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Authorized economic operator and trusted trader status in Colombia: OEA, simplified customs users and authorized exporters
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Last verified: 2026-10-26 · Status: Stable
Colombia offers three trusted trader statuses. The authorized economic operator (OEA), free and voluntary, is for companies established at least three years with a clean compliance record and security standards based on the World Customs Organization framework; it brings fewer inspections, no customs guarantees and consolidated monthly payment of duties. The simplified customs user status is granted on DIAN's risk assessment and gives automatic release and monthly consolidated payment backed by a global guarantee of 2 percent of yearly FOB imports. Authorized exporters may certify origin on their own invoices.
USD figures use the TRM (tasa representativa del mercado) of COP 3,158.43 per US dollar, valid 24 to 26 October 2026, from the official TRM series certified by the Superintendencia Financiera and published on the national open data portal. Amounts in UVT use the 2026 UVT of COP 52,374 (DIAN Resolución 000238 de 2025). Conversions are for orientation only.
Key facts
| Government fee for authorized economic operator status | None, the procedure is free textDecreto 3568 de 2011 art. 5, as of 2026-10-26 · in force |
|---|---|
| Minimum years established in Colombia to apply for OEA | 3 yearsDecreto 3568 de 2011 art. 6 num. 6.1.2, as of 2026-10-26 · in force |
| Validity of OEA authorization | Indefinite, subject to revalidation textDecreto 3568 de 2011 art. 10, as of 2026-10-26 · in force |
| Global guarantee of simplified customs users, share of prior 12 months FOB imports | 2 %Decreto 1165 de 2019 art. 773-6, as of 2026-10-26 · in force |
| Business days of each month to pay consolidated duties | 5 daysDecreto 1165 de 2019 art. 773-4, as of 2026-10-26 · in force |
| Term for DIAN to decide an authorized exporter request | 3 monthsDecreto 1165 de 2019 art. 22 num. 1, as of 2026-10-26 · in force |
The rule
1. The authorized economic operator (operador económico autorizado, OEA) is a voluntary authorization, free of charge, open to small, medium and large companies; it is not required to trade and does not allow representing third parties. Applicants must, among other conditions, have been established in Colombia for at least three years, have at least three years' track record in the activity, show financial solvency over the last three years, have no customs, tax or exchange sanctions affecting supply chain security in the prior two years, no cancellation of DIAN authorizations in the prior five years, and meet minimum security requirements based on the World Customs Organization SAFE Framework. The authorization has indefinite validity, subject to periodic revalidation visits.
Cost to do it: No government fee; the cost is the internal security and compliance programme and any external consultant. Mergers, spin offs or new subsidiaries of foreign companies may be relieved of the three year requirements (art. 6 par. 1).
Example: A Cali exporter of sugar that has operated for ten years implements the security requirements and applies through DIAN's electronic services. / A US multinational's Colombian subsidiary formed through a reorganization can ask to apply before completing three years in Colombia.Decreto 3568 de 2011 (authorized economic operator) as amended by Decreto 1894 de 2015, Art. 5, art. 6 num. 6.1.2, 6.1.4, 6.1.7, 6.1.12 and 6.1.13, art. 7, art. 10 and art. 11, 2011-09-27 official text · verified 2026-10-26
Cost to do it: No government fee; the cost is the internal security and compliance programme and any external consultant. Mergers, spin offs or new subsidiaries of foreign companies may be relieved of the three year requirements (art. 6 par. 1).
Example: A Cali exporter of sugar that has operated for ten years implements the security requirements and applies through DIAN's electronic services. / A US multinational's Colombian subsidiary formed through a reorganization can ask to apply before completing three years in Colombia.Decreto 3568 de 2011 (authorized economic operator) as amended by Decreto 1894 de 2015, Art. 5, art. 6 num. 6.1.2, 6.1.4, 6.1.7, 6.1.12 and 6.1.13, art. 7, art. 10 and art. 11, 2011-09-27 official text · verified 2026-10-26
2. OEA benefits include recognition as a secure operator by the control authorities (DIAN, the National Police and, in the sanitary category, ICA and Invima), an assigned operations officer, fewer physical and documentary inspections, simplified inspection procedures, the right of importers and exporters to act directly as declarants and reduced global guarantees. Decreto 1165 de 2019 adds: no customs guarantees for its own obligations, consolidated payment of import duties, fines and interest, re shipping goods that arrived by supplier error, filing shipment authorization at the place of loading for exporters, transit without restriction of customs office, and correcting the month's import declarations without DIAN authorization.
Cost to do it: Savings come from avoided guarantee premiums, consolidated payment cash flow and fewer inspections and port delays.
