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Getting to know other cultures, enjoying the landscapes, and learning from new people are some of the possibilities that come with remote work, a term gaining more strength every day around the world and being promoted even more thanks to the digital nomad visa.
Imagine ditching rush hour traffic to explore new cities and cultures. That’s the essence of digital nomadism—a trend gaining traction today. Although it feels contemporary, its roots go back to the late 1990s with the rise of computers and the internet. What was once a dream is now a liberating reality for many.
What does remote work mean?
Working from anywhere is now a sought-after advantage for young job seekers. Extended office hours are fading, as many no longer work from early morning until 7:00 PM or 8:00 PM, thanks partly to reduced commuting times.
This facilitates remote work, which is becoming increasingly common. Forbes Magazine made an article based on the Go Banking Rates report, listing the most affordable countries for digital nomads who receive their salary in dollars. Colombia was ranked number 2, considering that the cost of living is lower compared to countries like the United States or the United Kingdom.
Can I work remotely from Colombia as a foreigner?
In response to the growing wave of remote workers worldwide, Colombia decided to incorporate the digital nomad visa as a category within the visa types through Resolution 5477 of July 2022.
This visa is aimed at foreigners who have remote work and employees, freelancers, owners, or partners of foreign companies. In addition, those who seek to start an enterprise of digital content or information technologies that are of interest to Colombia. This visa allows you to stay in Colombian territory for up to two (2) consecutive years, with the possibility of reapplying as many times as you wish.
As we have mentioned in previous blogs about digital nomads, there is a list of initial documents -depending on whether you are an employee, freelancer, businessman, or entrepreneur- that you must have filled out and ready when applying to acquire this visa.
Resolution 5477, in Article 46, lists such documents. However, under its discretionary power, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may request additional documents to those submitted to issue a response to your visa application. If you want to know more about the requirements and costs of the digital nomad visa, we invite you to read our blog, «Colombian Digital Nomad Visas Approved.»
Is there a visa agency that specializes in Colombian visas, including the Digital Nomad Visa?
With more than 10 (ten) years of experience and more than 2,800 visas processed in expatgroup.co, we ensure that your process is carried out professionally and with great attention to detail under the highest quality standards and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requirements, thus increasing the chances of success in your application process.
We encourage you to consult with our experts. We have experience in digital nomad visas and have successfully processed them, and expats recommend us. We invite you to watch Josep Manier’s testimony and his experience with our service.
What should my budget be if I want to work remotely from Colombia as a foreigner?
In addition to having a digital nomad visa, Colombia has great attractions to be selected as your place of work. One of them is its low prices, as it is positioned as the Latin American country with the lowest cost of living, according to Numbeo’s Quality of Life Index. To maintain a good quality of life, the approximate value is 546 dollars (2’198,539 pesos with an exchange rate of 4,026 pesos).
Likewise, taking into account the Go Banking Rates report mentioned by Forbes Magazine, it is estimated that renting a one-bedroom apartment in Colombia costs approximately US$262 (1,054,812.00 pesos at an exchange rate of 4,026 pesos) per month. However, these prices could be lower or higher depending on the city and neighborhood you decide to live in.
Also, according to Vivir Enn, a portal responsible for conducting studies worldwide on how cheap or expensive it is to live in different countries, a single person needs to make an estimated monthly food budget. They suggest that, in Colombia, a person should spend approximately 60 dollars a month on food (243,000 Colombian pesos at an exchange rate of 4,026 pesos).
Considering the above, you should assume that you must have an income equal to or higher than 3 SMMLV to obtain the digital nomad visa and remote work from Colombian territory. Based on this requirement, you can elaborate on your budget to determine whether or not you can live in the country, considering all the expenses we have mentioned up to this point.
Should I have medical insurance to work from Colombia?
A requirement that you need to have on your list if you want to remote work from Colombia is to have a health policy. Besides being something mandatory if you wish to apply for the digital nomad visa, you must also have it for protection and care, especially because we are never free from having an accident.
Therefore, the following are the key aspects that your travel insurance should cover:
Insurance agency
All risk coverage
Make sure that the policy has coverage against all risks in case of accident, illness, maternity, disability, hospitalization, and even death and funeral repatriation.
National coverage
Validity
Ensure that the effective dates correspond to the total time foreseen for your stay in the country.
At expatgroup.co, we have partnered with the best international insurance companies, Assist Card and Continental Assist. They have over 20 years of experience, offer direct coverage in more than 190 countries, have multilingual operators, and are backed by the best healthcare providers in Colombia.
Click below to get a quick quote for the Assist Card or Continental Assist plan. The authorities accept these plans for Colombian visa applications. Remember to keep your health policy active after the visa approval, or it may affect your stay.
Do you need health insurance for Colombia Visa Applications?
As an expat, healh insurance is essential when applying for a Colombia Visa. Assist Card is a reputable travel health insurance service provider that fulfills medical and visa requirements in Colombia with great plans and incredible prices.
What is the ideal city for remote work?
