Santiago Arroyave
Partner and director of the legal department
- Specialist in Business Law
- Specialist in Financial Law, Universidad EAFIT
For owners renting to tourists
RNT in Colombia: register your Airbnb or tourist rental
You need the RNT (Registro Nacional de Turismo) to rent to tourists for less than 30 days (Law 2068 of 2020).
Without it, Airbnb has to take your listing down.
We register it for you.
Handled by Santiago Arroyave, partner and director of the legal departmentReviewed on November 10, 2026
4.8 on Google · 251 reviewsImmigration, tax and real estate under one roofOffice in El Poblado, Medellín
Is this service for you?
Colombian law calls this tourist housing (vivienda turística), whether you rent as a person or through a company (Law 2068 of 2020, art. 37).
- You want to list your property for short stays. On Airbnb, Booking or any other platform.
- You are buying to rent it out. We check whether the building allows short stays before you buy.
- You already rent it out without an RNT. Your listing can be taken down, and an inspection can stop the rental.
- You have more than 1 property. Each one is registered separately (Decree 1074 of 2015, art. 2.2.4.1.2.2).
- You rent for 30 days or more. A regular lease does not need the RNT.
4 steps to your RNT
Once we file, the chamber of commerce has 5 days to register your property or return the application with its reasons (Decree 1074 of 2015, art. 2.2.4.1.1.5).
We check your property
We confirm it can be rented short-term before you list it.
We confirm your tax ID
We register you with your Colombian tax ID (RUT), as a person or through your company.
If you do not have one yet, let us know and we can get it for you as an additional service.
We file your application
We fill out the RNT form with the chamber of commerce, one for each property.
If the chamber returns it, we correct it and file it again.
We hand you your RNT number
The chamber of commerce issues your RNT certificate with its number.
That number goes on your listing and in your ads.
You may also need
Services owners add to the RNT.
A case from Medellín
- The rental
An owner rented out his apartment in Medellín for short stays, through his company, without an RNT.
As far as he knew, his building's rules did not allow short stays.
- The inspection
The police came to the apartment and issued a ticket (comparendo).
It suspended the rental for 9 days and came with a fine.
- The outcome
He paid the fine.
Later, he moved the apartment to a long-term lease.
Renting short-term takes more than an RNT. We check that your property can do it before you list it.
Are you about to list your property? Write to us before you register your property, and we review it with you. →
What we check before registering
Before filing, we check what could stop your registration, or your rental later.
- Your building's rules: whether they allow tourist rentals in the units (Decree 1074 of 2015, art. 2.2.4.1.2.2, num. 8).
- Who rents it out: you as a person or your company, and the registrations each one needs.
- Where the property is: in some areas, such as the islands of Cartagena, the chamber of commerce first checks land use with the city (art. 2.2.4.1.2.4).
- Each property: one registration per property, even if they have the same owner.
What we need from you to start
Send what you have. With it, we tell you whether your property can be registered.
- The address of the property
- Your building's rules, if it is in a building
- Your passport, or your company's certificate
- Your RUT, if you already have one
- Whether you will manage the rental yourself or through a property manager
Questions owners ask us about the RNT
Do I need an RNT for Airbnb in Colombia?
Yes, if you rent it out for less than 30 days at a time: that makes you a tourist housing provider (Law 2068 of 2020, art. 37).
You have to register before you take the first booking (art. 3, num. 7).
For stays of 30 days or more, a regular lease does not need it.
Can a foreigner get an RNT?
Yes. The law applies to people and companies, whether they live in Colombia or abroad (Law 2068 of 2020, art. 3, num. 7).
If you are not registered as a merchant, you register with your name and your Colombian tax ID, the RUT (Decree 1074 of 2015, art. 2.2.4.1.1.8).
Will Airbnb take down my listing without an RNT?
Platforms have to give you a place to show your RNT number, and to remove or not publish listings without an active RNT (Law 2068 of 2020, art. 38).
Your RNT number also has to appear in your ads (Decree 1074 of 2015, art. 2.2.4.1.1.11).
What happens if I rent without an RNT?
The Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC) can sanction you for renting without it (Law 300 of 1996, art. 61).
It can also ask the city to close the rental right away, until you register.
Does my building have to allow short-term rentals?
Yes. If the property is in a building, you declare when you register that the building's rules allow tourist rentals in the units (Decree 1074 of 2015, art. 2.2.4.1.2.2, num. 8).
Does the RNT expire?
You renew it every year between January 1 and March 31, whatever the date you registered (Decree 1074 of 2015, art. 2.2.4.1.3.1).
If you miss that window, it is suspended automatically, and you cannot rent until you renew (art. 2.2.4.1.3.2).
Reactivating it costs COP 1,750,905, 1 minimum wage (Law 300 of 1996, art. 61).
Do I pay taxes on my Airbnb income in Colombia?
The rent is income, and it can make you file taxes in Colombia. Taxes for foreigners →
As a tourist housing provider, you also pay the tourism contribution, of 0.25% (Law 2068 of 2020, art. 36).
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.
RNT costs, besides our fees
Set by law and paid to the government, not to Nexo Legal.
Registering
Paid to the chamber of commerce and the National Tourism Fund
- RNT registrationDecree 1074 of 2015, art. 2.2.4.1.2.1 · Nov 12, 2026No cost
- Reactivating an RNT suspended for a missed renewal (1 minimum wage in 2026)Law 300 of 1996, art. 61 · Nov 12, 2026COP 1,750,905about USD 530
Once you rent it out
Percent of your rental income
- Tourism contribution, paid to the National Tourism Fund (FONTUR)Law 2068 of 2020, art. 36, as amended by Law 2294 of 2023 · Nov 12, 20260.25%
The law sets it at 2.5 per thousand of your income from the rental.You cannot add it to your guests' price.
Your proposal adds them up for your case, together with our fees.
Who handles your case
Your registration is handled by 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 chamber of commerce or a government office. The RNT is issued by the chamber of commerce, and no lawyer can guarantee that a property or a building qualifies.