Find work in Colombia
Republic of Colombia — 52 million people, Colombian Peso (COP), Spanish. Full employment compliance handled for you, paid every Friday.
Capital
Bogota
Population
52 million
GDP / capita
$6,630
Currency
COP
Colombian Peso
Time zone
UTC-5 (COT)
Working in Colombia: what to expect
Key employment law provisions that affect your engagement. Corpshore handles compliance so you don't have to navigate this alone — but knowing your rights matters.
Standard workweek
42h max
42 hours (reduced from 48 under 2023 reform, phasing to 42 by 2026)
Annual leave
18 public holidays
15 working days per year
Maternity leave
18 weeks, fully paid
Paternity leave
2 weeks, fully paid (increased from 8 days in 2023)
Notice period
15 days for fixed-term; no statutory notice for indefinite (severance applies)
Severance
Cesantias: 1 month salary per year. Interest on cesantias: 12% annually. Premium: 1 month salary per year (paid in June and December halves).
Overtime rules
25% premium (daytime), 75% premium (nighttime). Sunday/holiday work: 75% premium.
Probation period
2 months
Tax landscape in Colombia
Indicative tax ranges for general orientation. Always consult a qualified tax advisor for your specific situation. Tax year: Calendar year (Jan-Dec).
- Income tax
- 0% to 39%
- Corporate tax
- 35%
- Social contributions
- Employer: ~22% (pension, health, ARL, parafiscales). Employee: ~8%.
- VAT / GST
- 19% (standard); 5% reduced; 0% on basics
Treaty network
Growing network (~15 treaties); recent additions include UK, France, India
Your fee is always zero
Corpshore charges the hiring business, never you. You receive 100% of the agreed rate, regardless of tax jurisdiction.
How you get paid in Colombia
ACH Colombia handles interbank transfers. Nequi and Daviplata (mobile wallets) are widely used for smaller amounts. Wise supports COP payouts.
Bank transfer (ACH Colombia)
Wise
Settlement
Every Friday
No net-30 waits, no chasing invoices
Platform fee
Zero, forever
The business pays Corpshore, never you
Currency
COP
Local currency where supported
Regulatory landscape in Colombia
Corpshore manages compliance so you can focus on the work. Here's what shapes the regulatory environment for workers in Colombia.
Worker classification
Contrato de prestacion de servicios exists for genuine contractors. Courts apply the primacy of reality principle: if the relationship looks like employment, it is, regardless of contract label.
Data protection
Ley 1581 de 2012. Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio (SIC) enforces. Registration of databases required.
Right to work
Cedula de extranjeria and work visa required for foreign workers. Employers must register the contract with the Ministry of Labour.
Non-compete enforceability
Enforceable only if compensated and limited in time (typically up to 5 years for commercial, shorter for employment).
Collective bargaining
Protected under the constitution. Union density is moderate. Pactos colectivos (employer-initiated agreements) exist alongside union-negotiated conventions.
Working culture in Colombia
Business culture
Warm, hospitable, and relationship-focused. Tinto (coffee) is offered at every meeting. Hierarchy matters but is softening in tech and startup culture. Punctuality expectations are more relaxed than in Chile or Brazil.
Key industries
Talent pool strengths
Historical context
Colombia's 2023 labour reform was the first major update to its Codigo Sustantivo del Trabajo in decades, reducing the workweek and expanding parental leave. The country has positioned itself as Latin America's leading nearshore tech destination, with Medellin hosting one of the continent's largest tech conferences (Colombia 4.0).
At a glance
- Official name
- Republic of Colombia
- Languages
- Spanish
- Time zones
- UTC-5 (COT)
- Data region
- Americas
Open roles: Colombia and remote
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