• Original AWB or two original B/Ls.
• A typewritten inventory in Spanish without values, with brands, serials, models and references of electronic items and bikes.
• Colombian Visa (if apply)
• Photocopy of diplomatic passport with seal of the Embassy valid.
• Diplomatic Permit (Foreign and Colombian diplomats).
• Foreign diplomats need a permanent accreditation (it should not be temporary).
• It is necessary to obtain the power attorney and customer´s documents (originals) before the shipment’s arrival to avoid extra These documents must be printed on Embassy stationery with a stamp.
• The diplomatic franchise will be requested to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs along with the import declaration and support documents (it cannot be requested before the customer arrival to Colombia)

CUSTOMS PRESCRIPTIONS

• Time limit for arrival of household goods is 30 calendar days before or 120 calendar days after arrival of owner.
• One unit of each electrical domestic appliance is allowed except for TV’s.
• The shipper can bring one TV per family member, without exceed the commercial quantity.
• It is very important & MANDATORY that the inventory list indicates brand, model, reference and serial number of each electrical appliance and bikes.
• The packing list MUST be typewritten by computer.
• Please check the list of items allowed.
• Firearms, collection weapons, import prohibited unless an approved authorization from Colombian Ministry of Defence is given BEFORE
• Medicines, Vitamins, toiletries, food or drinks (dry food, liquor, spices), live plants, batteries, drone with camera, motors, gas tanks, trailers, weapons, chemicals (detergents, paints, flammable or corrosive substances), compressors, tires, vehicle parts
• / spare parts, security cameras, electric bicycles or electric scooters, hoverboards, building materials (floors, parts of walls), power lawn mowers, gas BBQ, vehicles, motorcycles, golf cars, quad bike, specialized tools or industrial use tools, cell phones and any item in commercial, new articles are prohibited to import into the shipment.
• Customs does not consider them as part of a shipment.

REMARKS

• People less than 18 years old are not allowed to import household goods.
• Arrival outside the established period of time 120 calendar days after or 30 calendar days before.
• No commercial quantities are allowed.
• In the case the customer has HHGD’s and vehicle, the import process will be subject to the value of the quota assigned to the official according to the position and diplomatic entity.
• Resolution 046 of 2019, paragraph of article 459 indicates that the acceptance of the customs transit regime (OTM / DTA) will not proceed for importers who carry out their first import or are not recurrent importers. So the import process must be done at port or a bonded warehouse in the same city where the port of arrival is located.
• If the shipment is composed of two or more containers these must be sent under the same OBL, because partial customs clearance is not permitted.

Unaccompanied baggage’s of Foreign Diplomats

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

• Original AWB or two original B/Ls.
• A typewritten inventory in Spanish without values, with brands, serials, models and references of electronic items.
• Photocopy of diplomatic passport with seal of the Embassy valid.
• Diplomatic Permit (Foreign and Colombian diplomats).
• Foreign diplomats need a permanent accreditation (it should not be temporary).
• It’s necessary to obtain the power attorney and customer´s documents (originals) before the shipment arrivals to avoid extra charges. These documents must be printed on Embassy stationery with a stamp.

CUSTOMS PRESCRIPTIONS

• Time limit for arrival of an unaccompanied baggage is 30 calendar days before or 90 calendar days after arrival of Art. 273 Dec. 1165 /2019.
• Firearms, collection weapons, import prohibited unless an approved authorization from Colombian Ministry of Defence is given BEFORE shipping.
• Furniture’s, Big electrical items, mattresses, rugs, Tables, chairs (the reason is because the import modality will be updated to HHGD’s), Medicines, Vitamins, toiletries, food or drinks (dry food, liquor, spices), live plants, batteries, drone with camera, cell phones, motors, gas tanks, trailers, weapons, chemicals (detergents, paints, flammable or corrosive substances), compressors, tires, vehicle parts / spare parts, security cameras, electric bicycles or electric scooters, hoverboards, building materials (floors, parts of walls), power lawn mowers, gas BBQ, vehicles, motorcycles, golf cars, quad bike, specialized tools or industrial use tools and any item in commercial ,new articles are prohibited to import into the shipment. Customs does not consider them as part of a shipment of personal effects.
• Allowed items: articles of basic use like clothes, books, shoes, paintings, some small electric appliances, etc.
• The cost of the shipment of personal effects cannot exceed the amount of US$ 1.500.

