Rodrigo — a 29-year-old Brazilian graphic designer — arrived in Bogotá in January 2026 expecting the same experience as his Argentinian colleague, who had entered Colombia visa-free and was working comfortably on a tourist visa while building his freelance client base. What Rodrigo didn't know — and what many Latin Americans don't realize until they're at immigration — is that Brazil's relationship with Colombia differs from Argentina's. Argentina is part of the Andean Community (CAN), a deep integration bloc that gives its citizens a different legal status in Colombia than Brazilians, who are Mercosur members but not CAN members. For Rodrigo, the rules were similar to those for a European: 90-day tourist entry, no automatic work authorization, and if he wanted to stay longer or work formally, a Visa M application. For his Argentine colleague, the path was shorter: as a CAN national, he had rights under Decision 545 of the Andean Community that simplified his work-authorized residency.
Latin America is not a monolith when it comes to Colombia visa rules. The treatment of Latin American nationals depends on which regional integration bloc their country belongs to, the specific bilateral agreements Colombia has signed, and whether their country is on Colombia's visa-free entry list for tourism. Understanding the differences determines whether someone needs a formal visa application, can enter visa-free, has accelerated labor rights, or needs to go through the standard Migración Colombia process that applies to citizens of any non-partner country.
Ecuador, Peru: strongest rights
Latin American nationals
simplified work authorization
visa-free but not CAN labor rights
The Andean Community: Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru
Citizens of Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru — the other three members of the Andean Community alongside Colombia — have the strongest preferential rights of any foreign nationals in Colombia. Under CAN Decision 545 (Andean Labor Migration Instrument), CAN nationals have the right to work in Colombia with simplified authorization: they can obtain a work permit directly from Migración Colombia without needing a prior offer of employment from a Colombian company, can access the social security system on equal terms with Colombian nationals, and have their Andean residency recognized across member states. In practice: a Peruvian professional who wants to work in Colombia applies for an Andean Migrant Worker card directly rather than going through the standard Visa M process.
Venezuelans: A Special Category Since 2021
Venezuelan nationals have been the subject of a specific Colombian policy since 2021: the Temporary Protection Status (Estatuto Temporal de Protección para Migrantes Venezolanos — ETPV), established by Decree 216/2021, which provides a 10-year regularization pathway for Venezuelans who were in Colombia by January 31, 2021. The resulting immigration document — the Permiso por Protección Temporal (PPT) — gives holders work authorization, access to the social security system, and a path to Migrant Visa status after the ETPV period. Venezuelans who arrived after January 31, 2021 are not eligible for the ETPV and follow the standard Visa process. The Art. 11 medical plan requirement applies to Venezuelans on Visa M or Visa R just as it does to any other nationality.
Mercosur Members: Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay
Citizens of Mercosur countries (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay) and associate members (Chile, Bolivia in its Mercosur dimension) enter Colombia visa-free for up to 90 days. However, Mercosur membership does not grant the same labor mobility rights as CAN membership. A Brazilian who wants to work in Colombia formally must apply for a Visa M just as a European would — the visa-free entry is for tourism/short stays, not for work authorization. One practical distinction: Colombia and Brazil have a bilateral agreement that allows Brazilian nationals' professional titles to be recognized under a slightly simplified process for certain professions, but this is a bilateral agreement, not a regional labor mobility instrument equivalent to CAN Decision 545.
Mexico, Central America, Cuba
Mexican citizens enter Colombia visa-free for 90 days. Mexico has no CAN or Mercosur membership and no specific bilateral labor mobility agreement with Colombia — Mexicans follow the standard Visa M process for work authorization. Central American nationals (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama) generally enter visa-free for 90 days; Panama, as Colombia's neighbor with the Darien gap between them, has additional bilateral facilitation. Cuba is a specific case: Cuban nationals require a visa to enter Colombia, one of the few Latin American nationalities that does — the result of a bilateral arrangement and migratory management concerns that have persisted since 2021.
The Art. 11 Plan: Universal Requirement
The Art. 11 medical plan requirement for Visitor, Migrant, and Resident visas applies equally to all nationalities, including CAN members applying for Visa M or R. The Andean labor mobility facilitation simplifies the visa category and the work authorization process — it does not waive the medical coverage requirement. CAN nationals applying for Migrant status need an Art. 11-compliant plan exactly as European or North American applicants do.