WIPO - PCT Applicant's Guide CO - Colombia
Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (Colombia)

Applicable as from 13 March 2025
(published on 13 March 2025)

Summary of latest changes in this version
Useful information: Useful information
GENERAL INFO: Contact details, Payment methods, RO Competency
RO: RO fees (with effect since 26 March 2024), Electronic filing, Incorporation by reference, Color Drawings
Summary of requirements for entry into the national phase: Restoration of the right of priority, Reinstatement of rights, National fees (with effect since 26 March 2024)
The procedure in the national Phase: Various
Annexes: Various

Consult the full list of the changes

Previous version(s): You can consult previous versions of the document. The only applicable version is the current version.
15 Sep 2023, Current Version

Useful information

The PCT Applicant’s Guide is updated almost every week with information received by the International Bureau.
In case of question, please contact the Office or the International Bureau: pct.guide@wipo.int.
List of abbreviations used in this document:
Office: Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (Colombia)
CAN Decision 486: Decision 486 of the Commission of the Andean Community
CCo: Code of Commerce, Decree 410 of 1971 and Decree 1074 of 2015
UC: Unique Circular of the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC), Title X
List of currencies used in this document:
CHF (Swiss franc), COP (Colombian peso)
Countries and Offices information:
The list of acronyms used for Offices is no longer shown as it has been integrated in the mouseover functionality for each ST.3 code shown in this document.
Refer to List of WIPO Standards, Recommendations and Guidelines formerly Annex K, List of country names and two-letter codes. It includes a list of short names and two-letter codes accepted for use in indicating States, other entities and intergovernmental organizations and their Offices in documents relating to international applications under the PCT. The list is as set out in WIPO Standard ST.3.
Also refer to PCT Contracting States formerly Annex A.
Office profile
For more technical information about the Office, refer to ePCT Office profile.
PCT Reservations, Declarations, Notifications and Incompatibilities
Rule 26bis.3(j), Rule 49ter.1(g), Rule 49ter.2(h)
Refer to the full list.
Office Closed dates
The Office is closed weekly on Saturday and Sunday
Additional closed dates can be consulted on the Office Closed dates page

International Phase

Annex B - Information on Contracting States or Intergovernmental Organization

Contracting State:
Colombia
Two-letter code:
CO
Colombia - Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (Colombia)
Name of Office:
Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (Colombia)
Location:
Av. Carrera 13 No. 27-00, Piso 3
Bogotá
D.C.
Colombia
Correspondence and filing service:
Av. Carrera 7 Nos. 31a - 36, Piso 3
Bogotá
D.C.
Colombia
Mailing address:
Same as above
Telephone:
(57-601) 587 00 00
E-mail:
general enquiries
dirnuecreaciones@sic.gov.co
enquiries concerning ePCT
ePCT@sic.gov.co
Website:
Facsimile:
None
Does the Office accept the filing of documents by facsimile or the like means (PCT Rule 92.4)?
No
Would the Office accept evidence of mailing a document, in case of loss or delay, where a delivery service other than the postal authorities is used (PCT Rule 82.1)?
Yes, provided that the delivery service is:
DHL, 
DEPRISA, 
4-72
Is the Office prepared to allow applicants to make applications available to the WIPO Digital Access Service for Priority Documents (DAS) (PCT Rule 17.1(b-bis)?
Yes, the Office is prepared to allow applicants to make international and national applications available to the WIPO DAS
Competent receiving Office(s) for international applications filed by nationals or residents of this State:
CO
Colombia - Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (Colombia)
, 
IB
International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) - International Bureau of WIPO
Does national legislation restrict the filing of international applications with foreign Offices?
No
Competent designated (or elected) Office(s) for this State:
Refer to corresponding National Phase.
CO
Colombia - Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (Colombia)
Types of protection available via the PCT:
Patents, 
Utility models (a utility model may be sought instead of a patent)
Payment methods accepted by the Office:
Online payment:
The following online payment options are available:
1. Bank debit payment through PSE:
Users can make payments by debiting the amount of the fees from their bank account through PSE. To avoid rejection of the transaction, users should verify the authorized amounts in the bank where the money will be debited, as well as the number of authorized transactions per day.
2. Payment by credit card:
Payment may be made by VISA and MasterCard. It should be noted that the applicant shall assume the cost of the commission charged by the franchises that issue the cards. The amount is indicated by the system at the time of payment.
3. Payment by voucher:
This method allows the payment of fees at a bank, while benefiting from the discounts applied to online filings. If the user wishes to make use of this payment method, at the time of filing, the user must select the "pago por cupón" (payment by voucher) option and click on the "continuar con el pago" (continue with payment) button. The user must fill in the data of the payer and select the option "pago por cupón" (payment by voucher). The system will download the payment voucher and, with this document, the user can make the payment at the bank of his/her choice. Once the payment has been applied and verified, the transaction is registered in the system.
Payment in person at the bank:
For a payment in person, the applicant or his representative can make the deposit at any preferred bank to the following account:
Current Account
Banco de Bogotá No. 062-75438-7
Account holder
Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (Colombia)
Identification: NIT 800.176.089-2.
Once the transfer has been made, the payment voucher must be sent to the Documentary Management office (oficina de Gestión Documental), so that it can be exchanged for an official cash receipt from the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce.
The official cash receipt must be submitted to the Documentary Management Office, or through the mail contactenos@sic.gov.co, accompanied by a memorandum indicating the number of the procedure to which the payment should be linked.
Availability under the national law for an international-type search (PCT Article 15):
None
Provisional protection after international publication:
None
Information of interest if this Contracting State is designated (or elected)
Time when the name and address of the inventor must be given:
May be in the request or may be furnished later. If not already complied with within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1)(a), the Office will invite the applicant to comply with the requirement within a time limit fixed in the invitation
Are there special provisions concerning the deposit of microorganisms and other biological material?
Yes, refer to Annex L.

