By the time you are three days from departure, the big decisions should already be made. This check is about catching the small things that derail a medical trip at the last minute: a changed report time, an outdated medication instruction, a missing entry form or a cold that the surgeon needed to hear about.
The countdown at a glance
Reconfirm the appointment, the facility address and the current pre-op instructions in writing.
Medications, documents, entry form and how you will pay on arrival.
Health check-in, transfer confirmation and a plan for the flight itself.
Carry-on essentials, a final message to the clinic, and someone at home who knows the plan.
72 hours out: reconfirm what the clinic expects
Schedules change, and the change is not always passed on. Three days out, send the clinic or coordinator a short written message asking them to confirm:
- The date and time you should report for your first appointment, and whether it is a consultation, tests or the procedure itself
- The exact address of that appointment, which may differ from the clinic's main office
- The name of the clinician you will see first
- Whether any pre-op tests are still outstanding and where they will be done
- That the pre-op instructions you hold are the current version
Ask for the reply in writing, even if you also speak by phone. If the answer changes anything important, such as the clinician or the facility, pause and make sure you are comfortable before travelling. Our guide on plan changes after arrival covers how to handle bigger shifts.
Pre-op instructions to look at again
Re-read fasting, skin-preparation and medication instructions now, while there is still time to ask questions. Pay particular attention to any medicine you have been told to stop or adjust, because instructions can differ between clinicians.
One example: people taking GLP-1 medications (used for diabetes and weight loss) often wonder whether to stop before surgery. Guidance from the American Society of Anesthesiologists (2024) and other societies says most patients can continue them. Patients at higher risk of side effects may follow a liquid-only diet for 24 hours beforehand, and the care team decides who needs any changes. The point is not to self-adjust. It is to make sure your surgeon and anaesthesia team know you take the medication and have told you what to do.
48 hours out: medicines, documents and money
Medications
The U.S. State Department (2025) advises carrying prescription medicines in their original packaging with your prescription, and checking with the Colombian embassy that each one is legal in Colombia. It also notes that some psychiatric medications cannot be sold in Colombia, so bring enough for the whole trip. Pack all of it in your carry-on, with a few extra days' supply in case your return is delayed.
Entry and travel documents
- Passport. The State Department recommends six months of validity and a blank page for the entry stamp.
- Check-Mig form. Colombia asks travellers to complete this free online migration form before departure. The State Department places the window at up to 72 hours before your flight, so this is the right moment to do it.
- Return or onward ticket. The State Department notes that Colombia may refuse entry without one.
- Booking confirmation and clinic contact. Keep printed and offline copies in case immigration asks about the purpose of your visit or your phone has no signal.
Money for arrival
The State Department notes that hospitals and doctors in Colombia may ask for payment before service, and that credit cards are not always accepted. Confirm now how any balance will be paid and in what currency. Then tell your bank about your travel so a large payment is not blocked on the day.
Lodging and the first night
Confirm your lodging reservation directly with the property, not only through the booking platform. Check the check-in time against your arrival time. If you land late, make sure someone will let you in. Ask whether the address you have is the one a driver will recognise, including any building or tower name.
Think about the first evening too. If your procedure is early the next morning, you may need to fast from a set time. Find out what food and water you can get near your lodging on arrival, so you are not searching for a shop at night. If someone is travelling with you, agree now who handles what on arrival day, so you can rest.
24 hours out: your health, your ride and the flight
A quick health check-in
If anything about your health has changed since your last contact with the clinic, tell them before you fly, not when you arrive. That includes a fever, cough or cold, a new skin infection or rash near the treatment area, a new medication, or a recent hospital visit. Some of these may only mean an adjustment; others may mean postponing. Either way, the team needs the chance to decide before you have travelled.
Confirm the transfer
Message whoever is meeting you at the airport with your flight number and arrival time. Confirm the driver's name or the service you should look for, and where you will meet. If your flight changes, update them straight away.
Plan the flight itself
Long flights add to the risk of blood clots. The CDC Yellow Book (2026 edition) describes walking, calf exercises and an aisle seat as reasonable for long-distance travellers. For people at higher risk, it describes properly fitted compression stockings. If your clinician has given specific advice for the outbound journey, follow it. If not, and you have clot risk factors, ask now.
Departure day: what stays with you
Keep these in your carry-on, not your checked bag:
- All medications and prescriptions
- Copies of the medical records you sent to the clinic, in case anything went missing in transit
- Booking confirmation, quote and payment receipts
- Clinic, coordinator and driver contacts, written down as well as saved in your phone
- Your lodging address
Before boarding, send one last message to the clinic saying you are on your way. Make sure one person at home has your itinerary, the clinic's contact details and the name of your treating clinician. For a full packing list, see what to pack for surgery abroad.
When to stop and call before boarding
A few findings in these 72 hours justify a phone call before you get on the plane:
- You develop a fever or infection symptoms
- The clinic cannot confirm your appointment, clinician or facility in writing
- Your pre-op instructions conflict with each other and no one has resolved it
- A required test result is missing or abnormal and no one has reviewed it
- Payment terms have changed without explanation
Postponing is disruptive, but it is far easier from home than from a hotel room in another country. Our guide to flight change buffers explains how to keep that option affordable.
Frequently asked questions
When should I fill in Colombia's Check-Mig form?
Before your flight. The U.S. State Department describes a window of up to 72 hours before departure, so the start of your preflight check is a good time to do it.
Should I fly if I catch a cold a few days before surgery?
Tell the clinic before you travel. Your treating team decides whether the procedure can go ahead, and it is much easier to postpone from home than after arriving.
Do I need to stop GLP-1 medication before surgery abroad?
Not necessarily. Multi-society guidance says most patients can continue, with changes for some higher-risk patients. Make sure your surgeon and anaesthesia team know you take it, and follow what they tell you.
How should I carry my medications to Colombia?
In your carry-on, in original packaging, with prescriptions. Check that each medicine is legal in Colombia, and bring enough to cover possible delays.
What should I do on the flight to lower clot risk?
The CDC describes walking, calf exercises and an aisle seat as reasonable on long flights. It describes fitted compression stockings for people at higher risk. Ask your clinician if you have risk factors.
Want help routing the trip or case?
Tell us the treatment area, destination preference, timing and the decision you are trying to make. This routes into the existing medical lead pipeline.
Related planning guides
Medical-travel network
- American Society of Anesthesiologists: Multi-society GLP-1 guidance (2024)
- U.S. State Department: Colombia international travel information (2025)
- CDC Yellow Book 2026: Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism
These sources support general planning and verification points. They do not establish an individual treatment plan or travel clearance.