Porhibited And Restricted Items

UPS Canada (Colombia)


Additional Import Documentation
The class and type of goods imported into Colombia must be clearly specified on the original invoice attached to the actual shipment and the information entered into the UPS systems must match that of the commercial invoice. Colombian Customs no longer accepts a general description of goods. This will result in a shipment delay.

Click here for more information and a list of products affected

Goods under IATA Special Provisions A67 require a MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet).

It is not required for all, however shipments can be held by local authority in United Arab Emirates after screening due to lack of MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) or NON DG (Dangerous Goods) declaration letter from the shipper resulting to misconnections and impacting end-to-end service.

It would be advisable for all shipments originating, transiting and terminating for UAE to have MSDS or NON DG declaration from shipper enclosed in the shipment and copies to be uploaded in IDIS.

Export Documentation

Additional Export Documentation
No Information found on this topic for the selected country or territory.

Clearance Information

Additional Clearance Information
Consignees may choose UPS or a third-party broker for clearance of shipments valued greater than US$2,000.00 or weighing over 50 kg (110 lbs.) per shipment.
San Andreas is a Free Zone Territory and the consignee will not be charged duty and taxes if the shipment does not exceed 50 kg (110 lbs.) and the declared value is US$2,000.00 or less. Otherwise, the shipment will need to be nationalized and duties and taxes will be added. Shipments to a city other than Bogota and weighing more than 50 kg (110 lbs.) or valued greater than US$2,000.00 should be handled as a freight shipment, because Customs does not permit clearance in any city other than Bogota.
UPS cannot deliver to a P.O. Box address. All packages require a consignee's contact name and complete street address including apartment, suite or unit number if applicable. The consignee's telephone number should be provided if known.

Areas Served

Areas Served
Service is provided to and from certain cities.

San Andreas is a Free Zone Territory. (Please see Customs Clearance Process for details.)

The Colombia Government has initiated a re-alignment of all addresses in Bogota. They are changing the numbers of addresses to new ones, causing major delays in clearing and delivering shipments to Bogota only. Please make sure the consignee address is verified before sending shipments to Bogota, Colombia.

UPS cannot deliver to a P.O. Box address. All packages require a consignee's contact name and complete street address including apartment, suite or unit number if applicable. The consignee's telephone number should be provided if known.

Saturday, Sunday, and official holidays.
Spring -0500/ Fall -0500
Spanish
Colombian Peso(COP)

Billing Options

Billing Options
  • Shipping charges can be billed to the shipper, receiver or a third party.
  • When billing the receiver, either the shipper or receiver's account number is required.
  • When billing to a third party, the third party's name, country or territory and account number are required.
  • Duties and taxes can be billed to the shipper, receiver or a third party.
  • When billing a third party, the third party's name, country or territory and account number are required.
  • If the duties and taxes are billed to an account outside of the destination country or territory, a "Duty and Tax Forwarding" surcharge will be applied.
  • Please note the following third party billing exceptions:
    • Shipments to and from the same country or territory (domestic shipments) cannot be billed to third party payors in other countries or territories. For example, shipments from Mexico to Mexico or Canada to Canada cannot be billed to a third party payor in the U.S. This rule does not apply to UPS domestic services in European Union countries or territories. For example, shipments from Germany to Germany can be billed to a third party payor in the U.S. (as long as the payor is a business and has a VAT or Tax/EIN ID on file with UPS).
  • When paying by credit card, check, or cash, only the shipper can be billed the shipping charges
  • The freight and duties can be billed to the shipper or a third party
  • The taxes can be billed to the receiver or a third party
  • A surcharge will be applied for the SDV billing option

Commodity Specific Stipulations

Commodity Specific Stipulations

There are special stipulations on the following commodities when shipping to Colombia. If you plan to ship one of the commodities listed below, be sure to adhere to the following stipulations in order to avoid delays and holds at customs.

