Colombia’s Ministry of Labor (Ministerio del Trabajo) has published a draft decree that would establish how private employers must comply with disability hiring quotas introduced under Law 2466 of 2025, the country’s labor reform legislation.

The proposal sets out how employers must calculate the quota, report workers with disabilities to the government, implement workplace accommodations, and demonstrate compliance during labor inspections. If approved, the rules would affect thousands of private-sector employers and create new reporting obligations beginning June 26, 2026.

Colombia already has disability employment protections on paper through prior legislation, but enforcement has historically relied more on general labor inspections than on standardized employer reporting systems. This draft decree moves the policy from principle-based obligations to a more measurable compliance framework that is tied to specific quotas and reporting deadlines.

How the Hiring Quota Would Work

Law 2466 of 2025 requires employers with between 100 and 500 permanent workers to employ at least two workers with disabilities for every 100 employees. Companies with more than 500 workers must add one additional worker with a disability for each additional block of 100 workers.

The decree provides examples of how the quota would apply in practice. A company with 100 permanent workers would be required to employ two workers with disabilities, while a company with 500 workers would need 10. At 1,000 workers, the quota rises to 15 employees with disabilities, and larger employers would see the requirement continue to increase proportionally. Companies with fewer than 100 permanent workers would not be subject to the quota.

The obligation would be phased in over time. During the first year following the law’s entry into force, application of the quota would remain optional while employers conduct technical reviews of their workplaces and evaluate any adjustments that may be necessary. Beginning in the second year, compliance would become mandatory.

“Companies with up to 500 workers must hire or maintain at least two (2) workers with disabilities for every 100 workers.” — Article 15, Law 2466 of 2025

Which Workers Count Toward Compliance?

Under the draft decree, permanent workers are defined as employees hired under employment contracts lasting longer than one month, regardless of contract type. Temporary staffing companies would be required to count both their internal personnel and workers assigned to client companies when calculating their workforce.

The proposal also addresses apprentices. While apprentices would not increase the workforce base used to calculate the quota, apprentices with disabilities could count toward compliance. Employers that ensure at least 25% of their apprentices are persons with disabilities would also see their apprenticeship obligation reduced by half.

To be counted toward the quota, a worker must hold a disability certificate issued under Resolution 1197 of 2024 of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and be registered in Colombia’s Registro de Localización y Caracterización de Personas con Discapacidad (RLCPD), the national disability registry.

The requirement to be registered in the national disability registry is significant in practice because it links employer compliance directly to Colombia’s public health and identification systems rather than self-declaration or internal HR classification.

New Reporting Requirements

Beginning June 26, 2026, employers covered by the quota would be required to submit information to the Ministry of Labor identifying qualifying employees. Until the government’s planned national worker registry becomes operational, reports would be submitted directly to the ministry.

Employers would be required to provide company identification information, employee identities, hiring dates, disability certification documents, and certification of the company’s total number of permanent workers. After the initial filing, companies would be required to submit quarterly reports during the first 10 business days of January, April, July, and October.

The ministry would verify compliance by cross-checking employer submissions against disability certification records maintained by health authorities.

Reasonable Adjustments Become a Central Requirement

A substantial portion of the draft decree focuses on ajustes razonables, known in English-language disability law as reasonable accommodations or reasonable adjustments.

The proposal would require employers to evaluate workplace barriers, assess individual needs, and work with employees to identify accommodations that allow workers with disabilities to perform their duties effectively. Examples cited in the decree are physical accessibility improvements, adaptive furniture, assistive technologies, modified schedules, telework arrangements, and other workplace adaptations.

Employers would generally be expected to prioritize the accommodation preferred by the worker unless it creates a disproportionate or undue burden. Where a requested accommodation is not feasible, the employer would be required to justify its decision, propose alternatives, and evaluate whether those alternatives are effective.

The decree further states that failure to provide reasonable adjustments could constitute workplace discrimination. In Colombian labor practice, the concept of reasonable adjustments has increasingly been shaped by Constitutional Court jurisprudence, which has tended to interpret workplace accommodation as an enforceable obligation rather than a discretionary employer measure in cases involving protected groups.

When Compliance Is Not Possible

The draft also establishes a procedure for employers that believe compliance is genuinely impossible. This could include situations in which no qualified candidate with a disability applies for a position or where an employer argues that a specific role cannot be performed by a person within any recognized disability category, even after reasonable accommodations are considered.

