OCDE - Services Trade Restrictiveness Index Colombia 2026

SERVICES TRADE RESTRICTIVENESS INDEX: COLOMBIA © OECD 2026

Services Trade Restrictiveness Index: Colombia Key findings • The 202 5 STRI of Colombia is above the OECD average but relatively low compared to all countries in the STRI sample. The index has increased slightly compared to 202 4. • In 202 5, Colombia amended the conditions to recognise maritime licenses acquired abroad, making access to such recognition more restrictive for foreign natural persons. • Legal services are the most open sector in Colombia while broadcasting is the most restricted, relative to the sectoral average.

Recommendation • Governments should reinvigorate services trade reform to avoid falling behind in an increasingly AI driven global economy, where outdated regulatory frameworks and persistent asymmetries risk constraining competitiveness, innovation and inclusive growth. I mproved market access conditions, more transparent licensing, and lower barriers to the movement of people, supported by efforts to reduce digital trade frictions, will enable economies to harness productivity and competitiveness gains, expand opportunities for cross-border services, and ensure a more level global playing field.2 

SERVICES TRADE RESTRICTIVENESS INDEX: COLOMBIA © OECD 2026

This note highlights key country-specific findings and trends identified in the 2025 update of the OECD Services Trade Restrictiveness Index (STRI). The 2025 STRI of Colombia is above the OECD average, and relatively low compared to other countries in the STRI sample (Figure 1). Figure 1. Average STRI across countries, 2025

Source: OECD (2025). STRI and TiVA databases.

Several economy -wide restrictions contribute to Colombia’s overall STRI. Colombia maintains restrictions to the acquisition of land and real estate by foreigners along the coast and frontier areas. In 2022, Colombia introduced labour market tests for contr actual and independent services suppliers, thereby increasing limitations to the movement of natural persons seeking to provide services on a temporary basis. Furthermore, foreign suppliers are only allowed to participate in public tenders based

2022, Colombia introduced labour market tests for contr actual and independent services suppliers, thereby increasing limitations to the movement of natural persons seeking to provide services on a temporary basis. Furthermore, foreign suppliers are only allowed to participate in public tenders based on recipro city, there are preferential margins for bids using Colombian goods and personnel, and national firms, particularly local small and medium-sized enterprises, are favoured over foreign firms in public tenders when equal terms apply. Finally, the Colombian T ax Code includes a special tax to be levied on dividends and participations received by companies and natural persons non -resident in the country, creating a restriction on subsequent transfers of capital and investments. Colombia has also recently introduced some sector -specific restrictions. In 2025, Colombia modified the conditions to recognise maritime licenses acquired abroad making access to this recognition more restrictive for foreign natural persons. Since then, only Colombian nationals may have their licenses or trainings acquired abroad recognised in the country. This contributed to a slight increase in Colombia’s STRI for maritime transport in 2025 (Figure 2). In 2024, Colombia imposed a differential tax regime for foreign digital services providers. Foreign digital services providers with significant presence in Colombia are subject to a 10% withholding tax on the full payment amount, or the general 35% income tax, along with an additional 3% tax on the total gross income from the sale of goods and/or digital services, while certain services, such as broadcasting visual content that is not specifically delivered from abroad, are subject to a reduced withholding tax rate of 4%. The 2022 reform of the visa system had also an important impact on the overall STRI score. 3

SERVICES TRADE RESTRICTIVENESS INDEX: COLOMBIA © OECD 2026

Figure 2. Evolution of STRI indices by sector in Colombia Services Trade Restrictiveness Index, percentage change over the period 2014-2018, 2018-2024 and 2024-2025

Source: OECD (2025). STRI database.

Figure 3 ranks the sectors of Colombia relative to the respective sector's world average. Legal services,

Services Trade Restrictiveness Index, percentage change over the period 2014-2018, 2018-2024 and 2024-2025

Source: OECD (2025). STRI database.

