Compliance guides
Messaging Compliance in Colombia
SMS, WhatsApp, voice and RCS rules for businesses messaging customers in Colombia.
Overview
Commercial messages in Colombia require prior, express and informed consent under Law 1581 of 2012, enforced by the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce (SIC). Law 2300 of 2023 also limits marketing and collection contacts to set daytime hours on weekdays and Saturdays, never on Sundays or public holidays, and restricts how often consumers can be contacted.
Law 1581 of 2012 and its decrees require a data processing policy, authorisation from the data subject and, for larger companies, registration of databases with the SIC.
Spanish is the search language and Google is dominant; WhatsApp is the everyday messaging app for most consumers and businesses.
WhatsApp is a major business channel in much of Latin America, while in the US and Canada it is used alongside SMS. Consent and data protection laws in each country apply to WhatsApp marketing.
Automated and prerecorded calls are tightly regulated in the US (TCPA and the National Do Not Call Registry) and Canada (CRTC Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules), and other countries in the region have their own registers and rules.
Advertising Rules
Advertising follows the Consumer Statute (Law 1480 of 2011), and the SIC's guide on influencer marketing requires clear disclosure of paid content.
Guides by Channel
SMS in Colombia
Commercial messages in Colombia require prior, express and informed consent under Law 1581 of 2012, enforced by the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce (SIC).
Read the guide →WhatsApp in Colombia
WhatsApp Business API campaigns to customers in Colombia need opt-in consent under Law 1581 of 2012 and Law 2300 of 2023, in addition to Meta's business and commerce policies..
Read the guide →Voice Call in Colombia
Marketing calls must respect the national do-not-call register (Registro de Números Excluidos) run by the Communications Regulation Commission (CRC), as well as the contact-hour limits of Law 2300 of 2023..
Read the guide →RCS in Colombia
RCS business messaging availability in Colombia depends on operator and device support, so we confirm coverage before planning campaigns and keep SMS as a fallback; the same consent rules that apply to SMS apply to RCS..
Read the guide →Digital Habits and Channels in Colombia
Colombia is a WhatsApp-first market where customers expect to contact businesses by chat, and Instagram, Facebook and TikTok drive discovery. Colombian rules on commercial messages, overseen by the CRC and the SIC, limit marketing contact to reasonable hours and require an easy opt-out.
Nequi and Daviplata wallets, PSE bank transfers and cards are common payment methods. Mother's Day in May, the mid-year and December bonuses (prima), Black Friday and Christmas season with novenas shape demand.
Colombia's economy includes oil and coal, coffee, cut flowers, bananas and a growing services and software sector in Bogotá and Medellín. VAT (IVA) is 19%, and prices are in Colombian pesos. Law 1581 of 2012 on personal data requires prior consent for marketing, supervised by the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce (SIC), and Law 2300 of 2023 limits collection messages and restricts contact to weekdays and Saturday daytime hours. Claro, Movistar and Tigo are the main mobile operators.
Regulators, Registers and Practical Rules in Colombia
Colombia's SIC enforces Law 1581 and Law 2300 of 2023 limits contact hours.
The CRC runs the Registro de Números Excluidos.
Colombia's CRC has also set rules for SMS short codes and requires a clear opt-out. Claro, Movistar and Tigo are the operators, and WhatsApp is the main customer service channel.
In practice, Law 2300 means marketing contacts must stay within the allowed days and hours and be limited to one contact per week through each channel.
General guidance, not legal advice. Check current rules with the regulator or a local adviser before launch.
Practical Details
Country code +57; time zone America/Bogota; currency Colombian peso (COP). Usual working week: Monday to Friday.
Cities we cover in Colombia
General information, not legal advice, as of October 2026.
Compliance in Colombia: FAQs
Which messaging channels need registration in Colombia?
It depends on the channel. Sender IDs for SMS often need registration with operators or the regulator, WhatsApp requires a verified business account and approved templates, and RCS needs brand verification. Each channel guide explains the details.
Does data protection law apply to messaging in Colombia?
Law 1581 of 2012 and its decrees require a data processing policy, authorisation from the data subject and, for larger companies, registration of databases with the SIC.
Is this legal advice?
No. These guides are general information. For significant campaigns, take advice from a local lawyer.
Plan Compliant Campaigns in Colombia
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