Annex C - Receiving Office

Competent receiving Office for nationals and residents of:
Colombia
Language in which international applications may be filed:
Depending on the applicant’s choice of competent International Searching Authority, a translation into a corresponding language (refer to Annex D) may have to be furnished by the applicant (PCT Rule 12.3).
Spanish
Language accepted for language-dependent free text in the sequence listing:
The Office has not specifically notified the International Bureau of the language that it accepts under PCT Rule 12.1(d).
Same as above
Language in which the request may be filed:
Spanish
Number of copies required by the receiving Office if application filed on paper:
2
Does the receiving Office accept the filing of international applications in electronic form?
Where the international application is filed in electronic form in accordance with and to the extent provided for in Part 7 and Annex F of the Administrative Instructions, the total amount of the international filing fee is reduced (refer to “Fees payable to the RO”).
Where the international application contains a sequence listing as a separate part of the description, this should be furnished in accordance with Annex C of the Administrative Instructions, that is, in compliance with WIPO Standard ST.26 XML format; no fees are due for sequence listings filed in this format. If the receiving Office does not accept international applications in electronic form in such format, the international application will be transmitted to the International Bureau as receiving Office (PCT Rule 19.4(a)(ii-bis)).
For the relevant notification by the Office, refer to the Official Notices (PCT Gazette) dated 19 November 2015, pages 184 et seq.
Yes, the Office accepts electronic filing via ePCT-Filing
Does the receiving Office accept the submission of pre-conversion documents and, if yes, in which format (Section 706 of the PCT Administrative Instructions)?
Yes, any format
Does the receiving Office accept incorporation by reference (PCT Rule 20.6)?
Yes
Does the receiving Office accept the submission of color drawings on an informal basis and transmit them to the International Bureau?
Yes
Does the receiving Office accept requests for restoration of the right of priority (PCT Rule 26bis.3)?
No
Competent International Searching Authority:
AT
Austria - Austrian Patent Office
, 
BR
Brazil - National Institute of Industrial Property (Brazil)
, 
CL
Chile - National Institute of Industrial Property (Chile)
, 
EP
European Patent Organisation - European Patent Office (EPO)
, 
ES
Spain - Spanish Patent and Trademark Office
, 
KR
Republic of Korea - Korean Intellectual Property Office
, 
RU
Russian Federation - Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) (Russian Federation)
Competent International Preliminary Examining Authority:
AT
Austria - Austrian Patent Office
, 
BR
Brazil - National Institute of Industrial Property (Brazil)
, 
ES
Spain - Spanish Patent and Trademark Office
, 
KR
Republic of Korea - Korean Intellectual Property Office
, 
RU
Russian Federation - Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) (Russian Federation)

