This country currently has a directory entry or basic profile only; a full handbook is planned.
01Overview
- Region
- Latin America
- Capital
- Bogotá
- Currency
- COP
- Languages
- Spanish
- ISO code
- CO / COL
Jurisdictions
- Colombia — National level; special zones and regulated sectors have separate rules
Macro indicators such as GDP and population will be added from the World Bank in the data release (P1).
02Market Entry
Foreign ownership
Whether 100% foreign ownership is generally allowed, and key exceptions. Allowed / conditional / not allowed / unverified.
National treatment; generally unrestricted
- Applies to
- Finance, insurance, oil and gas, mining and TV need approval; defence and security are closed
- Jurisdiction
- Colombia
- Source
- MOFCOM
03Business Formation
Common legal entity
The company form most commonly used by foreign investors for a local operating entity.
Simplified stock company (S.A.S.), corporation or limited liability company
- Applies to
- Branches of foreign companies are also possible
- Jurisdiction
- Colombia
- Source
- MOFCOM
Registration authority
Primary authority for company or commercial registration.
Chamber of commerce in the company's city
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Colombia
- Source
- MOFCOM
Foreign ownership
Whether 100% foreign ownership is generally allowed, and key exceptions. Allowed / conditional / not allowed / unverified.
National treatment; generally unrestricted
- Applies to
- Finance, insurance, oil and gas, mining and TV need approval; defence and security are closed
- Jurisdiction
- Colombia
- Source
- MOFCOM
Beneficial ownership register
Whether companies must keep or file ultimate beneficial owner information.
Beneficial owners must be reported in the Single Registry of Beneficial Owners (RUB)
- Applies to
- Filed through DIAN's system
- Jurisdiction
- Colombia
- Source
- DIAN
04Taxation
Headline corporate income tax
Statutory headline rate for ordinary companies, before incentives, exemptions, thresholds or special regimes. Always read with the conditions.
35%
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Colombia
- Source
- State Taxation Administration
Indirect tax (VAT / GST / SST)
Standard rate and type of VAT, GST or sales & service tax.
VAT general rate 19%
- Applies to
- Some goods are taxed at 5%
- Jurisdiction
- Colombia
- Source
- State Taxation Administration
Dividend withholding tax (non-residents)
General withholding on dividends paid to foreign shareholders, before treaty relief.
20%
- Applies to
- Profits not taxed at company level are first taxed at 35%, then 20% on distribution
- Jurisdiction
- Colombia
- Source
- State Taxation Administration
Tax authority
Authority responsible for corporate tax registration and filing.
DIAN
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Colombia
- Source
- State Taxation Administration DIAN
Tax treaty with China
Whether a double taxation agreement with China is in force. Rates and conditions per the treaty text.
No treaty (negotiations since 2021)
- Applies to
- Per STA publications
- Jurisdiction
- Colombia
- Source
- State Taxation Administration
05Banking & Payments
Exchange controls
Whether general exchange controls or cross-border fund rules apply.
Foreign investment must be registered with the central bank
- Applies to
- Foreign-owned companies generally hold peso accounts; registered investment can repatriate returns
- Jurisdiction
- Colombia
- Source
- MOFCOM
Banking & financial regulator
Primary regulator for banking and foreign exchange.
Banco de la República (central bank)
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Colombia
- Source
- MOFCOM
06Employment
Foreign employee work permit
Main permit types needed for foreign employees to work legally.
Work visa
- Applies to
- Licensed professions need a professional permit first
- Jurisdiction
- Colombia
- Source
- MOFCOM
Labour & work permit authority
Authority for labour rules and foreign employee work permits.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Migration Colombia, work visas)
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Colombia
- Source
- MOFCOM
Social security contributions
Main employer social security schemes for local and foreign employees.
Pension, health, occupational risk insurance and payroll levies
- Applies to
- Shared by employer and employee
- Jurisdiction
- Colombia
- Source
- Ministry of Labour
07Trade & Customs
Customs authority
Authority for import/export clearance and tariffs.
DIAN
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Colombia
- Source
- MOFCOM
Main free trade agreements
Main regional and bilateral trade agreements relevant to Chinese exporters (not exhaustive).
FTAs with the US, EU, Canada, Korea and major Latin American economies
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Colombia
- Source
- MOFCOM
08Investment & Manufacturing
Investment authority / agency
Body responsible for approving, registering or promoting foreign investment.
Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism; ProColombia
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Colombia
- Source
- MOFCOM
Free zone / SEZ regime
Whether free zones or special economic zones operate under rules different from the mainland.
Free trade zones (Zonas Francas)
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Colombia
- Source
- MOFCOM
09Digital & IP
IP office
Authority for trademark and patent filing and registration.
Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC)
- Applies to
- Trademark rights are territorial; register locally or designate via the Madrid System (check WIPO membership)
- Jurisdiction
- Colombia
- Source
- WIPO
Personal data protection law
Main law and regulator governing collection, use and cross-border transfer of personal data.
Law 1581 of 2012
- Applies to
- Supervised by the SIC; some companies must register their databases
- Jurisdiction
- Colombia
- Source
- Superintendence of Industry and Commerce
10Compliance & Risk
New York Convention party
Whether the country is party to the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, which affects enforcing foreign arbitral awards locally.
Yes
- Applies to
- Foreign arbitral awards can be enforced under the Convention, subject to its limited refusal grounds
- Jurisdiction
- Colombia
- Source
- UNCITRAL
Live risk monitoring
Geopolitical, conflict and trade-route risk events for Americas, monitored by our sister site Global Risk Monitor.
Global Risk Monitor · Geopolitical and trade-route risk monitoring
11Step-by-Step
- 1Decide model and jurisdiction
- 2Confirm licences
- 3Prepare documents
- 4Incorporate
- 5Register for tax
- 6Open bank account
- 7Obtain operating licences
- 8Start operations
Generic steps without times or fees; rely on the facts and official sources on this page.
12Official Resources
Chinese official resources
Country materials from MOFCOM, the State Taxation Administration and China's overseas commercial offices
- MOFCOM country investment guideMOFCOM · PDF (Chinese)
- Country tax guide (STA)State Taxation Administration · PDF
- Commercial office中华人民共和国驻哥伦比亚共和国大使馆经济商务处
- MOFCOM going-global platformMOFCOM
- Compliance & security alertsMOFCOM platform
Official guides are long Chinese-language PDFs updated on the publishers' schedules. Our structured facts cite local authorities as primary sources; use these guides to cross-check.