Now that you know the requirements and costs to develop your job in Colombia, it is time to consider your destination. One of the great advantages of remote employment is the freedom to move around the world. Some digital nomads see this type of work as a way to escape from spending seasons like winter or summer in their home countries.
Colombia is an excellent option for those who prefer a friendlier climate, as there are cities for all tastes.
Colombia enjoys a privileged climate thanks to its location on the equator. This gives it the particularity of having no defined seasons and maintaining a predominantly tropical climate throughout the year.
Besides the climate, you will also find options for all tastes; those who prefer the beach can work from Santa Marta, Cartagena, or San Andres. However, cities like Medellin or Armenia will be great options for those who prefer the mountains. On the other hand, for those looking to explore the jungle, the Colombian Amazonas and the Tatacoa Desert can offer more extreme experiences.
Among the options you will find in the country are large cities with a business focus, such as Bogota, Medellin, Barranquilla, and Cali, or smaller and quieter towns, such as Manizales, Armenia, and Pereira, where you can also experience a true 100% Colombian coffee experience. Also, experience calm and disconnection in towns where silence and nature are the daily routine, such as Barichara or Salento.
Where can I work remotely?
In Colombia, there are numerous alternatives to work remotely, especially in major cities such as Bogota, Medellin, Cali, and Barranquilla, as well as in tourist destinations such as Cartagena and Santa Marta.
For those who prefer an environment closer to traditional offices, the best option is to find a coworking space. These spaces not only offer working facilities but also facilitate the creation of professional networks.
On the other hand, if you prefer to work from the comfort of your accommodation, some Airbnbs are specially designed for digital nomads. A recent study by the platform reveals that cities like Medellin, Bucaramanga, and Cali have better-equipped apartments for remote work than cities like Bogota or Santa Marta.
Finally, for those who prefer to be mobile and get to know all of Colombia, cafés are an attractive option. These places usually have a reliable Wi-Fi connection and tables suitable for working. The only expense you will have to cover will be the food or drink you consume in their facilities.
How do I get an online job that allows me to work from Colombia?
Remember to contract with a foreign company to work remotely and access the digital nomad visa. It will not be possible to work with a company that belongs to Colombian territory, and this is one of the requirements in Resolution 5477 of July 2022.
As long as you keep this in mind, you can work in any labor area, whether as an editor or web developer. Colombia allows you to work remotely, offering various alternatives adapted to each digital nomad’s needs. It is ideal for a quiet work environment and disconnection from developed cities to places surrounded by nature. With the digital nomad visa, Colombia hopes to welcome those who wish to work from the mountains, the plains, the desert, or the beach.
At expatgroup.co we help you to obtain the Colombian Digital Nomad visa, that is granted for a maximum period of two (2) years. Click on the button and get professional advice today.
What are the best platforms to work remotely?
Now that we have cleared some important requirements and costs to have a lifestyle that allows you to remote work from Colombia, finding a job that can be developed anywhere in the world will also be necessary. Some platforms will make this search easier.
In addition, it is important to remember that not all jobs allow you to work remotely. However, some of the most common jobs and those for which you will find more vacancies are for writers, designers, photographers, editors, tutors, and programmers, among others.
Below is a list of platforms where you can get a job remotely. There are alphabetically:
The platform has more than 300 (three hundred) categories for remote employees looking for jobs. Some of the most popular options in the vacancies are web design, WordPress management, logo design, or services related to artificial intelligence.
This website works as an intermediary between professionals and companies worldwide. Its main objective is to facilitate hiring freelancers to perform a specific project. Once the payment is agreed upon and the time frame for the work is established, the contract between both parties is initiated.
A portal focused on English speakers since it only offers vacancies in this language. You will find writing, programming, sales, legal, and education among its categories.
A startup founded in 2010 is now one of the favorite work platforms for engineers or software designers looking for more flexible schedules and to develop their daily work by goals.
Workana is an online platform connecting freelancers with clients in design, programming, writing, and more. Popular in Latin America and beyond, it focuses on the Spanish-speaking market, helping it stand out among freelancer platforms.
Upwork is an online platform that connects freelancers with clients seeking services across a variety of fields, ranging from graphic design to programming and writing. The platform allows freelancers to create profiles, showcase their skills, set rates, and search for job opportunities.
If you work on these platforms, you may be able to apply for a Digital Nomad Visa
If you work as a freelancer on one of these platforms, we recommend obtaining a similar certificate directly from the company. Even if they are not your formal employer, they can provide you with the necessary information to support your income and activities as an independent contractor.
Please note that your income must meet the minimum requirement specified for the digital nomad visa. This implies that they must be equivalent to three (3) Minimum Legal Monthly Wages in Force (SMMLV) during the last 3 months, which is equivalent to COP 3,480,000 by 2023 (approximately USD 870, according to a representative rate of COP 4,000/USD).
At expatgroup.co we successfully obtained a digital nomad visa for an expat working as a freelancer on Upwork. This was achieved thanks to the platform issuing a letter certifying his independent contractor activity and income.
