Santiago Arroyave
Partner and director of the legal department
- Specialist in Business Law
- Specialist in Financial Law, Universidad EAFIT
For foreign founders who live abroad
Legal representative in Colombia: rules, cost and liability
A legal representative in Colombia signs and acts for your company, and every SAS needs at least 1 (Law 1258 of 2008, art. 5).
If you do not live here, a lawyer from our team can take the role for a monthly fee, and the appointment can be changed later.
Handled by Santiago Arroyave, partner and director of the legal departmentReviewed on November 10, 2026
4.8 on Google · 251 reviews
Is this service for you?
Your company can name a person or a company as its legal representative, as its bylaws set out (Law 1258 of 2008, art. 26).
- You live outside Colombia. Your company needs someone here to sign and file for it.
- You want a substitute here. You can be the legal representative yourself and name us as your substitute (suplente) for when you are away.
- You are hiring your own representative. You need someone in the role until that person starts.
- Your group runs companies in Colombia. You want a law firm to hold the role.
- You need a lawyer in a lawsuit. Court and administrative proceedings are a separate service, quoted on their own.
- We review your company first. We take the role only after checking its activity and the risks it carries, and we can decline it.
4 steps to make us your legal representative
Once the shareholders' decision is signed, the registration takes about 3 business days.
If your company is still being formed, we are named in its formation document.
We review your company
We check its activity and the powers its bylaws give the legal representative.
If something does not fit, we tell you before we accept.
Your shareholders appoint us
The appointment follows your bylaws.
If they say nothing, your shareholders' meeting or sole shareholder makes it.
We register the appointment
We file it with the Chamber of Commerce.
Your company's certificate of existence and legal representation then shows our lawyer in the role.
We act for your company
We sign and file what your company needs, after we validate it and within its bylaws.
Your business decisions stay with you, but we do not sign anything that breaks the law or puts the company or the role at risk.
Choose your package
3 levels of backing, from formal representation to a full legal back office.
Core package
Formal representation: a lawyer in the role, signing and filing for your company.
Monthly feeCOP 1,750,905
about USD 530 · a month + VAT
Ask about the core packageIncludes
- A lawyer from our team, registered in the role
- Signing your company's documents, after we validate themNo in-depth review or corrections: those are in the review package
- Filings with the Chamber of Commerce and the DIAN
- Formal requests from the authorities
Review package
The core package plus a legal review before signing, and support with key procedures.
Monthly feeCOP 4,377,263
about USD 1,330 · a month + VAT
Ask about the review packageEverything in Core, plus:
- Legal review before signingOf the documents that matter
- Support with key proceduresSuch as opening a bank account or updates before the authorities
- Coordination with your accountant or auditors
- Meetings as legal representative, when needed
Most complete
Full package
The review package plus a seat in your strategic decisions: a full legal back office.
Monthly feeCOP 7,003,620
about USD 2,120 · a month + VAT
Ask about the full packageEverything in Review, plus:
- Your company's strategic decisions
- Key contracts, drafted and reviewed
- Compliance oversightCorporate, labor, commercial and data protection
- Follow-up of legal proceedingsLitigation fees are quoted separately
Lawsuits and administrative proceedings are quoted separately in every package.
You may also need
Services founders add while we hold the role.
A case we see often
- The appointment
A foreign founder named himself his company's only legal representative.
He did not name anyone in Colombia who could act for the company.
- The trip
Then he left Colombia, with no plans to come back soon.
Meanwhile, the company had to sign a lease and a contract.
- The delay
Only he could sign, so every option was slow.
Flying back, or signing a power of attorney abroad and sending it: either way, the signature was delayed.
Your company needs someone in Colombia who can sign when you are away.
Will you run your company from abroad? Write to us, and we take the role or act as your substitute. →
What a legal representative answers for
Whoever holds the role is an administrator of your company, and the law sets their duties (Law 222 of 1995, arts. 22 and 23).
- Good faith and loyalty: acting in your company's interest, with the care of a good businessperson.
- The law and the bylaws: making sure your company complies with both.
- Tax duties: carrying out your company's formal duties with the DIAN (Tax Statute, art. 572).
- Liability: answering for harm caused by intent or fault, to the company, its shareholders or third parties (Commercial Code, art. 200).
That is why we validate each document before signing it, within the powers its bylaws give the role, and we do not sign anything that breaks the law or puts the company or the role at risk.
What we need from you to start
Send what you have. With it, we tell you what the role will involve for your company.
- The certificate of existence and legal representation, if the company already exists
- Its bylaws, or the draft if it is being formed
- Who the shareholders are
- What the company does, and whether it already operates
- Whether it already has a bank account and an accountant
- Whether you plan to name your own representative later
Questions founders ask us about the legal representative
Does the legal representative have to be Colombian or live in Colombia?
For an SAS, the law does not say so: the role goes to a person or a company, named as the bylaws say (Law 1258 of 2008, art. 26).
