Costa Rican Expats in Colombia 2026 — Visa M, Health Insurance & Tax Guide

Costa Rica at a Glance

Why Costa Ricans Choose Colombia

Colombia has become an increasingly attractive destination for Costa Rican professionals and retirees. The shared language eliminates a significant cultural barrier, while Colombia's lower cost of living — particularly in cities like Medellín, Cali, and Barranquilla — allows Costa Ricans accustomed to higher costs at home to stretch their income further. The thriving tech, startup, and creative sectors in Bogotá and Medellín attract young professionals, while Colombia's natural diversity and climate variety appeal to those seeking a lifestyle change.

Retirees are drawn to Colombia's pensioner visa pathway and the warm climate of cities like Pereira or Santa Marta. The cultural similarities between the two countries — both predominantly Catholic, with similar family values and cuisine — ease the transition considerably. Many Costa Rican entrepreneurs also take advantage of Colombia's growing economy and proximity to both North and South American markets as a strategic regional hub.

Visa-Free Entry & Visa M Overview

Costa Rican passport holders enjoy visa-free entry to Colombia for tourism and short stays.

For stays beyond 90 days, or to work, invest, or study in Colombia, Costa Ricans must apply for a Visa M (Migrante). Visa M applications are processed through the Colombian Cancillería's online portal. The application fee is USD 255, plus an issuance fee of USD 232 once approved.

Visa M Subcategories for Costa Ricans

Health Insurance in Colombia: Why CCSS Does Not Follow You

The CCSS (Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social) is Costa Rica's universal social security and health insurance system, funded by mandatory employer and employee contributions. It provides comprehensive coverage — from primary care through polyclinics to specialist hospital care — to all formal workers and their dependents within Costa Rica. Private supplementary insurers such as INS (Instituto Nacional de Seguros) and MAPFRE Costa Rica offer optional top-up coverage inside the country.

The critical issue for Costa Rican expats is that CCSS coverage is strictly territorial. Once you leave Costa Rica, your CCSS entitlements do not travel with you. Colombian immigration law requires all Visa M applicants to demonstrate valid health insurance with coverage in Colombia for the duration of their stay. Without a Colombian-compliant health insurance policy, your Visa M application will be rejected. Even if you maintain voluntary CCSS contributions while abroad, those contributions provide no coverage for medical events occurring in Colombia.

The 7 Coverages Required for Visa M Compliance

Tax Considerations: No Double Taxation Agreement with Colombia

There is currently no Double Taxation Treaty (CDI) between Costa Rica and Colombia. This means that income you earn in Colombia may be subject to tax in both countries if you maintain tax residency in Costa Rica, without automatic relief or tax credits through a bilateral treaty.

Costa Rica's tax system is administered by the Ministerio de Hacienda through the Dirección General de Tributación (DGT). Following the reforms introduced by Ley 9635 in 2019 (Ley de Fortalecimiento de las Finanzas Públicas), Costa Rica's traditionally strict territorial system was modified: foreign-source passive income such as dividends, interest, and capital gains earned abroad is now partially taxable in Costa Rica for residents. Active business income from abroad remains generally exempt for residents, but you should seek professional advice based on your specific situation. If you become a Colombian tax resident, Colombia taxes worldwide income, creating potential dual liability in the absence of a CDI. Consulting a tax professional experienced in both jurisdictions is strongly recommended before relocation.

Document Legalization for Colombia

Costa Rica has been a member of the Hague Apostille Convention since 1987. This significantly simplifies the document legalization process — Costa Rican documents only require an apostille, not full diplomatic legalization. Since both Costa Rica and Colombia are Spanish-speaking countries, no translation is required.

1. Obtain the original document — Criminal record certificate from the OIJ (Organismo de Investigación Judicial); birth/marriage certificates from the Registro Civil; university degrees from the issuing institution.
2. Apostille the document — Submit to the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto in San José (or authorized notary public for certain documents). The apostille authenticates the document for international use under the Hague Convention.
3. Submit to Migración Colombia — Apostilled documents are accepted directly. No translation or further legalization is required since documents are already in Spanish.