What are the steps for importing to Colombia?

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29/08/12 7:55

What are the steps for importing to Colombia?

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The following section will explain the basic steps to importing in Colombia:

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Register as an importer before the Chamber of Commerce. The National Government has issued Decree 2788 of August 31,
2004 of the Ministry of Finance, by which the Unique Tax Registry (RUT, for its Spanish acronym) is regulated, which
constitutes the only mechanism to identify, locate, and classify subjects of obligation that are controlled and administered the
National Directorate of Taxes and Customs (DIAN, for its Spanish acronym). In order to advance import activities, the registry,
which specifies the activity (squares 54 and 55), must be processed.

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Here, there are two options: (1) consult customs tariffs directly and (2) utilize the informal aid offered by the Enterprise
Information Center (ZEIKY). However, it is important to clarify that the DIAN is the only authorized entity to determine tariff
classification, according to Decree 2685/99 Art.236 and 4240/00 Resolution Art. 154 to 157 of the DIAN - Division of tariff.
Contact telephone number 607-9999, Ext. 2128/2129. Cost: Average Monthly Legal Minimum Wage.

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Make a market study and assess the economic feasibility of the import, analyzing, among other things, price of the product in
the international market, costs of international transport, costs of nationalization, and other expenses that arise.

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4.1 Verify the tariff sub-regime of the product to determine the customs tributes (tariff burden, sales tax, IVA) and other
requirements for its import.
4.2 Consult the customs tariff to verify if the product is subject to approvals and prior inscriptions with organizations, such as
ICA, INVIMA, the ministries of Mines, Environment, Transport, Agriculture, the Superintendence of Monitoring and Private
Security, the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce, Ingeominas, among others.
In the case that a product is not subject to any previous requirement, then it does not require the authorization of import registry.
4.3 If the activity is the trade of goods, the company must enroll in the Chamber of Commerce and request a RUT, as well as to
request for a Number of Tax Identification (NIT, for its acronym in Spanish) with the DIAN, at Calle 75 # 15-43 (Natural People)
or in Carrera 6 # 15-32 (Legal People).

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This procedure is made solely by electronic means at www.vuce.gov.co.
For the import of goods of a value greater than USD 1,000:
a) Obtain a digital signature before an authorized organization of the Supervision of Industry and Commerce (CERTICMARA).
b) Enroll in the Operations Group at registro@mincomercio.gov.co, providing the RUT, name of the company, name of the legal
representative, e-mail address, telephone & fax numbers, physical address of residence. By means of electronic mail, the
Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Tourism assigns usernames and passwords.
c) Complete the registry in the DIPS system, at www.vuce.gov.co, entering the module of imports and making the
corresponding payment, electronically. The value of the import registry is COL 30,000, per 1,800 characters.

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a) Enroll in the Operations Group, Calle 28 # 13 15, local 3, along with Chamber of Commerce and RUT.
b) Signature of Company Conditions Use in the operations group. A password will be assigned through electronic mail.
c) Elaboration of the registry of import through the VUCE System at www.vuce.gov.co.
d) Payment of Registry of electronic import.
Note: The Importer who uses a customs agency, or a special proxy to obtain the Registry of Import, will have to transact an
authenticated power along with the format of conditions of use VUCE at this following address: 28 Street # 13-15, Building 3.
For those companies or people who have a digital signature and wish keep a record of the registries made, an applicable VUCE
can be acquired at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Tourism for a value equivalent to three effective legal minimum wages.

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The Exchange Regime establishes the obligation to channel the payment through the intermediaries of the authorized market
exchange by law (commercial banks, financial corporations, etc.). Prior to the completion of the Exchange Declaration No.1, the
importer must wire abroad the currencies corresponding to the payment of the import. When the term for the payment is
superior to six (6) months (date of the transport document), the operation of external indebtedness is constituted. When the
transaction surpasses the FOB value of (USD $10,000) the Bank of the Republic will need to be notified via financial
intermediaries and the Form No. 6, which the bank supplies, will have to be completed.

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Verify the terms of negotiation (incoterms), and if the international transport fee has to be paid, contract the transporting
company with which the transport of merchanside will be handle to define the costs for the transfer to the Colombian port that
best suits you. From here on, the initiation process of Customos wearehouse will be made, and the merchandise would be able
to be stored until it gets nationalized.

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8.1 Once the merchandise reaches Colombia and is under the Customs Deposit, the request of a pre-inspection for the
submission of Import Declaration and other documents is recommended. This is suggested when doubts concerning
merchandise description, series numbers, identification or amounts arise.
8.2 If the value of the imported merchandised is equal or superior to USD 5.000, the Andean Value Declaration must be filled in
the Customs. This is a document of support for the Declaration of Import, which determines the value by Customs (Basis for the
payment of the Customs Tributes) of the imported merchandise and specifies the expenses derived from such transaction.
8.3 The liquidation of Customs Tributes (Tariff Burden, VAT) is done via the Declaration of Import, and the payment of taxes is
made through financial intermediaries, at Customs via Century XXI Systems operates, and the forms are electronically
accessible.
8.4 According to the Customs Statute (Decree 2685/99), the following people will be able to act directly before the DIAN:
Legal entities who make individually imports not surpassing the FOB value of a thousand American dollars (USD 1,000)
and who will act personally and directly via a power of attorney or through their legal representatives before the DIAN.
Individuals whose individual imports do not surpass the FOB value of a thousand American dollars (USD 1,000), acting
directly and personally before the DIAN.
Travelers.
Note: When imports surpass one thousand American dollars (USD 1,000), services from a customs agency will need to be
contracted to oversee this process.
8.5 To pick up the merchandise, once customs fees are paid, the following documents will need to be presented and be
reviewed by a Customs Agent at the Customs Deposit Center:

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Note: These documents should be kept for a minimum of five years.

8.6 The Customs computer science system determines if the lifting of merchandise can be done automatically, or if a physical
inspection of the merchandise is required. In the first case, the merchandise will be collected once authorization from the
Deposit or Customs Civil employee is made, in the second case, the DIAN inspector will verify the agreement of the declared
document with the merchandise being retrived.

Import without commercial value:

Imports without commercial value are considered those merchandise declared as such and protected under a pro forma or
commercial invoice.
No Import Registry or license of import is required for the import of this type of merchandise, unless otherwise required by the
nature of state of the merchandise which could require such fulfillment of approval. In any case, these goods are subject to the
payment of Customs Tributes according to the stipulated corresponding tariff.
I. Commercial invoice

II. Packing list

III. Registry or License of Import, if it is required.

IV. Certificate of Origin (According to the product and

the Origin)

V. Declaration of Import

I SAW. Document of Transport (It guides Aerial Knowledge of Boarding)

VII. Andean declaration of the Value in Customs, If it is

required

VIII. Other certificates or approvals, if they are required.

Zeiky-Proexport:
Piso 1o, Calle 28 No 13A-15, Bogota
Schedule of attention:
Monday to Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Attention group for Citizens, Ministry of Trade: piso 2o.
Monday through Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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