Buying Property in Colombia from Canada

A Canadian buying an apartment or house in Colombia follows the same Colombian process as any other foreigner. What changes is the Canadian side: tax on worldwide income, a possible foreign-property report, and a tax treaty that is in force. This guide separates the two sides and points to deeper guides.

Which Colombian rules stay the same for a Canadian?

The steps to buy and register do not depend on your passport. The paperwork is an escritura signed before a notary and registered with the Oficina de Registro de Instrumentos Públicos, part of the Superintendencia de Notariado y Registro. The steps are in our step-by-step guide to buying as a foreigner.

Banco de la República lists foreign investment in Colombia, and its yields, among the operations that must be channeled through the exchange market. Its own example is a non-resident buying an apartment in Cartagena (Banrep, basic concepts). The page does not name a form number, so ask your bank which exchange declaration applies, and read how to register your foreign investment. A Colombian contador can confirm how Colombia taxes that rent.

What does Canadian tax law require for a Colombian property?

The CRA says an individual resident in Canada during a tax year is subject to Canadian income tax on worldwide income from all sources (CRA folio). For rental income, the CRA names Form T776, with gross rent entered on line 12599 of the return (CRA, Form T776). Those pages do not mention foreign property, so ask your preparer how they apply to a Colombian rental.

For tax paid to a foreign country on income from outside Canada, the CRA names Form T2209 and line 40500 (CRA, foreign tax credit). That page does not mention rent specifically.

Form T1135 is the foreign-property report. It applies to Canadian residents who, at any time during the year, own specified foreign property costing more than $100,000 (CRA, T1135). Three points from the CRA's questions and answers (CRA T1135 Q&A):

• The threshold is based on cost amount, not fair market value.
• Specified foreign property does not include personal-use property, and the CRA takes "primarily" to mean more than 50%.
• A condo rented eight months with a reasonable expectation of profit and kept for personal use the other four is reportable. If there is no reasonable expectation of profit and the owner is merely recovering part of the expenses, the CRA will consider it personal-use property.

Ask your preparer how your own use and rental pattern fits. Sale gains are not covered by the sources we reviewed, so raise them too.

Is there an income-tax treaty between Canada and Colombia?

Yes. DIAN lists an income-tax treaty with Canada, in force since 12 June 2012 (Ley 1459 de 2011) (DIAN). Which taxes and which income it covers is a question for an adviser. Ask that adviser whether the treaty changes the Canadian foreign tax credit described above. See also Colombian income tax on rental income.

Can you sign from Canada?

Canada's Apostille Convention accession took effect on 11 January 2024, and Colombia's on 30 January 2001 (HCCH status table). In Canada, apostilles are issued by the federal government and by the designated provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan (Global Affairs Canada glossary). Which office handles your document depends on who issued it (Global Affairs Canada). For powers of attorney, see buying from abroad with a power of attorney.

How do you send the money from Canada?

On the Colombian side, funds enter through the exchange market, and ask your bank whether the name on the wire should match the exchange declaration and the escritura. Your bank may ask for source-of-funds documents, so ask it what it needs.

On the Canadian side, FINTRAC's form says reporting entities report international electronic funds transfers of $10,000 or more in a single transaction, and the 24-hour rule may apply (FINTRAC). That obligation belongs to the reporting entity handling the transfer.

What do tax authorities exchange about your accounts?

The OECD's table of activated CRS relationships, last updated 1 October 2026, lists Canada and Colombia in both directions, each as "CRS MCAA activated" (OECD). Colombia is among the jurisdictions undertaking first exchanges in 2017 (OECD commitments). Financial-account information can therefore be exchanged between the two tax authorities.

Do you need a visa, and which visa fits an owner?

Cancillería puts Canadá on Lista A, so passport holders may enter without a visa for short stays that generate no pay in Colombia (Cancillería). The page we reviewed does not state the number of days, so confirm it before you travel.

The M Inversionista visa through real estate requires title solely in the foreigner's name for at least 350 SMLMV (salarios mínimos mensuales legales vigentes) at the application date, plus Banco de la República extracts registering the investment (Cancillería). See visas for property buyers.

Questions to take to your advisers

The Colombia Owner Kit covers the Colombian side (calendar, checklists, letters in Spanish, BanRep records pack, question lists including questions for your home-country preparer), but its home-country sheet today is the United States sheet, and a Canada sheet is scheduled for March 2027 within its 12 months of updates, so for Canadian rules today use your own adviser. You can also start with the free one-page due-diligence checklist.

• Colombian lawyer or contador: Which exchange declaration applies? How will my rent be taxed in Colombia?
• Canadian tax adviser: Is my property personal-use property or specified foreign property for Form T1135? How do T776 and T2209 apply, and how does the treaty interact?
• Your bank: What source-of-funds documents do you need for this transfer?

This guide is educational, not legal or tax advice.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a tax treaty between Canada and Colombia?

Yes. DIAN lists an income-tax treaty with Canada, in force since 12 June 2012.

When do I have to file Form T1135 for a property in Colombia?

The CRA says Canadian residents who own specified foreign property costing more than $100,000 at any time during the year must report it. The threshold is based on cost, and personal-use property is excluded.

Is a Colombian condo I rent part of the year reportable?

The CRA says a condo rented eight months with a reasonable expectation of profit and kept for personal use the other four is reportable on Form T1135. If there is no reasonable expectation of profit and the owner only recovers part of the expenses, the CRA will consider it personal-use property.

Can a Canadian sign documents from Canada?

Canada and Colombia are both parties to the Apostille Convention, and Canada's took effect on 11 January 2024. Apostilles are issued by the federal government and by Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan.

Not sure where you stand? Take the quiz. The Colombia Owner Kit (US$79, pre-order) turns this guide into a checklist, a calendar entry and a question list: see what’s included. Or start with the free sample: K19, the one-page due-diligence checklist.