The Passport

Welcome to The Passport

Because One Country Isn’t Enough.

Matt · May 13, 2026

Italy hub launches next week — guidebook drops alongside

Just a heads up: the Italy hub goes live next week, and the Italy guidebook (Ozzy's been crushing this — full 60+ page deep-dive) drops the same day. It'll be available to Pro/VIP members and as a one-off purchase.If you've been thinking about Italy as a follow-up move after...

2 4 48

Posted in 🇨🇴Bogotá

R Rachel Brennan · May 13, 2026

Restaurants in Chapinero I keep going back to

Add yours below — vote up the ones that match.

El Corral — late-night burgers

Sushigozen — small Japanese spot in north Chapinero

Crepes y Waffles — Colombian classic

El Mediterraneo by Andres — Mediterranean

Media Res — modern bistro on Calle 70

View all 10 →

Posted in 💬Water Cooler

Daniel Rojas · May 13, 2026

Spanish-learning small wins — drop yours

I work with foreigners every week and the small wins are my favorite to hear about. What's yours from this week?I'll start, from the other direction: I finally watched a full episode of Ted Lasso without subtitles. Took me three years.

5 7 80

Posted in 💬Visas & Immigration

James Whitmore · May 13, 2026 🇨🇴 Colombia

M visa renewal — what to expect at year 3

I'm at the M visa renewal step (year 3). For anyone approaching this: book the Migración appointment 6 weeks before your current visa expires, not 2. The online slots fill up. Bring originals AND copies of every supporting doc you used last time. The agent will ask for at...

1 4 80

Posted in 💬Introductions

Greg Sullivan · May 13, 2026

Greg — Tampa to Medellín, FIRE, 6 months

Greg, 53, retired early from corporate, live off investments. Medellín 6 months. I think about taxes constantly so you've been warned. Pro member, will be deep in the tax threads. Ask me about FATCA before you make any decision.

0 5 40

Posted in 🎬Free Resources

Matt · May 13, 2026

What documents to bring (printable checklist)

One-page printable checklist of physical documents to bring when you move. Sounds basic. Everyone forgets at least three of these.[Download: Documents Checklist PDF]

0 0 0

Posted in 💬Medellín

Emily Tran · May 13, 2026 🇨🇴 Medellín, Colombia

Climbing El Peñol — worth the 740 steps?

YES!! Did it last weekend. Took 25 minutes up (I run; took my friend 45 minutes). The view at the top is bonkers. Pictures don't do it. You can see the whole lake system, the islands, everything. Bring water. Worth every single step.

1 1 58

Posted in 💬Introductions

Ryan MacDonald · May 13, 2026

Ryan — Toronto to Medellín, 8 months, dev

Ryan, 34, software engineer, from Toronto. Medellín about 8 months. I'm the Canadian who came to escape the weather and stayed for the people. Mid-tier Spanish, working on it. Will mostly be lurking but happy to talk Canadian-tax-vs-US-tax differences with anyone confused...

1 4 60

Posted in 💬Housing & Real Estate

J James Patterson · May 13, 2026

Apartment hunting red flags I've learned the hard way

Drop yours in the comments — voting up the ones that match your experience.

"Available immediately" usually means available 3 weeks ago and still empty for a reason

Landlord won't let you visit "until you commit" — full stop, walk away

Furniture in every photo at the same angle = same blogger's stock photos = it's a scam

"All utilities included" without an exact number — get the number, in writing, in writing again

Photos with no view from the window — assume the view is a wall

Posted in 💬Introductions

Rebecca Hammond · May 13, 2026

Rebecca — Boston to Bogotá, 11 months, with family

Hi, Rebecca, 42, internal medicine physician (US-licensed, currently navigating Colombian credentialing). Husband and 2 kids (8 and 11). 11 months in Chapinero. Family logistics is my specialty by default; medical credentialing is my specialty by choice. Happy to share both.

1 3 64

Posted in 💬Remote Work & Business

Ryan MacDonald · May 12, 2026 🇨🇴 Medellín, Colombia

Coworking vs co-living in Medellín — pros and cons

Tried both. Coworking + my own apartment = best for actual work and sanity. Co-living = great for the first month when you don't know anyone, hard after. The "always-on social vibe" gets exhausting if you're an introvert with deadlines.Recommend co-living for month 1,...

