CERTIFICATION FOREIGN
AUDIOVISUAL WORK
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs establishes the granting of a courtesy type V visa for foreign artistic, technical, and production teams who enter the country with the aim of developing audiovisual projects.
To apply for a courtesy type V visa, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs platform requests the following documents:
Recent color photograph with white background 4 x 3 cm
Copy of the main information page of the valid passport where the personal data of the holder is recorded with blank sheets for stamping.
If you are already in Colombia, a copy of the most recent entry stamp.
If you live in a country other than your nationality and don’t have a nationality in that country, a copy of the document that shows your legal status in the country of residence.
If you previously held a Colombian visa; a copy of it.
6. Certification issued by the Ministry of Culture or by Proimágenes Film Commission:
If it is a film work, Resolution of filming authorization, issued by the Ministry of Culture.
If it is an audiovisual work, Certification of foreign audiovisual works, issued by Proimágenes Film Commission.
7. Health insurance attesting medical coverage, at least for the period spent in the country.
To start the application procedure for certification of foreign audiovisual works through Proimágenes Film Commission, first download the Annex with the instructions to be able to upload documents in the following link.
ANNEXES:
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION OF FOREIGN AUDIOVISUAL WORKS
VISAS
The Ministry of Foreign Relations establishes the granting of the courtesy type V visa for artistic, technical, and foreign production teams that enter the country with the purpose of carrying out foreign audiovisual projects.
The application for the courtesy type V visa must be made electronically at the following link.
The documents required by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs platform are the following:
Recent color photograph with white background 4 x 3 cm
Copy of the main information page of the valid passport where the personal data of the holder is recorded with blank sheets for stamping.
If you are already in Colombia, copy of the most recent entry stamp.
If you live in a country other than your nationality and do not have a nationality in that country, copy of the document showing your legal status in the country of residence.
If you previously held a Colombian visa; a copy of it.
Certification issued by the Ministry of Culture or Proimágenes Film Commission:
If it is a film work, Resolution of authorization of filming issued by the Office of Audiovisual Works, Cinema, and Interactive Media, DACMI.
If it is an audiovisual work, Certification of foreign audiovisual work issued by the National Film Commission.
Health insurance attesting medical coverage, at least for the period spent in the country.
For more information download the annexes MORE INFORMATION ABOUT VISAS and RESOLUTION 6045 OF AUGUST 2, 2017.
The Visa procedure through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can be done directly by the producer and has no cost. The following link contains the information provided by the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the step by step visa application process.
Proimágenes Film Commission can request the visas by the producer for a determined cost according to the number of visas that need to be processed (see the annex).
To start the procedure for applying for courtesy type V visas through Proimágenes Film Commission (Film Commission), download, in the following links, the annex INSTRUCTIONAL APPLICATION FOR COURTESY TYPE V VISA PROCESSING with the indications to be able to carry out the correct loading of documents:
Step 1: Application for courtesy type V visas
Step 2: Personal data of each foreign person
Keep in mind that if the foreign personnel is hired by a Colombian company, it does not apply for the courtesy V visa application.
To avoid immigration issues, be sure to have a valid visa for the entirety of your stay in the country.
ANNEXES:
COURTESY TYPE V VISA APPLICATION INSTRUCTION.
RESOLUTION 6045 OF AUGUST 2, 2017.
RESOLUTION 1627 OF SEPTEMBER 15, 2020.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION OF FOREIGN AUDIOVISUAL WORKS.
CUSTOMS
The Colombian legislation establishes various modalities to carry out an import operation which will allow the free disposal of goods.
The most common in the audiovisual sector are:
- Short term temporary import of equipment, tools, and materials necessary for the production and realization of audiovisual works of any genre, as well as expendable equipment.
- Urgent delivery out of pressing need.
- Exception of the constitution of guarantee for the import of material and professional equipment for cinematography, audiovisuals and cinematographic films impressed and developed silent or with printing.
Remember to keep the supporting documents, they can be requested at any time by the customs authority.
Please download the annexes: CUSTOMS and CUSTOMS REGIME – RESOLUTION 046 from 2019-DIAN.
To start the Request for Certification of Customs Procedures by Proimágenes Film Commission, you must first request the Certification of foreign audiovisual work and then download the Annex INSTRUCTIONS FOR REQUEST FOR CERTIFICATION OF CUSTOMS PROCEDURES to follow the instructions to upload the documents in the following link.
The Request for Certification of Customs Procedures for film works (feature film or short film) must be made through the Office of Audiovisual Works, Cinema, and Interactive Media, DACMI, of the Ministry of Culture. Is free of charge.
For audiovisual works (series, video games, music videos, etc.) it must be made through Proimágenes Film Commission for a value per request of 1 SMMLV.