In such cases, employers would be required to notify the Ministry of Labor and provide supporting evidence. Labor inspectors would then evaluate the claim, reviewing workplace conditions, occupational-risk assessments, and the feasibility of accommodations before issuing a determination.

Any finding of impossibility would remain valid for no more than one year and would not reduce the employer’s calculated quota. This mechanism is designed to prevent employers from using operational constraints as a permanent exemption, limiting impossibility findings to time-bound administrative determinations subject to renewal and review.

Inspections and Enforcement

Employers covered by the quota would also be required to publish vacancies through Colombia’s Public Employment Service (Servicio Público de Empleo), which would refer candidates, including applicants with disabilities.

Compliance would be monitored through quarterly reports, payroll reviews, and verification of disability certifications. Employers found in violation could face administrative investigations under Law 1610 of 2013, which governs labor inspections and sanctions.

The ministry said personal information collected through the reporting process would be handled in accordance with Colombia’s data protection regime established under Law 1581 of 2012.

Part of a Broader Inclusion Framework

The draft decree builds on Colombia’s existing legal framework for disability rights and workplace inclusion. It incorporates principles established under Statutory Law 1618 of 2013, Law 361 of 1997, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and International Labour Organization Convention 159.

The proposal also references recent Constitutional Court jurisprudence, including Sentencia T-062 of 2025, which addressed employers’ obligations regarding reasonable accommodations in the workplace.

The draft decree, signed by Minister of Labor Antonio Eresmid Sanguino Páez, has been published for public comment before moving forward in the regulatory approval process.

The latest decision is Decree 0182 of 2026, which centralizes the provision of health services in approximately 45% of the country under the administration of Nueva EPS, a mixed public-private company currently under government intervention. As part of the measure, the insurer would receive 2,84 million reassigned members.

According to the government, the decree seeks to modify the flow of resources within the system so that funds would be paid from the government directly to healthcare providers, such as hospitals and clinics. This change would limit the traditional role of the Entidades Prestadoras de Salud (EPS), the system’s intermediaries, whose reduction has been one of the Petro administration’s key policy goals.

President Petro has publicly defended this approach. In a message posted on the social media platform X, he said that EPS entities “devour 70 trillion pesos annually and demonstrably benefit the wealth of their owners.” The president has also blamed these institutions for the crisis affecting the health sector over the past decade, arguing that during that time “the theft of health resources multiplied, and 117 EPS were liquidated to avoid paying their debts.”

The decree has sparked debate in the media. Some reports, including those published by the outlet Infobae after reviewing the official document, described the measure as a “mass transfer of patients and territorial reorganization of the health system.” However, the Ministry of Health rejected that interpretation and clarified that the measure “does not involve an arbitrary transfer of users, but rather a technical step aimed at correcting structural failures in the insurance model”.

In a statement, the ministry explained that “when an EPS lacks operational or financial capacity in a given territory, the state is authorized to adopt temporary mechanisms to ensure healthcare access for users.” The ministry also stated that the goal of the decree is to guarantee effective, fair, dignified and continuous access to healthcare services across the country, particularly in regions where geographic dispersion and low population density have historically complicated service delivery.

Political and administrative context

The debate comes amid a broader process of administrative interventions within the system. According to reports cited by the newspaper El Colombiano, “over the past three years the government, through the Superintendencia Nacional de Salud, has intervened in seven EPS,” removing their management from private owners and placing them under state-appointed administrators.

The government has used this context to justify administrative measures such as those included in the decree, arguing that several insurers have demonstrated structural operational weaknesses. At the same time, the legislative debate over a comprehensive health reform has not been completely closed. According to the same outlet, the government is still exploring the possibility of reviving the reform bill through an appeal filed by Senator Fabián Díaz. In the meantime, the administration has moved forward with changes through decrees, regulatory resolutions and decisions by the health regulator.

Despite the publication of the decree, its implementation still requires additional administrative steps. According to analysis cited by Infobae, “the transfer of members will not occur automatically, as it depends on the Superintendencia Nacional de Salud issuing administrative acts that update the territorial scope of the EPS”. This means the reorganization of the system could unfold gradually once the required regulatory procedures are completed.

Health authorities are urgently calling on everyone in Colombia to get vaccinated against yellow fever starting at nine months of age, including individuals over 59 years old. Between September 2024 and now, 75 confirmed cases and 34 deaths have been reported nationwide, representing a cumulative fatality rate of 45.3%.

