Moving to Colombia Checklist — Everything You Need to Do Before You Move

Moving to Colombia is one of the best decisions you can make — but only if you prepare properly. The expats who struggle in their first few months are almost always the ones who skipped steps in their pre-move preparation.

This checklist covers everything: what to do 6 months out, 3 months out, 1 month out, and in your first week on the ground. Work through it in order and you will arrive prepared.

6 Months Before You Move

3 Months Before You Move

1 Month Before You Move

Your First Week in Colombia

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Essential Apps for Life in Colombia

For more detail on any of these steps, read our

complete Colombia visa guide, our cost of living breakdown, and our neighborhood guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ How far in advance should I start planning my move to Colombia?

Start at least 3 to 6 months before your planned move date. Visa applications can take 4 to 8 weeks, getting documents apostilled takes time, and you'll need to sort out housing, healthcare, and finances. If you need an FBI background check for your visa, add another 2 to 4 weeks for processing.

❓ Do I need to speak Spanish before moving to Colombia?

No, but it will significantly improve your experience. In Medellín and Bogotá you can get by with basic Spanish for day-to-day tasks, and many expat-facing services operate in English. However, for dealing with immigration, banking, healthcare, and landlords, even intermediate Spanish makes a huge difference. Most expats recommend starting lessons before you arrive and continuing after you land.

❓ What documents do I need to move to Colombia?

At minimum you need a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining. For a visa, you will typically need an apostilled FBI background check, proof of income or investment, health insurance, passport-sized photos, and a completed visa application. Some visas also require a specific motivation letter or proof of qualifications. All foreign documents must be apostilled and translated into Spanish by a certified translator.

Before you leave, set up a virtual mailbox so you don't lose access to US mail. I use Traveling Mailbox — it gives you a real US street address, scans your mail, and lets you deposit checks remotely. Plans start at $15/month. Read my full review here.