Shipments of biological products require a certificate from the National Institute of Caution of Medicamentos and Food.
Books are considered non-docs and are exempt from taxes as long as they are imported as educational or scientific literature. The invoice must include a description, other than the title, of the book(s). The shipment may be delayed if this information is not listed on the invoice.
Cellular Telephones and Tablets Starting December 01, 2015 the importation of telephones for cellular networks and other wireless networks, parts or accessories via courier will not be permitted. Cellphones will only be permitted as courier if the invoice contains the EMEI number (limit 1 cellphone per shipment). Any shipment arriving after December 01, 2015 via UPS small package, will be turned over to UPS-SCS for Formal clearance process. Additional fees may apply, clearance time will depend on the completion of required procedures for importing cellphones and/or tablets. 1. Cellphone or Tablet model must be approved for use in Colombia. List of approved models can be found at http://www.siust.gov.co/siic/publico/terminal-homologated If model is not listed or approved, Importer/Consignee must get it approved before going to the next step. 2. All cellphones and/or tablets must be registered with the Colombian Police https://srvpqrs.policia.gov.co/imp/frm_reg_importadores.aspx and, the IMEI number must be registered with the Telecommunication Ministry (MinTIC) http://www.mintic.gov.co/portal/604/w3-article-14181.html Shipments cannot be RTS if the Importer/Consignee decides not to provide information or follow the steps detailed above. Shipment will be abandoned.
Food shipments require a certificate from the National Institute of Caution of Medicamentos and Food.
For medical equipment and or medical items for human use or consumption, the shipper must have a Sanitary Register with the Health Ministry of Colombia. Also, at the time of shipment entry, the customer must clear with a VO.BO.Invima (National Watch Institute for Food and Medicines of Colombia).
Pharmaceutical shipments require a certificate from the National Institute of Caution of Medicamentos and Food. Depending on the product, it would need a certificate of INVIMA (Instituto Nacional de vigilancia de medicamentos y alimentos) and /or a sanitary register from the health Ministry.
Shoes and shoe products require authorization from customs to import. If the authorization is not presented at the time of clearance, the shipment may be held by customs. Description of the product must contain: commodity name, sole and upper composition, construction process, gender, and size.
Textiles and textile samples require authorization from customs. If the authorization is not presented at the time of clearance, the shipment may be held by customs. Description of the products must contain: commodity name, construction, fabric content, and gender (example: Men's 100% cotton woven shirt).

Gift Exemptions

Gift Exemptions
0.00 Colombian Peso COP
no gift exemption
no gift exemption

Invoice Requirements

Invoice Requirements
Non-document shipments to Colombia must include 1 original and 2 copies of a commercial invoice.

Effective immediately all imports of documents and non-documents must have the consignee's first and last name on the shipments documentation and or AWB. Failure to comply will result in customs delays.

Colombia and Colombian Customs require that all invoices accompanying merchandise into Colombia be declared in U.S. dollars. This helps Colombian Customs Officers correctly evaluate the value of a shipment for duties and taxes. If a shipment appears to be undervalued, then Customs can revalue it at will.

The consignee's telephone number, if available, should appear on the invoice. Original invoices are required by law and prevent Customs delays. Invoices on company letterhead are preferred. All other types of invoices could cause shipments to be delayed in Customs.


UPS Paperless Invoice is available for small package exports from this country or territory.

UPS Paperless Invoice is accepted by Customs for small package imports into this country or territory.

Items Classified as Documents

Items Classified as Documents

The destination country or territory considers the following items document shipments. If criteria are listed, the shipment must meet those criteria to be considered a document shipment.

Shipments considered documents cannot exceed 10 kg (22 lbs.) in weight, unless otherwise noted.

Shipments of blank airline tickets not exceeding 10 kgs in weight and validated airline tickets not exceeding 5 kgs in weight are classified as documents. Since airline tickets are considered as documents, these shipments must never have a declared value because it would have to go through a formal entry process.
Document weight limit 20 kgs.
Document weight limit 20 kgs.
Document weight limit 5 kgs.
Shipments of blank checks are prohibited. Shipments of cancelled checks not exceeding 5 kgs in weight are classified as documents.
Document weight limit 5 kgs.
Document weight limit 20 kgs.
Document weight limit 20 kgs.
Document weight limit 20 kgs.
Document weight limit 5 kgs.
Document weight limit 20 kgs.
Document weight limit 5 kgs.
Document weight limit 5 kgs.
Document weight limit 5 kgs.
Document weight limit 20 kgs for blank stationery.
Document weight limit 5 kgs.
Shipments of unused traveler's checks are prohibited. Shipments of used traveler's checks not exceeding 5 kgs in weight are classified as documents.

