this reason, unlike other options, age is not a factor in determining the cost; it is determined by the length of coverage and additional benefits.

Traveling to Colombia requires travel health policies that can work for you and for your companions’ conditions. Photo by [Add author name here].

Does having a travel health policy influence the level of care that is available?

When a foreign tourist in Colombia has an emergency or urgent need during their stay, it is much easier to receive timely medical attention if they have an active travel health policy. When a foreigner does not have medical coverage for Colombia, he or she will receive care if his or her physical integrity is at risk because the right to life prevails; however, care times may be slower, and the standards of care received may not be the highest.

People who purchase a travel health policy in Colombia often hear terms like EPS, ARL, etc. Are these relevant to the expat or visitor? What do they mean?

They are important, mainly because many people confuse these terms with alternatives that they can use to apply for a health policy to obtain a visa in Colombia.

The terms EPS (Empresa Prestadora de Salud) and ARL (Sistema General de Riesgos Laborales) apply only to Colombians and foreigners holding a Colombian visa and a foreign identity card. In fact, we have an article that talks about how foreigners residing in Colombia should contribute to the EPS. You can read more here.

But to sum up this glossary of terms within the health system: EPS are the companies that affiliate and coordinate health provision services in Colombia. On the other hand, ARLs are the companies that insure employers and are responsible for covering work-related risks and accidents. You may also hear terms such as IPS (Instituciones Prestadoras de Servicios de Salud), which are the hospitals or laboratories that directly serve people, under the authorization, direction, or company of an EPS. To be more specific, an EPS is a public health policy, distinct from a private travel health policy.

Precisely because of the number of words and terms, there is usually a lot of confusion when presenting the health criteria for a visa in Colombia. But an EPS does not include some of the stipulations in resolution 5477 of 2022, such as funeral repatriation, coverage for previous illnesses, and perhaps the most important: a guarantee of health coverage for the time you want to stay in the country. For this reason, a travel health policy is always recommended.

What is the best way for foreigners to purchase a health policy for their visit or stay?

The first step is to make an informed decision about the type of health policy you will purchase. As we mentioned before, each visitor’s characteristics will greatly affect the type of coverage you should request. Are there pre-existing illnesses? Is it a health policy to apply for some type of visa? How long should the coverage be?

The best way is to do it online before arriving in Colombia, so that, from the moment they arrive in the country, they will be covered. Through expatgroup’s partner, EG Assist, foreigners can request information from their team of experts and even complete the registration and payment process directly on their site.

In fact, the travel health policy offered by EG Assist is designed to cover all eventualities a foreigner may face before and during their stay in Colombia: medical emergencies resulting from accidents or pre-existing illnesses, as well as the possibility of repatriating the body.

Not only that, but with expatgroup.co, foreigners can receive comprehensive advice, not just on health coverage. If one of your reasons for coming to the country is to apply for a Colombian visa, in addition to recommending the best health policy, we can guide you through the process with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This support aims to save time and money for foreigners interested in living in Colombia.

You can contact us before you plan your trip to Colombia for comprehensive advice.

Website: expatgroup.co

WhatsApp/Telephone: +19547993692

E-mail: [email protected]

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