Confirmed cases are distributed across nine departments: Tolima (59 cases), Putumayo (7), Nariño (2), Caquetá (2), Huila (1), Vaupés (1), Cauca (1), Meta (1), and Caldas (1). Fatalities associated with the disease have been recorded in eight departments: Tolima (23 deaths), Putumayo (5), Caquetá (1), Nariño (1), Caldas (1), Cauca (1), Huila (1), and Meta (1).

Yellow fever is a viral illness transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Initial symptoms within the first 24 hours can include fever, headache, and general malaise. In the subsequent 72 hours, symptoms often intensify with gastrointestinal manifestations such as vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. From the fifth day onwards, signs like jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) and bleeding may occur, which can be fatal in unvaccinated individuals. The disease is highly preventable through vaccination, with a reported fatality rate ranging between 40% and 50%.

Colombia is implementing an urgent, free, door-to-door vaccine program to prevent the gruesome disease from spreading via mosquitos.

Since September 2024, the National Government has implemented a series of strategic actions to control the spread of yellow fever and protect public health:

• Intensified Vaccination Strategy: The age range for immunization has been expanded to include individuals from 9 months of age and older, with mass mobilization efforts in affected municipalities.
• Strengthened Epidemiological Surveillance: Over 20 rapid response teams have been deployed for active community case finding and field investigations. Entomovirological, pathological, and laboratory surveillance has also been reinforced through the national reference laboratory of the National Health Institute (Instituto Nacional de Salud).
• Expanded Primary Care: More than 100 Basic Health Care Teams (Equipos Básicos de Atención en Salud – EBAS) have been activated in municipalities with confirmed virus presence.
• Coordination with Health Promotion Entities (EPS) and Vaccination Networks: Health Promotion Entities (Entidades Promotoras de Salud – EPS) have been instructed to establish and operate vaccination teams in coordination with the public and private healthcare network in all affected territories.
• Territorial Coordination through Unified Command Posts (PMU): Twenty-two PMU sessions have been held in the department of Tolima, one in Caldas, and one at the national level, involving local, departmental, and national authorities. Additionally, an extraordinary session of the Risk Management Committee was convened in Huila.
• National Communication and Education Campaign: An information and education strategy has been activated to promote vaccination, self-care, and vector control nationwide.
• Clear Technical Guidelines for the Health System: Circulars with precise instructions for all actors in the national and territorial health system have been issued, disseminated, and technically supported.

The outbreak has demonstrated a progressive expansion, particularly in areas of the Amazon basin, the Magdalena River valley, and departments such as Meta, within a short period. Cases have also emerged in territories with no historical records of the disease, such as the municipality of Neira in Caldas, located in the coffee-growing region.

While urban transmission of yellow fever has not been reported in Colombia since 1929, there is a potential risk of re-emergence due to the frequent entry of individuals into enzootic areas—where the virus circulates in its sylvatic cycle through Sabethes and Haemagogus mosquito species—and their subsequent movement to urban zones below 2,200 meters above sea level, inhabited by urban cycle transmitting species such as Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.

Epidemiological monitoring has identified cases in populated centers and urban peripheries of municipalities with low population density, indicating a risk of expansion into larger urban centers. Given this scenario, vaccination remains the most effective tool for controlling yellow fever. Analysis of fatal cases has shown that the deceased individuals were unvaccinated, underscoring the urgency of increasing vaccination coverage. Territorial entities must prioritize immunization of the entire population over 9 months of age in high-risk municipalities and strengthen the intensification strategy in the rest of the country.

The Minister of Health and Social Protection (Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social), Dr. Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo, stated, “With the declaration of the yellow fever emergency, we are intensifying actions to protect the entire population. Our Basic Health Teams, totaling more than 10,000, continue to travel to vaccinate all people in the most remote areas of the country, especially in high-risk zones. The vaccine is free, safe, and administered in a single dose, at least 10 days before entering risk areas.”

The Minister also added that door-to-door campaigns, vaccination drives in educational institutions, transportation terminals, military and police facilities, and other collective spaces will be strengthened. Furthermore, mosquito control measures will be reinforced, and immediate access to healthcare services without barriers will be guaranteed.

