20-foot container
Exclusive to your goods and sealed from loading to delivery. Usually enough for a two or three-bedroom apartment.
How an international move to or from Colombia works
Everything that shapes an international move in one place: how it ships, how volume drives cost, what DIAN requires to leave and to come back, and a guide for each country. We run it with our own freight forwarder and customs broker.
In short · What is an international move?
An international move is the relocation of a household’s furniture and belongings from one country to another. It covers export-grade packing, export customs in Colombia, transport by sea, air or land, import clearance in the destination country and delivery to the new home.
How your move can travel
The mode depends on volume, destination and how long you can wait. Container capacities are standard; we measure your real volume during the survey.
40-foot and 40 HC container
For full houses or moves with a vehicle. The 40 HC adds height for tall furniture.
Groupage (LCL)
Your goods share a container with other shipments. The most economical option for small and medium volumes.
Air freight
The fastest and the most expensive per kilo. Ideal for urgent items, documents or a few cubic meters.
Road
Ecuador, Peru or Venezuela can be reached by road. Panama and Central America cannot: there is no road through the Darién.
What does an international move cost?
There is no flat rate: each quote is built from these factors, which is why we quote after the inventory.
- Volume in cubic meters, which decides between a full container, groupage or air.
- Destination and the arrival port or airport.
- Origin and destination services: packing, wooden crating, furniture disassembly and assembly, storage.
- Transit insurance, based on the declared value of your goods.
- Destination customs costs, which vary with your visa or residence status.
What our door-to-door service includes
- In-home or video survey and a quote by shipping mode.
- Export-grade packing, with wooden crates for fragile items.
- Export customs in Colombia through our own broker, MAG Customs.
- Freight booking through our own forwarder, Cargo Logistic System.
- International transit insurance.
- Destination clearance and delivery by our partner agent.
Requirements to ship household goods out of Colombia
DIAN treats the departure of household goods as a definitive export. Our customs broker files it for you.
- It applies to Colombian residents leaving to settle abroad.
- A loading authorization request and a definitive export declaration are filed.
- Timing: up to 30 calendar days before you leave the country or within 120 days after.
- It is signed by the owner or an authorized person; in case of death, also by heirs or the estate liquidator.
Requirements to bring household goods into Colombia
Returning Colombians have two routes, and choosing the right one changes what you pay.
Household goods (standard regime)
- At least 24 months living abroad, continuous or not, within the three years before arrival.
- Goods must arrive between one month before and four months after you, from the country where you lived.
- Usable every five years per family unit, with certification from the Foreign Ministry.
- A single 15% tax applies.
Return Law 1565 of 2012
- Be of legal age and have spent at least three years abroad.
- Register with the Foreign Ministry and obtain the beneficiary certificate, usable once.
- Exempts all taxes and import duties up to the legal cap; above it, only the excess is paid.
- Goods arrive between one month before and four months after you, and release is processed within the month after your arrival.
If deadlines lapse, goods can be declared legally abandoned and recovering them costs extra.Official source: DIAN, Household goods
Full guide to moving to Colombia What you cannot ship in an international move
- Perishable food, plants, seeds and soil.
- Flammable liquids, aerosols, paint, loose batteries and gas.
- Weapons, ammunition and explosives.
- Cash, jewelry and personal documents: carry them with you.
- Controlled medicines and, depending on the country, restricted items listed in each destination guide.
Destination country guides
Each guide covers the route, that country’s customs rules and how moving back to Colombia works.
North America United States See guide Europe Spain See guide North America Canada See guide Latin America Mexico See guide Central America Panama See guide South America Chile See guide Europe United Kingdom See guide Europe France See guide South America Brazil See guide South America Argentina See guide South America Peru See guide South America Ecuador See guide Central America Costa Rica See guide Europe Germany See guide Europe Italy See guide Europe Portugal See guide Oceania Australia See guide Quote
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead should I plan an international move?
Two to three months is ideal, to coordinate the survey, the vessel booking and destination paperwork.
Which is better, a full container or groupage?
For a small apartment, groupage is usually cheaper. As volume approaches a 20-foot container’s capacity, an exclusive container is safer and often better value.
Which Colombian cities do you collect from?
Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga and Cartagena, and other cities case by case.
Can I ship my car with my household goods?
Yes, in a full or shared container. Each country has its own vehicle rules, which we review before quoting.
Law 1565 or standard household goods: what is the difference?
Law 1565 exempts taxes up to the legal cap but requires three years abroad and a Foreign Ministry certificate. Standard household goods require 24 months abroad and pay a single 15% tax.
Why choose a mover with its own customs broker?
One team answers for packing, freight and clearance, with a single quote and no middlemen adding port charges.