Kenyan Expats in Colombia: Complete Guide 2026 | CoVisas Colombia

1. Kenya at a Glance

2. Why Kenyan Nationals Choose Colombia

Kenya's reputation as East Africa's leading tech and business hub — home to M-Pesa, Nairobi's Silicon Savannah, and a vibrant startup ecosystem — has produced a generation of mobile-first entrepreneurs and digital professionals who find Colombia's innovation-friendly environment highly compatible. Medellín's transformation into Latin America's tech city of the year, combined with its manageable cost of living, reliable connectivity, and safety improvements, makes it particularly attractive to Kenyan tech workers, developers, and consultants seeking a base in the Western Hemisphere. The time zone and English proficiency further ease the move.

Kenya and Colombia also share agricultural heritage and coffee culture — Kenya's prized specialty coffee connects naturally to Colombia's world-famous coffee industry, and business ties in agro-processing and export-oriented farming have grown. Kenyan professionals in NGO, humanitarian, and development sectors also choose Bogotá for its strong presence of UN agencies, multilateral organizations, and international NGOs. Colombia's relatively affordable private healthcare system, compared to Nairobi's top private hospitals, also reduces a common anxiety for Kenyan families relocating abroad.

3. Colombian Embassy in Kenya

4. Visa Requirement for Kenyan Nationals

5. Colombian Visa M — Categories & Fees

The Colombian Visa M (Migrante) is the main long-stay visa for foreign nationals. All categories share the same government fee structure: USD 255 (study/application fee) + USD 232 (issuance fee upon approval), for a total of approximately USD 487. Payments are made online via the Cancillería portal.

A valid health insurance policy covering the full visa duration is a mandatory requirement for all Visa M categories, including coverage for hospitalization, illness, and repatriation.

6. Health System in Kenya

Kenya's healthcare is delivered through a two-tier system. The NHIF (National Hospital Insurance Fund) is mandatory for formal sector employees and has been progressively expanded toward universal coverage under the Kenya Kwanza administration's healthcare reform agenda. Public facilities — from dispensaries to Level 5 and Level 6 hospitals — provide subsidized care, but quality and capacity remain uneven. The top private facilities in Nairobi — including the Nairobi Hospital, Aga Khan Hospital Nairobi, and MP Shah Hospital — offer high standards comparable to international benchmarks and are used by the middle and upper-income population as well as expatriates. Private insurers such as Jubilee Health Insurance, CIC Insurance, and AAR Healthcare dominate the premium segment.

When Kenyan nationals relocate to Colombia, their NHIF contributions and private Kenyan health policies do not transfer. Colombia requires all Visa M holders to carry Colombian-compliant health insurance valid throughout the entire visa period. A specialized expat policy designed for foreign residents in Colombia — covering all seven core risk categories — is the simplest, most compliant solution. It eliminates the uncertainty of navigating Colombia's EPS (Entidades Promotoras de Salud) contributory system and ensures immediate access to quality medical care.

7. Tax Considerations for Kenyan Expats in Colombia

In Kenya, tax is administered by the KRA (Kenya Revenue Authority). Kenyan residents are taxed on Kenya-source income under a graduated PAYE system reaching up to 35%. Kenya does not apply worldwide income taxation to individuals — foreign-source income earned and retained abroad is generally not subject to Kenyan tax. Capital gains on listed securities are exempt; CGT on land and buildings is levied at 15%. Withholding tax applies to passive income such as dividends and interest.

In Colombia, foreign nationals who spend 183 days or more in a calendar year become Colombian tax residents and are required to declare their worldwide income to the DIAN. There is no Double Taxation Treaty (CDI) between Kenya and Colombia. Kenyan expats who achieve Colombian tax residency while continuing to receive Kenyan-source income risk double taxation without the protection of a bilateral treaty. Professional advice from a Colombian contador público is strongly recommended. The SMMLV 2026 is COP 1,423,500 per month, the baseline for multiple Colombian thresholds.

8. Document Legalization for Kenya

Kenya is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. Kenyan documents require full diplomatic chain legalization before they are recognized in Colombia. The Certificate of Good Conduct is obtained from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) — apply at DCI HQ Nairobi or via huduma.go.ke; fingerprinting is required and processing takes 2–4 weeks. Plan this process well in advance.

• Obtain & Notarize: Source the original document from the relevant Kenyan authority (e.g., DCI Certificate of Good Conduct, academic transcripts, birth certificate). Have the document certified or notarized by a Kenyan advocate/notary public.
• Attorney General's Office Authentication: Submit the notarized document to Kenya's Attorney General's Office (AG) for authentication. The AG confirms the legitimacy of the document and the notary's signature.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs Authentication: Present the AG-authenticated document to Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Affairs for further authentication. This is the final Kenyan government step confirming the document for foreign use.
• Colombian Embassy Legalization: Present the MoFA-authenticated document to the Colombian Embassy in Nairobi for consular legalization. This certifies that the Kenyan government's authentication is genuine for Colombian authorities.
• Certified Translation to Spanish: Translate all documents from English (or Swahili) into Spanish through a certified translator (traductor oficial) recognized by Colombian authorities. Attach the certified translation to each original legalized document.