Colombia Retirement Visa (M-10): The $750/Month South American Play

Colombia’s M-10 (Pensionado) visa grants residency to retirees with pension income of approximately 3x Colombia’s minimum wage — currently about $750 USD/month. This is one of the lowest retirement visa thresholds in the Americas. Medellín and Cartagena have become top destinations for US retirees seeking quality of life at a fraction of stateside costs.

The Requirements

• Monthly pension income: approximately $750 USD (3x minimum wage, adjusted annually)
• Apostilled pension statements or Social Security verification
• Valid passport with 6+ months remaining
• Clean criminal record (apostilled)
• Health insurance valid in Colombia

The Visa Duration

• Initial M-10 visa: 3 years
• After 5 years of continuous residence: eligible for R-type (Resident) visa
• Resident visa is indefinite and grants permanent residency

The Tax Structure

Colombia taxes residents on worldwide income after 4 years of continuous tax residency. During the first 4 years, only Colombian-sourced income is taxable. Most pension income from the US is exempt or partially exempt under the Colombia-US tax treaty.

The Healthcare

Colombia’s healthcare system (EPS) is ranked among the best in Latin America:

• Mandatory enrollment in EPS through a private provider (Sura, Sanitas, Nueva EPS)
• Monthly cost: $40-80 depending on income
• Private add-on (medicina prepagada): $100-200/month for VIP-level care
• Specialist visits: $15-30
• Medellín’s Clínica Las Américas and Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe are internationally accredited

The Cost of Living

City	Monthly Total (USD)
Medellín (El Poblado)	$1,000-1,500
Medellín (Laureles)	$800-1,200
Cartagena (Getsemaní)	$900-1,400
Bogotá (Chapinero)	$900-1,300
Santa Marta	$600-1,000