Example: An OEA importer of COP 50,000,000,000 a year in inputs pays its duties once a month instead of before each release and posts no customs guarantee. / For a company importing US$15 million a year, monthly consolidated payment defers each shipment's duties and VAT by up to a month.Decreto 3568 de 2011 art. 8 as amended by Decreto 1894 de 2015; Decreto 1165 de 2019 art. 23 num. 2 as amended by Decreto 360 de 2021, Decreto 3568 art. 8 num. 8.1; Decreto 1165 art. 22 num. 2 and art. 23 num. 2.1 to 2.10, 2021-04-07 official text · verified 2026-10-26
Cost to do it: Savings come from avoided guarantee premiums, consolidated payment cash flow and fewer inspections and port delays.
Example: An OEA importer of COP 50,000,000,000 a year in inputs pays its duties once a month instead of before each release and posts no customs guarantee. / For a company importing US$15 million a year, monthly consolidated payment defers each shipment's duties and VAT by up to a month.Decreto 3568 de 2011 art. 8 as amended by Decreto 1894 de 2015; Decreto 1165 de 2019 art. 23 num. 2 as amended by Decreto 360 de 2021, Decreto 3568 art. 8 num. 8.1; Decreto 1165 art. 22 num. 2 and art. 23 num. 2.1 to 2.10, 2021-04-07 official text · verified 2026-10-26
3. The simplified customs user status (usuario aduanero con trámite simplificado) is granted to importers and exporters that DIAN's risk management system rates as suitable and that have no enforceable debts to DIAN, no improper refunds and no final tax, exchange or serious customs sanctions in the last five years. It allows consolidated monthly payment of duties, fines and interest within the first five business days of each month, a single global guarantee in place of specific ones, automatic release (subject to inspection), correction of the month's declarations without authorization, industrial processing deposits and transit ending in a public or private deposit. The global guarantee is 2 percent of FOB imports plus 0.1 percent of exports in the previous 12 months.
Cost to do it: The guarantee of 2 percent of FOB imports and 0.1 percent of exports, by bank or insurer; losing the status bars it for one year and requires specific guarantees within 10 days.
Example: An importer with COP 31,584,300,000 of FOB imports and COP 6,316,860,000 of exports in the last 12 months posts a global guarantee of COP 638,002,860. / On US$10,000,000 of yearly imports and US$2,000,000 of exports the global guarantee is US$202,000.Decreto 1165 de 2019, art. 773-1 to 773-6 added by Decreto 360 de 2021, Art. 773-1, art. 773-2, art. 773-3, art. 773-4, art. 773-5 and art. 773-6, 2021-04-07 official text · verified 2026-10-26
Cost to do it: The guarantee of 2 percent of FOB imports and 0.1 percent of exports, by bank or insurer; losing the status bars it for one year and requires specific guarantees within 10 days.
Example: An importer with COP 31,584,300,000 of FOB imports and COP 6,316,860,000 of exports in the last 12 months posts a global guarantee of COP 638,002,860. / On US$10,000,000 of yearly imports and US$2,000,000 of exports the global guarantee is US$202,000.Decreto 1165 de 2019, art. 773-1 to 773-6 added by Decreto 360 de 2021, Art. 773-1, art. 773-2, art. 773-3, art. 773-4, art. 773-5 and art. 773-6, 2021-04-07 official text · verified 2026-10-26
4. An authorized exporter is a person DIAN authorizes, after checking that its products qualify as originating, to issue origin declarations or invoice declarations under trade agreements that provide for it, instead of requesting certificates. DIAN decides within three months of the request. The status is lost for breaching origin rules, not keeping requirements, refusing verification visits or not supplying origin documents, after a 15 business day term to answer DIAN's notice; loss is not a sanction unless ordered in a sanction proceeding.
Cost to do it: No DIAN fee; requires valid sworn origin declarations for each product.
Example: A Colombian apparel maker exporting to the United Kingdom and the European Union certifies origin on its invoices once authorized. / An authorized exporter shipping US$5 million a year to EU buyers avoids requesting a certificate for each shipment.Decreto 1165 de 2019, art. 22 num. 1 as amended by Decreto 360 de 2021, Art. 22 num. 1, 1.1 and 1.2; art. 23 num. 1, 2021-04-07 official text · verified 2026-10-26
Cost to do it: No DIAN fee; requires valid sworn origin declarations for each product.
Example: A Colombian apparel maker exporting to the United Kingdom and the European Union certifies origin on its invoices once authorized. / An authorized exporter shipping US$5 million a year to EU buyers avoids requesting a certificate for each shipment.Decreto 1165 de 2019, art. 22 num. 1 as amended by Decreto 360 de 2021, Art. 22 num. 1, 1.1 and 1.2; art. 23 num. 1, 2021-04-07 official text · verified 2026-10-26
5. DIAN may suspend an OEA's benefits as a precautionary measure, or cancel the authorization, on the grounds and through the procedures set in Ley 2586 de 2026, which now governs these measures together with the customs sanctions regime.
