Person paying online with an international card from a phone in Colombia

International Card Without a Bank Account in Colombia: What’s Required

VIIO

Publish date: 10/16/2026

Last updated: 10/16/2026

News

Yes, in Colombia you can get an international card without opening an account at a traditional bank. Several apps give you a Visa or Mastercard with your ID and a sign-up from your phone. What differs from one to another is which document they accept, what they require before delivering the card, and how you can top it up if you don't have a bank account.

Editorial note: VIIO is one of the providers compared below. Every figure comes from each app's official help center or product page, reviewed in October 2026, so you can verify it independently before deciding.

The essentials, at a glance

In short: you do not need a bank account to sign up for or receive an international card from VIIO, Littio, ARQ, Global66, Nequi, or DaviPlata. What decides which app works for you is your ID document (only VIIO and Littio accept a passport alone) and how you plan to load pesos or dollars (Nequi is the only one that accepts cash top-ups at agents).

Do you need a bank account? Not to sign up or to receive the card. But it can matter for topping it up: in several apps the way to add pesos is PSE or a transfer from a bank, and at VIIO that account must be in your name. Below we explain what alternatives exist.

Which document do you need? It depends on the app. If you only have a passport, VIIO accepts it as an ID document for the sign-up process, and so does Littio if you reside in Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, or Peru. If you are a foreigner living in Colombia, Global66, Nequi, DaviPlata, and ARQ require a document issued in Colombia, such as the foreigner ID card (cédula de extranjería).

What do they require before delivering the card? The virtual card is usually free, sometimes after a first top-up. The physical card may require a minimum balance or a one-time payment.

Do you need a bank account to have an international card?

No. In the apps in this guide, you open an account inside the app, verify your identity from your phone, and the card connects to the balance you hold in that app.

Nequi and DaviPlata work as deposits: Nequi starts as a low-amount deposit, and DaviPlata is an electronic money deposit from Banco Davivienda. You do not need to open a savings or checking account to use either one.

What each option requires to give you the card

We reviewed each app's help centers and official pages in October 2026:

Option	Document	Network	What you need to receive the card
VIIO	Colombian ID or the ID document of your country of residence, passport, foreigner ID card (cédula de extranjería), or PPT (Temporary Protection Permit)	Visa	Virtual: free, with at least USD 3 in your account (not deducted from your balance). Physical: free with at least USD 50 in balance, which is neither deducted nor blocked. With less than that balance, there is a USD 5 issuance fee
Littio	Cédula or passport, with residence in Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, or Peru	Mastercard	Virtual: free, after a first top-up in dollars. Physical: a top-up of USD 20 or more and a USD 3 fee
ARQ	Colombian citizenship ID (cédula de ciudadanía) or foreigner ID card. If you are a foreigner living in Colombia: temporary or permanent residence, or another valid document issued in Colombia	Mastercard	Virtual: free. Physical: USD 3.99 shipping
Global66	Colombian citizenship ID or foreigner ID card issued in Colombia	Mastercard	Request: COP 5,798 before VAT. Shipping of the physical card varies by location. No maintenance fee
Nequi	Colombian citizenship ID, foreigner ID card, PPT or PEP (Special Stay Permit), and a mobile line from a Colombian carrier. If you are a foreigner, you must be of legal age and a resident of Colombia	Visa	Digital: free. Digital plus physical: COP 23,200, one-time payment; the physical card arrives in 7 to 8 business days
DaviPlata	Colombians: over 14 years old, with a mobile line from a Colombian carrier. Foreigners: of legal age, with a valid PPT or foreigner ID card	Mastercard	Digital only, free, with no maintenance fee. It cannot be requested in plastic

Wise is not on this list because its card is not available to people who live in Colombia: Colombia does not appear among the countries where Wise offers its card, and people not on that list can join a waitlist.

Requirements change over time; confirm them in the app before signing up.

And how do you top it up if you don't have a bank account?

