Meta title: Airbnb Colombia 2026 Regulation: What is Law and What is Bill Meta description: Bill 632 and the MinCIT decree create confusion. We explain which requirements are mandatory today, which are under debate, and how to protect your short-term rental operation in Colombia. Slug: airbnb-colombia-regulation-2026-what-is-law Category: Regulation / Compliance Primary keywords: airbnb colombia regulation 2026, short rental bill 632, mincit airbnb decree Secondary keywords: short rental requirements colombia, horizontal property rnt, colombia tourist housing law Audience: Short-term rental property owners, horizontal property administrations, Airbnb Colombia co-hosts Search intent: Informational / Navigational
If in recent months a flyer about "Bill 632" and Airbnb requirements arrived in your building's WhatsApp group, you're not alone. All of Colombia is confused.
The problem is that this flyer—and many press articles—mix two very different things: what is already mandatory by law today, and what is still just a bill under debate. This confusion is costing thousands of hosts time and money.
This guide clarifies everything, without unnecessary technicalities.
First, the important thing: there are two distinct processes, not one
Before talking about requirements, let's understand what's what:
1. Bill 632 of 2025 (Congress of the Republic) Filed in August 2025 by representative Daniel Carvalho. It seeks to structurally reform tourism in Colombia: territorial regulation, platform control, protection against "touristification" of residential neighborhoods. It is not yet law. It's under debate in Congress.
2. MinCIT's draft decree (December 2025) Published by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism to receive comments until December 17, 2025. It proposes transforming the National Tourism Registry (RNT) from a declarative system to one of administrative pre-verification. It's also not a current decree. Trade associations requested its withdrawal in January 2026.
So, what really applies to you today? Let's see that next.
The 7 flyer requirements: which are law and which aren't
If you received the flyer from your administration, here's what each point actually means:
✅ 1. National Tourism Registry (RNT)
Status: Mandatory today. This requirement comes from Law 2068 of 2020 and Decree 1836 of 2021. If you offer accommodation for less than 30 days through digital platforms (Airbnb, Booking, Vrbo), you are a tourism service provider and must have your active RNT. The process is done virtually through Confecámaras.
Key fact: If your rental is 30 days or more, it doesn't apply as short-term rental and you don't need RNT, TRA or FONTUR. It applies as traditional rental under Law 820 of 2003.
✅ 2. Single Tax Registry (RUT)
Status: Mandatory today. Necessary for any economic activity in Colombia. If you already have an ID and file taxes, you most likely already have your RUT. Make sure it includes economic activity 5519 (Other Types of Accommodation for Visitors).
✅ 3. Foreigner Registry System (SIRE) / TRA
Status: Mandatory today. The Accommodation Registration Card (TRA) is a legal obligation that applies to all tourism service providers. You must register each guest (national and foreign) in the system. Many hosts ignore it; however, sanctions for non-compliance exist and the DIAN cross-references data with Migración Colombia.
✅ 4. Civil Liability Insurance and Basic Coverage
Status: Mandatory today. Colombian tourism regulations require tourist housing providers to have basic civil liability coverage. Although enforcement has been low in practice, the requirement exists.
⚠️ 5. Authorization in Horizontal Property Regulations
Status: Mandatory in theory, DISPUTED in practice. This is the most controversial point and where the most confusion exists.
Current regulations (Law 675 of 2001 + Circular DVT 003 of the Vice Ministry of Tourism) establish that to operate tourist housing in a horizontal property building, the regulations must explicitly authorize the provision of accommodation services. If your regulations remain silent on the matter or simply don't mention it, you're in a gray area.
What the MinCIT decree draft wanted to add: that platforms verify this requirement before publishing a listing. That generated panic about "95% of Airbnb inventory at risk." That decree was not approved.
What to do today? Review your horizontal property regulations. If they expressly prohibit short-term rentals and you continue operating, the administration can fine you. If they remain silent, you're in a gray area with probability of conflict. If you want legal certainty, you need a regulation reform via co-owners assembly.