Considering the above, and within the framework of the declared health emergency, the following measures are adopted at the national level to contain the yellow fever outbreak, protect the lives of the population, and ensure a coordinated response from the health system:

• Mass Vaccination: A national mass mobilization will commence in high-risk municipalities and extend to the rest of the national territory. The vaccine is free, safe, administered in a single dose, and should be received 10 days before entering risk areas. Strategies will include door-to-door campaigns and vaccination in educational institutions, transportation terminals, military and police facilities, and other collective spaces.
• Integrated Vector (Mosquito) Control: Actions to control mosquitoes in homes, communities, healthcare facilities, and high-traffic areas such as market squares and terminals will be intensified. Mosquito nets will also be distributed in high-risk rural areas.
• Immediate Deployment of Basic Health Teams and Rapid Response Teams: These teams will play a crucial role in case identification, community education, epidemiological monitoring, and vaccine administration, bringing services closer to the most vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations.
• Centralized Management of Health Services: Regional Emergency and Disaster Centers (Centros Reguladores de Urgencias y Emergencias – CRUE) will assume control of the availability of Intensive Care Units (ICU) and patient transfers.
• Obligations of Health Promotion Entities (EPS): EPS are required to allocate all necessary technical and financial resources through their public, private, and mixed networks to guarantee vaccination, prevention, and care for their entire affiliated population. Prior authorization from EPS for the provision of health services is not required.
• National Hospital Alert: A yellow hospital alert is activated throughout the public, private, and mixed healthcare network nationwide. This will be elevated to orange alert in municipalities with human cases and, if justified, to red alert, based on the analysis conducted by the territorial entity with the support of the Ministry of Health and the National Health Institute.
• Mobility Restrictions: Local authorities may implement access restrictions to areas with active virus transmission, following established protocols and in coordination with police forces. The protection of medical personnel during these operations will be guaranteed.
• Requirement of International Vaccination Certificate for Travelers: In compliance with the International Health Regulations, international travelers entering the country may be required to present a yellow fever vaccination certificate. The vaccine must have been administered at least 10 days before entering risk areas. (This measure will be adjusted based on World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations to avoid impacting tourism and trade).
• Culture of Prevention: Citizens are urged to adopt self-care measures, eliminate mosquito breeding sites in their surroundings, and seek timely vaccination. In particular, residents of municipalities located below 2,200 meters above sea level are advised to use insect repellent, mosquito nets, and clothing that covers the skin as personal protection measures against the yellow fever transmitting mosquito.
• Risk Management Committees: Departmental, district, and municipal territorial entities located in high-risk areas will convene risk management committees to adopt comprehensive control and risk management plans.

The director of the National Health Institute, Diana Marcela Pava, reiterated the duty to protect the health and lives of Colombians. “The measure to declare a health emergency was subjected to a rigorous risk assessment exercise, which is an internationally validated process to establish the level of risk the country is facing,” explained the director, adding that “thanks to this exercise, the measures announced by the Ministry of Health were taken.”

The Vice Minister of Public Health, Jaime Urrego, stated, “This emergency has a preventive emphasis. The vaccine saves lives, and this emergency reminds us that we must take extreme precautions. There are two key points: the change in the behavior of the disease and the risk of urbanization, especially in municipalities below 2,200 meters where we must vaccinate the entire population. We are not seeking to generate fear but to act jointly with experts to stop yellow fever.”

The General Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Rodolfo Salas, affirmed, “Colombia is a social state governed by the rule of law, where the right to life and health prevails. According to Article 69 of Law 1753 of 2015, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection is the competent governing body to declare a health emergency in the event of epidemics that endanger the public health of the country. This virus is showing rapid transmission, so we call on the competent authorities to take the necessary measures to prevent its spread.”

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection calls for the shared responsibility of all actors in the health system, territorial authorities, and the community in general to confront this emergency and protect lives.

Information for Travelers and Individuals in Risk Areas:

Yellow fever is transmitted by the bite of infected Aedes and Haemagogus mosquitoes. These mosquitoes typically bite during the day. For travelers and residents in areas below 2,200 meters above sea level, especially those in the departments with reported cases, the following precautions are recommended:

