Last week we kicked off a deep-dive with Juliana Wilches from ExpatGroup.co—the team that handled my original Colombia visa and every renewal since. The interview was a monster (in the best way), so I split it into three parts. This is Part 2, and it’s where we get into the practical guts: migrant (M) visas, health insurance that actually gets approved, real budgets, denials vs “inadmissions,” and how to avoid losing months (and money) to paperwork purgatory.
If you’re moving to Colombia, stop guessing. Here’s the roadmap.
Migrant (M) Visas: What They Actually Get You
If Colombia is more than a 90-day fling, you’re probably looking at a migrant (M) visa. Why it matters:
Clock to Residency: Time on an M visa counts toward residency.
Some M categories need 2 years, others 5 years before you can apply for residency.
Health System Access: Once you’re a resident, you can sign up for national health insurance with far fewer restrictions than a short-stay visitor.
Translation: an M visa isn’t just permission to stay. It’s your on-ramp to permanence.
Health Insurance: The Version That Actually Gets Approved
This is where people get tripped up. Colombia’s visa office doesn’t just want “proof of insurance.” They want the right insurance, with very specific language.
Non-negotiables the government looks for:
Covers “all risks.”
Includes repatriation (returning you to your home country in an emergency).
Covers you in Colombia (yes, they check).
What actually works best in practice:
International health insurance, paid annually up front.
Juliana’s team recommends one year paid in advance; they’ve seen that 2 years of coverage can improve your chances of receiving a 2-year visa (not guaranteed, but it helps).
Price ballpark (varies by provider and age caps): roughly $750–$1,200 per year for many profiles.
Why not local “prepagada” or EPS for the visa step? Because EPS and “prepaid” plans are intertwined with the national system; visa officers often still ask for private international coverage. Don’t set yourself up for an avoidable “please submit another policy” message.
Budgeting the Whole Process (Turnkey Reality Check)
Everyone asks: “How much should I budget?” Here’s a honest, simple range for a typical first-timer:
Visa service + documentation + background check + insurance
→ ~$2,000 feels like the safe, realistic number
→ In some cases, $2,250–$2,500 (age, insurance tier, extra apostilles)
A couple of Juliana’s line-items:
FBI background check:
$400 if ExpatGroup handles it from Colombia (apostille + translation, done-for-you).
~$250 if handled from within the U.S. (with their guidance).
Apostilles: U.S. federal/state apostilles take time; build buffer.
Pro tip: Front-load your paperwork. The government is issuing fewer multi-year visas lately (often 1 year, sometimes 2). Paying for 2 years of insurance can help tilt your odds toward a 2-year visa—still discretionary, but historically helpful.
The Popular M Visa Paths (And What’s Changed)
1) Marriage Visa (M)
Still popular—and still under a microscope.
Expect to prove a real relationship: photos, timeline, and a specific, detailed relationship letter.
FBI checks are being requested more often than a few years ago.
Think of it as the U.S. “marriage green card” vibe: your first M is the runway, and after 2–3 years you’re typically eligible to push for residency.
2) Retirement (Pension) Visa (M-11)
Clean, straightforward if your pension is lifetime (U.S. Social Security is great; VA benefits can work but tend to trigger more requests).
Often requires two apostilled documents.
Private insurance requirement applies—budget accordingly.
3) Other M paths (investment, parent of Colombian child, etc.)
Investment and company creation visas are more complex: the funds’ path and certifications must be perfectly done.
If you plan to buy real estate for an investor visa, engage professionals before the transfer. Lots of folks buy correctly for property law—but incorrectly for visa law. Different targets, different paperwork.
Denied vs. “Inadmitted” (Two Very Different Outcomes)
This distinction will save you months of waiting and a lot of cortisol.
Inadmitted = your application wasn’t accepted as submitted. Usually because:
You didn’t meet a requirement (missing apostille, wrong insurance wording, etc.).
You couldn’t provide a requested doc within the short window.
Or, the officer used discretionary authority (more on this below).
Good news: You can reapply immediately (you’re not locked out).
Denied = the door is shut for 6 months.
Rarer, but it happens.
If you get an inadmission and no explanation, ExpatGroup can file a PQR (a formal request for clarification). Sometimes the government responds with the hint you need to fix and refile fast.
Discretionary Power: The Black Box Everyone Hates (But Must Respect)
Colombia’s visa officers have discretionary authority. Even with a “perfect” file, there is no 100% guarantee (beware anyone who says otherwise). The human on the other side might:
Flag ambiguous police records and ask for an explanation.
Be more conservative this month than last month.
Decide your documentation doesn’t demonstrate the story clearly enough.
This is why how you present your case matters as much as what you present. The right phrasing, sequence, and supporting details can keep your file out of the gray zone.
ExpatGroup’s stated success rate is ~97–98% across 3,500+ visas—high, but never 100%. That’s reality with government processes.
Timelines & Renewal Rhythm
Government review: typically up to 4 weeks once filed; renewals can be 2–3 weeks if clean.
Preparation: give yourself 2–3 months in advance to assemble docs, apostilles, FBI, insurance, translations.
Insurance term: annual payment is safest; 2-year coverage can encourage a 2-year visa (again, not guaranteed).
Renewals: once ExpatGroup has your file, subsequent renewals are usually much lighter lift.
Politics & Popularity: Why Rules Feel Tighter
Juliana’s read (and mine): Colombia’s simply more popular now. With higher demand comes stricter reviews and shorter visa durations. Administration cycles and bilateral politics can nudge the weather, but the structural trend is: more applicants, more scrutiny, more need to be precise.
Culture & Why People Actually Stay
We ended this segment on what keeps expats here: people.
Colombia (and Latin America generally) is social, warm, and low-friction for friendships.
I joke about my “friend acquisition rate”—it’s just higher here than almost anywhere I’ve lived or traveled.
We’re even meeting “re-expats”: Colombians who spent 10–20 years abroad, now coming home with foreign spouses and planning to retire here. The comment sections are full of those stories, and they’re pure joy.
If that’s you: remember that “coming home” still requires paperwork—marriages registered in the U.S. must be registered in Colombia, foreign academic records often need apostilles and local equivalency. It’s not hard with guidance—but it’s not automatic.
Three Classic Errors That Trigger Inadmissions/Denials
Requirements mismatch
Wrong insurance (no repatriation / no all-risks), expired docs, missing apostilles, weak relationship letter, etc.
Government request not answered
They asked for an FBI check or a clarifying letter; the deadline passed or the response missed the mark.
Discretionary authority
The officer simply wasn’t convinced by the presentation. This is where expert framing helps most.
Should You DIY This? Or Hire It Out?
You can do it yourself. Plenty of people do. But the language, legal terms, sequencing, and formatting are where applications lose altitude. If your timeline is tight, your profile is nuanced (past misdemeanor, VA pension, complex investment), or your Spanish is mostly “menu level,” hire help and buy back time.
Quick Answers, Rapid-Fire
Annual vs. monthly insurance? Annual up front is safer; can help your chances for a longer visa.
Can a recent felony sink you? It’s case-by-case. Timing, type, and how you explain it all matter.
Denied = done? Only for 6 months. Inadmitted means fix it and reapply now.
Cost-of-living vs. visa costs? Yes, you’ll spend a bit up front—but Colombia’s everyday costs (housing, food, healthcare) generally make up for it fast.