✅ 6. Code of Conduct for prevention of sexual exploitation of minors (ESNNA)
Status: Mandatory today. This requirement already applies under Colombian tourism regulations. As a tourism service provider you must have and apply a code of conduct for preventing sexual exploitation of children and adolescents.
✅ 7. ESNNA Room Approval Certification
Status: Mandatory today. Complements the previous point. The "ESNNA Room" certification (Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents) is a documented requirement in the RNT registration process through Confecámaras.
Executive summary: status table
| Requirement | Already mandatory? | Risk if not compliant |
|---|---|---|
| RNT | ✅ Yes | SIC fines + platform removal |
| RUT (activity 5519) | ✅ Yes | DIAN sanctions |
| TRA/SIRE | ✅ Yes | Administrative sanctions |
| Basic liability insurance | ✅ Yes | Civil liability without coverage |
| Horizontal property authorization | ⚠️ Gray area | Fine up to 10 quotas/year (art. 59 L.675) |
| ESNNA conduct code | ✅ Yes | Part of RNT |
| ESNNA Room certification | ✅ Yes | Part of RNT |
What about the MinCIT decree that "was going to end Airbnb"?
In December 2025, the Ministry of Commerce published a draft decree proposing:
- Converting RNT from declarative to pre-verification
- Requiring platforms to verify land use and horizontal property regulations before publishing
- Creating the RNT Verification and Control System (Svcrnt)
- Interoperability between chambers of commerce, DIAN, Immigration and city halls
Trade associations (CCIT, AmCham, ALAI, E-commerce Chamber) responded with a formal letter in January 2026 requesting withdrawal of the decree for exceeding regulatory authority and violating freedom of enterprise.
What happened? The decree was not signed on December 18. MinCIT continues technical meetings with the sector. As of March 2026, no decree has been issued.
Will it come back? Yes, in some form. The debate is serious and there's pressure from hotel associations and residential communities. Regulation will come, but more moderate than what the draft proposed.
What should horizontal property administrations do?
If you manage a residential complex or are part of its board of directors, the current situation is:
Review your regulations: If they expressly prohibit short-term rentals, you have the authority to fine according to article 59 of Law 675. If they remain silent, you don't have direct authority for unilateral prohibition.
You cannot prohibit rentals of more than 30 days: Law 820 of 2003 protects the right to traditional rental and cannot be limited by horizontal property regulations.
You can call an assembly: If you want to expressly prohibit short-term rentals in your complex, you need a vote with 70% of co-owner coefficients.
Administrators are legally obligated: To report to the Vice Ministry of Tourism properties operating without authorization or without RNT. Ignoring this also generates liability.
What's coming in 2026?
The regulatory landscape has three active fronts:
Front 1 — Bill 632: Advancing in Congress with emphasis on sustainable tourism, protection of residential neighborhoods and platform control. If approved, it would change the structural framework.
Front 2 — Reformulated MinCIT decree: Technical meetings continue. A more moderate version than December's is likely in 2026.
Front 3 — DIAN and enforcement: Regardless of regulatory debate, DIAN already has its eyes on the sector. Platforms report exogenous information and cross-referencing data with tax returns is real.
Practical recommendation: Get your documents in order now. The host who already has RNT, active TRA, RUT with correct activity and clear situation in their horizontal property has very little to fear from any version of decree that gets issued. Those operating in complete informality face the greatest risk.
Need help getting your operation compliant?
At Digitra we accompany Colombian hosts in the process of formalizing their tourist housing. If you have questions about your RNT, guest registration (TRA/SIRE) or how to structure your operation professionally and compliantly, let's talk.
You can also explore our guides:
- How to get your RNT step by step →
- TRA and SIRE: what they are and how to comply →
- 30+ day rentals: the legal alternative for horizontal property units →
Last updated: March 2026. This article has general informational character. For specific legal advice on your situation, consult a lawyer specialized in Colombian real estate or tourism law.