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.
Insurance Guide
Which insurances you actually need in Colombia, prioritised.
Colombia has a mixed insurance landscape. Health insurance (via EPS) is legally mandatory for all employed and independent workers. Vehicle insurance (SOAT) is mandatory for all vehicles. Beyond these, Colombia is significantly under-insured compared to Europe — most renters have no contents insurance, and private liability insurance is uncommon. However, private health insurance supplements (planes complementarios) and international health insurance are strongly recommended for expats seeking European-level care. The insurance regulator is Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia.
Legally Mandatory
- - EPS (Entidad Promotora de Salud) — mandatory health insurance for all employed persons and independent workers earning above COP $1,423,500 SMMLV/month (2026)
- - SOAT (Seguro Obligatorio de Accidentes de Tránsito) — mandatory third-party vehicle insurance, covers bodily injury to third parties in road accidents; required for all motorised vehicles
- - ARL (Administradora de Riesgos Laborales) — mandatory work accident insurance, paid entirely by employer; covers occupational injuries and diseases
- - Póliza de responsabilidad civil (some professions) — mandatory for licensed professionals (doctors, engineers, architects, lawyers) operating independently
International Health Insurance
Full international health coverage for hospitalisation, specialist care, emergency medical evacuation, and repatriation. Allows you to use private hospitals (Clínica del Country, Clínica de Marly, Clínica Las Américas) and be covered abroad.
Who needs it: Expats not enrolled in EPS, digital nomads, retirees, and anyone wanting guaranteed access to top private hospitals without out-of-pocket costs.
Annual cost: USD $800–3,500/year depending on age, coverage level, and deductible. Cigna, AXA, Allianz Care, GeoBlue most popular for Colombia-based expats.
Many expats who are EPS-enrolled still purchase a supplementary plan (plan complementario) for faster specialist access. EPS public system works but waiting times for specialists can be 2–8 weeks in major cities.
SOAT (Vehicle Third-Party Bodily Injury)
Mandatory third-party bodily injury cover for all motorised vehicles. Covers medical costs for injured third parties (NOT the insured driver or vehicle damage). Required for vehicle registration and driving legally.
Who needs it: All vehicle owners — cars, motorcycles, trucks, buses. No vehicle may circulate legally without a valid SOAT.
Annual cost: Cars: COP $300,000–600,000/year. Motorcycles: COP $200,000–450,000/year. Varies by vehicle type and age.
SOAT can be purchased at petrol stations (Terpel, Primax), insurance offices, or online at fasecolda.com. Driving without SOAT: fine of 30 SMLD (~COP $1,050,000) and vehicle impoundment. SOAT does NOT cover vehicle damage, theft, or own-vehicle accidents — you need an additional "todo riesgo" policy for that.
Todo Riesgo / RC Auto (Comprehensive Vehicle Insurance)
Comprehensive vehicle insurance covering theft, own-vehicle damage, third-party property damage, and liability beyond SOAT limits.
Who needs it: All vehicle owners, especially in cities. Car theft and collisions are significant risks in Colombian urban areas. Required by most vehicle financing (leasing/credit) contracts.
Annual cost: COP $800,000–2,500,000/year for a typical car. Higher in Bogotá/Cali due to theft rates.
The Colombian insurance market is competitive. Compare at comparaonline.com.co or seguros.com.co. Note: declare the correct vehicle value — under-declaration leads to proportional payouts in claims (regla proporcional). Excess (deducible) typically COP $300,000–800,000 per claim.
EPS Plan Complementario (Supplementary Health Plan)
Private top-up insurance layered over your mandatory EPS. Provides faster access to specialists, private rooms, superior hospital networks (Clínica del Country, Clínica Marly), and dental/vision beyond the POS (Plan Obligatorio de Salud).
Who needs it: Expats enrolled in EPS who want private-level access without an international plan cost.
Annual cost: COP $800,000–3,000,000/year depending on age and plan. Prepagada Suramericana, Colmédica, Sanitas EPS complementario, Compensar complementario.
Medicina prepagada (managed private healthcare) is the Colombian model for comprehensive private health. Annual checkups, faster appointments, broader hospital network, and dental coverage are standard inclusions. Cost increases significantly after age 50.
Home Contents Insurance (Seguro de Hogar)
Covers personal belongings, electronics, and home contents against theft, fire, and natural events. Optional but strongly recommended given urban theft risk.
Who needs it: Renters with valuable electronics, freelancers working from home (laptop/camera), and homeowners.
Annual cost: COP $150,000–500,000/year for renters contents. Combined structural + contents for homeowners: COP $400,000–1,500,000/year.
Take an inventory of valuables before buying. Earthquake (terremoto) endorsement is recommended in Bogotá and Eje Cafetero — Colombia is in a seismically active zone (Pacific Ring of Fire). Bogotá had a significant earthquake in 1917 and smaller tremors are common. Some conjuntos residenciales (condo complexes) have building insurance covering the structure; your renters policy covers contents only.
Life Insurance (Seguro de Vida)
Death benefit paid to beneficiaries. Some plans include disability cover (incapacidad permanente) and serious illness (enfermedades graves).
Who needs it: Breadwinners, people with Colombian mortgage debt, those with dependants. Employers often include group life insurance (seguro de vida colectivo) in benefits packages.
Annual cost: COP $200,000–800,000/year for COP $100,000,000 cover (age 30–40). Increases significantly with age.
Group life insurance (seguro colectivo de vida) is very common in formal employment — check your benefits package. Individual policies are purchased through insurance brokers. No mandatory requirement.
Travel Insurance (Seguro de Viaje)
Trip cancellation, emergency medical abroad, lost luggage, and travel delay cover for trips outside Colombia.
Who needs it: Anyone travelling internationally from Colombia. Some Colombian visas (Schengen visa for Europe) require proof of travel insurance as a condition.
Annual cost: Single trip: USD $20–80. Annual multi-trip: USD $150–500.
Note: if you hold international health insurance (Cigna, AXA etc.) with global coverage, separate travel insurance may be redundant — check your existing policy.
Comparison sites
Always read the exclusions (exclusiones) carefully — Colombian insurance policies often exclude pre-existing conditions, extreme sports, and certain events without additional endorsements.
For EPS affiliation: you must contribute to EPS if you are earning income in Colombia. Independent workers (trabajadores independientes) contribute 12.5% of 40% of declared monthly income as the base.
Driving without SOAT is a criminal offence (not just a fine) — keep a digital and physical copy of your SOAT in your vehicle at all times. Police checkpoints (retenes) are common.
For home insurance, the terremoto (earthquake) endorsement is inexpensive (~COP $30,000–80,000 extra/year) and highly recommended in Bogotá, Eje Cafetero, and other seismically active zones.
Compare vehicle insurance annually — premiums drop as your vehicle ages and as your no-claims record builds. Sura is generally regarded as the best for claims processing; Bolívar Seguros and Allianz also have strong reputations.
Insurance
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