Can you bring your household goods to Colombia duty-free?

Some laws let people who return or move to Colombia bring their household goods without paying import duties and taxes. Whether you qualify depends on who you are and your situation. This check tells you what we found in the official texts, what is missing, and what to prepare.

• Returning Colombians — Ley de Retorno (Ley 1565 de 2012, Ley 2136 de 2021)Colombians who lived abroad at least 3 years and are registered in the Registro Único de Retorno are exempt from "todo tributo y derechos de importación" on household goods up to 2,400 UVT, once. Above the cap the difference pays tax. The goods must arrive between one month before and four months after you.
• Household goods of people moving to Colombia — 15% single tax (Ley 488/1998 art. 92, Decreto 1165/2019 arts. 279-284)People who lived abroad at least 24 months in the last 3 years and come to fix their residence in Colombia pay a single 15% ad valorem charge on their household goods, which is their only customs duty, with no import registration or licence. The goods must have been bought abroad and come from the country of residence; once every 5 years per family unit.
• Accredited diplomats, international and technical-assistance staff — Decreto 2148 de 1991 (installation franchise)Non-Colombian accredited officials with no other lucrative activity may import baggage, household goods and vehicles during their first year after accreditation, free of import duties, sales tax and any other tax, up to the installation quota (2026 values, customs FOB value: USD 211,493 head of mission, 117,496 other staff, 70,498 administrative staff; the Ministry of Finance updates them every 1 February with US inflation: Resolución 3415 de 2025 and DIAN Circular 000001 of 2026).
• Colombian officials returning from a post abroad — Decreto 2148 de 1991 arts. 10, 12Colombian diplomatic or consular officers (and other officials listed in art. 3(3)) returning at the end of their mission clear their baggage and household goods free of import duties if the goods arrive within 6 months of the end of their functions. Whether IVA is also waived was not confirmed.

1. Say who is moving.
2. Answer only the questions that apply to you: the result updates after every answer.
3. Get the documents and deadlines, and send or save the summary.