Are you interested in importing from China to Colombia? In this article China-Latin will show you what are the procedures and requirements so you can achieve your goal without getting lost on the way. You can also contact us directly so we can advise you on all the details about the import process.
General requirements
Belonging to the common regime
Be registered with the Chamber of Commerce
To have the RUT
Processing the import registration
Verify the tariffs of the product to be imported before the DIAN.
Steps to follow
1.Registration as importer
You must create your company, register with the Chamber of Commerce and register the RUT (Registro Único Tributario) with the DIAN (Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales).
https://muisca.dian.gov.co/WebRutVirtualInscripcion/#/proceso-guiado/tipoPersona
2.Market research
It is important to know all the characteristics of the product you want to buy by making a study of the cost of transportation, nationalization and other expenses generated during the process.
3.Import Regime
There are three ranges in Colombia, find out which one applies to the product you want to import:
-Free Import Regime: Products falling in this range may be freely imported once they meet all legal requirements.
-Prior License Regime: In this case, the products require authorization from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism in order to enter Colombia.
-Prohibited Import Regime: Products that cannot be brought into Colombia under any circumstances.
4.Tariff item
It is a 10-digit number that identifies the type of product at the international level and allows you to calculate the taxes and duties you must pay when importing the product.
You can check it on the DIAN website and you will also know if the product is subject to prior approvals and registrations before entities such as ICA, INVIMA, Ministry of Mines, Ministry of Environment-ANLA, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Agriculture, Superintendence of Surveillance and Private Security, Superintendence of Industry and Commerce, National Mining Agency, AUNAP, among others. In case the product is subject to any prerequisite, the import registration authorization is required.
This procedure is only done electronically through the website of the Foreign Trade Single Window (VUCE):
www.vuce.gov.co
5.International Negotiation Terms (INCOTERMS)
When buying in an international market, it is not enough to establish a price, it is essential to define the responsibilities of the parties involved; under what conditions your merchandise will travel, where the merchandise will be delivered and what the insurance covers.
The conditions of the process have been standardized in the INCOTERMS (International Commercial Terms). You can learn more about this in another article we published:
https://www.chinalatinagent.com/en/news/What-are-Incoterms-EXW-FOB-and-CIF-are-the-most-common-ones.html
6. International logistics
After verifying the terms of negotiation, if you have to pay the value of international transportation, you must hire a carrier company with which you will investigate well what are their policies and conditions of the transfer, where and how your goods will arrive in the country.
We, China-Latin Logistics, are an international freight forwarder that performs sea, air and multimodal shipments from China to Colombia. You can contact us to get references from other Colombian businessmen who have contracted our services to understand how the process works and have more peace of mind.
7. Foreign exchange and international transfer
You must define with the supplier what will be the condition and form of payment of the goods to be imported. The Exchange Regime establishes that all payments must be made through the financial system, i.e., payment must be channeled through the intermediaries of the exchange market authorized by law (commercial banks, financial corporations, etc.). When you transfer abroad the foreign currency corresponding to the payment of the import, you must file a form with the Banco de la República (Central Bank) to legalize the exit of the foreign currency:
http://www.banrep.gov.co/sites/default/files/reglamentacion/archivos/dcin_formulario1.pdf
8.Duties and Taxes
Customs duties are taxes imposed by customs authorities on all goods entering a country, regardless of whether they are considered personal goods, used goods or gifts, etc. In any country, any merchandise imported in an international trade operation must be declared upon arrival at customs. In turn, the entrepreneur or agent authorized to receive the goods must pay taxes, duties and VAT on the value of the corresponding commercial invoice (CIF VALUE).
The customs duty in Colombia is equivalent to 10% of the CIF value and the VAT corresponds to 19% on the sum of the CIF value plus the 10% customs duty. When the FOB value of the merchandise is equal to or less than USD200, no customs duty will be paid.
To consult the tariff of your merchandise in the page of the DIAN:
http://dian.gov.co
9.Nationalization of goods
Now, if the value of the imported goods is equal to or greater than 5,000 US dollars (USD5,000), you must make an Andean Customs Value Declaration, which is the basis for the payment of the Customs Duties (Customs Duties and VAT) of the goods, which is done electronically with the financial intermediaries.
Natural persons and legal entities (through their legal representative or attorney-in-fact) may act directly before the DIAN if their FOB value does not exceed USD1,000.
In the case of imports exceeding USD1,000, the services of a Customs Agency must be hired to carry out this process.
Once the merchandise is in Colombia in the Customs Warehouse, in order to pick up the merchandise, you must pay the import taxes and present the following documents, which will be reviewed by an official of the respective customs office:
Commercial invoice
Packing List
Import Registration or License, if required
Import Declaration
Air Waybill (AWB) or Bill of Lading (BL), depending on the form of transport.
Andean Customs Value Declaration, if required
Other certificates or approvals, if required
If the customs computer system determines the automatic lifting you can remove the merchandise once the Warehouse or Customs Officer has authorized it. Otherwise, if it is determined that an inspection must be performed, a DIAN inspector will be assigned to validate that everything declared in the aforementioned documentation matches the merchandise.
10.Imports of samples with no commercial value
If you declare the goods as samples without value and you can present a commercial invoice that proves the veracity of the same, no registration or import license will be required at the time of entering the country. In any case, these goods are subject to payment of Customs Duties according to the corresponding tariff subheading.
We hope this article about the procedures and requirements to import from China to Colombia has been helpful for you. If you would like more information please contact us at China-Latin for our professional advice.
Written by YEN
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