Belgian Expats in Colombia 2026: Visa M, RIZIV/INAMI Health Insurance & Apostille | CoVisas Colombia

Country Overview

Why Belgian Nationals Are Moving to Colombia

Belgium is one of the most heavily taxed countries in the world — Belgian nationals earning above EUR 45,000 per year face marginal income tax rates exceeding 50% when social security contributions are included. This fiscal burden, combined with rising housing costs in Brussels and Antwerp, has led a growing number of Belgian professionals, entrepreneurs, and retirees to explore legal tax residency alternatives. Colombia, with its five-year new-resident income exemption under Law 2010/2019, represents an attractive option for Belgian nationals with international business income or consulting revenue.

Belgium has significant historical ties to Colombia through development cooperation and the Catholic Church's missionary history. Belgian chocolatiers, logistics firms, and pharmaceutical companies including UCB have commercial presences in Colombia. The Belgian-Luxembourg Economic Union (BLEU) has historically been among Colombia's top European trade partners.

Embassy / Consulate in Colombia 🇨🇴

Visa M: Long-Term Legal Stay

All categories require: valid Belgian passport, a compliant health plan covering 7 Cancillería-required areas, a casier judiciaire central / centraal strafregister extract with Apostille, dated within 90 days, and income documentation. Belgian documents are in French or Dutch — certified Spanish translation is required. Application fee: USD 255 + USD 232 issuance if approved.

Health Insurance: 7 Required Coverages

Belgium's health insurance system operates through the RIZIV (Rijksinstituut voor Ziekte- en Invaliditeitsverzekering) / INAMI (Institut National d'Assurance Maladie-Invalidité), the federal institute that regulates compulsory health insurance. Unlike Switzerland or the Netherlands where individuals deal directly with private insurers, Belgium's system works through mutualities (mutualiteiten / mutualités) — non-profit sickness funds. The main mutualities are Christelijke Mutualiteit/Mutualité Chrétienne (CM/MC), Socialistische Mutualiteit (NVSM), Liberale Mutualiteit, and Neutrale Ziekenfonds (NZ). Every employed person and most others must affiliate with a mutuality; the mutuality manages reimbursements for medical care, hospitalization, prescriptions, and maternity.

Belgian RIZIV/INAMI coverage through mutualities is strictly territorial — it covers treatment in Belgium and, under EU agreements, in other EU/EEA countries. Upon official deregistration (désinscription / uitschrijving) from a Belgian municipality and emigration, the mutuality membership and Belgian health coverage end.

Belgian RIZIV/INAMI coverage has no validity in Colombia. The Cancillería requires a plan from a Colombia-authorized provider covering all 7 areas above.

Tax Considerations

There is no double taxation treaty between Belgium and Colombia. Belgian nationals moving to Colombia must manage their tax obligations independently in both jurisdictions.

Belgian tax exit procedure. Belgian tax residency is determined by registration in the Belgian National Register (Rijksregister / Registre national) or, absent that, by the location of one's domicile (domicile fiscal / fiscale woonplaats). Official deregistration from a Belgian municipality and registration abroad is required. However, Belgium does not automatically accept the emigration declaration as ending tax residency — the Belgian tax authorities (SPF Finances / FOD Financiën) will review the facts. Belgian nationals who retain strong ties to Belgium (property, family, business interests) may still be assessed as Belgian tax residents.

Document Legalization

Belgium joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1975. Apostilles are issued by different authorities depending on the document type: the SPF Justice / FOD Justitie for criminal record extracts and court documents, regional governments for certain civil acts, and the federal Foreign Affairs Ministry (SPF Affaires étrangères / FOD Buitenlandse Zaken) for legalization of documents intended for use abroad. An online apostille portal is available for certain document categories.

Casier Judiciaire / Strafregister — Step by Step

1. Request the casier judiciaire central / centraal strafregister extract online through the SPF Justice portal, in person at the Service du Casier Judiciaire Central (Brussels), or through the Belgian Embassy in Bogotá. The extract for use abroad (extrait de casier judiciaire à usage étranger) is the correct document. Cost: free or low-cost depending on the channel. Processing: same day (online) to 5 business days (in person). Must be dated within 90 days.
2. Obtain the Apostille from the SPF Justice / FOD Justitie. This can usually be done at the same time as requesting the casier judiciaire extract — request it explicitly when applying. Online requests may include the Apostille option. Processing: same day to 3 business days.
3. Certified Spanish translation. The Belgian criminal record extract (in French or Dutch) must be translated into Spanish by a certified translator (traducteur juré / beëdigd vertaler) authorized by the Colombian Cancillería.