Ji-woo — a 31-year-old South Korean UX researcher — had a question that none of the popular Colombia expat blogs answered: did South Korean nationals need a visa to enter Colombia at all? She had searched for "Colombia visa Korea" and received contradictory answers, some referencing requirements from 2019, others from 2022. The answer in 2026: no visa is required for South Korean passport holders for stays of up to 90 days. The same is true for Japanese nationals. Chinese nationals, by contrast, require a visa prior to entry — a Visa V (Visitante) for tourism, or the appropriate Visa M for residency. Indian nationals also require a visa prior to entry. The distinction between visa-free access for short stays and the Art. 11 medical plan requirement for longer-term visa holders is a second question that the same blogs failed to address: visa-free entry does not mean visa-free long-term residency, and anyone intending to stay more than 90 days needs a Visa M with its attendant Art. 11 requirement — regardless of nationality. Ji-woo's employer transferred her to Bogotá for a one-year project. She needed the Visa M "trabajador." She needed the Art. 11 plan. The 90-day visa exemption was irrelevant to her situation.
Colombia's visa framework treats Asian nationals differently based on bilateral agreements that have changed significantly over the past decade. South Korean and Japanese nationals have visa exemptions for short stays. Chinese, Indian, and most other Asian nationals require visas prior to entry. For long-term residency across all nationalities, the Visa M framework applies uniformly — including the Art. 11 medical plan requirement that is the main practical barrier most Asian nationals encounter.
Japan (no prior visa needed)
China, India, most others
staying 90+ days
all Visa M holders
South Korean Nationals: Visa-Free Entry, Visa M for Long Stays
South Korean passport holders have bilateral visa-free entry to Colombia for stays of up to 90 days — extendable once for an additional 90 days via Migración Colombia, giving a maximum initial tourist stay of 180 days. For stays beyond 180 days, or for any formal employment, study, investment, or residency purpose, a Visa M in the appropriate subcategory is required. The Visa M application is submitted through Migración Colombia's digital portal in the same manner as any other nationality. The Art. 11 medical plan requirement applies. Korea's National Health Insurance (NHI) does not meet the Art. 11 standard for Colombian visa purposes — a separate Art. 11-compliant plan is required, typically running USD 30–80/month. Korean-language support for the Art. 11 plan process is limited in the Colombian market; most providers operate in Spanish and English, making a bilingual advisor useful.
Japanese Nationals: Visa-Free, Same Framework
Japanese passport holders have the same visa-free entry framework as South Korean nationals — 90 days, extendable once. Japan holds one of the world's most powerful passports and has bilateral agreements with Colombia covering short-stay access. For long-term residency, the Visa M framework applies identically to all nationalities. Japan's national health insurance (Kokumin Kenkō Hoken) does not meet Art. 11 requirements for Colombian visa purposes. A Colombia-compliant Art. 11 plan is required for any Visa M application regardless of Japanese health insurance coverage at home.
Chinese Nationals: Visa Required Prior to Entry
Chinese passport holders require a visa before entering Colombia — either a Visa V (tourist/visitor, short stay) for tourism purposes, or the appropriate Visa M subcategory (trabajador, estudiante, pensionado, etc.) for long-term residency. The Visa V must be obtained through a Colombian embassy or consulate prior to travel — the most accessible Colombian consular posts in China are in Beijing and Shanghai. Processing times can run 15–30 days for straightforward applications. For Chinese nationals working at a Colombian company or on an inter-company transfer, the Visa M "trabajador" is the correct instrument. As with all Visa M holders, the Art. 11 medical plan is required. China's social insurance system does not meet Art. 11 standards in Colombia. Chinese nationals in Bogotá and Medellín have a growing community, particularly in the textile and manufacturing import/export sectors — the Colombian-Chinese commercial relationship has expanded significantly since 2020.
Indian Nationals: Visa Required, Growing Expat Community
Indian passport holders require a visa prior to entry to Colombia. The Colombian embassy in New Delhi processes Visa V applications for tourist stays and Visa M applications for long-term residency. Indian nationals are among the fastest-growing expat communities in Bogotá and Medellín, driven primarily by the tech sector and multinational company secondments. The IT and software development sector in Bogotá has a significant Indian professional presence. For Visa M "trabajador" applicants, the standard documentation package applies: employment contract, RUT registration of the employing company, Art. 11 plan certificate, and passport. India's ESIC or Ayushman Bharat health schemes do not meet Art. 11 standards in Colombia. A dedicated Art. 11 plan must be obtained.
The Art. 11 Plan: The Universal Requirement All Asian Nationals Share
Regardless of nationality — Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Indian, or any other Asian passport — any foreign national applying for a Visa M in Colombia must present a Res. 5477/2022 Art. 11-compliant medical assistance plan. Home country national health insurance systems do not meet this requirement. The requirement exists because Art. 11 plans are specifically structured for the Colombian healthcare system: they must cover hospitalization, emergency care, surgery, and repatriation specifically through a Colombian hospital network (or a documented international network with Colombian access). Processing an Art. 11 plan application is straightforward and typically takes 2–5 business days. The plan certificate is then submitted as part of the Visa M application package.