If your company plans to sell products or services in Colombia — or simply wants to prevent squatters from taking its brand — registering your trademark before the Colombian Trademark Office (Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio, SIC) is essential. Here is what foreign companies and individuals need to know.

Can foreigners register a trademark in Colombia?

Yes. There is no residency or citizenship requirement. A foreign company or individual can own a Colombian trademark; you simply need a local attorney acting under a power of attorney — no travel, and in most cases no legalization or apostille is required.

Colombia is a first-to-file country

Rights belong to whoever files first, not to whoever used the brand first. If you are entering the Colombian market, filing early is the single most important protective step. Waiting often means negotiating with — or litigating against — someone who registered your own brand before you.

Two ways to file

• National filing before the SIC: direct, usually the fastest and most cost-effective route for Colombia alone.
• Madrid Protocol designation: if you already have an international registration, you can designate Colombia. Local counsel is still key when office actions or oppositions arise — these are handled in Spanish under Colombian procedure.

Timeline and protection

A smooth application is typically decided in 6 to 8 months. Registration grants exclusive rights for 10 years, renewable indefinitely, and is the legal basis to stop infringers, recover domain names and license your brand in Colombia.

How we help international clients

Adalet Legal has handled over 2,000 trademark filings before the SIC over 20+ years. We handle clearance searches, filing, office actions, oppositions and appeals — entirely remotely, reporting to you in English or Spanish.

Learn more on our Trademark Registration in Colombia page.