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 are not included yet; see official statistics such as the World Bank.
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 AdministrationDIAN
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.