Learning Spanish in Colombia: courses, exams and daily practice

Spanish is the language of daily life in Colombia, from leases and medical appointments to building meetings and government offices. English is spoken in parts of the business world and in tourist areas, but an American who wants to live comfortably, make friends outside expat circles or one day apply for Colombian nationality needs Spanish. Colombia has an official public institution for teaching Spanish to foreigners, an international exam you can take in Bogotá, and a citizenship exam with a language component. This guide covers the options and the practical side of learning.

The Instituto Caro y Cuervo

The Instituto Caro y Cuervo (ICC), founded in 1942, is a higher education institution and research center attached to Colombia's Ministry of Culture. Its research covers Latin American literature and linguistics, including Colombia's indigenous languages, Colombian Sign Language and the Romani language. Since 2010, it has led the teaching of Spanish as a foreign language in Colombia, including teacher training, research and teaching materials.

The ICC runs general Spanish courses for foreigners under its "Spanish in Colombia" program:

• Six levels plus exam preparation: Basic 1 and 2 (A1 and A2), Intermediate 1 and 2 (B1 and B2), Advanced 1 and 2 (B2+ and C1), and a preparation course for the SIELE exam.
• 84 hours per level, in 60-minute hours.
• In person or live online, through Zoom or Teams.
• Intensive or flexible formats, with intensive courses meeting daily for two to three hours, or packages of hours scheduled with the teacher.

In-person classes take place at the Casa Cuervo Urisarri in Bogotá's historic center, or at another location in Bogotá agreed with the institute. The course includes a placement test, supplementary materials, a weekly cultural outing in Bogotá and access to the institute library's Spanish-for-foreigners collection, and ends with a certificate stating hours, dates and level. The textbook is not included. Check the ICC site for current prices and enrollment dates.

Your immigration status matters for in-person classes

The ICC notes that taking its in-person courses requires either a Permiso de Integración y Desarrollo (PID), which it describes as allowing up to 180 days of stay, or a visa that allows study in Colombia. It refers applicants to Migración Colombia for the permit. Online courses avoid this requirement if you are studying from abroad. If you are in Colombia on a visa, check that your category allows study before enrolling in a formal course.

Certifying your level: SIELE

The SIELE (Servicio Internacional de Evaluación de la Lengua Española) certifies Spanish proficiency electronically for students and professionals worldwide. According to the ICC, it is promoted by the Instituto Cervantes, the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, the Universidad de Salamanca and the Universidad de Buenos Aires, and it uses several varieties of Spanish from across the Spanish-speaking world. It has four tests: reading comprehension, listening comprehension, written expression and interaction, and spoken expression and interaction, and it reports results against the levels of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). The ICC prepares candidates for it and is an authorized center to administer it in person in Bogotá. The institute publishes its exam calendar on its Spanish in Colombia site. A certificate can be useful for jobs, university admissions and personal goals.

Spanish and Colombian nationality

If you plan to naturalize, Spanish becomes a formal requirement. Under Law 2332 of 2023, applicants for naturalization take an exam covering Colombia's Constitution, history, culture and geography, and Spanish. The Cancillería's nationality pages explain the exam and its exemptions: people who hold a Colombian high school diploma or university degree, and people aged 60 or older, are exempt. Applicants get two attempts. See our guide to the citizenship path.

Online classes and tutors

Many Americans combine formal courses with private tutoring online, which fits around work schedules. Look for a tutor who knows Colombian usage if you live there.

Find a Spanish tutor on italki

Colombian Spanish in daily life

Some features stand out for American learners:

• Usted is everywhere. Colombians, especially in Bogotá and the Andean region, use the formal "usted" widely, even with family and friends in some regions. Defaulting to usted with people you do not know is safe.
• Politeness formulas. Expressions such as "¿me regala...?" (literally "will you give me...?") are common when ordering in shops, along with "con mucho gusto" in reply to thanks.
• Regional variety. Coastal Spanish on the Caribbean differs in rhythm and pronunciation from the Spanish of Bogotá or Medellín. The "paisa" Spanish of Antioquia, including Medellín, has its own vocabulary and uses "vos" in informal speech.
• Diminutives. Words ending in "-ito" or "-ica" soften requests and are part of polite speech.

Practical ways to practice

1. Run errands in Spanish. Banks, pharmacies, markets and building administration give daily practice with useful vocabulary.
2. Use local media. Colombian radio, news and television help with accent and vocabulary.
3. Join cultural activities. The ICC's courses include cultural outings; libraries and cultural centers in Bogotá and other cities host events.
4. Read official forms. Visa, tax and health system pages are written in Spanish, and reading them builds the vocabulary of administrative life.
5. Keep a phrase list for situations you face often: medical appointments, utility problems, deliveries and taxis.

Language for official procedures

Government procedures are conducted in Spanish. Documents issued abroad for visas and nationality must be officially translated into Spanish, and the Cancillería's rules list when an official translation is needed. Even with good conversational Spanish, consider an official translator for legal documents and a bilingual professional for contracts.

Choosing a course

Questions to ask any school or tutor:

• Which levels follow the Common European Framework (A1 to C1)?
• How many hours per level, and how many students per class?
• Are classes in person, online or both?
• Do they prepare for SIELE or another certification?
• What document do you receive at the end?
• For in-person courses, does your visa or permit allow study?

Setting realistic goals

The ICC's structure gives a useful yardstick: 84 classroom hours per level, plus your own practice outside class. Moving from A1 to B1, the level at which most daily tasks become manageable, takes several levels of study. Plan your learning around what you need first:

• First weeks: greetings, numbers, directions, shopping and transport.
• First months: housing, banking, health appointments and phone or internet problems.
• First year: work conversations, building meetings, and reading contracts and official letters.

People who keep a steady schedule, even a few hours a week, usually progress faster than those who study intensively and then stop.

Common questions

Where can I take official Spanish courses in Colombia? The Instituto Caro y Cuervo, a public institution attached to the Ministry of Culture, offers Spanish courses for foreigners in Bogotá and online, from A1 to C1.

Do I need a visa to take Spanish classes in Colombia? For the ICC's in-person courses, yes: a PID permit or a visa that allows study. Online courses can be taken from abroad.

Is there a Spanish test for Colombian citizenship? Yes. Under Law 2332 of 2023 the naturalization exam includes Spanish. Holders of Colombian high school diplomas or degrees and people 60 or older are exempt.