Country Conditions for Mailing — Colombia
Prohibitions (130)
Coins; banknotes; currency notes; securities payable to bearer; traveler’s checks; manufactured and unmanufactured platinum, gold, and silver; precious stones; jewelry; and other valuable articles.
Many types of goods are prohibited or subject to an import license; therefore, the sender should ascertain from the addressee before mailing whether the contents are permitted and whether the necessary documents are held.
Perishable infectious biological substances.
Perishable noninfectious biological substances.
Radioactive materials.
Restrictions
New and used clothing is permitted when mailed as unaccompanied baggage. The words “Equipaje no acompanado” and the owner’s passport number must be shown on the address label and the accompanying documents. Used clothing must have a certificate of disinfection enclosed.
Observations
- First-Class Mail International items may not contain dutiable articles.
- Books and other printed matter, if valued over $20, require consular invoices, and the addressees must obtain import licenses.
- A commercial invoice, numbered, certified and signed by the sender, must accompany each package containing books and periodicals of a commercial nature. In addition, the value of each item, the number of packages comprising the shipment, and gross weight must be shown on the invoice. One copy of the invoice should be sent to the post office of destination. A note must be made on each package of the number of books contained therein, its weight and the total number of packages comprising the shipment.
- Packages must be addressed directly to the addressee, as the Colombian regulations do not permit customs entry to be effected by anyone except the addressee or an authorized representative.
- Each shipment valued at $20 or less requires two copies of the sender’s commercial invoice, one of which must be enclosed in the parcel and the other sent under separate cover to the addressee. Consular legalization is not needed but the invoice must include a declaration of origin of the merchandise, in Spanish, reading as follows:
“Certificamos bajo juramento que los precios de esta factura son los mismos que cargamos al cliente y que la mercancia a que se refiere esta misma factura es originaria de (Country of Origin). En fe de lo expuesto firmamos la presente declaracion en (City, State) (Day) de (Month) de (Year) (Signature of shipper)”.
(Translation: We certify under oath that the prices in this invoice are the same that we charge our customers, and that the merchandise in this same invoice comes from (Country of origin). In faith of which we sign the present declaration at (City, State), on (Date).
- For shipments valued over $20, the sender must have a copy of his or her commercial invoice legalized by a Colombian Consulate, and must prepare 4 copies of a consular invoice, one of which must be sent direct to the addressee with the legalized commercial invoice.
- The addressees in Colombia are required in most cases to obtain import licenses in order to secure delivery of shipments. For shipments exceeding $20 in value the addressee is required to send a copy of the import license to the sender, who must submit it to the Colombian Consul when obtaining the consular invoice. If a sender receives a copy of a Colombian import license for a parcel whose value does not exceed $20, he or she must return it to the addressee in Colombia.
- Consular invoice forms may be obtained and commercial invoices legalized at Colombian Consulates, which are located in principal cities of the United States.
Customs Forms Required (123)
First-Class Mail International items and Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes and Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes:
PS Form 2976 (see 123.61)
Priority Mail International parcels:
PS Form 2976-A inside 2976-E (envelope)
Global Express Guaranteed (210) Price Group 8
Insurance (212.5)
Value Limit (212.1)
The maximum value of a GXG shipment to this country is $2,499 or a lesser amount if limited by content or value.
Size Limits (211.22)
The surface area of the address side of the item to be mailed
must be large enough to completely contain the Global
Express Guaranteed Air Waybill/Shipping Invoice (shipping
label), postage, endorsement, and any applicable markings.
The shipping label is approximately 5.5 inches high and
9.5 inches long.
Maximum length: 46 inches
Maximum width: 35 inches
Maximum height: 46 inches
Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches
General Conditions for Mailing
See Publication 141, Global Express Guaranteed Service Guide, for information about areas served in the destination country, allowable contents, packaging and labeling requirements, tracking and tracing, service standards, and other conditions for mailing.
Express Mail International (220) Price Group 9
Express Mail International — Flat Rate
Insurance (222.7)
Available for Express Mail International merchandise shipments only
Articles Admitted
|
Required Customs Form/Endorsement
|
Correspondence, business papers, and documents.
|
No form required. Endorse item clearly next to mailing label as BUSINESS PAPERS.
|
Merchandise samples without commercial value
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PS Form 2976, Customs — CN 22 and Sender’s Declaration.
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Merchandise and all articles subject to customs duty.
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PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note CP 72, inside a PS Form 2976-E, Customs Declaration Envelope CP 92.
|
Size Limits (221.42)
Maximum length: 36 inches
Maximum length and girth combined: 79 inches
Express Mail International (cont’d)
Notes:
- Coins; banknotes; currency notes, including paper money; securities of any kind payable to bearer; traveler’s checks; platinum, gold, and silver; precious stones; jewelry; watches; and other valuable articles are prohibited in Express Mail International shipments to Colombia.
- Certain dutiable Express Mail International items will not be delivered to the addressee but must be picked up at the post office. For this reason, all dutiable Express Mail International items to Colombia should include the telephone number of the addressee.
Reciprocal Service Name: Express Service-Rapidissimo
Country Code: CO
Areas Served:
Priority Mail International (230) Price Group 9
Note: Ordinary Priority Mail International includes indemnity at no cost based on weight. (See 230.)
Priority Mail International — Flat Rate
Flat Rate Envelopes or Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes: $13.95
May contain items that may be sent as First-Class Mail International. The maximum weight is 4 lbs.
Flat Rate Boxes: Medium – $45.50; Large – $58.50
The maximum weight is 20 lbs. or the limit set by the individual country, whichever is less.
Insurance (232.82)
Available for Priority Mail International merchandise parcels only (see 323.72 for markings)
Size Limits (231.22)
Maximum length: 42 inches
Maximum length and girth combined: 79 inches
First-Class Mail International (240) Price Group 9
Letters
Large Envelopes (Flats)
Packages (Small Packets)
Size Limits
Letters: See 241.212
Postcards: See 241.221
Large Envelopes (Flats): See 241.232
Packages (Small Packets): See 241.242 and 241.243
Postcards (241.22)
$0.98
Airmail M-bags (260) —
Direct Sack to One Addressee Price Group 9
Matter for the Blind (270)
Free when sent as First-Class Mail International, including Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes and Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes. Weight limit: 4 pounds.
Free when sent as Priority Mail International. Weight limit: 15 pounds.
Certificate of Mailing (313)
COD and Certified
NOT for International Mail
International Business Reply Service (382)
Fee: Envelopes up to 2 ounces $1.45; Cards $0.95
International Postal Money Order (371)
NOT Available
International Reply Coupons (381)
Fee: $2.10
Registered Mail (330)
Fee: $11.50
Maximum Indemnity: $46.04
Available for First-Class Mail International,
including postcards and Flat Rate Envelopes
and Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes, and matter
for the blind or other physically handicapped
persons. Not applicable to M-bags.
Restricted Delivery (350)
NOT Available
Return Receipt (340)
Fee: $2.30
Available for registered mail and insured
Priority Mail International parcels only.