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Movistar Colombia SIM card: a prepaid eSIM offer, and a redirect to Tigo

Movistar's eSIM page advertises a prepaid offer from COP 20,000, but its prepaid page forwarded us to Tigo's shop on 8 October 2026. Here is what that means for a visitor.

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Is a Movistar Colombia SIM card a safe pick for a visitor?

It is hard to be sure, and the reason is on Movistar's own site. When we requested movistar.com.co/prepago on 8 October 2026, we were forwarded to compras.tigo.com.co/movil/prepago, which is Tigo's online shop. We do not know from that why, and we did not verify the state of any deal between the two companies. But it means a Movistar Colombia SIM card may be sold, topped up or supported through Tigo's channels. Read the shop page carefully when you buy, and see our Tigo Colombia page.

What does Movistar's eSIM page say?

The Movistar eSIM page we read advertises two offers, "eSIM prepago" and "eSIM pospago", each shown as "desde $20.000" (from COP 20,000). The text we read does not explain what that figure buys, so treat it as a starting price, not a tourist-pack price. The page's four steps are:

  1. Dial *#06# to check that your phone supports eSIM.
  2. Buy the eSIM online or at a Movistar experience centre.
  3. Set up the phone while connected to the internet.
  4. Activate it in the Mi Movistar app, or with the QR code emailed to you.

Movistar describes the eSIM as arriving instantly and mentions its 5G technology, without giving coverage numbers. We are not repeating any.

What does the Movistar page not say?

Whether a visitor can buy the prepaid eSIM with a passport, which documents the registration needs, how much data the offer holds, or how long it lasts. None of that appeared on the page. Those are the questions to ask at an experience centre.

Movistar Colombia prepaid or a travel eSIM?

If you want data on arrival, a travel eSIM gets it done before you board. If you will live in Colombia for months, a local line is worth the paperwork, and it is worth comparing all four operators: Claro, Tigo, WOM and Movistar. The trade-off for a short trip is in our Colombia SIM comparison.

Related: the Colombia hub, where to buy a SIM in Colombia and our cheapest eSIM page.

Desk research from public pages, not a hands-on test.

Common questions

Does Movistar Colombia have a prepaid eSIM?

Yes. The Movistar eSIM page advertises an eSIM prepago offer from COP 20,000, with the steps of checking compatibility, buying online or at an experience centre, connecting to the internet, then activating in the Mi Movistar app or from the emailed QR code. It does not say what the offer includes.

Why did Movistar's prepaid page redirect to Tigo?

We do not know. On 8 October 2026 movistar.com.co/prepago forwarded us to Tigo's online shop. We did not verify why, or the status of any deal between the companies. Check the shop page you land on, and confirm in a store whose SIM and support you are buying.

Can a tourist buy a Movistar Colombia SIM card?

The pages we read do not say. The eSIM page lists no document rule for foreign visitors. Plan to ask at a Movistar experience centre, with your passport and an unlocked, eSIM-compatible phone, whether a visitor can register a new prepaid line.

How do I install a Movistar eSIM in Colombia?

Movistar's steps are: dial *#06# to confirm eSIM support, buy the eSIM online or at an experience centre, connect the phone to the internet, then activate in the Mi Movistar app or by scanning the QR code emailed to you. Do it on Wi-Fi.

Is Movistar better than Claro in Colombia?

We cannot rank them. Neither operator's pages we read give coverage figures we could verify, and the Movistar prepaid link now leads to Tigo's shop. Compare current prepaid prices and test coverage on your own route, and look at the Colombia comparison page for how a travel eSIM stacks up.

Sources and further reading