The exception is a foreign company's branch whose business is a public service or an activity of interest for national security: there, the representative and the alternates have to be Colombian citizens (Commercial Code, art. 473).
A foreigner can hold the role, even without a Colombian ID.
Can I be my own company's legal representative from abroad?
Yes, the law allows it.
What changes is the day-to-day: your company's procedures can need the representative's signature, forms or presence in Colombia.
That is where a representative here saves you trips.
Will a Colombian legal representative get my company a bank account?
It can help, but the bank decides.
Each bank sets its own requirements for a company account, and some ask the representative to sign in person, in Colombia.
We go through the process with you until the bank answers.
Is the fee monthly, even if my company is not operating yet?
Yes. It is a monthly fee for holding the role, and it runs while the appointment is registered, whether or not your company operates.
The core package costs 1 minimum wage a month + VAT, COP 1,750,905 in 2026; the other packages cost more minimum wages, depending on what they include.
To end it, you give us 1 month's written notice.
Can I replace you later?
Yes. Your shareholders can revoke the appointment at any time (Commercial Code, art. 198).
Until the new appointment is registered with the Chamber of Commerce, the registered representative keeps the role (Commercial Code, art. 164).
We file the change for you.
Can I limit what the legal representative can sign?
Yes. Your bylaws set the representative's powers (Law 1258 of 2008, art. 26).
A limit binds third parties only if it is in the bylaws registered with the Chamber of Commerce (Commercial Code, art. 196).
We review your bylaws before we accept the role.
Can my company have an alternate legal representative?
Yes. Your bylaws set your company's structure freely (Law 1258 of 2008, art. 17), and they can name an alternate.
An alternate acts when the principal cannot.
We can take either role: the principal, or the alternate while you stay as principal.
Don't see your case?
Tell us about it. In a free 15-minute call, we assess it and send you a proposal.
In-depth questions? 1-hour consultation: COP 400,000 (about USD 121).Outside what we do? We refer you to someone who does.
Who handles your case
The role is held by a lawyer from the firm's legal area, led by Santiago Arroyave.
- 3partners lead the legal, tax and immigration areas
- 22professionals in corporate, private, employment, intellectual property, immigration and tax law
- Medellínour own office
What our clients say
4.8
Based on 251 reviews
Google
Maria Isabel SNovember 12, 2026
Great human quality, the team was always there to solve all my questions. 100% recommend it
Nikola Tarasiuk CorreaOctober 26, 2026
Great service! Tomás who was taking care of my case was very responsive and helpful with every step of the process. Highly recommended :)
Kent MennemSeptember 17, 2026
Nexo Legal provides great services. They are extremely responsive and efficient! Highly recommended.
Joshua HarrisSeptember 14, 2026
They have been super helpful with me through multiple rounds of figuring out my visa and paying taxes. Nexo is who I go to for all my legal needs
Ken KanouseSeptember 6, 2026
I have used Nexo Legal for filing mine and my wife's Colombian income taxes the past 3 years. While I am retired and Colombia doesn't tax my retirement income, the filing still needs to be done. Each year the tax accountant requests the necessary information early so they can be filed accurately on time. They are very easy to work with, and I'd recommend using them for all you accounting and legal needs.
Chris HumphreyAugust 20, 2026
I’ve trusted Tomas and Nexo team on multiple visa applications and would highly recommend them when considering your next legal needs
daniela sanchezAugust 4, 2026
Great experience atty Tomas was very helpful in walking me through every step of the way and keeping me calm and stress free . I would highly recommend this firm with my eyes closed 🙂
Mark HarringtonJuly 31, 2026
Tomas handled my wife's visa application very professionally and was always available to address any questions or issues. Five stars
Arthur WalstonJuly 29, 2026
This was my first time working with The Nexo Firm. I have nothing but high regards for this Firm and specially for Tomas Restrepo. Tomas helped me with my visa process and communicated with me on the progress from start to finish. Plus, his English is very good so there is no language barrier. So, if your traveling aboard and you need help with the visa process, I highly recommend The Nexo Firm and Tomas Restrepo!
Shivaya GuraveJuly 22, 2026
Camila recently helped me obtain my RUT tax registration then did the necessary paperwork and filed my Colombian tax for 2025. Fast, reasonable price, in flawless English. I highly recommend her and Nexo Legal.
nicca louisJuly 7, 2026
All the way from NJ, USA this firm helped me revolve matters in Columbia so fast! I'm appreciative and glad I got the chance to work with them because I would still be fighting this legal battle if I did it on my own!
LilyJuly 6, 2026
Camila was a great accountant to work with and made filing taxes in Colombia as a digital nomad super easy! Thank you
See all 251 reviews on Google →
Client stories on video
What will happen after you fill out this form?
After you send the form, our team reviews your case and a specialist contacts you, usually within the hour during business hours, to clarify details and outline the next steps.
Nexo Legal is a private law and accounting firm, not a government office or a bank. Appointments are registered by the Chamber of Commerce, each bank decides on its accounts, and no lawyer can guarantee the outcome.