Insights
Knowledge Center: Doing Business in Colombia.
Guidance for entering the Colombian market.
Every article here answers a question a foreign business owner has to resolve before or during market entry: how to incorporate, what a company actually costs to set up and maintain, which visa applies to an owner versus an investor, and when to file a trademark. Written by the lawyers and accountants who handle these matters day to day.
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Can I Open a Company in Colombia Without a Visa?
Yes. Foreign nationals can register and own 100% of a company in Colombia without holding any Colombian visa. Company ownership and immigration status are two separate legal frameworks in Colombia,…
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Investor Visa vs. Business Visa in Colombia: What’s the Difference?
Colombia’s M Visa Inversionista and M Visa Socio o Propietario are two distinct visa categories, not two versions of the same visa. The Socio o Propietario (Partner/Owner) visa is built…
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Colombia Business Visa Requirements for Foreign Entrepreneurs
To qualify for Colombia’s business owner visa, officially the M Visa, Socio o Propietario category, a foreign entrepreneur must have incorporated a company in Colombia or acquired an equity stake…
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Which Colombian Visa Is Best for Business Owners and Investors?
For foreign entrepreneurs and investors, Colombia offers three main visa pathways, and the right one depends entirely on what you’re actually doing: visiting to explore or set up a business…
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Do I Need a Trademark Before Expanding to Colombia?
Yes, registering your trademark before you enter the Colombian market is the safer sequence, and in Colombia the stakes of waiting are higher than in many other countries. Colombia is…
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How to Register a Trademark in Colombia
Trademarks in Colombia are registered with the SIC, the Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio, under Andean Community Decision 486, the industrial property framework shared with Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. Colombia…
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10 Mistakes Foreign Entrepreneurs Make When Registering a Company in Colombia
The most common mistakes foreign founders make in Colombia aren’t during registration itself, they happen in the compliance steps immediately before and after it: choosing the wrong corporate structure, skipping…
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SAS vs. Branch Office in Colombia: Which Structure Should You Choose?
Most foreign investors entering Colombia choose between two structures: the SAS (Sociedad por Acciones Simplificada), a fully independent Colombian legal entity, or a Branch Office (Sucursal), a direct extension of…
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How Much Does It Cost to Register a Company in Colombia?
Registering a company in Colombia involves two separate categories of cost: mandatory government fees and optional professional fees. Government costs (Chamber of Commerce registration tax, the mercantile registry fee, and…
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How to Register a Company in Colombia as a Foreigner
Foreign entrepreneurs can register a company in Colombia without holding Colombian citizenship or residency. The process runs through the local Chamber of Commerce and the national tax authority (DIAN), and…
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