The card doesn't need a bank, but the money has to come from somewhere. These are the routes each app publishes in its help center:

VIIO: in pesos, via PSE or a transfer from a bank account in your name. Without a bank, you can receive from another VIIO account using their phone number, or at your wallet address from an external wallet.
Littio: Bre-B, PSE, Nequi, or the Bancolombia button; also from PayPal, Deel, Ontop, Payoneer, or Wise, or via blockchain. It does not accept cash top-ups.
ARQ: in pesos, via Bre-B, PSE, the Bancolombia button, or Nequi, with no fee; you can also receive from other ARQ users.
Global66: by transferring to your account's local details, or by receiving payments from individuals, companies, or platforms.
Nequi: in addition to transfers, you can top up with cash at Bancolombia, PTM, and Puntored agents, at no cost.

If you don't have an account at any bank, check this point before choosing: it is what changes most from one app to another. For example, Littio and ARQ accept top-ups from Nequi, and Nequi accepts cash at agents.

VIIO: how to request the VIIO Visa card

You sign up in the app with your ID document and a video facial verification, without going to a branch. Then, from the card section of the app:

Virtual: you create it once your account has at least USD 3. That amount is not deducted from your balance. It works for online purchases.
Physical: free if you have at least USD 50 in balance, which is neither deducted nor blocked. If you have less, issuance costs USD 5. It is shipped to the address you provide in the app.

Neither charges a maintenance fee. Your VIIO balance consists of digital assets such as USDC or USDT, which track the US dollar; it is not a bank deposit. The VIIO Visa card is operated by Persimon S.A.S.

Where and how you can use it outside Colombia

All of them work for purchases on foreign websites. To pay in a store or withdraw cash, check whether they offer a physical card or can be added to your phone:

VIIO: Visa network, at more than 100 million physical and digital merchants in more than 200 countries. With the physical card you can withdraw at Visa-network ATMs; the withdrawal cost depends on the ATM operator.
Littio: the digital card links to Apple Pay and Google Pay; the physical card works at merchants worldwide and at Mastercard ATMs.
ARQ: the virtual card can be added to Apple Pay or Google Pay; the physical card works for in-person payments and ATM withdrawals.
Global66: Mastercard debit, for online purchases and at domestic and international merchants, with withdrawals at domestic and international ATMs. In Colombia it can be added to Apple Pay or Google Wallet.
Nequi: purchases in Colombia and abroad, physical or digital. If your Android phone has NFC, you can add it to Google Wallet.
DaviPlata: purchases on websites and at domestic and international merchants; it can be added to Google Wallet or Apple Pay. Since it is digital only, it cannot be used to withdraw at ATMs, and purchases outside Colombia are settled in pesos after conversion.

To compare costs, exchange rates, and usage limits, see our guide to digital dollar cards: how they work, costs, and limits.

What to check before requesting one

Your document. If you only have a passport, rule out the options that require a document issued in Colombia.
How you will top it up. If you don't have a bank account in your name, see what other top-up routes the app offers.
Whether you need the physical card. The virtual card works for online purchases; to withdraw at ATMs you need a physical card.
What they require to ship it. Some require a minimum balance, others a one-time payment.
What currency your balance is in. If you spend in dollars, a card connected to a dollar balance avoids converting from pesos on every purchase.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get an international card in Colombia without a bank account? Yes. Apps such as VIIO, Littio, ARQ, Global66, Nequi, and DaviPlata give you a Visa or Mastercard without opening an account at a traditional bank. You need a document the app accepts and to complete sign-up from your phone.

Can I request an international card with only a passport? In some apps, yes. VIIO accepts a passport as an ID document for the sign-up process, and so does Littio if you live in Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, or Peru. If you are a foreigner living in Colombia, Global66, Nequi, DaviPlata, and ARQ require a document issued in Colombia, such as the foreigner ID card. If you have just arrived in Colombia, read our guide for foreigners and digital nomads.

How do I top up the card if I don't have a bank account? It depends on the app. Nequi accepts cash at agents; VIIO lets you receive from other VIIO accounts or from a digital wallet.

Does the virtual card work for paying abroad? Yes, for online purchases on foreign websites. To pay at a physical merchant you can use the physical card or, in some apps, add the virtual card to Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Team note: this content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Each app's requirements, costs, and conditions may change; confirm them directly on each platform before deciding.