ANNEXES:
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CUSTOMS
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE REQUEST OF CERTIFICATION FOR CUSTOMS PROCEDURES
CERTIFICATION FAVORABLE CONCEPT
Resolution No. 0733 of 2021 (April 8, 2021) of the Ministry of Defense encourages all state entities to provide the support required by the cultural sector in the use of locations and elements for audiovisual production. To this end, the Audiovisual Technical Committee of the Defense Sector is created, through Directive No. 08 of 2021. This Committee has the objective of reviewing, analyzing, and evaluating the proposals for national and international audiovisual productions that require the support of Law Enforcement.
In order for the project to be evaluated by the Audiovisual Technical Committee of the Defense Sector to obtain the support from Law Enforcement, you must send an email to pineaudiovisual@mindefensa.gov.co attaching the following documentation:
Favorable Concept of the Ministry of Culture (for feature film and/or short film) or of the National Film Commission (for rojee formats; series, video games, music videos, animations, etc.)
Basic information of the applicant: company name, Tax Identification Number – NIT, email, address (department, city, and country of residence), landline and cell phone number, certificate of existence and legal representation or equivalent document for foreign legal persons.
Production details: synopsis, type, format and genre of the audiovisual production, broadcast platform, start and end date of filming, probable release date and total investment of the production, specifying the investment in Colombia.
Requirements for Law Enforcement: specifications related to the quantity and quality of the infrastructure, equipment, quartermaster, personnel, or necessary advice requirements.
- Production script: complete and approved by the production company, specifying the scenes related to the participation of Law Enforcement.
To start the procedure of the Favorable Concept through Proimágenes Film Commission, first download the Annex REQUEST FAVORABLE CONCEPT OF PROIMÁGENES FILM COMMISSION with the indications to be able to carry out the correct upload of documents in the following link.
Note that if the application is for film works (feature film or short film), the equivalent document must be requested through the Office of Audiovisual Works, Cinema, and Interactive Media, DACMI, of the Ministry of Culture. This process is for free.
For other types of audiovisual projects (series, video games, music videos, animations, etc.), the process must be carried out through Proimágenes Film Commission for a value per request of 1 SMMLV (Valid Minimum Monthly Legal Wage).
ANNEXES:
REQUEST FOR THE FAVORABLE CONCEPT FROM PROIMÁGENES FILM COMMISSION.
RESOLUTION NO. 0733 OF 2021 OF APRIL 8, 2021 OF THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE.
PERMANENT DIRECTIVE NO. 08 OF 2021 OF THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE.
PERMITS
Film projects can apply for an authorization to shoot in Colombia issued by the Film Directorate at the Ministry of Culture.
If it is a non-cinematographic audiovisual work, the public institutions of the country may request a concept from Proimágenes Colombia with respect to the relevance of the project. This is not a recording permit nor does it exempt producers from procedures with city halls or relevant institutions; it simply facilitates the procedure with the institutions that grant the permit.
Local permits
All permits for shooting in the public space must be requested from and issued by through the government institutions of the city or municipality where the shooting will take place.
Rolling again in Colombia
After the national government gave free reign to the reactivation of cultural industries in mid-June, the country’s audiovisual sector has been preparing to gradually restart.
Consult the Start Filming in Colombia Document.
Get to know the COVID – 19 Biosecurity Protocol for the audiovisual sector.
Permits to shoot in Bogotá’s public space
The Bogotá Film Commission is responsible for granting and managing permits for productions that use the capital city as a location. All procedures must be go through this institution.
Comisión Fílmica de Bogotá, Cinemateca Distrital
Carrera 8 # 15-46 piso 1
Teléfono: (57+1) 3 79 57 50
Ext: 3410, 3409, 3406
Website:
www.filmingbogota.gov.co
Film Commission Advisor: cfb@idartes.gov.co
Unified Permit: pufa.cfb@idartes.gov.co
Information to film in Bogotá: info.cfb@idartes.gov.co
Permits to shoot in Medellín’s public space
The One stop shop of the Medellín Film Commission, aims to support the audio-visual industry with the application for filming permits in public spaces and public goods in the city.
It offers all of the services related to the authorization for the use of a location. It includes guidance on the management of filming permits, risk management considerations, verification of biosafety protocols, vehicle circulation permits, advice in the process for the participation of minors in a production, and costs of commercial use of public space and public goods (when it applies), among other requirements according to the complexity of each project.
To request a filming permit, you must enter filmedellin.com/ventanillaunica. There you will be able to download the One stop shop Form that must be completed and sent to the email indicated on the website.
Comisión Fílmica de Medellín
Secretaría de Desarrollo Económico de la Alcaldía de Medellín. Calle 44 # 52 – 165, edificio Plaza de la Libertad, piso 11. Torre A.
