Once a patient has decided to move forward with treatment in Medellín, the questions shift from clinical to logistical. How do international payments actually work? What happens if a card gets declined mid-treatment? Is it better to wire funds in advance or pay in installments during the visit? This article addresses those questions directly, with the same transparency we apply to treatment planning.
The same veneers cost up to 70% less in Colombia.
See if you qualify Free video call in English · on WhatsAppIndividual patient experience. Results and pricing are confirmed after a clinical evaluation.
This is intentionally a practical, transactional guide. If you haven’t yet reviewed the clinical side of treatment, see our overview of the all-inclusive dental packages in Medellín before returning here to plan payment logistics.
Currency: Colombian Pesos vs. US Dollars
All clinical pricing at our practice is quoted in US dollars for international patients, and the final invoice is settled in Colombian pesos (COP) at the exchange rate applicable on the day of transaction. This matters for two practical reasons:
- Exchange rate fluctuation between the date of your quote and the date of payment can move the peso amount slightly, though USD-denominated quotes remain fixed for the patient.
- Card issuers apply their own conversion rate, separate from the interbank rate, when a COP charge is converted back to USD, CAD, GBP, or AUD on your statement. This is standard for any international purchase and not specific to dental treatment.
Patients are encouraged to check with their card issuer about the specific foreign transaction fee and conversion margin applied, typically between 1% and 3%, so there are no surprises on the statement.
Credit and Debit Card Payments
Most patients from the United States, Canada, the UK, and Australia pay for some or all of their treatment using a credit card. A few practical details matter here:
Daily and Per-Transaction Limits
Colombian point-of-sale terminals and payment processors often impose a maximum amount per single transaction, which varies by bank and card network but commonly falls between $2,000 and $5,000 USD equivalent per swipe. For a $7,000 package, this frequently means the total is split across two or more transactions on the same card, processed sequentially. Our bilingual coordinator manages this process directly with the clinic’s payment terminal so patients aren’t left troubleshooting a POS system in a second language.
The same veneers in Colombia cost up to 70% less.
In the US, 20 porcelain veneers run $30,000–$50,000. With Dr. Yazmin in Medellin, it's $7,000, all-inclusive.
Individual patient experience. Prices, inclusions and results are confirmed after a clinical evaluation. A full evaluation is required before any treatment.
If you have chipped, stained, or misaligned teeth, opting for veneer treatment in Colombia is a rapid, long-lasting solution.
Notifying Your Bank Before Travel
International patients should notify their card issuer of Colombia travel dates before departure. Even routine transactions can trigger a fraud hold if a card suddenly shows activity from a Latin American merchant category (dental clinics fall under standard medical merchant codes, which usually pass through smoothly once travel is on file). Patients who skip this step occasionally experience a declined first transaction, though it’s typically resolved with a quick call to the card issuer.
Foreign Transaction Fees
Cards marketed as no-foreign-transaction-fee products (common among US travel rewards cards) avoid the typical 2–3% surcharge on international purchases. For a $7,000 treatment package, this fee alone can represent $140–$210, so it’s worth checking your specific card’s terms before travel.
Wire Transfers
For patients who prefer to settle the full balance, or a deposit, before arriving in Medellín, an international wire transfer is available and commonly used. Key points:
- SWIFT transfers from US, Canadian, UK, or Australian banks typically take 1–3 business days to arrive, depending on intermediary banks.
- Intermediary bank fees are common on international wires and are generally the sender’s responsibility. Confirming with your bank whether they offer an “OUR” fee option (where the sender covers all fees) avoids any shortfall arriving at the receiving end.
- Wire details are provided directly by the clinic’s administrative team, along with a formal invoice for the patient’s records, once treatment dates are confirmed.
A wire transfer is generally the most cost-predictable method for the full package amount, since it avoids card network conversion margins and daily transaction caps entirely.
Cash Payments
Cash (in COP or USD) remains accepted for smaller balances or incidental costs, but we do not recommend traveling to Colombia with large sums of cash for the full treatment cost. Beyond the practical security concerns of carrying several thousand dollars, most patients find a combination of card and wire transfer both safer and easier to document for insurance or expense-reporting purposes back home.
Deposit Structure and Payment Timeline
Our standard structure for the all-inclusive package involves a deposit to confirm your treatment dates and hotel booking, with the remaining balance due upon arrival, before the clinical work begins. This structure protects both parties: it confirms the patient’s commitment to the scheduled dates (which involve blocking operatory time, lab fabrication of E-max veneers, hotel reservations at The Cut, and private driver scheduling), while ensuring patients aren’t asked to pay the full amount before ever meeting the clinical team in person.
Specific deposit percentages and balance timing are confirmed during your consultation, since they can vary slightly depending on whether your case involves standard veneer placement or additional procedures such as those discussed in our article on correcting previous veneer work.
What’s Included vs. What Requires Separate Payment
The $7,000 all-inclusive package covers 20 HD E-max porcelain veneers, three nights at The Cut hotel in El Poblado, private driver transportation, and the bilingual coordinator service. Items typically outside this package, which patients should budget for separately, include:
- International airfare to and from Medellín
- Meals outside of any arrangements made by your coordinator
- Additional hotel nights beyond the included three, if your case requires extended observation
- Any supplementary treatment identified during in-person diagnostics, such as periodontal therapy, which is quoted transparently before proceeding
Financial Transparency Before You Travel
Every patient receives a written cost breakdown before booking flights, generated after a virtual consultation and, where applicable, a review of your DSD in Medellín mockup. There should be no ambiguity about total cost, payment method options, or what happens if additional treatment is identified once you arrive. Patients working with our English-speaking coordination team can ask detailed financial questions in advance and receive clear, direct answers rather than translated approximations.
Questions About Payment Before You Book?
Our bilingual coordinator, Stephany Carmona, handles payment logistics for every international patient and can walk you through card limits, wire instructions, and deposit timing specific to your treatment plan.
