This document provides an overview of key concepts and processes related to international business and importing. It defines basic terms like imports and importing. It outlines reasons why companies import, such as raw material shortages or cost reduction. It then describes the typical steps in the import process, including market study, product identification, import registration, approvals, transport contracting, and import payment. It also covers import regimes like free imports, previous license imports, and forbidden imports. Finally, it details various import modes and provides examples of supporting import documents.

1. International Business II

2. BASIC TERMS
• Imports: goods and services flowing into a
country
• Importing: the purchase of goods and
services by a firm based in one country from
sellers that reside in a different country
– results in payments to the sellers
– affords less control over the production function

3. REASONS TO IMPORT
• Raw material shortage.
• Equipment and machinery shortages.
• Cost reduction
• Quality
• Price

4. IMPORT STEPS
1. Market study
2. Product identification
3. Import registration
4. Approvals
5. Transport contracting
6. Nationalization
7. Import payment

5. CUSTOM CODE
Chapter
63 - Los demás artículos textiles
confeccionados; juegos, prendería
y trapos.
Custom Code
63.02 - ropa de cama, mesa,
tocador o cocina.
Subcustom Code
63.02.10 - Ropa de cama, de
punto.
Tariff Position
63.02.10.10.00 - De fibras
sintéticas o artificiales.

6. MARKET STUDY
Product - Market
IMPORT
REGISTRATION
($30.000)
APPROVALS
(Respective entities)
PAYMENT OF THE IMPORT
(letter of credit, bank transfer, cheque,
cobranza, letra de cambio)
NATIONALIZATION OF THE
MERCHANDISE AND PAYMENT OF
TAX DUTIES (*)
IMPORT > 1000 USD
NO
IMPORTER
YES
CUSTOMS AGENT
If the import value is above USD 5000, a Declaración Andina de Valor
must be shown to the customs administration.
(*)
THE IMPORT PROCESS
TRANSPORT

7. Transportation Mean
Arrival Notifying to
National Custom
Territory
Cargo Entry Manifest
Presentation
Unloading Of
Merchandise
Moving to Certified
Warehouse
DIM Presentation and
acceptance
Custom Duties Payment
Selectivity Criterion:
Release (Levante)
Moving goods to
final destination
•Automatic Release
•Physical Inspection
•Documental Inspection
SPECIFIC PROCEDURE

8. IMPORTING PROCESS IN COLOMBIA
TRANSPORTER OR CARGO AGENT DECLARER NATIONAL CUSTOM
Start
Arrival of the
merchandise to the
NCT
Unloading of the
merchandise
Inconsistencies
Yes
Moved to authorized
deposit
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Notification of arrival
Notify custom authority
Justify inconsistencies
Direct unloading
Present declaration of
Accepted
Payment of tributes
Criterion of
selectivity
Inspection
Satisfactory
Corrected
Automatic
release
Release
Seize and
confiscation
END

9. IMPORT REGIMES
Free:
No special requirements by the custom administration,
just registry and permissions.

10. IMPORT REGIMES
Previous license:
Chemicals for narcotics, weapons, ammunition,
explosives, damaged goods, used goods, refurbished
goods, tax exempted goods, official entities imports
(Ecopetrol)

11. IMPORT REGIMES
a) Products classified under the custom codes indicated
in the annex 1 of decree 0925 from 2013. (181
products)
b) Import of clearance goods.
c) Goods in special market conditions.
d) Import of goods in which a tax exemption is requested.
e) Import of goods controlled by the Drugs Council and
INDUMIL.
f) Imports for the Military Forces and the National Police
being goods for national defense and security or war
materials or reserves.
g) Imports under the Annual License System.

12. IMPORT REGIMES
Forbidden (prior 2013):
Chemical, nuclear and biological weapons. Nuclear or
toxic waste, Aldrin, Heptaclor, Dieldrine, Confeclor and
Lindano. Military toys and military equipment (INDUMIL)

13. IMPORT MODES

14. Outright Import
• 1. Import for consumption.
• 2. Franchise import or tax and tariffs excempted imports.
• 3. Reposition of merchandise without tariffs and taxes.
• 4. Import for warranty accomplishment.
• 5. Reimportation in the same state.
• 6. Reimportation for outward processing.

15. Suspensive Regimes
• 1. Temporary admission for reexportation in the same
state.
• 2. Temporary admisión for inward processing.
• 3. Temporary admission in special cases.
• 4. Transformation and/or assembly.