CL
Chile - National Institute of Industrial Property (Chile)
The Office is competent only if the international search is or has been carried out by that Office.
EP
European Patent Organisation - European Patent Office (EPO)
The Office is competent only if the international search is or has been carried out by that Office, by the Austrian Patent Office or by the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office.
Fees payable to the RO:
Transmittal fee:
electronic filing 326,000 COP
paper filing 431,000 COP
International filing fee:
This fee is reduced by 90% if certain conditions apply (refer to Annex C(IB)).
Equivalent in COP of 1,330 CHF
Fee per sheet in excess of 30:
This fee is reduced by 90% if certain conditions apply (refer to Annex C(IB)).
Equivalent in COP of 15 CHF
Reductions (under Schedule of Fees, item 4):
Electronic filing (the request in character coded format):
Equivalent in COP of 200 CHF
Electronic filing (the request, description, claims and abstract in character coded format):
Equivalent in COP of 300 CHF
Search fee:
Refer to
Annex D(AT)
Annex D(BR)
Annex D(CL)
Annex D(EP)
Annex D(ES)
Annex D(KR)
Annex D(RU)
Fee for priority document (PCT Rule 17.1(b)):
Please refer to the Office
Is an agent required by the receiving Office?
No, if the applicant resides in Colombia
Yes, if the applicant is a non-resident
Who can act as agent?
Any attorney registered in Colombia
Waiver of power of attorney:
Has the Office waived the requirement that a separate power of attorney be submitted?
Refer to the Office
Has the Office waived the requirement that a copy of a general power of attorney be submitted?
Refer to the Office

Annex L - Deposits of Microorganisms and Other Biological Material

Requirements of designated and elected Offices
Only Offices whose applicable national law contains provisions concerning the deposits of microorganisms and other biological material are listed in Annex L. Unless otherwise indicated, deposits may be made for the purposes of patent procedure before these Offices with any depositary institution having acquired the status of international depositary authority under the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure.
For a list of these institutions refer to:
http://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/registration/budapest/pdf/idalist.pdf (and the detailed requirements for each institution at: https://www.wipo.int/budapest/en/guide/section_d/subsection_c.html)
Notifications related thereto may be consulted under:
http://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/registration/budapest/
Further information concerning the requirements of international depository authorities under the Budapest Treaty is available at:
http://www.wipo.int/budapest/en/guide/index.html
Time (if any) earlier than 16 months from priority date by which applicant must furnish:
— the indications prescribed in Rule 13bis.3(a)(i) to (iii):
None
— any additional indications:
None
Additional indications (if any) which must be given besides those prescribed in Rule 13bis.3(a)(i) to (iii) pursuant to notifications from the Office:
To the extent available to the applicant, relevant information on the characteristics of the microorganism

