The Structure
One SAS per yacht — your own Colombian company
Each buyer owns an independent Colombian SAS with the yacht as its primary asset. Clean ownership, isolated liability, full visa eligibility — and a turnkey charter operation managed by Yates Cartagena.
Why one SAS per yacht works
Each investor owns their own company — no shared liability with other buyers
FDI registered cleanly at Banco de la República — one investor, one vessel
Charter revenue flows into the SAS — transparent accounting and profit distribution
Clean exit: sell the SAS shares or the vessel when ready
Yates Cartagena manages operations, crew, maintenance and charter bookings
What Yates Cartagena provides
SAS formation and registration at Cámara de Comercio
FDI registration support at Banco de la República
DIMAR registration and maritime compliance
Certified captain, crew and onboard service management
Charter booking, revenue reporting and CPA accounting
Visa M application guidance alongside immigration lawyer
Fractional Ownership
Multiple investors. One yacht. Each qualifies for residency.
Not ready to purchase a full yacht? Fractional ownership lets multiple foreign investors co-own a single SAS — each holding enough shares to independently qualify for a Visa M from as little as $35,000 USD.
Example: $1.5M yacht — 4 investors
Yacht value$1,500,000 USD
Number of investors4 shareholders
Investment per person$375,000 USD
Minimum to qualify for Visa M100 SMMLV ≈ $35K
Each investor qualifies?Yes — independently
Visas issued4 Visa M + family beneficiaries
How fractional ownership works
One SAS is formed to own the yacht
Each investor wires their portion from abroad — declared as FDI
Each shareholder applies independently for their own Visa M
Reserved sailing days allocated per ownership percentage
Charter income distributed proportionally each quarter
CPA-managed accounts — full transparency on returns
Visa Routes
Two ways to qualify
A yacht in your own name does not qualify — structuring it through an active Colombian SAS does. Choose the route that fits your investment.
Recommended
Visa M — Socio / Propietario
Wire capital into an active Colombian SAS
Minimum threshold
100 SMMLV ≈ $35,000 USD
100 SMMLV ≈ $35,000 USD
Wire funds from abroad as FDI via Formulario 4
SAS acquires and operates the yacht as a charter asset
Company must be active — revenue, taxes, real operations
Banco de la República issues FDI certificate
Lowest threshold — easily met given yacht value
Visa M — Inversionista (FDI)
Contribute the vessel as capital in kind to the SAS
Minimum threshold
650 SMMLV ≈ $230,000 USD
650 SMMLV ≈ $230,000 USD
Yacht contributed as tangible asset (aporte en especie)
Vessel must be formally nationalized through DIAN first
Investment directly tied to the vessel itself
Higher threshold — met by most yacht values
Stronger paper trail for visa renewals
Roadmap
6 steps from purchase to residency
From company formation to Visa M approval typically takes 6–10 weeks.
1
Form a Colombian SAS
Register at Cámara de Comercio. Foreign investor holds shares. Company domiciled in Colombia.
2
Wire funds from abroad
Capital transferred from overseas, declared as FDI via Formulario 4 at Banco de la República.
3
Acquire the yacht
SAS purchases and nationalises the vessel. Banco de la República issues the FDI certificate.
4
Apply for Visa M
Submit via Cancillería SITAC: FDI certificate + Cámara de Comercio + passport + health coverage.
5
Renew every 1–3 years
Maintain investment and company activity. No absence exceeding 6 consecutive months.
6
Permanent residency
After 5 years as Visa M holder with correct time accumulation → apply for Visa R.
Tax Comparison
San Andrés free port vs. Cartagena — on a $2.5M yacht
San Andrés operates as a Puerto Libre under Decree 1165/2019 Art. 507. Vessels nationalized there pay zero customs duties — only a small local consumption tax.
Cartagena — mainland
Standard DIAN import regime
Arancel 20% on CIF$515,000
IVA 19% on CIF + arancel$573,175
Impuesto al Consumo 19%$475,000
Total at nationalization$1,563,175
San Andrés — free port
Puerto Libre — Decree 1165/2019
Arancel$0 — exempt
IVA$0 — exempt
Impuesto al Consumo$0 — exempt
Local consumption tax ~2%$50,000
Total at nationalization$50,000
Total upfront saving via San Andrés
$1,513,175 USD
$1,513,175 USD
San Andrés Registration
Pros and cons at a glance
The free port benefit is real — but it applies to vessels genuinely based and operating from San Andrés.
Advantages
+Zero import duty — 20% arancel completely waived
+Zero IVA at importation — 19% exemption
+Zero national Impuesto al Consumo — 19% exemption
+Annual vessel tax base at 45% of appraised value
+Only ~2% local consumption tax payable
+26 yachts already registered — established practice
Risks and limitations
–Exemption designed for vessels based in San Andrés
–Cartagena-based ops may trigger DIAN duties on mainland entry
–Foreign-flagged yachts must complete cambio de bandera first
–Cannot recover duties already paid through Cartagena
–Requires specialist maritime customs lawyer
–In-person process at San Andrés DIAN and DIMAR required
Once the visa is in hand
What your family can do in Colombia
The Visa M holder and all beneficiaries enjoy full legal status in Colombia from day one.
— Live in Colombia indefinitely with full legal status
— Enroll children in Colombian schools and universities
— Access Colombia’s healthcare system
— Open personal bank accounts (Bancolombia, BBVA)
— Drive with a foreign license and obtain a Colombian one
— Enter and exit Colombia without any tourist restrictions
— Accumulate the 5-year clock toward permanent residency
— Obtain Cédula de Extranjería within 15 days of first entry
— Qualify for Visa R alongside the title holder at Year 5
— Spouse and children under 25 receive beneficiary visa automatically
Family Visa
Who is included
The Visa M holder's immediate family receives a Visa V beneficiary automatically — no separate investment required.
Included — Visa de Beneficiario M
+Spouse / civil partner — enter and exit freely, no tourist limits
+Children under 25 — live, study and travel freely in Colombia
+Children 25+ with certified disability — full residency rights
+All beneficiaries accumulate time toward permanent residency at Year 5
Not included — must apply independently
–Buyer’s own parents — Pensioner Visa (M) or Long-stay Visitor (V)
–Spouse’s parents (in-laws) — removed under Resolution 5477/2022
–Siblings and other relatives — no beneficiary pathway
–Children 25+ without certified disability — must apply independently
Banking
Open your Colombian bank account
Once your visa and Cédula de Extranjería are in hand, opening a Colombian bank account is straightforward — for both you personally and for your SAS company.
As a Natural Person
— Valid visa + Cédula de Extranjería required
— Alternative: RUT from DIAN if property already purchased
— Proof of Colombian address (lease or utility bill)
— 6 months of bank statements — proof of fund origin
— In-person visit to branch required
— Best banks: Bancolombia, BBVA Colombia
— Mobile banking available immediately after opening
As a Legal Entity
— SAS registered at Cámara de Comercio + NIT from DIAN
— RUT registration required before account opening
— FDI registered with Banco de la República
— Legal representative must have valid visa and cédula
— Certified financial statements (Colombian CPA)
— UBO (Ultimate Beneficial Owner) disclosure required
— In-person meeting required — legal rep must attend
!
Tax residency note: Investors staying more than 183 days per calendar year in Colombia become Colombian tax residents and must declare worldwide income to DIAN. This applies regardless of nationality. Americans are also subject to US worldwide taxation — there is no tax treaty between Colombia and the United States. Always consult a qualified tax advisor in your home country before establishing Colombian residency.