• Vaccination: The yellow fever vaccine is highly effective and provides lifelong protection with a single dose. It is recommended to receive the vaccine at least 10 days before traveling to or residing in risk areas. The vaccine is available free of charge in affected municipalities for individuals over 9 months of age.
• Insect Repellent: Use insect repellent containing DEET.  Follow the instructions on the product label.  
• Protective Clothing: Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and shoes when outdoors, especially during peak mosquito biting times.
• Mosquito Nets: Use mosquito nets (bed nets), especially if sleeping outdoors or in unscreened accommodations. Permethrin-treated nets offer additional protection.
• Eliminate Mosquito Breeding Sites: Regularly empty and clean containers that can hold water, such as flowerpots, tires, buckets, and pet water dishes, around your home to prevent mosquito breeding.
• Seek Medical Attention: If you develop symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting, or jaundice, especially after being in a risk area, seek medical attention immediately. Early diagnosis and supportive care can improve outcomes.
• International Travel Requirements: Travelers entering Colombia from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission may be required to present an international certificate of vaccination against yellow fever, as per the International Health Regulations. It is advisable to check the latest requirements before traveling. Similarly, travelers departing from Colombia to certain countries may also need proof of vaccination.

The current health emergency underscores the importance of vaccination and preventive measures to mitigate the risk of yellow fever transmission in Colombia. Residents and travelers in affected areas should adhere to the recommendations of health authorities to protect themselves and prevent further spread of the virus.

Photos © Loren Moss

A list of zones at high risk for yellow fever in Colombia is available on the Colombian Ministry of Health’s website: https://www.minsalud.gov.co/Regiones/Paginas/-Viajeros,-a-vacunarse-contra-la-fiebre-amarilla-.aspx

Actions to Take:

• Avoid travel to Huila, Colombia.
• If traveling to Huila, Colombia consult your medical provider for advice on proper precautions to take when traveling to a zone with high risk of yellow fever.

As a courtesy to readers, this message has been reprinted in its entirety as issued by the US Embassy in Bogotá.

Assistance:

U.S. Embassy Bogota, Colombia
Tel. +57-1-275-2000 or 601-275-2000
acsbogota@state.gov
https://co.usembassy.gov/

U.S. Consular Agency, Barranquilla
conagencybarranquilla@state.gov

U.S. Department of State – Consular Affairs
1-888-407-4747 or 1-202-501-4444

Colombia Country Information

Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive security updates

Follow the embassy on Facebook and Twitter

The following categories of events/businesses are among those that will be required to enforce this requirement:

• Restaurants
• Bars
• Movie theaters
• Dance clubs
• Concerts
• Casinos
• Sporting events
• Amusement parks
• Museums
• Exhibitions/trade shows

Specific locations and restrictions may vary based on local guidance provided by cities and departments.

Guidance issued by the Colombian Ministry of Health clarifies that proof of vaccination may be either physical or electronic and that those vaccinated outside the Colombian system may show documentation from wherever the vaccination was received.

Actions to Take:

• Carry proof of vaccination with you to gain admission to events and in the public venues listed above.
• Those who received a vaccination in Colombia can download a digital vaccine certificate from mivacuna.sispro.gov.co.
• Those who received a vaccination in the United States, or another country, can present any document that demonstrates proof of vaccination.

Significant portions of this article were compiled by communications issued by the US Embassy in Bogotá.

​​Representing the US Embassy, Counselor Mark Wells highlighted “the enormous advances that Colombia has made in its vaccination campaign.”

“The single-dose Janssen vaccine will allow the government of Colombia to provide these vaccines to some of the most vulnerable in the country, increasing the population of vaccinated Colombians by over one third.” –  US Embassy

“We congratulate you and your government for having reached the goal of administering more than 17 million doses before the end of June and for having recently vaccinated more than 2 million people in just one week,” Wells said, adding that the US is ready “to help Colombia achieve herd immunity, with a minimum of 70% of its population receiving at least one dose of vaccine by September.”

Colombian President Ivan Duque (above) said that this batch of donated vaccines will be distributed with 1.5 million destined to those 50 years of age and older in Colombia’s largest cities, and 1 million to small towns and rural regions with less than 10,000 inhabitants.

“I want to emphasize that the United States, not only by participating there, is helping a better equitable distribution in the world, but also, with the gesture it has with Colombia today, our country is receiving the largest donation of vaccines it has ever received. in this pandemic, but also the largest that has been registered at this time in the region,” said Duque.

