Invest in Bogotá has launched the 2026 edition of its Foreign Investment Legal Guide for Bogotá-Region, a specialized resource designed to support the decision-making of international companies pursuing market entry, operations and growth in Colombia.
The publication marks ten years since the first Foreign Investment Legal Guide was published and draws on two decades of experience Invest in Bogotá has built supporting cross-border investors through their arrival, establishment, and expansion in Bogotá-Region.
The 2026 edition represents the most significant update since the guide´s creation. Its 18 chapters address the principal legal and regulatory considerations companies must understand throughout the investment process -company formation, visas, labor regulations, foreign exchange and financial regulations, the tax regime, foreign direct investment incentives, international agreements, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, data protection, public procurement, customs regulations, and foreign trade mechanisms.
It also covers issues of growing relevance to international business decisions – environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, climate change, data protection, foreign exchange regulations, and foreign investment protection mechanisms – helping companies to anticipate risks, strengthen regulatory compliance, and design more sustainable, and competitive projects.
“When companies assess where to invest, they weigh more than markets and opportunities- they need to understand the rules that will govern their operations. With this guide, we want to make that process easier, giving investors the specialized information they need to move forward with greater certainty on their projects in Bogotá-Region,” said Isis Durán, Executive Director of Invest in Bogotá.
Eighteen law firms and consulting firms contributed to the guide, together with the Mergers and Acquisitions Research Group at the Universidad de los Andes School of Law all of which made their specialized expertise available to companies considering investment in Bogotá-Region.
These firms were: EY, Araujo Ibarra Consultores, Brigard Urrutia, Brick Abogados, CMM Estudio Legal, Competencia Legal, Cremades & Calvo-Sotelo, Deltaico, Esguerra JHR, Forvis Mazars, Olarte Moure, Pérez-Llorca, PPU, PVA Abogados, Preciado Abogados, Russell Bedford, Serrano Martínez CMA, and Taveras Partners.
The guide also answer questions Invest in Bogotá has heard repeatedly over 20 years of supporting investors: What type of company should I establish? Do I need a Colombian partner to invest? How do I register my foreign investment? What taxes must a company pay? What visa do I need to do business in Colombia? How do I protect my intellectual property?
Its content follows the investor´s journey – from the initial decision to invest through the establishment, operation, growth and consolidation of the company.
“For Invest in Bogotá, facilitating investment also means providing clear, reliable, and specialized information so that our investors can make decisions with greater certainty,” added Durán.
Download Bogotá’s Legal Guide to Foreign Direct Investment 2026.
About Invest in Bogotá
Invest in Bogotá is a public-private partnership created in 2006 by the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce and the Capital District. Its purpose is to be the preferred partner for catalyzing international business in the Bogotá Region, positioning it as the preferred destination for doing business in Latin America and fostering resilient, sustainable, and inclusive socioeconomic development. For more information, click here.