Colombia is known as the gateway to South America. It is a multicultural society with European, Native American, Middle Eastern and African influences. It has the second largest Spanish speaking population in the world. Its industries include gold, emeralds, cement, beverages, clothing and footwear. The Colombian Peso (COP) is the official currency.
Important things to know when renting a property in Colombia:
Common Expat Areas - The areas where affordable, desirable rentals are most likely to be located within Bogota are: Rosales, Chico Navarra, Santa Barbara, Carolina, Santa Paula, Antigua, Calleja, Chico Reservado, and Cabrera.
Q&A
UTILITIES
Electricity, gas, water and sewer, are already connected under the landlord´s name, but they are not included in the rent. The tenant must pay the monthly bill. A Colombian ID is needed to activate services other services such as telephone, cable & internet.
Telephone/Internet/Cable - These are the most common providers:
ETB – www.etb.com.co
DIRECTV – www.directv.com.co
CLARO - www.claro.com.co – (cable, telephone and internet)
Cellular Phone
There are a variety of cell phone companies that offer good services. All of them will require a Colombian ID (Cedula) to open accounts, unless you purchase a pre-paid package. The most common companies are:
CLARO : www.claro.com.co
MOVISTAR: www.movistar.com.co
TIGO: www.tigo.com.co
Public schools are not recommended in Colombia. The most common expats schools are private and are appropriate for children of any country. All private schools will require an entry test as well as the documentation mentioned below. Some of them offer the International Baccalaureate Program (www.ibo.org).
In order to attend bilingual schools, it is necessary that the student has a high understanding of the language according to the school (English, French, German).
Day Care /Pre-school: Day Care Centers and Pre-schools operate either all year round or during the school year. The most common schools for expatriates are:
Registering your Child/ren
Non-Spanish records need to be officially translated. Some schools will not require translation of these records or may translate them for free. This requirement will be determined based on the school the child/ren will attend.
Required documentation
Requested certificates have to be legalized by the Ministry of Education from the home country. Required documentation is generally listed in the web page of each school:
Colombian ID Alien Card (Cedula de Extranjeria) - In order to qualify for the Colombian ID card you must have a work visa or a temporary resident visa valid for a minimum of three months. You MUST obtain the ID within a maximum of 15 days of receiving the work visa; otherwise there is a possibility of cancellation of the work visa or penalties incurred.
Your ID alien card will be ready in about eight days after application. You must apply in person with the following documents:
Driver License – You will be required to obtain a Colombian Driver License after the Colombian ID (Cedula de Extranjeria) card has been obtained. It is necessary to apply in person. The following documentation and process needs to be followed:
According with government regulations, it is necessary to do the process in two steps, first day (# 1–4) and second day about eight days after the first steps (# 5–7).
Hospitals
Malls