Medical Treatment Visa
For patients coming to Colombia for surgery, long-term care, dental work, or recovery. Often used for plastic surgery in Medellin.
cancilleria.gov.co before applying. Always work with a licensed Colombian immigration attorney.
Best for: Patients receiving treatment at a Colombian hospital that has issued a letter for them.
Required documents
- Passport (6+ months remaining)
- Passport-style photo (4x5cm white background)
- Letter from the Colombian hospital or clinic specifying the treatment and expected duration
- Proof of ability to cover treatment and stay
- Travel health insurance
Government fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Study fee (paid at submission) | USD $54 |
| Visa issuance fee (paid on approval) | USD $195 |
All Cancilleria fees are payable by credit card during the online application.
How to apply
- Gather documents. All foreign-issued documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, pension letters) must be apostilled in the country of issue and translated into Spanish by a translator registered with the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Relations.
- Create an account at
visas.cancilleria.gov.co. - Start the application. Select this visa type. Upload PDFs (max 2MB each, readable scans, not phone photos).
- Pay the study fee by credit card.
- Wait for review. Processing is typically 5 to 30 business days. You may receive a requerimiento (request for more documents). Respond within 30 days.
- Pay the issuance fee once approved.
- Download the visa PDF. It arrives by email. Print it.
- Register with Migracion Colombia within 15 days, and apply for your cedula de extranjeria. In Medellin, Migracion is at Calle 19 #80A-40 in Belen.
Path to residency (R)
Not a path to R. Treatment-completion means returning home or switching to another visa class.
Common mistakes
- Hospital letter that doesn't specify treatment type or duration
- Applying for tourism visa instead when the stay is longer than 90 days
Have questions about your situation?
Chat with Catalina, our concierge. She can answer follow-up questions and connect you with a Medellin-based immigration attorney when you are ready to apply.
WhatsApp CatalinaWhen you are ready to apply
We work with a Medellin-based immigration attorney who is bilingual and reliable. He handles the application end-to-end, including the appointment at Migracion. Mike has used his services personally.
Attorney details available on request · contact us via WhatsApp or email.
Last updated: 2026-05-26. The 2026 SMMLV (Colombian minimum monthly wage) is 1.750.905 COP. All income floors on this page are multiples of that figure.