International schools in Colombia

Colombian schools are approved under national education rules, and many of the schools expat families consider combine that Colombian approval with a foreign curriculum or accreditation. Colegio Bolívar in Cali, for example, describes a programme approved by the Ministry and accredited by AdvancED-Cognia since 1961. ↗

A bilingual label describes language provision, not a curriculum or a qualification. Colombian and international programmes often run side by side in the same school, so the useful questions are which subjects are taught in each language and which diplomas students can earn. ↗

• American: Colegio Nueva Granada’s 2025–26 profile describes a US diploma with an optional Colombian Bachillerato, AP courses and Cognia accreditation. ↗
• IB: Colegio Anglo Colombiano in Bogotá offers the Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma programmes; Colegio Alemán in Barranquilla reports more than 22 years as an IB World School. ↗ ↗
• British: Colegio Británico de Cartagena describes Cambridge programmes alongside the IB Diploma. ↗
• French and German: Lycée Français Louis Pasteur in Bogotá follows the French curriculum through the Baccalauréat, and Colegio Andino (Deutsche Schule Bogotá) offers German and Colombian qualifications, including the German International Abitur. ↗

Dual-diploma schools matter if your child may later study at a Colombian university as well as abroad. Our curriculum guide explains how the IB, British and American routes compare.

Colombian schools follow one of two calendars. Calendario A generally runs from January to November; calendario B generally runs from August or September to June or July. Each school sets its own dates within its calendar. ↗

The calendar decides when your child can join and where they land. A family arriving in January can start a Calendar A school at the beginning of its year but would join a Calendar B school mid-year. Moving between calendars does not automatically mean repeating or skipping half a year; schools place children from their completed coursework. ↗ Ask each shortlisted school which grade it would offer for your child’s start date.

Beneficiary visa. Cancillería, Colombia’s foreign ministry, issues beneficiary visas to the spouse or permanent partner and to children under 25 who depend economically on the holder of an eligible M, R or certain V visas. The application includes a copy of the principal’s visa, a birth or civil-registry record proving the relationship (foreign documents must meet the formalities for use in Colombia) and a letter from the principal declaring economic responsibility, including health cover. The beneficiary visa cannot outlast the principal’s visa and does not permit work. Applications are filed through Cancillería’s online visa platform. ↗

Convalidación of school records. The Ministry of National Education officially recognises preschool, primary and secondary studies completed abroad through convalidación, filed on its online convalidation system. For partial studies, families attach the pass certificates or grade reports for each grade to be recognised; for a completed secondary diploma, the diploma itself. Documents need an apostille (or the diplomatic legalisation chain for countries outside the Hague Convention) and a full official Spanish translation, including stamps. The ministry issues a resolution recognising the equivalent Colombian grades. ↗ ↗

Because both the visa and convalidación rely on foreign civil and school documents, it is easiest to apostille birth certificates and recent school reports before leaving home. Ask the school whether it needs convalidación at enrolment or only before awarding the Colombian Bachillerato. Our admissions timeline guide helps sequence records, assessments and deadlines.

Bogotá has the largest choice, including Colegio Nueva Granada, Anglo Colombiano, Colegio Gran Bretaña, Rochester School, Colegio Andino and Lycée Louis Pasteur. Our Bogotá city guide covers each school, dated fees and the neighbourhoods families compare.

Medellín: The Columbus School, in Alto de las Palmas on the Envigado side of the city, is described as American-style and Cognia-accredited. Colegio Alemán de Medellín, Marymount and Colegio Colombo Británico are other schools families shortlist. ↗ ↗

Cali: Colegio Bolívar combines a Ministry-approved Colombian programme with Cognia accreditation held since 1961. ↗

Barranquilla: Colegio Alemán, founded in 1912, describes itself as Colombia’s oldest German school, teaching in German, Spanish and English, and an IB World School for more than 22 years. ↗

Cartagena: COJOWA (Colegio Jorge Washington) describes US and Colombian diploma options from early years to Grade 12, and Colegio Británico de Cartagena offers Cambridge programmes and the IB Diploma. ↗ ↗

Fees are set school by school; for dated figures see the Bogotá guide and our fees comparison guide.