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.
Leaving Colombia
How to properly exit — protecting your finances, rights and records.
📅 General Timeline
90 days before departure: — Give rental notice (3 months minimum under Ley 820) — Begin tax affairs: consult contador about final tax obligations — Contact AFP to understand pension/cesantías withdrawal process — Begin job severance process if employed (liquidación) 60 days before departure: — File any outstanding DIAN declarations — Notify employer (if applicable) per notice period in contract — Arrange forward address for any Colombian mail/documents 30 days before departure: — Cancel utilities (give 30 days notice) — Cancel Internet/phone contracts — Notify bank of departure and planned account status — Begin property handover process — Get medical records from EPS/IPS — Request Paz y Salvo from DIAN On/after departure: — Withdraw cesantías from AFP — Initiate AFP devolución de saldos if applicable — Sell or arrange management of any Colombian property — Grant power of attorney (poder notarial) for anyone managing Colombian affairs in your absence
Deregistration
Colombia has no formal deregistration system for foreign residents — there is no mandatory civic departure notification. However, you must cancel or update your Cédula de Extranjería (CE) status with Migración Colombia (migracioncolombia.gov.co) if you are leaving permanently. If you hold a Migrant or Resident visa, notify Migración Colombia to cancel it. There is no penalty for simply leaving on a valid visa, but maintaining cancelled documents keeps your record clean for future visits.
Tax clearance
Tax clearance (Paz y Salvo tributario) is required if you have outstanding tax obligations with DIAN. Steps: 1. File your final declaración de renta (income tax return) for the year of departure. As a Colombian tax resident (183+ days in a 365-day period), you are taxed on worldwide income. File by the standard deadline (~August of the following year, or ~April if via DIAN calendar) or file early as a departing taxpayer. 2. Obtain a Paz y Salvo from DIAN (muisca.dian.gov.co) confirming no outstanding tax debt. This takes 5–15 business days to process after all filings are current. 3. If you own property in Colombia: you remain liable for Impuesto Predial (property tax) annually even after leaving — arrange payment from abroad or grant power of attorney (poder notarial) to a representative. 4. Cancel your RUT (Registro Único Tributario) with DIAN if you will no longer have Colombian tax obligations. This is done online or at a DIAN office. Without cancellation, DIAN may expect future filings. 5. DIAN does NOT have an exit-tax or "departure tax" on capital gains in the same way as Germany, but unresolved tax debts will block future visa applications.
Pension portability
Colombian pension contributions are NOT automatically portable: — AFP (Private Pension Fund: Porvenir, Protección, Old Mutual/Skandia, Colfondos): Your individual account balance remains in your name. You can leave it invested and claim it at Colombian retirement age (62 M / 57 F), or request a pension refund (devolución de saldos) if you do not meet the minimum weeks requirement (1,150 weeks). Non-residents can request the devolución after leaving — contact your AFP directly. Processing: 2–4 months. The entire balance (contributions + returns) is returned, minus a small withholding. — Colpensiones (State pension RPM): If you have fewer than 1,300 qualifying weeks, request Devolución de Aportes. If you have 1,300+ weeks, you are eligible for a pension payable in Colombia or abroad via bank transfer. — Colombia has bilateral social security agreements (convenios de seguridad social) with: Spain, Chile, Ecuador, Uruguay, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, and several others. These allow contribution periods to be combined for pension entitlement. — Cesantías (mandatory severance fund held in AFP): Withdraw these when your employment ends. Claim directly from your AFP (Porvenir, Protección, etc.) or from the Fondo Nacional del Ahorro. This is separate from pension contributions.
Health insurance
Colombian EPS (public health insurance) ends when you stop making contributions or when your employer submits a retiro (termination) form to the PILA (payroll system). As an independent contributor, you must formally notify your EPS of cessation and request a Certificado de Afiliación (membership certificate) for your records. Coverage ends on the last day of the month for which contributions were paid. There is typically a 30-day grace period for continuity of treatment for ongoing conditions. Export medical records before leaving — request your historia clínica from your EPS/IPS. Colombian medical records are detailed and useful for healthcare in your next country.
Bank account
Colombian bank accounts: you do not legally need to close them upon departure. Some expats keep a Colombian account (Bancolombia, Davivienda, Nequi) for ongoing rental income, property management payments, or return visits. Note: if you are no longer a Colombian tax resident, you must inform your bank of your change in tax residency (FATCA/CRS reporting obligations). To close: visit a branch with your CE or passport and a formal cierre de cuenta request. N26 and Nequi (digital wallets) can be managed remotely or closed via app. Wise (formerly TransferWise) and Revolut are ideal for managing COP-to-foreign currency needs after departure.
Utilities
Cancel utilities (servicios públicos) at least 30 days before departure: — Agua (water): Contact local empresa de acueducto (e.g., EAAB in Bogotá, EPM in Medellín, ACUAVALLE in Cali). Request corte del servicio and final reading. — Energía (electricity): Enel Codensa (Bogotá), EPM (Medellín), Emcali (Cali) — cancel online or at a payment point (punto de pago). — Gas natural: Naturgas, Vanti (Bogotá), Surtigas (coast) — request a final reading and cancellation. — Internet/phone: Claro, Movistar, Tigo, ETB — give 30 days written notice as required by SIC consumer protection rules. Contracts: verify your notice period to avoid penalties.
Rental contract
Under Ley 820 de 2003, the tenant must give a minimum 3 months written notice before vacating a residential rental. Failure to give notice means you forfeit your deposit and may owe rent for the notice period. Deliver notice in writing — ideally certified mail (correo certificado) or WhatsApp/email with delivery confirmation, keeping a copy. At departure: conduct a formal handover (entrega del inmueble), take photos, get the arrendador (landlord) signature on the handover document, and return all keys. Deposit return: owed within 30 days of handover if the property is in good condition and there are no outstanding bills (deudas de servicios públicos). Disputes: Ley 820 allows claims at the Ministerio de Vivienda conciliation service or through a Juez Civil Municipal.
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