Regulatory & compliance · International household goods

International — Colombia

A single unified permit, a separate vehicle certificate, and a distinct Andean insurance policy are required for road transport to Ecuador, Peru, or Bolivia

Regulated byPermiso Originario (the sole document authorizing a carrier for Andean Community international road transport) and a vehicle-level Certificado de Habilitación, both issued under CAN Decisión 837, replacing the prior Decisión 399 framework; a distinct Póliza Andina de Seguro de Responsabilidad Civil (Andean Civil Liability Insurance Policy) required for the international carrier and crew

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

A Single Unified Permit (Permiso Originario) Is Required
Yes
Yes, and genuinely simplified relative to the prior framework — CAN Decisión 837 (which replaced the 22-year-old Decisión 399) establishes the Permiso Originario as the sole document authorizing a carrier to provide international road transport service between Colombia and fellow Comunidad Andina member states (Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia), reducing and simplifying what was previously a more complex set of administrative requirements.
A Separate Vehicle-Level Certificate Is Also Required
Yes
Yes — Beyond the company-level Permiso Originario, each vehicle and cargo unit (trailer, semi-trailer) used for CAN international transport needs its own Certificado de Habilitación, genuinely separate from Colombia’s domestic RNDC/habilitación vehicle documentation.
A Distinct Own-Account Permit Category Exists
Yes
Yes — A separate “Permiso Especial de Origen para Transporte Internacional por Cuenta Propia” applies to a company transporting its own goods internationally (own-account), rather than for-hire transport of third-party goods.
A Distinct Andean Insurance Policy Is Required
Yes
Yes — International road carriers under the CAN framework must carry the Póliza Andina de Seguro de Responsabilidad Civil (Andean Civil Liability Insurance Policy) for international road carriage, plus a bodily injury annex covering crew members — a genuinely distinct insurance product from Colombia’s domestic contractual/extra-contractual liability policies.
Habilitated Vehicles Receive Free Transit Across Member States
Yes
Yes — Once habilitated and registered, vehicles and cargo units receive free transit rights across the territories of CAN member states for international transport purposes.
Colombia’s Own Implementing Regulation Was Still Being Finalized as of 2025
Yes, worth confirming directly — As of 2025, Colombia’s Ministry of Transport was still finalizing its own national resolution implementing Decisión 837 (covering the Permiso Originario, vehicle Certificado de Habilitación, and the own-account permit specifically for Colombia), with the draft open for industry comment. Confirm current procedures directly rather than assume a fully settled process.

OverviewOverview & Scope

A mover operating its own vehicles for international road transport between Colombia and Ecuador, Peru, or Bolivia needs authorization under the Andean Community’s regional framework, recently simplified under Decisión 837: a single company-level Permiso Originario, plus a separate vehicle-level Certificado de Habilitación for each vehicle and cargo unit used. A distinct permit category applies for own-account (non-hire) international transport. Carriers must also hold the Andean Civil Liability Insurance Policy, a genuinely separate product from Colombia’s domestic liability insurance, covering both the carrier’s liability and crew bodily injury. Once properly habilitated, vehicles receive free transit rights across CAN member states. Colombia’s own implementing resolution for this framework was still being finalized as of 2025, so current procedures should be confirmed directly rather than assumed settled.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Movers must:

  1. Obtain a Permiso Originario for international road transport to fellow CAN member states, in addition to the domestic habilitación.
  2. Obtain a Certificado de Habilitación for each vehicle and cargo unit used in CAN international transport.
  3. Confirm whether the Permiso Especial de Origen para Transporte Internacional por Cuenta Propia applies, if transporting own goods rather than operating for hire.
  4. Carry the Póliza Andina de Seguro de Responsabilidad Civil, including the crew bodily injury annex.
  5. Confirm Colombia’s current implementing procedures directly with the Ministry of Transport, given the framework’s finalization was still in progress as of 2025.
  6. Retain Permiso Originario, vehicle Certificado de Habilitación, and Andean insurance records as required for renewal and regulatory review.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

  • Permiso Originario held for CAN international road transportRequiredwhere applicable
  • Certificado de Habilitación held for each vehicle/cargo unitRequiredwhere applicable
  • Own-account permit category confirmed, where applicableRequiredwhere applicable
  • Póliza Andina de Seguro de Responsabilidad Civil in force, with crew annexRequiredwhere applicable
  • Current Colombian implementing procedures confirmed directlyNeeds verification
  • Permiso Originario, vehicle certificate, and insurance records retainedRequired
Draft — this site is under review. Please do not use or circulate.