National Phase

Summary of requirements for entry into the national phase

Time limits applicable for entry into the national phase:
Under PCT Article 22(3): 31 months from the priority date
Under PCT Article 39(1)(b): 31 months from the priority date
Does the Office permit reinstatement of rights (PCT Rule 49.6)?
Yes
Translation of international application required into (one of) the following language(s):
Must be furnished or paid within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1). The Office or the agent should be consulted for the latest applicable fee amount.
Spanish
Required contents of the translation for entry into the national phase:
Must be furnished or paid within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1). The Office or the agent should be consulted for the latest applicable fee amount.
Under PCT Article 22: Description, claims (if amended, both as originally filed and as amended, together with any statement under PCT Article 19), any text matter of drawings, abstract
Under PCT Article 39(1): Description, claims, any text matter of drawings, abstract (if any of those parts has been amended, both as originally filed and as amended by the annexes to the international preliminary examination report)
Is a copy of the international application required in particular circumstances?
A copy is required only if the applicant expressly requests early commencement of the national phase at a time when the Office has not been sent a copy of the international application from the International Bureau under PCT Article 20.
Does the Office accept color drawings under its national law?
Refer to the Office
National fees:
Must be furnished or paid within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1). The Office or the agent should be consulted for the latest applicable fee amount.
Patents
Filing fee
online 107,000 COP
on paper 132,500 COP
Annual fees:
— for the 1st to the 4th year
online, per year 351,500 COP
on paper, per year 422,000 COP
Applicable in case of late payment within a grace period of six months from the due date (refer to Procedure, paragraph CO.09):
— for the 1st to the 4th year
online, per year 522,500 COP
on paper, per year 627,000 COP
Utility models
Filing fee
online 95,000 COP
on paper 116,500 COP
Exemptions, reductions or refunds of fees:
Please refer to the Office for details.
Certain fees are reduced where the applicant is a national of Colombia
Special requirements of the Office (PCT Rule 51bis):
If not already complied with within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1), the Office will invite the applicant to comply with the requirement within a time limit of two months from the date of receipt of the invitation.
Name and address of the inventor if they have not been furnished in the “Request” part of the international application
This requirement may be satisfied if the corresponding declaration has been made in accordance with PCT Rule 4.17.
Document evidencing a change of name of the applicant if the change occurred after the international filing date and has not been reflected in a notification from the International Bureau (Form PCT/IB/306)
Instrument of assignment of the international application if the applicant has changed after the international filing date
Appointment of an agent if the applicant is not resident in Colombia
Who can act as agent?
Any attorney registered in Colombia
Does the Office accept the effect of restoration of the right of priority by the receiving Office (PCT Rule 49ter.1)?
No
Does the Office accept requests for restoration of the right of priority (PCT Rule 49ter.2)?
No

The procedure in the national Phase

CO.01 TRANSLATION (CORRECTION)
Errors in the translation of the international application can be corrected with reference to the text of the international application as filed (refer to National Phase, paragraphs 6.002 and 6.003).
CO.02 FEES (MANNER OF PAYMENT)
The manner of payment of the fees indicated in the Summary and in this Chapter is outlined in Annex CO.I.
CO.03 REPRESENTATION
CCo Art. 543, CPC Art. 63, CPC Art. 67
If the applicant is not resident in Colombia, an agent must be appointed by filing a simple power of attorney. Any attorney registered in Colombia may act as agent.
CO.04 COPIES OF ACCESS CONTRACTS
CAN Decision 486, Art. 26(h)
Where the products or processes for which a patent is sought are obtained or developed from genetic materials or from their derivatives, the origin of which is one of the Member States of the Andean Community, a copy of the access contract must be furnished. If this requirement is not fulfilled, the Office will invite the applicant to comply with it within a period of two months following the date of notification; this period may be extended once, upon request, for an equal length of time.
CO.05 COPIES OF LICENSES OR AUTHORIZATIONS TO USE TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE
CAN Decision 486, Art. 26(i)
Where the products or procedures for which protection is sought are obtained or developed from traditional knowledge the origin of which is one of the Member States of the Andean Community, a copy of the document licensing or authorizing use of traditional knowledge of indigenous, African American or local communities of the Member States of the Andean Community must be furnished. If this requirement is not fulfilled, the Office will invite the applicant to comply with it within a period of two months following the date of notification; this period may be extended once, upon request, for an equal length of time.
CO.06 DEPOSIT OF BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL
CAN Decision 486, Art. 26(j), Art. 29
Where the invention refers to a product or a process involving biological material and the invention cannot be understood and carried out, as described, by a person skilled in the art, a certificate of deposit of the biological material must be furnished.
CO.07 EXAMINATION
CAN Decision 486, Art. 44
A patent will be granted only after examination as to substance, which must be specifically requested by the applicant within six months after publication of the application by the Office, and is subject to payment of a fee (for utility models, refer to paragraph CO.12). Evidence that payment has been effected must accompany the request for examination (refer to Annex CO.I). If that time limit expires without the applicant having requested examination, the application shall be considered to have been abandoned.
CO.08 AMENDMENT OF THE APPLICATION; TIME LIMITS
PCT Art. 28, PCT Art. 41, CAN Decision 486, Art. 34
The applicant may, at any time during the processing, request the modification of the application, provided that the scope of the subject matter of the application is not broadened thereby.
CO.09 ANNUAL FEES
CAN Decision 486, Art. 80
After a patent has been granted, annual fees shall be paid in advance in order to keep the patent in force. The deadline for the payment of each annual fee shall be the last day of the month containing the anniversary of the international filing date. Two or more annual fees may be paid in advance. Annual fees may be paid within a grace period of six months after the starting date of the corresponding annual period, together with the prescribed surcharge. The patent shall remain in force during the grace period. Failure to pay an annual fee shall result in the lapsing of the patent.
CO.10 EXCUSE OF DELAYS IN MEETING TIME LIMITS
UC, Section 5.2.7
Reference is made to paragraphs 6.022 to 6.027 of the National Phase. Reinstatement of rights may be requested by filing with the Office a statement of reasons for the failure to meet the time limit for entering the national phase within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1) and must be accompanied by evidence in support of the statements made, together with the prescribed fee.
CO.11 REVIEW UNDER ARTICLE 25 OF THE PCT
PCT Art. 25, PCT Rule 51
The applicable procedure is outlined in paragraphs 6.018 to 6.021 of the National Phase.
CO.12 UTILITY MODEL
PCT Art. 4(3), PCT Art. 43, PCT Rule 49bis.1, PCT Rule 49bis.1(a), PCT Rule 49bis.1(b), PCT Rule 76.5
If the applicant wishes to obtain a utility model patent instead of a patent on the basis of an international application, the applicant, when performing the acts referred to in Article 22 or 39, shall so indicate to the Office. Examination must be requested within three months after publication of the application by the Office, and is subject to the payment of a fee (refer to Annex CO.I).

