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Moving to Colombia summary for international moving (documentation, etc).

COLOMBIA

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

Original Passport for customer and all family members
Visa (mandatory for consignee) valid for at least one year
Residence or Work Visa
Foreigners must apply for Work or Residence Permit
Certificate of Residence issued by the Colombian Consulate, certifying that owner has lived abroad for at least two continuous years
Inventory (in Spanish)
Inventory must show:
For ALL MAJOR APPLIANCES AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT (vacuum cleaners, microwave ovens, roasters, TVs, VCRs, stereos, small personal computers, etc.) state the MAKE, MODEL, AND SERIAL NUMBER
If possible, pack all electronic appliances together
Transmittal documents showing actual weights and/or volume, delivery details, etc.
Diplomats must have Diplomatic Entry Form, to be requested from Foreign Ministry by Diplomatic Mission
CUSTOMS REGULATIONS

Only one household goods shipment from one country allowed per family
All shipments pay duty, import tax, sales tax (VAT), and warehouse fees which are charged to customer's account
Owner must have lived outside of the country for at least two years
Owner must not have imported any household goods in the last seven years
Customs may ask for Bank Guarantee that goods will not be sold for one year
Shipments 100% inspected
Household goods must arrive within 30 days before or 120 days after the arrival of the customer
DUTIABLE/RESTRICTED ITEMS

Duties/taxes on C.I.F. value of household goods are assessed
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products in small quantities are subject to duties and sales tax (Import License may be required)
One sporting weapon is permitted per family
Only one of each major electrical appliance is allowed, except air conditioners which are limited to three
Bedroom furniture must correspond to the number of persons in the family
PROHIBITED ITEMS

Weapons, ammunition and explosives
Drugs and narcotics
Pornographic material
Uniforms or equipment relating to the Police or Armed Forces
MOTOR VEHICLES

As of 1/1/94 no USED automobile may be imported into Colombia
Import License is required and MUST be obtained prior to arrival of auto
Do not include an auto as part of the household goods shipment
DO NOT SHIP VEHICLES UNTIL ALL DOCUMENTS ARE IN ORDER
NON-COMPLIANCE WILL RESULT IN SEIZURE/STORAGE OF SHIPMENT AT GREAT ADDITIONAL EXPENSE
Documents required:
Original Commercial Invoice (detailed and in US dollars)
Title
Registration
Copy of Bill of Sale
ALL DOCUMENTS (Invoice, etc.) must agree with the Import License
PETS

Vaccination Certificate
Import License
Notarized Health Certificate from Veterinarian
Quarantine IS NOT required for cats and dogs
Contact destination agent prior to forwarding

By larryrn on Jun 17, 2008, 08:05 in Friendly Talkzone.

dwmte7 says on Jun 17, 2008, 09:53:

larry we've moved our entire household and my workshop (roughly 9.5 tons) back and forth to and from colombia three times. i know the experience inside out. too, i shipped commercial freight (40ft containers) many times to the u.s. take the above as humorous. not much more. they will tax you as much as they can. they willl steal what they want and it ain't over when it's out of the hands of the aduana...you still have to get it to destination...more theft...then, smile, be thankful for what actually made it.

dwmte

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sloopskipper says on Jun 17, 2008, 10:40:

I've only done it once (with vehicle), and "It ain't exactly a walk in the park".

But at least in Colombia you probably don't have to worry about a car.

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dwmte7 says on Jun 17, 2008, 11:39:

sloop...we're getting ready to return home again and this time i want to take my car. i guess i'll have to ship it separately so as to declare it there for 'vacation/transit' purposes. do you know anything about that?

dwmte

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dwmte7 says on Jun 17, 2008, 11:40:

re pets...dogs and cats are a walk in the park....chickens, however, are the trip from hell.

dwmte

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sloopskipper says on Jun 17, 2008, 12:50:

dwmte7 says on Jun 17, 2008, 11:39: flag

"sloop...we're getting ready to return home again and this time i want to take my car. i guess i'll have to ship it separately so as to declare it there for 'vacation/transit' purposes. do you know anything about that?"

dwmte

Yes, we've tossed that around a few times, and I forget who had the answers.

If I remember, you must renew it every 90(?) days and leave the country (maybe without the car) at the end of a year, and then get the proper paperwork re-do for another year.

search for import used car

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sloopskipper says on Jun 17, 2008, 12:52:

Remember, think twice before choosing International Relocation Services in Miami.

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sloopskipper says on Jun 17, 2008, 12:58:

But, as far as the declaration, nope, know nuthin'.

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dwmte7 says on Jun 17, 2008, 13:45:

i have a well known friend of the family, a colombian lady, who's been my broker/forwarder for the last 11 years.

i remember that thread where it was talked about at length.

i have a monster blazer z71 with the huge ingine that couldn't get 9 mi per gallon if it tried...only problem is since the first of the year, it has another $8,000.00 in it. i couldn't sell it now with five dollar gas for five hundred dollars. better to take it down there and just use it while i can then cross some frontere, sell it, go to the american embassy and get a new passport. done deal

dwmte

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sloopskipper says on Jun 17, 2008, 14:00:

I don't envy you with that Blazer. I have 4.0L Wrangler, which also doesn't exactly sip fuel in the heavy traffic, but I drive so little that a tank lasts me about a month (but last tankful cost me $68, about 120 miles later is nearly empty).

It's 6 YO, and only has about 25K miles.

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aztec says on Jun 17, 2008, 14:10:

These two guys are the "word" on moving whole scale to Colombia. I am surprised they haven't started a consultant company to assist expatriates returning to Colombia.

I know that I could use their expertise when I move to Colombia.

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sloopskipper says on Jun 17, 2008, 14:18:

Sounds like a winner!

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dwmte7 says on Jun 17, 2008, 14:20:

heh, aztec...there ain't no secrets. just pull down your pants and bend over. it's easy.

it's like hazing at 'skull and bones' nobody is spared, and there ain't no easy way other than that mentioned just above.

commercial shippments outta colombia to the us were a cake walk. personal effects shipments to colombia...oooooooh, so painful

dwmte

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huskie says on Jun 17, 2008, 15:53:

Thanks for the info, Larry
Cheers

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds-"

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Coffeeman says on Jun 17, 2008, 18:59:

DWMTE,
I want to move my machine shop equipment to Bogota. Can you tell me what I should expect and what special preparations did you take. Were you able to be present at the Port when your shipment arrived? I would like to talk more.
Thanks

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dwmte7 says on Jun 18, 2008, 06:28:

coffee....e me at dwmte7 at yahoo.com and i'll share/help however i can. douglas

dwmte

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