Kazakh Nationals Moving to Colombia: Complete 2026 Guide | CoVisas Colombia

1. Kazakhstan at a Glance

Kazakhstan is Central Asia's largest economy and a country undergoing rapid modernization — from the gleaming new capital of Astana to a growing middle class with increasingly global horizons. As Kazakhstani citizens travel, study abroad, and build international businesses, Colombia has emerged as an appealing destination for its warm climate, affordable cost of living, vibrant cities, and growing expat community.

2. Why Kazakh Nationals Choose Colombia

Kazakhstan's growing professional class, digital entrepreneurs, and retirees are increasingly drawn to Colombia for a combination of practical and lifestyle reasons. The cost of living in Colombian cities like Medellín, Bogotá, and Barranquilla is significantly lower than in Western Europe or North America, while offering a high standard of urban amenities, an expanding coworking culture, and year-round temperate climates. For Kazakh professionals working remotely or running international businesses, Colombia's favorable time zones for global operations and improving digital infrastructure make it an attractive base. Beyond economics, the cultural richness — from the coffee-growing regions of the Eje Cafetero to the Caribbean coast and the Amazon — provides a quality of life that resonates strongly with Kazakh nationals seeking adventure alongside stability.

Colombia's immigration framework has also become more welcoming in recent years. Kazakhstani passport holders enjoy visa-free entry for tourism and short stays, and the structured Visa M (migrant visa) pathways offer clear routes to long-term residency for those who qualify through employment, business, real estate investment, or family ties. The Colombian government's push to attract foreign investment and skilled workers has streamlined many administrative processes, while cities like Medellín — which has transformed dramatically from its troubled past into a globally recognized innovation hub — offer established expat communities that make integration considerably easier for newcomers from Central Asia.

3. Colombian Embassy in Kazakhstan

4. Entering Colombia — Visa-Free Access for Kazakh Nationals

Kazakhstan is included in Colombia's List A under Resolution 5488 of 2022, which grants nationals of qualifying countries the right to enter Colombia as tourists without a prior visa. This means Kazakh passport holders can enter Colombia and stay for up to 90 days per visit, extendable once for an additional 90 days, for a maximum of 180 days within any 365-day calendar year.

During this visa-free period, you may engage in tourism, short business meetings, and cultural or academic events — but not remunerated work or formal study. Once you decide to settle, study, work, or invest in Colombia on a longer-term basis, you will need to apply for the appropriate visa category before your visa-free period expires.

5. Colombian Visa Categories for Long-Term Stays

For Kazakh nationals who wish to live, work, study, or invest in Colombia beyond the 90-day visa-free window, the Visa M (Visa Migrante) is the primary pathway. All visa applications are processed online through the Cancillería de Colombia portal. The minimum income requirement for most Visa M categories is linked to the Colombian monthly minimum wage: SMMLV 2026 = COP 1,423,500.

After holding a Visa M for five continuous years, you may apply for a Resident Visa (Visa R), which provides indefinite leave to remain. Detailed requirements for each subcategory are published on the official Cancillería platform at cancilleria.gov.co.

6. Health Insurance: From Kazakhstan's OSMS to Colombia

Kazakhstan introduced its Mandatory Social Medical Insurance system — known by its Russian acronym FOMS and Kazakh acronym OSMS (Міндетті әлеуметтік медициналық сақтандыру) — in 2020 as a fundamental reform of the country's healthcare model. The system covers outpatient consultations, hospitalization, maternity services, and a defined package of prescription drugs. Quality of care varies significantly by region: Astana and Almaty benefit from modern facilities such as the National Medical Centre (NNMC) and City Hospital No. 1, while care in rural oblasts remains more limited. Private clinics such as Comdent, MEDEL, and Interteach supplement the public system for those who can afford them.

When relocating to Colombia, Kazakh nationals must be aware that their OSMS coverage does not extend beyond Kazakhstan's borders. Colombia's immigration regulations require that all visa applicants and holders maintain valid health insurance with coverage valid in Colombian territory throughout the duration of their visa. The Colombian EPS (Entidades Promotoras de Salud) public system is only accessible to residents contributing to Colombia's social security system, and even then enrollment can take time. An international or Colombian-approved private health insurance policy is therefore not just advisable — it is a legal requirement for your visa application.

A comprehensive international health insurance policy approved for use in Colombia must cover the following categories at minimum:

7. Tax Obligations: Kazakhstan and Colombia

Kazakhstan operates one of the most straightforward personal income tax regimes in the world: a flat 10% rate administered by the KGD (Комитет государственных доходов / Committee of State Revenue) under the Ministry of Finance. Kazakhstan residents — defined as individuals spending 183 or more days per calendar year in the country — are taxed on their worldwide income. There is no inheritance tax and no wealth tax in Kazakhstan, making it a fiscally attractive home country. Corporate tax rates are also competitive. However, upon relocating to Colombia and spending more than 183 days there within a 365-day period spanning two consecutive years, you become a Colombian tax resident and become subject to Colombian DIAN regulations on worldwide income.

A critical point for Kazakh nationals to understand is that Kazakhstan and Colombia do not have a Double Taxation Agreement (CDI — Convenio para Evitar la Doble Imposición). This means there is no treaty mechanism to automatically prevent the same income from being taxed in both countries. If you have income sourced in Kazakhstan while residing in Colombia, you may theoretically face tax obligations in both jurisdictions simultaneously. Colombia's progressive income tax rates reach up to 39% for the highest brackets, compared to Kazakhstan's flat 10% — a significant differential. We strongly recommend consulting a tax advisor experienced in both Kazakhstani and Colombian tax law before transferring your fiscal residency, to structure your affairs efficiently and legally.

8. Document Legalization for Colombian Visa Applications

Colombian visa applications require that all official documents issued in Kazakhstan be authenticated and translated before they can be accepted by the Cancillería. Kazakhstan joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 2001, which simplifies the authentication process considerably. The general process follows three steps:

• Notarization: Have your document (e.g., criminal record certificate — справка о судимости — obtained from the MVD via a local ЦОН center or the eGov.kz portal, or your birth/marriage certificate) certified by a notary public (notarius) in Kazakhstan to confirm the authenticity of official signatures.
• Apostille: Submit the notarized document to the Ministry of Justice of Kazakhstan (or the relevant issuing authority) to obtain an Apostille seal under the 1961 Hague Convention. This replaces the need for full diplomatic legalization and is recognized by all Convention member states, including Colombia.
• Certified Translation to Spanish: Have the apostilled document professionally translated from Kazakh (KK) or Russian (RU) into Spanish by a certified official translator recognized by Colombian authorities. The translator's credentials may need to be verified by the Cancillería.

It is advisable to begin this document preparation process at least 6–8 weeks before your planned visa application date, as processing times at the Ministry of Justice for apostilles can vary, and finding a certified KK/RU-to-Spanish translator may require additional lead time.