Bangladeshi Expats in Colombia — Complete Guide 2026 | CoVisas Colombia

1. Bangladesh at a Glance

2. Why Bangladeshi Nationals Are Choosing Colombia

Bangladesh's rapid economic growth over the past two decades — anchored in its readymade garments (RMG) sector and a fast-expanding technology ecosystem — has produced a growing professional and entrepreneurial class with the means and motivation to explore international relocation. Many Bangladeshi professionals in IT, medicine, engineering, finance, and textile management who previously settled in the United Kingdom, Canada, or the Gulf are now evaluating Latin American destinations as part of a broader portfolio approach to global mobility. Colombia's improving business environment, competitive real estate market, and proximity to North American commercial networks have attracted growing interest.

Dhaka's major private hospitals — Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) for public-sector reference, alongside Square Hospital, United Hospital, Evercare Hospital Dhaka (formerly Apollo Hospitals Dhaka), and Ibn Sina Hospital — reflect a two-tier healthcare reality in Bangladesh. Expatriates accustomed to private healthcare in Bangladesh find comparable quality in Bogotá's Fundación Santa Fe, Clínica del Country, and Clínica Palermo at significantly lower out-of-pocket cost. The Bangladeshi diaspora in the United Kingdom, now exceeding 600,000, has historically sent remittances supporting private-sector consumption in Bangladesh; some members of this diaspora are now exploring Colombia as a secondary residency or investment destination.

3. Colombian Consular Representation

4. Visa Status — Entry into Colombia

Bangladeshi passport holders appear on neither the Lista A nor the Lista C of Resolución 5488 de 2022. Both an entry visa and, separately, an airport transit visa are required for any contact with Colombian immigration control — including airside transit. For long-term stays, the Visa Migrante (Visa M) is the appropriate category. All applications are filed through visa.cancilleria.gov.co.

5. Migrant Visa (Visa M) — Long-Term Stay Pathways

Bangladeshi nationals who obtain entry authorization and seek long-term Colombian residence may apply for the Migrant Visa (M), which offers four relevant subcategories. The SMMLV for 2026 is COP 1,423,500/month.

All Visa M applications require proof of valid travel and health insurance. No double taxation treaty (CDI) exists between Bangladesh and Colombia.

6. Travel Health Insurance for Colombia

Migración Colombia requires all Visa M applicants and tourist-visa holders to demonstrate valid medical and travel insurance coverage. Coverage under Bangladesh's Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) public system, or private coverage from Square Hospital, United Hospital, Evercare Hospital Dhaka (formerly Apollo), Ibn Sina Hospital, or DMCH, does not extend to Colombia. A comprehensive CoVisas Colombia policy covers all seven mandatory coverage areas:

Colombia's private hospital network — Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Clínica del Country, Clínica Las Américas (Medellín), and Clínica Palermo — provides internationally competitive care. Your CoVisas policy ensures seamless coverage from arrival through the full duration of your Colombian stay, satisfying Migración Colombia requirements at all stages of the visa process.

7. Tax Obligations — Bangladesh and Colombia

In Bangladesh: The National Board of Revenue (NBR / জাতীয় রাজস্ব বোর্ড) administers a progressive personal income tax with rates rising to 30% on the highest income bands. A Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) is mandatory for any individual meeting the filing threshold, and TIN is required for a wide range of financial transactions including bank accounts, business registration, and property purchase. Bangladesh taxes residents on worldwide income; non-residents are taxed only on Bangladesh-source income. There is no general capital gains tax on securities listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) or Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE). High-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) face an annual wealth surcharge on assets exceeding defined thresholds.

In Colombia: Spending more than 183 days in Colombia within any 365-day period triggers Colombian tax residency, subjecting worldwide income to Colombian progressive personal income tax at rates up to 39%. Non-residents pay flat rates only on Colombia-source income. No double taxation treaty (CDI) exists between Bangladesh and Colombia. Bangladeshi nationals who become Colombian tax residents while maintaining Bangladesh TIN obligations may face parallel tax liability in both countries with no treaty relief — consultation with qualified tax advisors in both jurisdictions is strongly recommended before establishing Colombian residency.

8. Document Legalization — 4-Step Diplomatic Chain (Non-Hague Country)

Bangladesh is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. Documents issued in Bangladesh must pass through a full diplomatic authentication chain before they can be used officially in Colombia. The process has four steps:

1. Obtain the official document from the competent Bangladeshi authority: the Registrar General's Department (under the Law Ministry) for birth, marriage, and death certificates; the Special Branch (SB) of Bangladesh Police (Dhaka) for criminal background certificates; the relevant university or Bangladesh Technical Education Board for academic credentials. Criminal background certificates require biometric submission and typically take 2–4 weeks to process. All documents must bear original signatures and official seals — photocopies are not accepted at any stage of the chain.
2. Authentication by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Segunbagicha, Dhaka 1000). The Ministry authenticates documents for overseas use, confirming their official origin. Contact the Consular Wing of the Ministry for current processing times, fees, and supporting documents required before initiating the process.
3. Authentication at the Embassy of Colombia in Dhaka (or the accredited Colombian diplomatic mission with jurisdiction — currently the Embassy in New Delhi). The Colombian Embassy verifies the Ministry of Foreign Affairs authentication and legalizes the document for Colombian use. Contact: eindia@cancilleria.gov.co. Confirm whether a Colombian honorary consul in Dhaka can perform this function for your specific document type before travelling to New Delhi.
4. Certified translation from Bengali to Spanish in Colombia by a sworn translator registered with the Colombian Ministry of Justice and Law (Ministerio de Justicia y del Derecho de Colombia). All authenticated Bangladeshi documents must be accompanied by a certified Spanish translation (from Bengali) before submission with any Colombian visa or residency application.