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Colombia Import Restrictions

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In order to enter Colombia, certain goods are subject to specific controls and, regardless of their value and quantity, they require the consent of Colombia government, preferably, license must be obtained prior to passage through the customs, preventing the goods from being retained. On this page, you will see what kinds of items are prohibited from entering the Colombia, and which items need special documentation before exporting to Colombia.

Colombia Import Regulations

Import restrictions

Import restrictions apply to many types of goods. Senders should determine restrictions from Colombian authorities. The Colombian Customs Administration (DIAN) has advised that items not accompanied by a complete declaration of contents and value are liable to be seized.

  • Agricultural and vegetable products
  • Medicines, prescription and non-prescription
  • Grain samples
  • Hygiene products
  • Parts, machine and electrical
  • Personal effects
  • Plant products, plants and seeds
  • Soil samples
  • Tobacco
  • Textile articles

Note:
a) The value of an item’s contents may not exceed 1,000
b) Items may not contain more than six units pertaining to the same category.

EDN’s and export permits are required for:

  • Kangaroo skins
  • Crocodile skins
  • Emu oil
  • Fish oil
  • Bunker oil
  • Coal
  • Petroleum bases products
  • Tobacco and tobacco products
  • Any other alcohol including beer and spirits all volumes.

Special documentation

A commercial invoice, numbered, certified and signed by the sender must accompany each package containing books and periodicals of a commercial nature.

All parcels and EMS items are inspected by Colombia’s Anti-Narcotics Police. Before they are inserted into bags, any boxes or envelopes that have been opened are closed by means of tape bearing the official “Servicios Postales Nacionales” logo. This operation is executed with great care and without damage to the contents, in order to prevent the exportation of narcotics by post.

The sender and receiver details must be addressed with a valid street address in English. A Post Office Box address is not acceptable.

The sender is responsible for finding if the destination country may impose duties, taxes, brokerage fees or any other fees that may be applied on the item that is being sent. Please contact the consulate office of the country you are sending to or contact the ECI customer contact centre on 1800 007 678.

Prohibitions

In addition to items prohibited by Dangerous and Prohibited Goods & Packaging Post Guide and ECI International Courier Regulations, Colombia prohibits:

  • Abestos
  • Alcohol
  • Animals and animal products
  • Bullion and Currency
  • Batteries
  • Cereals and their derivatives
  • Chemicals and pharmaceutical products
  • Clothing, used
  • Cocoa and coffee
  • Colombian stamps
  • Cork
  • Cosmetics and soap Fats, oils, derivatives of oils
  • Dental amalgams
  • Flour and flour products
  • Foodstuffs
  • Fruit and vegetables
  • Fuel
  • Hosiery and textiles
  • Meat
  • Milk and milk products
  • Pornography
  • Plants and parts of plants
  • Products containing dry ice
  • Precious and coloured metals
  • Precious stones
  • Preservatives and perishables
  • Publications of a communist or atheist character
  • Raw cotton
  • Saccharine
  • Silver items
  • Spices
  • Tea
  • Toys representing arms
  • Weapons
  • Varnishes and paints
  • Wax
  • Weapons

Chilean Post does not accept ordinary and registered letters containing articles subject to customs duty.

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