Cost to do it: Suspension removes guarantees exemptions and consolidated payment immediately; cancellation removes the status.
Example: An OEA exporter whose container is found with contraband may have its benefits suspended while the facts are investigated. / A US group should map OEA suspension risks in its Colombian supply chain contracts, since benefits can be lost quickly.Ley 2586 de 2026 (customs sanctions and procedures), Art. 76, art. 77, art. 78, art. 79 and art. 80, 2026-06-19 official text · verified 2026-10-26 · changed: Ley 2586 de 2026, in force 19 June 2026, replaced the suspension and cancellation procedure previously in Decreto 3568 de 2011 art. 12 to 14 and Decreto 1165 de 2019.
Cost to do it: Suspension removes guarantees exemptions and consolidated payment immediately; cancellation removes the status.
Example: An OEA exporter whose container is found with contraband may have its benefits suspended while the facts are investigated. / A US group should map OEA suspension risks in its Colombian supply chain contracts, since benefits can be lost quickly.Ley 2586 de 2026 (customs sanctions and procedures), Art. 76, art. 77, art. 78, art. 79 and art. 80, 2026-06-19 official text · verified 2026-10-26 · changed: Ley 2586 de 2026, in force 19 June 2026, replaced the suspension and cancellation procedure previously in Decreto 3568 de 2011 art. 12 to 14 and Decreto 1165 de 2019.
| Status | Who grants it | Main condition | Main benefits | Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authorized economic operator (OEA) | DIAN with other control authorities | 3 years established, clean record, WCO SAFE security standards | Fewer inspections, consolidated payment, direct declarant | None for own obligations |
| Simplified customs user | DIAN, by risk assessment | Rated suitable, no debts or serious sanctions in 5 years | Automatic release, consolidated monthly payment, industrial processing | Global, 2% of FOB imports plus 0.1% of exports |
| Authorized exporter | DIAN | Products verified as originating | Self certification of origin under agreements that allow it | None |
Trusted trader statuses compared (Decreto 3568 de 2011; Decreto 1165 de 2019).
Worked example
- A Colombian food processor importing US$10,000,000 of inputs and exporting US$2,000,000 a year first obtains simplified customs user status: it posts a global guarantee of US$202,000 (2 percent of imports plus 0.1 percent of exports) and pays duties monthly (Decreto 1165 de 2019 art. 773-4 and 773-6).
- With three years of operations and a security programme in place, it applies for OEA, which is free; once authorized it no longer posts guarantees for its own obligations and faces fewer inspections (Decreto 3568 de 2011 art. 5 and 8; Decreto 1165 art. 23).
- It also becomes an authorized exporter to certify origin on its invoices to EU and UK buyers (Decreto 1165 art. 22 num. 1).
Step by step
- 1. Clear any debts with DIAN and check the sanctions record of the company and its shareholders and directors for the last five years.
- 2. Request simplified customs user status for quick wins on consolidated payment and automatic release, and post the global guarantee.
- 3. Run a gap analysis against the OEA minimum security requirements (DIAN resolutions based on the WCO SAFE Framework) and fix physical, personnel, IT and partner security.
- 4. File the OEA application through DIAN's electronic services and prepare for the joint validation visit with the control authorities.
- 5. Keep evidence of compliance for revalidation visits and correct any finding within 10 days of the report (Decreto 3568 de 2011 art. 11).
Common traps
- Expecting OEA to make a customs agency optional only after authorization. Importers and exporters may already act directly before DIAN for any amount (Decreto 1165 de 2019 art. 32 and 33); OEA adds speed, not permission.
- Ignoring shareholders' and directors' histories. Links to companies whose DIAN authorizations were cancelled in the last five years block OEA (Decreto 3568 de 2011 art. 6 num. 6.1.11).
- Losing simplified status by missing the consolidated payment. Failing obligations removes the status for one year and specific guarantees must be posted within 10 days (Decreto 1165 de 2019 art. 773-5).
- Treating revalidation findings lightly. Uncorrected findings start the procedure that can end in cancellation (Decreto 3568 de 2011 art. 11; Ley 2586 de 2026 art. 79 and 80).
Sources
- Decreto 3568 de 2011, authorized economic operator, DIAN legal compilation
- Decreto 1165 de 2019, customs regime, DIAN legal compilation
- Ley 2586 de 2026, DIAN legal compilation
- TRM official series, national open data portal
- DIAN Resolución 000238 de 2025, 2026 UVT
Related pages
- trade/importing-and-exporting
- trade/temporary-imports-and-plan-vallejo
- trade/trade-agreements-and-rules-of-origin
- trade/customs-audits-seizures-and-appeals
- regulation/compliance-essentials
- /country/colombia/
- /calendar/
- Live dashboard
Related: Colombia country profile · live dashboard · central bank and release calendar · our posts on X · where Argentina is involved, see The Argentine Thread guide