Shipping To Colombia
Shipping To Colombia
If you are interested in cargo shipping to Colombia, there are a few different shipping ports in Colombia including the Port of Tumaco, the Port of Turbo and the Port of Cartagena.
Before international cargo shipping to Colombia, there is some important information to know prior to shipment. For example, before cargo shipping to Colombia you will need to get some important paperwork together, including:
- Original passport
- Visa
- Residence or work visa for Colombia
If you are moving overseas to Colombia and you are not a citizen of Colombia, you should plan to obtain a work or residence permit for the country. The Colombian Consulate can issue you a Certificate of Residence which certifies that you have lived outside of Colombia for at least two straight years or more.
Before shipping to Colombia, you should prepare a shipping inventory written in Spanish. Your shipping inventory should be detailed with information about all of the major appliances and electronic equipment that you are shipping to Colombia. This includes electrical items like microwave ovens, toasters, TVs, stereos, radios, computers, vacuum cleaners and any other household appliances. Make sure to take the time to document the make and model of your household equipment, and this includes the serial number.
One helpful packing tip when you are shipping to Colombia includes packing your electronic appliances together in the same cargo shipping container. Your transmittal documents will give details about the weight and/or volume of your cargo shipment to Colombia along with delivery information.
If you are a foreign diplomat moving to Colombia, you should plan to have a Diplomatic Entry Form. You can obtain this document from the Foreign Ministry by Diplomatic Mission.
If you are container shipping to Colombia and the contents of your ocean freight are packed in wooden crates, make sure that the wooden crates you are using have a seal certifying that your shipment has received the required treatment. If you do not offer this information, your cargo shipment may be delayed, cost you additional money, and could even be destroyed. Cargo shipments arriving in Colombia in non-certified wooden crates also typically undergo a thorough fumigation.
If you are a family who is shipping cargo to Colombia, you are only allowed to ship one household goods shipment from one country per family. Household goods and personal items shipped to Colombia should arrive within 30 days prior or 120 days after you arrive in the Colombia.
It is also important to note that the owner of the cargo shipment going to Colombia should have lived outside of Colombia for at least two years in a row or more. In addition, it is expected that the owner of the cargo shipment going to Colombia has not imported any household goods into the country in the last seven years.
Please note, all cargo shipments to Colombia are subject to certain duty fees, import taxes and sales tax. In addition, warehouse fees, if applicable, may be charged to a customer’s account. The fees on cargo shipments entering Colombia are on the assessed C.I.F. value of household goods. Sometimes the customs authorities in Colombia may require a Bank Guarantee that the cargo in your shipment will not be sold for at least one year after arrival in Colombia.
All cargo shipments entering Colombia are subject to inspection from officials. You can ship alcohol and tobacco products to Colombia in small amounts. These products are subject to duty fees and sales taxes. Please note that Colombian authorities may require an import license.
Each family shipping cargo to Colombia is allowed to ship one sporting weapon to the country. In addition, each family is allowed to ship one of each type of major appliance, except air conditioners, to Colombia. A family is allowed to ship up to three air conditioners to Colombia.
If you are shipping bedroom furniture to Colombia, it is important that the amount of bedroom furniture you are shipping corresponds to the number of people in your family. Some items are prohibited from shipment to Colombia. Please note that the following items are not allowed to be shipped to Colombia:
- Weapons, ammunition or explosive devices
- Drugs or narcotics
- Pornography
- Uniforms or equipment that relates to the Police or Military
Shipping a Vehicle to Colombia
If you are interested in shipping a vehicle to Colombia or a motorcycle, van or other type of vehicle, please note that you are not allowed to ship used cars to Colombia.
Before shipping a vehicle to Colombia, you will need an import license. There is also some other required documentation you should have before vehicle shipping to Colombia. This includes the following:
- Original commercial invoice for your vehicle (with information provided in US dollars)
- Title for your vehicle
- Vehicle Registration
- Bill of Sale (copy)
All of the names and information on the documents should be in agreement with the Vehicle Import License you are seeking to obtain in order to ship to Colombia.
Please note that it is essential that your import license is obtained before your car shipment arrives in Colombia. In addition, if you are moving overseas to Colombia and shipping household goods and other personal items to the country, it is not recommended that you include your vehicle as part of your household goods.
If you do not comply with Colombian rules about cargo shipping to the country, it could result in seizure of your cargo shipment along with additional fees and expense.
There is a lot to think about before shipping cargo to Colombia or another destination in South America or worldwide. Cargo Experts is ready to help you navigate all of the rules and regulations, paperwork and logistics for cargo shipping to Colombia. You can get a fast and free freight estimate from Cargo Experts, or you can call toll free 1- 866-994-7822 for more information about shipping to Colombia.