Courier shipping, which DIAN calls postal and express traffic, is for packages of up to USD 2,000 and 50 kilos per shipment. To move furniture, appliances and a full household, the route is the household goods regime or Law 1565, which have their own tax treatment for people returning to live in Colombia.
What courier means for customs
DIAN regulates it as the postal and express traffic mode, designed for purchases and personal parcels arriving through authorized courier companies.
- Value of up to USD 2,000 per shipment.
- Weight of up to 50 kilos per shipment.
- Unit limits for restricted goods.
- Duties and taxes apply according to the shipment value.
When household goods make sense
- When you bring furniture, appliances or more than a few boxes.
- When you meet the household goods or Law 1565 requirements, which can reduce or remove taxes.
- When you want one inventoried, insured shipment rather than many loose parcels.
A common mistake: splitting the move
Breaking a household into many courier shipments usually costs more and can make customs wonder whether the goods are commercial. Each parcel also travels separately, without a single inventory to back an insurance claim.
For a few boxes, courier can be practical. For your home, compare it with a groupage move first.
FAQ
How much can I send to Colombia by courier?
Up to USD 2,000 and 50 kilos per shipment under DIAN’s postal and express traffic mode.
Can I ship furniture by courier?
Not in practice: given weight, volume and value, furniture travels as household goods in a container or groupage.
Do household goods pay less tax than courier?
They can pay less or nothing if you meet the household goods or Law 1565 requirements, so check before shipping.