Top 3 Money Transfer Providers for Spain to Colombia

Typically, Spanish citizens who wish to live or work in Colombia for longer than six months must apply for the appropriate visa. There are two types of residency visas in Colombia: temporary and permanent. For visitors planning to stay longer than six months, they must apply for either a temporary business visa or a temporary visa (for non-work related stays).

For short visits lasting less than six months, Spanish citizens need only show their valid passport (valid for at least six months from the time they arrive) to enter the country. For more information about Colombia’s visa and residence requirements, visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Residents and non-residents of Colombia are able to freely purchase property within Colombia, with minimal restrictions. It is strongly advised that foreigners work with a licensed real estate agent and/or a real estate attorney who is familiar with Colombian real estate laws to help guide them through the process.

Once a property has been found and due diligence has been completed to ascertain that there are no existing liens or debts against the property, it is typical to then make a promise to purchase. Part of the promise to purchase process is to show proof of the certificado de libertad y tradicion, which attests that due diligence has been completed on the property. The promise to purchase will state the property price, the closing date of the transaction, the notary public used and their contact details, the contact details for the buyer and seller, and any special conditions that were agreed to between the buyer and seller.

The next step, the signing of the public deed, can occur from within a few days of the promise to purchase agreement to several months, as there are several things that need to happen before the final deed can be signed. These include paying all property-related taxes, providing proof of payment for all applicable building administration fees, payment of notary fees, and providing copies of the buyer’s and seller’s IDs. This is typically the step where the buyer will send money from Spain to Colombia to fund their purchase.

The final step, the registration of the closing deed, is where the official transfer of deed takes place and the property is registered under the new owner’s name. The fees for the property registration and mortgage are paid at this time.

All Colombian residents are required to pay national and regional taxes on earned income. An individual is considered a resident if they have spent 183 days total (consecutive or non-consecutive) in Colombia within any 365-day period. Colombia and Spain do have a tax treaty in place to ensure that citizens of both countries are not double taxed on any income earned while living in either country.

Spanish students who plan to study in Colombia at the university level will find a number of resources available through Colombia’s Ministry of Education. Scholarships and grant opportunities are available to international students. Note that a student visa is required to study within the country for any length of time. For younger students, Colombia has a number of international schools in its major cities. Typically, enrollment for international schools is done at the school, and it is recommended that the school be contacted directly to begin the process.

Spanish citizens are not permitted to vote in Colombian elections. Spanish citizens who wish to vote in Spanish elections or EU parliamentary elections must first register with their local Spanish embassy in Colombia, and will then be permitted to vote in Spanish and EU elections via absentee ballot.

Colombia’s healthcare system is comprised of a combination of compulsory health insurance services and supplemental pre-paid medical insurance. For non-residents who are visiting or planning to stay in Colombia for an extended period of time, purchasing traveler’s insurance or a private medical plan to cover them for the duration of the stay is strongly advisable. Non-citizens are not eligible for Colombia’s compulsory health insurance services.

As a member of the EU, Spain benefits from powerful bilateral trade agreements and a strong regulatory framework in its trade relationship with Colombia. This trade relationship is governed by a Framework Trade and Economic Co-operation Agreement. In 2011, foreign direct investment (FDI), trade, remittances and international money transfers between the EU and Colombia accounted for approximately USD $15 billion. Trade between Colombia and Spain accounted for USD $1.8 billion of that total. Spain was also the second-largest provider of FDI into Colombia in 2012, supplying USD $4.42 billion to the Colombian economy.