Colombia (CO)

Colombia offers expats an extraordinary combination of year-round spring climate (especially in Medellín), very affordable living, rich culture, improving safety, and one of Latin America's most welcoming visa systems.

Capital: Bogotá

Region: Americas

Language: Spanish

Currency: COP ($)

Cost of living: Very affordable (index 30)

Emergency: 123

Education & Schools

Schools, universities, and language courses in Colombia.

👶 Childcare & Kindergarten

Hogares Comunitarios de Bienestar (ICBF) Free (subsidised by the state)

Age: 0–5 years

Subsidy available

Run by the Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar (ICBF). Free, community-based daycare led by trained madres comunitarias. Serves low-income families primarily, but any Colombian resident may apply. Meals and basic early stimulation provided.

Contact nearest ICBF Centro Zonal. Bring birth certificate, Registro Civil del menor, parent ID (cédula or cédula de extranjería), and proof of address. Registration happens throughout the year.

⏱️ Apply at your local ICBF centre (Centro Zonal) or through the Bienestar Familiar app. Demand exceeds supply in popular urban areas — register as soon as you have a cédula de extranjería or valid resident document.

Jardín Infantil / Centro de Desarrollo Infantil (CDI) COP $0–500,000/month depending on public or private and income

Age: 3 months–5 years

Subsidy available

Public CDIs (Centros de Desarrollo Infantil) run by ICBF and local municipalities are free or heavily subsidised. Private jardines range from COP $200,000 (basic) to COP $2,000,000/month (premium bilingual). The Caja de Compensación Familiar (Compensar, Colsubsidio, Cafam) operates affordable jardines for affiliated families.

For public CDI: apply at ICBF or Secretaría de Educación Municipal. For private: contact the jardín directly, complete admissions interview, provide birth certificate, vaccination card (carnet de vacunas), and health insurance (EPS) certificate.

⏱️ Private bilingual jardines have waiting lists 6–12 months long. Apply before your child is born for the best options. Caja jardines give priority to affiliated employees.

Preescolar / Grado 0 (Pre-Kinder) Free in public schools; COP $500,000–3,000,000/month in private

Age: 5–6 years

Subsidy available

One year of preescolar (grado 0) is mandatory and free at all public colegios. Children must be 5 years old by March 1 of the school year. All children resident in Colombia have the constitutional right to free education from grado 0.

Register at your local public colegio via the Secretaría de Educación of your municipality in November–December for the following year. Bring birth certificate, vaccination card, proof of address, and EPS certificate.

🏫 Schools

Primary Free

Básica Primaria

Ages: 6–10 years (grades 1–5) · Language: Spanish

Register at your local public colegio or at the Secretaría de Educación. Bring birth certificate (Registro Civil de Nacimiento), vaccination card, previous school certificate (if applicable), and proof of address. Enrolment takes place each November–December. For children of expats: cédula de extranjería or valid residence permit required for parents; the child's travel document or birth certificate is sufficient.

Colombia's public education system is free and constitutionally guaranteed. Quality varies significantly between cities and within urban areas. In Bogotá, top public colegios (e.g., Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé, La Salle) are competitive and require placement tests. Private bilingual schools (bilingüe) are overwhelmingly preferred by expats for language and quality reasons. Schools run a two-semester year: Feb–Jun (1st semester) and Jul–Nov (2nd semester). Colombian school calendar is opposite to the northern hemisphere.

Secondary Free

Básica Secundaria y Media Vocacional

Ages: 11–17 years (grades 6–11) · Language: Spanish

Continue at the same colegio from primary, or apply to transfer via the Secretaría de Educación. International schools accept mid-year enrolment with transcripts (notas), reference letters, and a placement assessment. Bring all translated academic records if coming from abroad.