REMARKS

• This category is applicable to Consular personnel, Persons protected by special regulations due to the contracts established between the Colombian Government and Foreign Countries or All members of technical missions and International Organizations (contact your destination agent).
• For electronic/electrical devices and bikes, include serial number, references, brands, models.
• The import process will be subject to the value of the quota assigned to the official according to the position and diplomatic entity.

Motor vehicles, motorcycles

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

• Original invoice detailed and preferably in US dollar.
• A list of contents with all characteristics and specifications of the vehicle or motorcycle.
• Original of AWB or two Original B/Ls.
• For no diplomatic shipments / Colombian Returning Diplomats of used vehicles or motorcycles, is necessary a fumigation/cleaning certificate and pictures of vehicle and certificates of conformity for wheels, glazing, brakes, and seat belts.
• Colombian Returning Diplomats must request the import license to VUCE.

CUSTOMS PRESCRIPTIONS

• Customs duties and taxes for new cars are 70% on the CIF value except for foreign diplomats.
• Colombian returning diplomats do not pay customs duties, but pay a special tax called “IVA”, which can be 19% of the CIF value, depending on the model of the car, and consumption tax can be 8% or 16% depending on the value of the car.
• If an importer wants to bring the car along with household goods shipment, he needs to consult the agent in Colombia before shipping.

REMARKS

• Only foreign and returning diplomats are allowed to import used cars and motorcycles. The non diplomats cannot import used vehicles.
• Resolution 046 of 2019, paragraph of article 459 indicates that the acceptance of the customs transit regime (OTM / DTA) will not proceed for importers who carry out their first import or are not recurrent importers. So the import process must be done at port or a bonded warehouse in the same city where the port of arrival is located.
• Never send a vehicle or motorcycle without consulting the agent in Colombia.

Pets (dogs and cats)

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

• Original of Veterinary Health Certificate which must be issued maximum ten (10) days before the arrival of the shipment.
• Vaccination certificate, according to the age and species.
• Original of AWB, if the animal comes as an unaccompanied baggage.
• Invoice for non-commercial purposes.
• Rabies certificate (must be greater than 21 days prior to arrival).
• Internal and external deworming within 60 days before arrival.

CUSTOMS PRESCRIPTIONS

• If the pet comes as an accompanied baggage, the owner must proceed with customs import formalities upon his arrival at the airport.
• If the pet comes as an unaccompanied baggage, the AWB must read: “ALIVE ANIMAL” (ANIMAL VIVO) “DESCARGUE DIRECTO”.
  • The customs clearance is possible only weekdays
  • Customs and zoosanitary entity Works from Monday to Friday between 8:00 am until 4:00 pm, so if the pet arrive after noon, they must stay the night at the airport
• Special permit to be paid, called “PERMISO ZOOSANITARIO” costing 30 – 35 US$ approx. to be paid in Colombian Pesos.

• Copy or owner air ticket, passport and immigration stamp.

REMARKS

• Healthy certificate must certify that:
  • the animal is free of infectious and parasitic diseases,
  • the animal has no presence of fresh wounds or healing process,
  • the animal has a current vaccination plan,
  • the animal received an internal/external parasitic treatment within 30 days prior to arrival,
  • pet identification, species, breed, sex, age, coat colour and deworming

• The importation of the following breeds or their hybrids is prohibited because they are considered dangerous: American Staffordshire Terrier, Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Terrier, Bull Terrier.
• For any other kind of pets, contact your agent at destination.

Fumigation of imported and exported wooden crates

CUSTOMS PRESCRIPTIONS

• The Colombian Government adopted ISPM- 15 (International standards for Phytosanitary Measures Publication 15) Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade (aka NIFM-15) to standardise the treatment of wood packing materials used for the transport of goods.
• Since September 16, 2005, shipments into or out of Colombia in wooden packaging, have to have a Seal, which certifies that the shipment has received the required treatment:
  • HT = Heated Treatment [a minimum wood core temperature of 56°C for a minimum of 30 minutes] or
  • Methyl Bromide Treatment (the minimum temperature should not be less than 10°C and the minimum exposure time should not fall below 16 hours).
• The wood packing material must be marked in a visible location on each article, on at least two opposite sides of the article with a legible and permanent mark in black ink.

REMARKS

• This does not apply to wood packing materials manufactured of:
  • Raw wood of 6 mm thickness or
  • Processed wood produced by glue, heat and pressure, or a combination thereof.
  • Plywood sheets & agglomerated sawdust sheet.
  • Oriented wooden fibre
  • Sawdust & Wooden

• If you have questions, contact your local agent in Colombia.