Website:
https://filmedellin.com/ventanillaunica/
Head of One stop shop:
administrativo@filmedellin.com
National Parks permit
To film, tape or take photographs in nationally protected areas, a request must be filed with the head office of the Special Administrative Unit of the National Natural Park System and the following steps must be taken: A request must be filed at the Environmental Window at Carrera 10 No. 20-30, Mezzanine Level, Bogotá and include the following information:
• The conservation unit or area where the project will take place
• The place or sector where filming will take place
• The type of product being made (documentary, chronicle, research, scenes for series, television soap opera, etc.)
• Name, identification, nationality, residence, address, telephone, fax and function of the person responsible for the group and of all others coming into the park
• Date of entry and exit
• Type of technical equipment to be used • Day and time of filming
• Number and type of vehicles (motorcycle, automobile, truck, taxi, bus, official mini-bus, tourist mini-bus, boat, etc.) A certificate of incorporation and legal representation is required, depending on whether the petitioner is a corporation or company.
When acting on behalf of a third party the power of attorney or authorization must be attached. Self-payment form must be filled out. Receipt of payment corresponding to evaluation and follow-up of project must be presented at the Environmental Window at Carrera 10 No. 20-30, Mezzanine Level, Bogotá. Once a permit is issued the corresponding cost must be deposited; this cost varies depending on project’s duration.
For more information please contact:atencionusuario@parquesnacionales.gov.co.
Note: Correspondence and requests exchanged by email does not mean the permit process is underway.
More information about National Parks Permits
Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia
Calle 74 No. 11-81, Bogota
(57+1) 3532400
Website:
http://www.parquesnacionales.gov.co/portal/es/parques-nacionales/
Permit for filming or taking aereal photographies with drones
In order to film, shoot, or take aerial photographs with RPAS or drones, it is necessary to apply for a permit from the Civil Aviation Authority (Unidad Administrativa Especial de la Aeronáutica Civil, UAEAC).
Below, you will find a general list of requirements for this permit:
- Private pilot license with ground training.
- Forty prior flight hours and 200 takeoffs and landings, certified by the flight school.
- Identification and registration of the drone.
- Insurance policy for harm to third parties.
- Application with flight plan submitted to the Civil Aviation Authority at least 15 business days beforehand.
- The drone shall have a color allowing it to be easily identified in the air.
The kinds of drones that may not fly in Colombia are those weighing over 25 kilograms and those with metal propellers. In addition, it is not permitted to fly near airports, military and police bases, State institutions such as city and provincial government offices, events with crowds of people, and buildings.
The permitted flight distances are:
- Maximum height: 152 meters.
- Minimum height from an object or person: 50 meters.
- Maximum distance traveled: 750 meters.
More information about the permit for filming or taking aereal photographies with drones
Aeronáutica Civil
Avenida El Dorado No. 103-15, Edificio Central Aerocivil
(57+1) 425 1000 – (57+1) 594 8600
Website:
http://www.aerocivil.gov.co/
Permits for filming in Arqueological Parks
Generally speaking, authorization to film, record or take photographs in archaeological areas must be requested from the Head Office of the ICANH (COLOMBIAN INSTITUTE OF ANTHROPOLOGY AND HISTORY) located at Calle 12 No. 2-41 in Bogotá.
The following guidelines should be considered:
- Documentaries or video footage taken for scientific purposes or as a means of promoting the country’s anthropological, archaeological, historical and/or ethnographic heritage are permitted in National Archaeological Parks at no cost. However, the filming process MUST be accompanied and supervised by an ICANH representative whose name will appear in the credits of the documentary or video.
- The request for authorization must be completed at least one month prior to filming. Warning: Questions and requests made via email do not signal the start of this process.
- The filming of non-documentary or audiovisual projects in National Archaeological Parks may be considered, depending on the project and the park in question. A request must be filed with the Head Office of the ICANH, specifying details of the project such as subject matter, script, number of days required inside the park, shooting schedule, number of people on crew, type of equipment (heavy or light), etc. ICANH will study the project to determine viability, costs, obligations and restrictions .
For more information please contact: contactenos@icanh.gov.co
More information about permits for filming in Arqueological Parks
Avenida Calle 12 No. 2-41, La Candelaria, Bogota
(57+1) 444 0544
Website:
https://www.icanh.gov.co/
Use of weapons and explosives
The Ministry of National Defense, through its Department of Control of the Weapons, Ammunition and Explosives Trade (DCCAE), regulates the use of these materials, frequently used as props in audiovisual productions. Hence, any person or company that wants to use them within Colombian territory must have the permits granted by this agency.
Read the complete document here
Website:
https://www.controlarmas.mil.co/
BEST PRACTICES GUIDE
The Colombian Film Commission has produced a Manual of Best Practices to be taken into account when producing audiovisual content in Colombia.
