Can a foreigner buy property in Colombia?

Foreigners may buy on much the same terms as citizens

Colombia gives foreigners the same civil rights over property as Colombians. Foreign money must be registered with the central bank, and some border and protected areas have special rules.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

Rules change. This page describes the structure of the rule, not prices, taxes or quotas. Confirm the current position with the official source listed below, and with a lawyer in the country, before you pay anything. This is general information, not legal advice.

Land

Foreigners may own land.

Houses and flats

Houses and apartments can be bought on the same terms as by Colombians.

Buying through a company

A foreign buyer may buy through a Colombian company.

Limits and closed zones

Land in border areas, national parks and indigenous territories is subject to special rules.

What to watch for

Foreign investment must be registered with the central bank so that the money can be sent out later. Check the property's entry in the registry.

Understand the legal system first

Colombia belongs to the Civil law family. Property is registered and transferred differently in different traditions, so it helps to know how the system works.

Read the Colombia legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
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Official sources

Superintendence of Notaries and Registry of Colombia

TheLawToKnow Tools’s guide to foreign property ownership is an educational overview of general rules. It is not legal advice, and it does not replace the official source or a lawyer in the country. Report a mistake.