Figure 3 ranks the sectors of Colombia relative to the respective sector's world average. Legal services, rail freight transport, air transport and accounting services are the sectors with the lowest relative score. Conversely, commercial banking, motion pictures, logistics freight-forwarding and broadcasting are the sectors with the highest relative score. Figure 3. Sectoral breakdown: the least and most restricted sectors in Colombia compared to world average

Note: Selection was made based on how far the sectors' score were from the world average score, as a percentage difference i.e. (STRIcountry, sector - STRIworld average, sector) / STRIworld average, sector Source: OECD (2025). STRI database.4 

SERVICES TRADE RESTRICTIVENESS INDEX: COLOMBIA © OECD 2026

Legal services are the least restricted services sector in Colombia compared to the average sectoral STRI across all countries. It is an example of good practice in eliminating restrictions on foreign entry and barriers to competition. On the other hand, broadcasting are the most restricted services sector in Colombia compared to the average sectoral STRI across all countries. The restrictions on foreign entry are significant compared to the best performers in the Americas and world best practice (Figure 4). Restrictions in this sector include limitations to foreign investment in firms with a television broadcasting concession, where foreign equity shares are only allowed on the basis of reciprocity and up to 40% of the shares. There are also limitations to foreign investment in publicly controlled firms, where only public entities can hold shares of the public television service. Figure 4. Colombia compared to the Americas and world's best performers

Source: OECD (2025). STRI database.

Recent policy changes In 2025, Colombia modified the conditions to recognise maritime licenses acquired abroad, making access to this recognition more restrictive for foreign natural persons. Since then, only Colombian

Figure 4. Colombia compared to the Americas and world's best performers

Source: OECD (2025). STRI database.

Recent policy changes In 2025, Colombia modified the conditions to recognise maritime licenses acquired abroad, making access to this recognition more restrictive for foreign natural persons. Since then, only Colombian nationals may have their licenses or trainings acquired abroad recognised in the country. 5

SERVICES TRADE RESTRICTIVENESS INDEX: COLOMBIA © OECD 2026

Starting on 1 January 2024, Colombia introduced a new tax regime for foreign digital service providers. These providers, with a significant presence in Colombia, are now subject to income tax. The legislation offers two options for meeting this tax obligat ion: paying a 10% withholding tax on the full payment amount, or paying the general 35% income tax, along with an additional 3% tax on the total gross income from the sale of goods and/or digital services. Nevertheless, certain services, such as broadcasting visual content that is not specifically delivered from abroad, are subject to a reduced withholding tax rate of 4% under the Tax Code. A 2024 update of the regulatory framework for the audiovisual industry maintained the requirement that 10% of television airtime must be dedicated to Colombian films but eased slightly the requirements to reach the quota. More information » Access all country notes, sector notes, and interactive STRI tools at oe.cd/servicestrade. » Discover the Digital STRI that measures cross-cutting barriers to trade in digitally enabled services: oe.cd/DigitalSTRI » Learn more about the Intra-EEA STRI that covers barriers within the European Economic Area: oe.cd/EEASTRI » More information about measuring the regulatory environment for services trade in the APEC region: apecservicesindex.org » More information about measuring the regulatory environment for services trade in the ASEAN region: oe.cd/ASEANSTRI » Read more on evidence from ten years of monitoring services trade policies through the STRI in Revitalising Services Trade for Global Growth. » Learn more about current services trade issues on the OECD website.

» More information about measuring the regulatory environment for services trade in the ASEAN region: oe.cd/ASEANSTRI » Read more on evidence from ten years of monitoring services trade policies through the STRI in Revitalising Services Trade for Global Growth. » Learn more about current services trade issues on the OECD website. » Contact the OECD Trade and Agriculture Directorate with your questions at stri.contact@oecd.org. This work is published under the responsibility of the Secretary -General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of OECD Member countries. The STRI indices take values between zero and one, one being the most restrictive. The STRI database records measures on a Most Favoured Nation basis. Air transport and road freight cover only commercial establishment (with accompanying movement of people). The indices are based on laws and regulations made public by 31 October 2025 and in force on 31 December 2025. The STRI regulatory database covers the 38 OECD Members, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Peru, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand and Viet Nam. The statistical data for Israel are supplied by and under the responsibility of the relevant Israeli authorities. The use of such data by the OECD is without prejudice to the status of the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the West Bank under the terms of international law. This document, as well as any data and map included herein, are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area.

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