Eritrean Expats in Colombia — Visa, Health Insurance & Legalization Guide 2026 | CoVisas Colombia

Eritrea at a Glance

Why Eritrean Nationals Are Moving to Colombia

Eritrea under President Isaias Afwerki — in power since independence in 1993 without any democratic elections — is frequently described by human rights analysts as one of the world's most closed states. Mandatory and indefinite national service drives a continuous outflow of young Eritreans, who have formed one of the world's largest per-capita refugee populations. Eritreans are the single largest group of African asylum-seekers in Europe, with major communities in Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the UK. A subset of Eritreans in Europe — those who have obtained European residence permits or citizenship but seek a warmer, more affordable long-term base — has begun exploring Colombia as a secondary destination.

Colombia's Visa M digital nomad route is particularly relevant for Eritrean professionals in the European diaspora who work remotely in IT, healthcare, and logistics. Medellín's affordability compared to European cities — combined with a growing international community and IOM-supported integration programs — makes it an increasingly realistic option. Eritrean culture, characterized by strong community solidarity and emphasis on education, aligns well with the tight-knit expat communities that have formed in Bogotá, Medellín, and Cartagena. A small Eritrean community connected to the East African diaspora network in Colombia has already begun to form.

Colombian Consular Representation for Eritrean Nationals

Visa Requirements for Eritrean Nationals Entering Colombia

Eritrean nationals must obtain a Colombian entry visa before traveling to Colombia. Additionally, under Article 8 of Resolución 5488 de 2022 (as modified by Resolución 3717 de 2023), Eritrean nationals must hold an Airport Transit Visa for any layover at a Colombian airport — including El Dorado in Bogotá — even within the international transit zone. Eritrean diaspora members traveling on UNHCR refugee travel documents should confirm with the relevant Colombian consulate whether their specific document type is accepted for the visa application.

Colombian Visa M — Official Fees 2026

SMMLV 2026 = COP 1,423,500. Verify current fees at cancilleria.gov.co before applying.

Health Insurance for Eritrean Nationals in Colombia

Eritrea's Ministry of Health oversees health infrastructure through the state-managed system, including Orotta National Referral Hospital in Asmara — the country's main tertiary facility. The PFDJ (ruling party) manages significant health infrastructure, and a notable Cuban doctor cooperation program has helped fill medical professional gaps. The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) is state-run, and the healthcare system has shown improvement despite Eritrea's closed-state nature limiting international health partnerships. The country's healthcare limitations mean that complex or specialized cases must travel abroad — typically to Ethiopia or Sudan before the conflict, or to the UAE.

In Colombia, Visa M holders must maintain valid health insurance for the entire duration of their stay. CoVisas Colombia's plans cover all seven statutory categories required by Migración Colombia:

Tax Considerations for Eritrean Nationals in Colombia

In Eritrea, the Eritrean Revenue and Customs Authority administers taxation. Income tax brackets range from 2% to 38% on Eritrea-source income. Eritrea is uniquely known for imposing a 2% Diaspora Tax (officially called the "Rehabilitation Tax" or "Recovery and Rehabilitation Tax") on all Eritrean nationals living abroad. This tax — internationally criticized by the UN and foreign governments — is levied on diaspora income regardless of residency, and is often collected through Eritrean embassies and consulates as a condition for access to consular services. Eritrean nationals in Colombia should be aware that failure to pay this tax may affect their ability to renew Eritrean passports or obtain consular services from Eritrean diplomatic missions.

In Colombia, Eritrean nationals who become tax residents are subject to DIAN taxation on their worldwide income at progressive rates from 0% to 39%. There is no Double Taxation Convention (CDI) between Colombia and Eritrea. The combination of Eritrea's unique diaspora tax and Colombia's worldwide income taxation for residents creates a complex dual tax burden with no treaty relief. Eritrean nationals in Colombia should document carefully any payments made to Eritrean authorities and consult a Colombian contador público to structure their tax situation correctly under Colombian law.

Document Legalization for Eritrean Nationals

Eritrea is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. All official Eritrean documents require a full four-step diplomatic legalization chain before Colombian authorities will accept them. Given Eritrea's closed-state nature, obtaining documents and authentic signatures from official authorities in Asmara can be particularly challenging for diaspora Eritreans.

4-Step Legalization Chain (Non-Hague)

1. Notarization in Eritrea: The document must be authenticated by an Eritrean notary or the relevant issuing authority in Asmara. For diaspora Eritreans, this may require engaging family members in Eritrea or using Eritrean diplomatic missions (USA, UK, Germany, Sudan, UAE) for document authentication. Given the closed-state nature of Eritrea, verify current procedures with the Colombian Embassy in Nairobi before proceeding.
2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Asmara): The notarized document is submitted to the Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs for country-level authentication. This step is heavily controlled given Eritrea's governance structure. Allow significant extra time; contact the Colombian Embassy in Nairobi for guidance on the most current procedure for diaspora Eritreans.
3. Embassy of Colombia in Nairobi (accredited for Eritrea): The MoFA-authenticated document is presented to the Colombian Embassy in Nairobi for diplomatic legalization. Allow 5–10 business days; appointment required. Contact enairobi@cancilleria.gov.co for current procedures and any alternative procedures for diaspora Eritreans unable to obtain Asmara-authenticated documents.
4. Certified Translation into Spanish: All legalized documents must be translated from Tigrinya or Arabic into Spanish by a translator certified by the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. See the list at cancilleria.gov.co.