UPS can recommend which forms you need based on a few simple criteria. Forms can be completed online or printed. See which forms you need.

Prohibited or Restricted Commodities

Prohibited or Restricted Commodities

In addition to the prohibited commodities listed here, it is prohibited to ship the following commodities to Colombia.

Electronic Cigarettes can only be shipped with an International Special Commodities (ISC) contract.

INVIMA (Foods and Drugs Department) approval may be required due to the goods being for human consumption.

Every gold and or silver jewelry shipment as well as any gold and or silver goods coming to Colombia must go through a formal entry process, otherwise customs will seize the shipment. Entry must be airport to airport and not port to port. Never send gold or silver shipments.
Non-negotiable only may be accepted as documents.
Items prohibited by the International Post Union Agreement are not acceptable commodities.
Personal Effects cannot be shipped between these countries or territories.
Toys of war are prohibited. Jewelry Weapons even for decoration (Knifes, Swords, etc.).

Saturday Delivery

Saturday Delivery Available

Saturday Delivery Available: No

Service Options

Service Options

Always check Calculate Time and Cost for details of service availability and guarantee information within a country or territory. All Service Levels may not be available to or from every address within a country or territory.

  • UPS Worldwide Expedited
  • UPS Worldwide Express
  • UPS Worldwide Express Saver
  • UPS WorldWide Express Freight

Special Clearance Requirements

Special Clearance Requirements
Effective immediately all imports of documents and non-documents must have the consignee's first and last name on the shipments documentation and or AWB. Failure to comply will result in customs delays.
Customs in Colombia does not accept non-document shipments that are declared as samples with no commercial value. All samples must have a declared value. If the shipment contains more than 6 items, it is subject to formal clearance as a cargo shipment and is no longer classified as a courier shipment.
New requirements have been implemented for both small package and WWEF shipments and are based on the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) 15, which is entitled "Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade". ISPM 15 was adopted internationally in 2002, and is gradually being introduced by countries or territories worldwide. Wood or wood products covered by ISPM 15 include items such as packing cases, boxes, crates, drums or similar packing, pallets, box pallets and other load boards, pallet collars and skids, but exclude such processed woods as orientated strand board, particle board, plywood or veneer, created using glue, heat and pressure or a combinations thereof, and, raw wood which is 6mm or less thick. It is recommended that if a question arises on this issue, please check with the authority that issues the Phytosanitary certificates in your country or territory.

Value Limits

Value Limits

Private Shipments

  • 0.00 Colombian Peso (COP)
    • All non-document shipments may be assessed duty or tax or both regardless of the shipment value.

    Commercial Shipments

  • 0.00 Colombian Peso (COP)
    • All non-document shipments may be assessed duty or tax or both regardless of the shipment value.

    Weight and Size Limits

    Weight and Size Limits
    70 kg (150 lbs.) per package
    274.00 cm (107.9 in.)  per package
    419 cm (165 in. ) per package
    Length and girth combined


    Convert metric quantity for weight, length, and area.


    NOTE: Information provided by UPS is provided AS IS, may not be current, and does not constitute legal advice. In no event shall UPS be liable for any errors in the information, forms or features made available by UPS, or by any third party site linked to from UPS. Selection and completion of proper forms for any given shipment is the sole responsibility of the shipper. All shipments are subject to the UPS Terms and Conditions of Service in effect at the time of shipping for the country or territory of origin.

    A

    B

    C

    D

    E

    F

    G

    H

    I

    J

    K

    L

    M

    N

    O

    P

    Q

    R

    S

    T

    U

    V

    W

    Y

    Z

    Å

    Loading...