Your first 90 days in Colombia: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · July 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
The 15-day registration clock is real: late cédula registration is a sanctionable infraction with fines scaling up to 7 monthly minimum wages — and it resurfaces at every visa renewal.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Register the visa and apply for the cédula de extranjería at Migración Colombia
Within 15 calendar days of entry (or of visa issuance if approved in-country)
Applies to any visa valid over 3 months; appointments in Bogotá/Medellín fill fast, and the plastic card takes days to weeks to arrive.
Get your RUT (Registro Único Tributario) / NIT, from DIAN
Bank accounts, leases, invoicing and most formal payments ask for it.
Registered with DIAN online or by appointment — the cédula de extranjería is the practical prerequisite for residents.
Open a bank account
Most banks require the cédula de extranjería; a few open basic accounts on a passport. US persons sign FATCA declarations, and Wise/Revolut remain the practical rails while the cédula is in process.
Enrol in healthcare
Residents are required to join the contributory health system: pick an EPS and contribute about 12.5% of declared income; private prepagada plans layer on top. Enrolment needs the cédula de extranjería.
Sort your driver's license
No US exchange — homologation covers only 7 treaty countries (Spain, Peru, South Korea, Chile, Paraguay, Argentina, Portugal); residents register in RUNT and do a CEA driving course plus medical exams for a local license.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
Moving to Colombia?
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Colombia: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Colombia?
Register the visa and apply for the cédula de extranjería at Migración Colombia — Within 15 calendar days of entry (or of visa issuance if approved in-country). Applies to any visa valid over 3 months; appointments in Bogotá/Medellín fill fast, and the plastic card takes days to weeks to arrive. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the RUT and do I need one?
RUT (Registro Único Tributario) / NIT, from DIAN is Colombia's personal tax/ID number. Bank accounts, leases, invoicing and most formal payments ask for it. Registered with DIAN online or by appointment — the cédula de extranjería is the practical prerequisite for residents.
Can I drive in Colombia on a US license?
No US exchange — homologation covers only 7 treaty countries (Spain, Peru, South Korea, Chile, Paraguay, Argentina, Portugal); residents register in RUNT and do a CEA driving course plus medical exams for a local license. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Colombia?
Residents are required to join the contributory health system: pick an EPS and contribute about 12.5% of declared income; private prepagada plans layer on top. Enrolment needs the cédula de extranjería. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Colombia's system treats foreign residents.