“I want to reiterate our gratitude to President Biden and, also, express to him that it has been a very fruitful job that we have had with his administration, Mark (Wells, Counselor of the United States Embassy in Colombia), not only with you, with the Ambassador (from the United States in Colombia, Philip S.) Goldberg, but also, the conversations we have had with Juan González (Advisor to President Biden for Latin America) at the White House; with Dr. Sullivan  (Jacob Sullivan, National Security Advisor); those that we have also had with Secretary (of State, Antony) Blinken; those that we have also had with Dr. Will Burns (Director of the CIA), and now, this gesture, too, which stems from the communication we had in recent days with President Biden,” said Duque.

“And I also want to reiterate that our goals continue to advance. We have already exceeded the goal we had for the month of June, and we had set ourselves the task of reaching 17 million vaccinated. Well, with the data from yesterday we exceed 18 million vaccinated, to conclude the month of June and what we hope is that in this month of July that begins, we will reach 25 million vaccinated, and, without a doubt, Mark, these 2.5 million vaccines are going to be instrumental in that purpose.”

In general terms, the statute is in force for those who are on Colombian territory in an irregular manner, as long as they prove that they were in Colombia as of January 31, 2021. Additionally, those who enter the Colombian territory in a regular manner during the first two years of the statute’s validity, that is, from May 29, 2021 to May 28, 2023. However, this condition will be subject to what is established by the Ministry of Health, in relation to the declaration of the Sanitary Emergency.

The implementation of the Temporary Status for Venezuelan Migrants will be done through the Single Registry of Venezuelan Migrants (RUMV), in addition to the application and issuance of the Temporary Protection Permit; with the objective of guaranteeing the rights of the populations of special protection through differential actions.

Resolution 0971 of 2021 applies to all Venezuelan migrants who wish to stay temporarily in the national territory and who meet one of the conditions set forth in the document, in accordance with the provisions of Article 4 of Decree 216 of 2021:

1. Be in Colombian territory on a regular basis as holders of an Entry and Stay Permit (PIP), Temporary Stay Permit (PTP) or a Special Stay Permit (PEP) in force, whatever its stage of issuance including the PEPFF.
2. Be in Colombian territory on a regular basis as holders of a SC-2 laissez-passer as part of the processing of an application for recognition of refugee status.
3. To be in Colombian territory in an irregular manner as of January 31, 2021.
4. To enter Colombian territory in a regular manner through the respective legally authorized Migration Control Post, complying with the requirements established in the immigration regulations, during the first two (2) years of validity of the statute, that is to say, from May 29, 2021 until May 28, 2023. Notwithstanding, this condition will be subject to what is established by the Ministry of Health, in relation to the declaration of the Sanitary Emergency.

Continuing with the above, the registration in the Single Registry of Venezuelan Migrants will be carried out in two stages: Virtual Pre-Registration and Face-to-Face Biometric Registration, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 7 and 12 of this Resolution. The Migration Authority may advance the development of the aforementioned stages by signing inter-institutional agreements.

Humberto Rodríguez G. is an accountant, lawyer, partner, and general manager of Rodríguez Asociados Abogados y Contadores SAS. The proven Medellín-based firm has experience providing advisory services on a broad range of matters, including general business, corporations, contracts, investments, employment, finance, and taxation. For more information, connect with Rodríguez through the firm’s website, Facebook, or email at mailto:info@rodriguezasociados.co.

A negative COVID-19 test result must result from a PCR test administered no more than 96 hours prior to departure.This rule applies to all international arrivals regardless of age (including infants) or nationality. Failure to adhere to Colombian government requirements may result in denial of boarding, detention at the port of entry, and/or removal from Colombia. For further information on the policy of COVID-19 testing for inbound travelers, contact your airline and refer to press from the Government of Colombia here.

It is important to obtain test results as close to the travel date as possible, because if the test results fall outside of the 96-hour window due to a flight delay, regardless of reason, the traveler may be denied boarding.

This test requirement is in addition to the existing “Check-Mig” requirement for both inbound and outbound travelers. All travelers must complete the online Check-Mig form here between 24 hours and 1 hour prior to arrival in, or departure from, Colombia. Carry a print-out of the form and be ready to show the electronic version on his or her mobile device at Colombian immigration.

Ministry of Health Announcement (in Spanish)

When travelers are unable to present a valid and timely PCR test, the health ministry clarified that those passengers should be allowed to board if they verbally state that they had difficulties in taking the aforementioned test or in obtaining the result in the term required prior to the flight; For these purposes, the verbal attestation of the passenger will be sufficient, which will be understood to be made under the gravity of legal oath.