16. Special Regimes
• 1. Temporary import of leased goods or with a renting contract.
• 2. Postal Traffic.
• 3. Urgent deliveries and express messaging.
• 4. Travelers.
• 5. Household goods.
• 6. Private means of transport.
• 7. Private ships for recreation or sport.
• 8. Importation using networks, pipes and pipelines.
• 9. Provisions for consumption and takeaways.

17. 1. IMPORT FOR CONSUMPTION
Merchandise coming from abroad.
National Custom Territory
Indefinite Staying
Payment of Duties
Free availability of Merchandise
Deadline to declare
15 days in an anticipated mode
2 months regularly

18. 2. FRANCHISE IMPORT
Import that because of a treaty, agreement or law
enjoys the benefits of a total or partial exemption
of taxes.
Restricted availability of the merchandise.
– Partial or Total Custom Duties exemption (PAEZ &
QUIMBAYA LAW 0% - 0% Tariff+VAT 255/92 & 2148/91 –
Tariff+0%VAT Est Tributario Art 424)

19. Need to export merchandise temporarily for manufacturing,
repairing or transforming, once it gets back to Colombia it has
to pay taxes over the added value acquired abroad.
New tariff subsection.
Free availability.
Docs: DEX Copy, Com Invoice (A Value), Mandate, Certificate Of
Origin (If applicable).
3. REIMPORTING FOR OUTWARD
PROCESSING

20. No Custom Duties since there is no
completion – Free availability
DEX Copy, Transp Document, Def Exp
(Certification of benefits Pay Back),
Mandate.
4. REIMPORTING IN THE SAME CONDITIONS

21. No Custom Duties: Fixing-Replacement
It is under Free Availability
Documents: DEX Temp E for Pas Com, Current
Warranty (Original), Transport Doc & Mandate.
5. WARRANTY ACCOMPLISHMENT IMPORT.

22. Short Term: No Custom Duties, 6 Months + 3, Restricted
Availability.
Long Term: Custom Duties payment by Semester Quotes, 5 Years
max, Restricted Availability.
Leasing: renting machinery with or without purchasing option.
More than six months.
Tourist's vehicles: up to 6 months *2 depending on the visa.
Mode outcomes: Reexporting, Average Import, Destruction,
Abandoned or Confiscation.
6. TEMPORARY IMPORT FOR REEXPORTING IN
THE SAME CONDITION

23. A. Capital Goods: Fixing or Completion.
No Custom Duties. 6 months + 6. Restricted Availability.
DIAN Industrial Facilities.
Outcome: Reexporting
B. Import- Export Special Systems. (plan Vallejo)
C. For Industrial Processing (ALTEX & UAP’s) Restricted
Availability. Bi-monthly reports
7. TEMPORARY IMPORT FOR INWARD
PROCESSING.

24. Industries Recognized by Mincomercio and
Authorized by DIAN. No Custom Duties at first. 2
months for completion.
DIAN authorizes and enables the warehouses.
8. IMPORT FOR TRANSFORMING OR
ASSEMBLING

25. No more than U$2000. Free Availability
No more than 50 Kg, 1,50Mts. No more than 6 units of
the same product.
Imports reception & delivery by National Postal Admon,
private courriers and CA authorized by Min
Communications.
Declared with the Express Manifest.
Tariffs: 98.03.00.00.00.= 10%T & 16%VAT
9. POSTAL TRAFFIC

26. 9. POSTAL TRAFFIC

27. Catastrophes. No Errands
Merchandise in chapters 84 & 90 Harmonized
Tariff Schedule ( Machinery, Equipment,
Planes, Vehicles and others) must be
reexported or be submitted to the import
mode after they are done.
10. URGENT DELIVERIES

28. (5 calendar days) (U$1.500) as Baggage
No Import register or license
Cash U$10.000
11. TRAVELLERS
Up to three units of:
(2.500 USD)
Appliances
Sport articles
Professional equipment

29. 10 units for less than U$ 50
Up to U$1000 with a label stating that they are
samples without any commercial value.
12. NON COMMERCIAL VALUED SAMPLES

30. COMPENSATION PROCESS
• Way of Payment
• Exchange Declaration # 1
• + 6 months/Report/External Debt
• Merchandise + U$10.000/Exchange Dec # 3

31. IMPORT SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

32. IMPORT SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
• Commercial Invoice
• Import Register or License
• Import Declaration
• Andean Value Declaration
• Packing List
• Transport Document
• Certificate of Origin
• Approvals & Certificates
– Preserved for 5 years