1 0 35

Posted in 💬Medellín

James Patterson · May 12, 2026 🇨🇴 Medellín, Colombia

Comuna 13 tour — touristy or important?

Did the Comuna 13 walking tour last week with a group of US visitors. Honest take: it's touristy now. Crowded. The graffiti tour part is genuinely good — the guides are local and the history is moving. The outdoor escalators are still impressive even with the crowds.Worth...

1 1 58

Posted in 💬Expat Wins & Fails

Sarah Kowalski · May 12, 2026 🇨🇴 Medellín, Colombia

FAIL: Forgot Día de la Madre at the office, got the look

Día de la Madre (Mother's Day) is a much bigger deal here than in the US. I showed up to my coworking on the Sunday like it was a regular workday and the receptionist (a mother) looked at me like I'd personally insulted her family.Now I have a calendar reminder set. With...

2 1 42

Posted in 🇨🇴Bogotá

Brian Fisher · May 12, 2026 🇨🇴 Bogotá, Colombia

TransMilenio survival guide

For those allergic to the idea of TransMilenio: it's fine, you'll be fine, here's what to know:Get a Tu Llave card on day 1 (Carulla and other places sell them). Top it up at any station.Avoid the Caracas and 80 routes at peak (7-9am, 5-7pm) unless you enjoy being a...

2 2 41

Posted in 💬Healthcare

J James Whitmore · May 12, 2026

English-speaking doctors I've used in Bogotá (3 years of data)

Names redacted in seed — Matt to fill in real practitioners.

General/internal medicine (Country)

Accepts international insurance, near-perfect English.

Dermatology (Chicó)

English fluent, online booking, easy to schedule.

Orthopedics (Fundación Santa Fe)

English good, very thorough, top hospital affiliation.

View full list (4) →

Posted in 🇨🇴Colombia

María Camila Restrepo · May 12, 2026 🇨🇴 Colombia

Día de las Velitas — Colombia's most beautiful holiday

December 7th. Día de las Velitas — "Day of the Candles." Marks the start of the Christmas season. Families set out candles and small paper lanterns on streets, balconies, sidewalks. The whole country glows from the ground up.If you're new here: stay home that night. Walk your...

2 0 59

Posted in 💬Introductions

María Camila Restrepo · May 12, 2026

María Camila — Bogotá native, immigration attorney

Hola a todos, María Camila Restrepo. I'm Colombian, 35, born and raised in Bogotá, immigration attorney with my own small firm. I speak English, my staff speaks English, and I work primarily with foreigners. I'm here because Matt asked me to be, and because I want this...

2 3 64

Posted in 💬Visas & Immigration

Monica santos salamanca · May 12, 2026

5 Common Visa & Immigration Mistakes People Make When Moving to ColombiaMovi

Moving to Colombia can be exciting, but the visa process is one place where small mistakes can create big delays. Here are five common ones to avoid:1. Waiting until the last minuteMany people start thinking about visas only when their tourist time is almost over. By then,...

visas Colombia immigration Colombia moving to Colombia Colombia expat expat life Colombia Colombia visa mistakes Colombian visa process immigration mistakes Colombia residency retire in Colombia digital nomad Colombia Colombia tourist visa

0 3 75

Posted in 💬Introductions

Pierre Gagnon · May 12, 2026

Pierre in Cali — 61, retiree, here for salsa

Bonjour, Pierre Gagnon, 61, Montreal originally, in Cali for 2 years. I came for salsa and stayed for everything. I dance 4 nights a week. Life is good. If anyone is salsa-curious or salsa-terrified, I am your man.

2 3 35

Posted in 💬Coffee Axis

Mike Thompson · May 12, 2026 🇨🇴 Colombia

Buying a finca — what to know before you fall in love with one

I closed on a small finca 5 weeks ago. Things I wish I'd known:The road access matters more than the view. A finca you can't reach in rainy season isn't a finca, it's a hobby.Water source first, everything else second. Spring, well, or municipal? Get the answer in writing.The...

2 1 39