“When boarding the plane, the person states that he had no possibility of taking the test, he arrives in the country and the test is done maintaining isolation while the result of the test arrives. It facilitates the process and allows that there is no problem upon arrival in the country” said minister Dr. Fernando Ruíz Gómez.

According to the health ministry, the passenger must inform the Immigration Officer at the time of entry whether they have the PCR test with a negative result for covid-19 taken within 96 hours prior to boarding or if they choose to: either perform the PCR test in Colombia and remain in medical isolation until receiving a negative result of it or alternatively,  remain in voluntary isolation of 14 days in lieu of a valid test result. In either case, the traveler must provide the address or exact hotel where the traveler will isolate, and is subject to verification and spot checks by medical and immigration authorities.

The traveler is responsible for all costs of testing, isolation, and / or necessary medical treatment.

Avianca issued a statement saying “The company understands and shares that the priority is the well-being and health of both passengers and crews. Therefore, it will be attentive to the definitions of the national government and will continuously review the feasibility of the resumption of operations.” Passengers should contact the airline immediately to arrange for refunds or modifications to travel itineraries.

Over the weekend, the Colombian government decided to suspend the entry of flights from the United Kingdom immediately, either direct or by connection; and it will only allow the entry of travelers in the following cases:

• Colombians and foreigners with permanent residence in Colombia, that is, holders of a migrant visa, resident visa or courtesy visa and their beneficiaries in the country. These passengers must comply with the sanitary measures adopted by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection for this purpose.
• People belonging to diplomatic bodies duly accredited in the country.
• Foreigners who start their flight to the country before the effective date of the resolution.
• The crew of the aircraft.

The government also resolved that inadmissible foreigners must return to the country of origin immediately upon arrival, placing responsibility with the airline to arrange return on the next flight with the return costs of the inadmissible passengers assumed by the airline, in accordance with the provisions of Decree 1067 of 2015.

The health ministry also indicated that in cases where the final destination of the passengers who are allowed to enter the country does not correspond to the point of entry into the country, the transfer to the final destination will be made with all biosecurity measures and conditions. of transit and / or connection established by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the Special Administrative Unit of Aerocivil (Civil Aviation Authority).

Recent international arrivals to Colombia

Isolation and a 14 day quarantine is mandated for people in transit who boarded before the adoption of the measure and who enter the country, by air. These passengers are ordered to report immediately to local health authorities if they present COVID-19 symptoms. If symptoms appear during transit, such as while onboard an aircraft, they must immediately inform the crew and comply with the prescribed protocols.

For those people who entered Colombia on or after December 12, they must also carry out a 14-day quarantine, and they will be evaluated by the EPS (health plan), or the territorial entity in the case of travelers who are not members. For those who entered between December 5 to 11, symptoms will also be monitored.

The new genetic mutation

Colombia’s health ministry issued a communiqué explaining that in the case of Colombia, two lineages or genetic variants of the virus have been detected circulating, and 12 sub-lineages have been recognized, that is, the virus that infects Colombians is not necessarily the same as that of other countries, therefore, local viruses are recognized, as well as global genetic variants of SARS-CoV-2.

The new variant that has been recognized in the United Kingdom, identified as VUI-202012/01 is defined by a set of 17 changes or mutations, with one designated as N501Y being significant as it modifies the “spike” protein, which virus uses to bind to the human ACE2 receptor.

Changes in this part of the protein can, in theory, although the evidence is not yet sufficient, make the virus more infectious and spread more easily between people. Rapid spread of this new lineage has been reported in the UK, although for now there is no evidence that this makes the virus more lethal than the

Ruíz indicated that during December 2020, the country expects 120,000 inbound travelers, between tourists and Colombians returning from abroad. “As long as the Ministry of Health does not apply the ruling and does not change the rule, the situation will continue the same,” said Ruíz.

“For the people who are traveling to Colombia we want to tell them that while this situation supplies the entire legal process, they will be able to continue coming to Colombia without taking the PCR test and without having to be subjected to a mandatory 14-day quarantine,” he said.

In late November, an attorney, Alberto González Mebarack, launched a lawsuit in Bogotá to demand that the Colombian Ministry of Health reimpose the requirement for a negative PCR test on any traveler entering Colombia. After considering the demand for 11 days, the judge initially ruled in favor of the attorney, who claimed that the motivation for his suit was that Colombia does not have sufficient health care capacity to control risks caused by such international travel.

Photo courtesy Colombian Health Ministry