CASH DECLARATION RULES

🇨🇴 Colombia— Cash & Currency

CUSTOMS AUTHORITYDirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales (DIAN)

LAST VERIFIED2026-04-25

Declaration Threshold

THRESHOLD (USD EQUIVALENT)

US$10,000

LOCAL CURRENCY EQUIVALENT

USD

You must declare to customs if you are carrying cash, traveler's cheques, money orders, or negotiable bearer instruments totaling above this amount when entering or leaving Colombia.

What Must Be Declared

Instrument	Declaration Required
Physical currency (any currency)	Yes, if above threshold
Traveler's cheques	Yes, if above threshold
Bank drafts / money orders	Yes, if above threshold
Bearer bonds / negotiable instruments	Yes, if above threshold
Credit cards / debit cards	Generally no
Electronic payment apps	Generally no

Failure to declare

Carrying undeclared cash above the threshold can result in seizure of funds, fines, and in some jurisdictions criminal prosecution. When in doubt, declare.

Additional Country Notes

01Declaración de Equipaje is completed on arrival; random inspection is frequent at Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena and Barranquilla.
02Colombia has FTAs with the US, EU, EFTA, Canada, South Korea, Chile, Mexico, CAN (Andean Community) and others — preferential duty requires a Certificate of Origin.
03Currency controls via Banco de la República apply to imports; FX settlement for commercial imports must go through authorised dealers.
04Declaración de Equipaje: completed on arrival; random inspection is frequent at Bogotá El Dorado (BOG), Medellín José María Córdova (MDE), Cartagena (CTG) and Barranquilla (BAQ). Bring purchase receipts for electronics and high-value items.
05FTA preference: Colombia has comprehensive FTAs with the US, EU, EFTA, Canada, South Korea, Chile, Mexico, the Andean Community (CAN), Pacific Alliance, and Mercosur — preferential duty requires the appropriate certificate of origin (USMCA, EU Form A, etc.).
06Foreign exchange: Banco de la República regulates currency flows; commercial-import FX settlement must use authorised dealer banks (intermediarios cambiarios). Personal-import parcel FX is not affected.
07Coca and indigenous products: traditional coca leaf products and certain indigenous medicinal items are protected under Colombian law; export of these requires a Ministry of Culture export permit.
08Tarifa Andina: certain CAN-bloc imports get reduced duty; check Tariff Heading 80 for full schedule.

VERIFIED · 2026-04-25Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales (DIAN)official site →Duty-free allowances for Colombia→