Colombian law allows foreign visitors to temporarily bring professional and audiovisual equipment into the country duty-free during their stay. The equipment is imported in the name of the visitor who declared it at the start of the trip, and it is the visitor’s responsibility to re-export it from the country. The import of such equipment will be recorded in the visitor’s passport, and failure to re-export it constitutes a customs violation under DIAN regulations.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BRINGING EQUIPMENT ON COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS:
- Bring a detailed list of the equipment you are bringing into the country, including serial numbers, weight, and customs value.
- When the DIAN official asks if you have anything to declare upon entering Colombia, you must say yes. This will initiate the baggage declaration process.
- Please note that the baggage declaration process can take several hours, especially if you have a connecting flight upon arrival in or departure from Colombia.
- Please note that drones cannot be brought into Colombia on commercial flights due to current regulations. Their entry must be processed through advance importation via an authorized customs broker.
IMPORT THROUGH A CUSTOMS BROKER
For audiovisual projects that wish to import cargo items into the country—such as equipment, devices, and filming materials—for a period of six (6) months, with the possibility of an extension for an additional period of up to six (6) months.
You have two options, depending on the type of project:
If the project is a film (feature-length or short film): Apply for the Resolution Authorizing Filming in Colombia, issued by MinCulturas, by sending the required documents to: idacosta@mincultura.gov.co and griano@mincultura.gov.co. This process is free of charge.
If the project is in a different audiovisual format (TV series, reality shows, music videos, video games, etc.): Request the Customs Procedures Certification issued by the Proimágenes Colombia Film Commission. Review the instructions to learn about the process and costs.
Once you have obtained the Filming Authorization Resolution for national territory or the Customs Clearance Certificate, as applicable, you must complete the import or export process through a customs broker (specialized private companies authorized by the DIAN to handle these procedures). Contact the company you hired as your production service provider for guidance on how to contact authorized customs brokers in the country.
⚠️ Important: Be sure to keep all supporting documents for your application; customs authorities may request them at any time.
If you have any questions, please contact: danielazuluaga@proimagenescolombia.com
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