Buying Property in Colombia as a Foreigner

Medellín and its mountains under a blue sky (illustrative photo: Daniel Vélez, Pexels)

More and more people from other countries are looking for houses, farms and land in Antioquia and the rest of Colombia. A foreigner can buy real estate in the country, but there are foreign exchange and tax rules worth knowing from the start. This guide sums up the essentials based on official sources; it does not replace advice from a lawyer and an accountant in Colombia.

1. The purchase counts as foreign direct investment

Under Colombia's foreign exchange regime, the acquisition of real estate by a foreign investor (directly, through trust arrangements or through real estate securitization) is foreign direct investment (Banco de la República). This matters because the investment must be registered with Banco de la República, Colombia's central bank; the registration is what later allows you, for example, to prove the investment and exercise your foreign exchange rights.

2. How the investment is registered

If you bring the money in foreign currency through the foreign exchange market (a bank or authorized intermediary), the exchange declaration filed when the funds are channeled serves as the registration. If the investment is made without channeling foreign currency, it is registered following Banco de la República's procedure in the Foreign Exchange Information System (Decree 119 of 2017; investment regime).

Decree 1044 of August 5, 2026 amended the rules so that investors or their representatives may file the registration declaration "at any time". Even so, the practical advice is the same: document everything from day one and ask your bank for the supporting exchange declaration with the correct code for real estate investment.

Practical tip

Do not pay for the property with cash or through third parties. Channel the funds through the foreign exchange market in the buyer's name; this makes registration easier, as well as taking the money out again if you sell.

3. Investor visa

Buying a property does not grant residency automatically, but it can support an application for the M Investor visa (Visa M Inversionista). According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the real estate option requires, among other things, a property owned exclusively by the foreigner with a value of at least 350 current legal monthly minimum wages on the date of application, and statements from Banco de la República's Foreign Exchange Information System showing the registered investment. The maximum validity of this visa is three years. Check the current requirements before buying if this is your goal.

4. Due diligence: the same as a local buyer

A recent certificate of title (certificado de tradición y libertad), downloadable online from the SNR.
A title study by a Colombian lawyer.
The property's zoning and land use, especially if you plan to build or subdivide (see what to check before buying land in Colombia).
A visit to the property or, if you cannot travel, an inspection by someone you trust.

5. Signing from abroad, notary and registry

The deed is signed at a notary in Colombia. If you cannot be there, you can grant a power of attorney to a representative; if it is signed abroad, it must meet apostille or legalization requirements and, if it is in another language, have an official translation. After signing, the deed is recorded at the Public Instruments Registry Office. To sign you will need your passport or foreigner ID card (cédula de extranjería), and for tax purposes you will usually be asked to register in the RUT, the Colombian tax registry.

6. Taxes when buying, owning and selling

When buying: notary costs, registration tax and registry fees, shared as agreed between the parties.
While you own it: municipal property tax (predial).
When selling: if the seller is an individual and the property is a fixed asset, the notary applies a 1% withholding on the price (article 398 of the Tax Code, DIAN); the gain on a property held for two years or more is taxed as an occasional gain at 15% under Law 2277 of 2022 (DIAN).

Rates change: confirm them with an accountant in Colombia, and also check your obligations in your country of residence.

Step-by-step summary

Define the type of property and the area, and whether you also want the investor visa.
Hire a lawyer in Colombia for the title study and the review of the zoning rules.
Ask for the certificate of title and visit the property (or send someone you trust).
Sign a promise of sale with clear conditions.
Bring the funds through the foreign exchange market in the buyer's name and keep the exchange declaration.
Sign the deed at a notary (in person or through a representative).
Record the deed at the registry office.
Check that the investment has been registered with Banco de la República.

Frequently asked questions

Can a foreigner buy a farm or a rural lot?

As a general rule, yes, a foreigner can acquire real estate in Colombia. Rural properties require the same checks as for a Colombian buyer, including the check for awarded public land (baldíos). Ask your lawyer about the specific property.

Do I need a Colombian bank account?

Not always to buy, but what matters is that the money comes in through the foreign exchange market with the corresponding exchange declaration. Your bank or intermediary will tell you the procedure.

Does buying give me residency?

Not automatically. It can support an application for the M Investor visa if you meet the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' requirements.

Can I sell later and take the money out?

Having the investment registered is what allows you to prove it and exercise your foreign exchange rights. When you sell, the withholding and taxes are calculated under the rules in force at the time.

Properties for sale for international buyers

Our team works in Spanish, and we help you coordinate your lawyer, visits and paperwork. Our properties include the country house with a pool in Girardota, the commercial house in Prado Centro, Medellín and Finca Guamitos, 1,100 hectares in Neiva, Huila. Prices are shown in US dollars, as published in our flyers for international buyers.

Can we help with your purchase?

We review documents and zoning, and we go with you on the visit. The first consultation is free.

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Official sources consulted

Consulted on October 16, 2026. Sources are official Colombian documents in Spanish. This article is for information only and does not replace advice from a lawyer, an accountant or the competent authority. Rules and fees change: check the current version.

How to buy property in Colombia as a foreigner: 2026 guide