VISAS

Foreigners from countries with no restrictions for entering Colombia are allowed to stay 90 days, provided they are here on tourism.

COUNTRIES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE A TOURIST VISIT FOR COLOMBIA      

Incoming tax-free goods

• Time spent abroad: Any time.
• Goods dollar value: US$ 1.500.
• Type of Goods: personal and family use goods.
• Maximum quantity: no commercial quantities.
• Type of luggage: accompanied.

If total traveler’s luggage consists in tax-fee goods the traveler may take to “no declaring” (light) circuit. In fact, for expediting passengers arriving from abroad luggage check procedures the “light” system is used, which picks random luggage. If when the traveler presses the button before passing the light, the green light goes on the traveler has the right to go on but if the light is red luggage will be checked.

Travelers carrying items to declare shall approach DIAN office and pay the respective tax.
As an example, a person remaining four days abroad has the right to enter into Colombia a vacuum cleaner, a sewing machine, a TV set, a video camera or a computer, or personal belongings, the normal value of which does not exceed US$ 1.500. But if the traveler brings in a computer costing US$ 2.000, the traveler shall pay taxes on US$ 500.

Taxed goods income
The traveler has the right to introduce into Colombia, in addition to his or her personal belongings, taxable goods under the following conditions:

• Time spent abroad: 5 or more days
• Goods U.S. dollars value: additional US$ 2.500
• Type of Goods: Appliances whether electric or not, sports goods articles of traveler’s the art or occupation.
• Maximum quantity: 3 units each.
• Tax payable: US$ 1,500 tax-free, US$ 2,500. paying 15 % tax. Once a year only.
• Luggage type: Accompanied or not accompanied luggage.

Airport fee
National: Paid at the airport, however passengers in transit or taking a connection arriving or leaving the same date to a destination other than their origin, Colombian companies crews traveling in the performance of their duties; Colombian military forces and national police personnel traveling in official mission, children under two years of age, Civil Aeronautics personnel traveling for official mission are exempt.

International: International passenger in transit, official sports delegations accredited by Colombian government, Civil Aeronautics officers traveling in official mission; people deported or not admitted into the country, Colombian military forces and national police members on active duty and traveling in official mission, air transportation companies regular crews traveling in the performance of their duties, diplomatic bags, musical instruments paying for am aircraft sear and children under de two years are exempt. For further information please call Airport Services Chief offices at 4251000 Ext. 2588 and 2083 or fax 413 9459.

Outgoing tax
Every person traveling by air shall pay outgoing tax the amount of which will be periodically adjusted.

The following are exempt:
Colombian nationals: Central or decentralized sector officers traveling in official mission, previously delivering Government authorization; Colombians studying abroad under scholarships or loans from Colombian Educational Credit Institute and technical studies abroad and students traveling at the expense of universities acknowledged by the Ministry of National Education; international land, maritime and aerial transportation officers and workers traveling abroad by reason of their work, if the company evidences international service provision and the officer or worker delivers the Civil Aeronautics authority the certificate issued by company personnel chief indicating the office held and travel purpose; residents in San Andres and Providencia islands traveling to any Central America country for a period not to exceed ten days, official sports delegations accredited by the national government; Colombians resident abroad visiting or in transit through Colombia if they do not stay over 180 days in the country; diplomatic passport holders, children under five years of age; regular Colombian maritime and aerial transportation companies ship and airship crews.

Foreign tourists visiting Colombia or in transit if their stay in the country does not exceed sixty days; passengers in transit; people providing traffic services within frontier areas legally defined as such, provided however that they meet customs regulations, diplomatic bags and musical instruments paying sit in the aircraft.
For further information please see Decree 2685 of 1999 Travelers Chapter or www.dian.gov.co web page, or call National Customs and Tax Direction Offices – DIAN at 4251000 Ext. 2681. El Dorado Airport Attention to Travelers DIAN Offices located in the international terminal entrance 7.

Household
Not resident coming into the country to set their domicile have the right to introduce, with not need for import registration or license, their personal belongings and household goods associated to the family unit. Household goods are subject to customs duties and shall not be declared before the owner arrives in the country, to whose name household goods should be consigned.

For household declaration the form prescribed by the National Tax and Customs Direction – DIAN shall be used. Pursuant to Law 488 of 1998 article 92 household goods are subject to uniform 15% ad-valorem tax. The term for household goods arrival into the national customs area is one month before or four months after owner arrival date.