20 steps to IMPORT in Colombia

Everything you need to know to IMPORT easy as pie

10. ESTIMATE YOUR BUDGET

You must prepare your budget and bear in mind the different fees to be paid and their deadlines required by your import operation. Not complying with them, will generate extra costs and delays in the shipping of the merchandise. On average, an import process can cost up to 20% to 40% from the FOB price. Additionally, if you are importing using credits, take into account the financial expenses.

11. FINAL DOCUMENTATION BEFORE CONFIRMING YOUR ORDER

If the final documents were modified the budget must be also adjusted. Additionally, you must inform your customs agent that you already have them so that they can start processing licenses (when necessary) or import declarations.

12. PAYMENTS TO YOUR SUPPLIER MUST BE MADE THROUGH BY LAWFUL MEANS WITH THE CORRECT CODES

You may use a corporate credit card or negotiate the exchange rate at the money desk, filling out the forms with the respective codes.

13. FILE YOUR COMPANY WITH CUSTOMS AND / OR THE PORT WITH TIME

In order for us to represent you before DIAN (Colombian Customs) and the port, your company must authorize us by means of a power of attorney; the filing time varies and it might range between 24 to 48 hours. This procedure may seem very simple, but if it is not ready by the time your cargo arrives, extra costs at the port might represent up to US100 or more (per day of delay).

14. IF THE TARIFF HEADING or HS CODE REQUIRES AN IMPORT REGISTRATION, DO SO BEFORE YOUR CARGO ARRIVES

The import registration is an additional procedure that is presented to a specific entity; some of the regulatory entities in Colombia are INVIMA (Colombian food and drug administration), ICA (Colombian agricultural goods administration), the Superintendence of Private Security and Surveillance, the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce, INDUMIL (Colombian state weapons manufacturer), ANLA (National Authority for Environmental Licenses) among others. This import registration is filed before VUCE (Foreign trade office) and its processing time is 2 to 4 days.

15. YOUR FUNDS MUST BE AVAILABLE BEFORE THE CARGO’S ARRIVAL

This will facilitate the payments to the different entities, and thus, CLM Cargo will be able to release your cargo from the cargo airline or the shipping line, to perform selectivity processes and loading in the estimated times, without any additional costs for storage or container delays in the case of FCL - Full Container - Load imports.

16. COLLECT THE CARGO AT YOUR WAREHOUSE WITH A SMILE

Once we pass through selectivity and releasing, we can proceed with the loading and deliver the cargo to your destination. You do not even have to unload the merchandise; you can include this service in your list of needs and CLM Cargo will unload it for you.

The job of your trusted freight forwarder cargo agent is to facilitate yours, let yourself be advised in time so that you make the best decision from the purchase. When you hire an agent, they are in charge of almost the entire process however, it is important for you to know the development of those processes since you own the cargo.

17. MAKE SURE EVERYTHING YOU ORDERED HAS ARRIVED IN GOOD CONDITIONS

This is a priority. It must be done in the shortest possible time. Ideally, the merchandise should arrive in perfect condition, which is influenced by the packaging and the care taken throughout the entire logistics chain. If you have any issue, report it in time in order to claim the insurer. Time cannot be recovered but in case of an accident, your insurer will send an expert to verify the loss or damage, and the claim process will begin. This would take less than a month to be solved so, we recommend hiring a good insurer.

18. PAY THE IMPORTATION AND CALCULATE YOUR PRODUCT COSTS

Once the operation is finished, the real costs of the import can be obtained. This would basically be the cost of the product + the logistics cost without the VAT (given that it is reimbursable) + the financial cost that you incurred in with this operation. Consider the payment made to the supplier; if it was anticipated, in cash, credit or through several bank drafts.

This will help you settle the operation with various exchange rates and each draft will cost you different bank charges. Some logistics services, such as international freight and expenses at origin, are also charged in foreign currency and finally, your Imports Declaration is calculated with DIAN’s exchange rate. It means the closing rate of the previous week. These are the exchange variables that you must consider when closing your operation.

19. CLOSE YOUR IMPORT DECLARATION WITH YOUR EXCHANGE DECLARATION

Report the money transfer made to your bank and the complementary banking documents to legalize the import declarations that your customs agent gave you.

20. START SELLING, MANUFACTURING OR PRODUCING AND RECOVER YOUR INVESTMENT

It is time to turn recover your investment and start over your operation from scratch; remember that from A to B, CLM Cargo since 2007 in the United States and Colombia is at your service!

Further Information:

Colombia's trade agreements with the world https://www.tlc.gov.co/