Afghan Expats in Colombia — Visa, Health Insurance & Legalization Guide 2026 | CoVisas Colombia

Afghanistan at a Glance

Why Afghan Nationals Are Moving to Colombia

Following the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, hundreds of thousands of Afghans sought refuge abroad. While Pakistan and Iran absorbed the largest numbers, a growing cohort of Afghan professionals — engineers, physicians, academics, and entrepreneurs — has been finding its way to Latin America and, increasingly, to Colombia. Cities like Medellín and Bogotá offer a comparatively affordable cost of living, a year-round mild climate, and a university and tech ecosystem that is open to international talent. Afghan nationals who built careers in education, healthcare, and IT under the previous Islamic Republic are applying those skills in a Colombian economy hungry for qualified workers.

Colombia's legal migration pathways — particularly the Visa M for investors and digital nomads — offer Afghan nationals a structured route to long-term residency. After five years of continuous legal residence, naturalization becomes possible. The well-established Arab and Lebanese community in Bogotá and Barranquilla provides a degree of cultural familiarity and existing social networks. Organizations including ACNUR (UNHCR Colombia) and IOM actively support the integration of displaced Afghans, and Colombia's Constitutional Court has consistently upheld robust protections for recognized refugees.

Colombian Consular Representation for Afghan Nationals

Visa Requirements for Afghan Nationals Entering Colombia

Afghan nationals wishing to visit or reside in Colombia must apply for a Colombian visa at the Embassy in Islamabad before departure. Those transiting through El Dorado International Airport (Bogotá), José María Córdova (Medellín), or any other Colombian airport — even without leaving the international transit zone — must additionally hold an Airport Transit Visa, per Article 8 of Resolución 5488 de 2022 (as modified by Resolución 3717 de 2023). Afghan passport holders and UNHCR refugee travel document holders should verify their specific document type with the consulate, as requirements may differ.

Colombian Visa M — Official Fees 2026

The Visa M (Migrante) is Colombia's principal long-term residency visa for foreigners. It is issued for up to three years with multiple entries and can be renewed. The table below reflects the official government fees set by the Cancillería. All fees are payable in USD or equivalent at the official exchange rate.

SMMLV 2026 = COP 1,423,500. M-7 requires proof of pension or passive income ≥ 3 × SMMLV (≈ COP 4,270,500/month). M-10 investment threshold = 350 × SMMLV (≈ COP 498,225,000). Fees subject to change; verify at cancilleria.gov.co before applying.

Health Insurance for Afghan Nationals in Colombia

Afghanistan's public health system — overseen by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) — has been severely strained since the Taliban's return in 2021, with massive brain drain of medical professionals and reduced international funding. Key facilities such as the Indira Gandhi Children's Hospital and Rabia Balkhi Women's Hospital in Kabul continue to operate with significant support from WHO, UNICEF, and MSF, but the overall system remains fragile. Complex cases are frequently referred to Peshawar (Pakistan) or Tehran (Iran).

Upon arriving in Colombia, Afghan expats must enroll in a Colombian health insurance plan as a condition of Visa M approval. Colombian law requires foreigners holding a Visa M to maintain a health insurance policy valid for the entire duration of their stay. CoVisas Colombia's expat plans cover all seven statutory categories:

Tax Considerations for Afghan Nationals in Colombia

In Afghanistan, the tax authority is the Afghanistan Revenue Department (ARD), operating under the Ministry of Finance. The income tax structure — historically a flat rate of 2% to 20% depending on the income band — has been severely disrupted since August 2021. The Taliban administration has partially resumed tax collection in areas under its control, but the formal ARD structure is largely non-functional for international purposes. The hawala system remains dominant for remittances, and most Afghan diaspora transactions occur outside formal banking channels.

In Colombia, Afghan nationals who become tax residents (spending more than 183 days in a calendar year, or any continuous 365-day period, in Colombia) are taxed on their worldwide income by the DIAN (Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales). Colombia applies progressive income tax rates on residents ranging from 0% to 39%. There is no Double Taxation Convention (CDI) between Colombia and Afghanistan. This means Afghan-source income earned while residing in Colombia may be subject to taxation in both jurisdictions, with no treaty relief available. Tax advice from a Colombian contador público is strongly recommended.

Afghan nationals who remit money to family in Afghanistan should be aware that hawala and informal transfer networks may trigger anti-money-laundering reporting requirements in Colombia. All transactions above COP 10 million (approx. USD 2,500) must be reported to the UIAF (Financial Intelligence Unit) by the financial institution.

Document Legalization for Afghan Nationals

Afghanistan is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. Therefore, all official Afghan documents — such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, police clearances, university degrees, and professional credentials — require a full four-step diplomatic legalization chain before they are accepted by Colombian authorities.

4-Step Legalization Chain (Non-Hague)

1. Notarization in Afghanistan: The document must be authenticated by a licensed Afghan notary or the issuing authority. Given the Taliban governance structure, this step is highly complex. For diaspora Afghans, documents may need to be authenticated by a remaining Afghan Embassy (some still operate under previous Islamic Republic credentials) or a recognized authority. Consult cancilleria.gov.co for current guidance.
2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in Kabul / available authority: The notarized document is presented to the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs for country-level authentication. Under current conditions, this step is severely disrupted. Contact the Colombian Embassy in Islamabad for alternative procedures.
3. Colombian Embassy in Islamabad (accredited for Afghanistan): The MoFA-authenticated document is presented to the Colombian Embassy in Islamabad for diplomatic legalization. Allow 5–15 business days; appointment required.
4. Certified Translation into Spanish: All legalized documents must be translated from Dari or Pashto into Spanish by a translator officially certified by the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A list of certified translators is available at cancilleria.gov.co.