Secondary school (bachillerato) covers grades 6–11. Students who complete grade 11 sit the Saber 11 (ICFES) national exam, which is required for university admission. Media académica prepares for university; media técnica offers vocational training. Top private bilingüe colegios: Colegio Anglo Colombiano (Bogotá), Colegio Rochester (Bogotá), Colegio Colombo Británico (Medellín), Colegio Alemán (Bogotá), Colegio Français (Bogotá). Annual fees: COP $15,000,000–60,000,000. International schools following the IB curriculum are available in Bogotá and Medellín.

International Schools

Colombia has excellent international schools in Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, and Cali. Most popular with expats: Colegio Anglo Colombiano (IB, British curriculum, Bogotá, ~COP 28M–45M/year = approx. USD $6,800–11,000), Colegio Rochester (IB, Bogotá, ~USD $12,000–22,000/year), Colegio Columbus (American curriculum, Bogotá), Colegio Colombo Hebreo (Bogotá), Colegio Alemán (Bogotá, German curriculum), and British School Bogotá. In Medellín: Colegio Colombo Británico (~COP $25,000,000–55,000,000/year), Montessori School. Most international schools require official translated transcripts and a placement interview. Scholarships are rarely available for international students. Waiting lists exist — apply 6–12 months in advance for popular programmes.

University

Tuition fee

Public universities: almost free — COP $50,000–800,000/semester (income-based). Top public universities (Universidad Nacional, Universidad de Antioquia, Universidad del Valle) are highly competitive and essentially free. Private universities: COP $3,000,000–20,000,000/semester. Elite private: Universidad de Los Andes, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Universidad del Rosario — COP $10,000,000–18,000,000/semester.

Semester fee

Public universities: includes use of libraries, sports facilities, and student card. Most campuses do not charge a separate semester administrative fee beyond tuition. Private universities may charge an extra matricula administrative fee of COP $200,000–500,000.

Student visa

Foreign students need a Visa de Estudiante (V-EST): required if studying >180 days/year. Apply at a Colombian embassy abroad or at Migración Colombia if already in the country on another status. Requirements: admission letter from a recognised Colombian institution, proof of financial solvency (min ~USD $750/month), health insurance. Cost: USD $52 (visa application fee 2026). Visa is valid for the duration of studies.

Health insurance

All students at Colombian universities must have health insurance. You must affiliate with an EPS (Entidad Promotora de Salud) or present a private international health insurance policy. Costs for EPS: ~COP $85,000–100,000/month for independent affiliation at minimum wage base. Some universities have group schemes via their own EPS affiliation.

Application process

For public universities: pass the Saber 11 (ICFES) exam AND sit the university's own Examen de Admisión. Applications open Feb–Mar (for second semester) and Aug–Sep (for first semester). For private universities: submit academic transcripts, Saber 11 results, personal statement, and pay inscription fee (~COP $50,000–200,000). Foreign students with foreign secondary qualifications must get transcripts convalidated by the MEN (Ministerio de Educación Nacional).

🗣️ Language Courses

Spanish for Foreigners (Español para Extranjeros)

Provider: Colombian public and private universities (UN, Los Andes, Javeriana, EAFIT) · Duration: 4–15 weeks per level; A1–C1 typically 6 levels · Levels: A1 to C1 (CEFR)

COP $400,000–1,500,000 per semester-level course (10–15 weeks)

No government-mandated integration language course exists in Colombia. Universities offer the highest quality programmes. Universidad Nacional (Bogotá/Medellín), EAFIT (Medellín), and Javeriana (Bogotá/Cali) are the most recommended. Private language schools in Medellín include Colombia Spanish School and Learn More Colombia. Group classes are cheaper (COP $200,000–600,000/month); private tutors charge COP $40,000–120,000/hour.

English Language Courses

Provider: British Council, Centro Colombo Americano, CCCA · Duration: 3–4 months per level (A1–C2) · Levels: A1 to C2 (CEFR)

COP $600,000–1,800,000 per level

English instruction widely available. Centro Colombo Americano (Bogotá, Medellín, Cali) is the most reputable English institute. British Council operates in Bogotá. Cambridge and IELTS exams available at both. Note: as an expat, English courses help you connect with bilingual Colombians; Spanish is non-negotiable for daily life outside Bogotá.

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