Annexes

Annex CO.I - Fees
The amount in parentheses is applicable in case of late payment within a grace period of six months from the due date (refer to paragraph CO.09).
The complete list of national fees for the Office is in Resolución 12562 of 22 March 2024. These fees will be re-calculated on an annual basis according to the rate of inflation applicable to the year they will be in force.
Patents
Filing fee
Online 107,000 COP
On paper 132,500 COP
Fee for requesting examination, where an international search report has been established
Online 1,447,500 COP
On paper 1,736,500 COP
Fee for extension of time limits or additional time limit
Online 182,000 COP
On paper 223,000 COP
Fee for amendment or correction of application
Online 214,000 COP
On paper 257,000 COP
Fee for filing an opposition
Online 557,000 COP
On paper 668,500 COP
Annual fees:
— for the 1st to the 4th year
Online, per year 351,500 COP
(Online, per year 522,500 COP)
On paper, per year 422,000 COP
(On paper, per year 627,000 COP)
— for the 5th to the 8th year
Online, per year 546,500 COP
(Online, per year 727,500 COP)
On paper, per year 655,500 COP
(On paper, per year 874,000 COP)
— for the 9th to the 12th year
Online, per year 818,500 COP
(Online, per year 1,092,000 COP)
On paper, per year 983,500 COP
(On paper, per year 1,311,000 COP)
— for the 13th to the 16th year
Online, per year 1,270,500 COP
(Online, per year 1,679,500 COP)
On paper, per year 1,524,500 COP
(On paper, per year 2,016,000 COP)
— for the 17th to the 20th year
Online, per year 1,688,500 COP
(Online, per year 2,251,500 COP)
On paper, per year 2,026,000 COP
(On paper, per year 2,699,000 COP)
Utility models
Filing fee
Online 95,000 COP
On paper 116,500 COP
Fee for requesting examination, where an international search report has been established
Online 763,000 COP
On paper 822,000 COP
Fee for extension of time limits or additional time limit
Online 182,000 COP
On paper 223,000 COP
Fee for amendment or correction of application
Online 214,000 COP
On paper 257,000 COP
Fee for filing an opposition
Online 557,000 COP
On paper 668,500 COP
Annual fees
Online, per year 326,500 COP
On paper, per year 396,500 COP
— surcharge for late payment during grace period
Online 438,500 COP
On paper 524,000 COP
How can payment of fees be effected?
Online payment:
The following online payment options are available:
1. Bank debit payment through PSE:
Users can make payments by debiting the amount of the fees from their bank account through PSE. To avoid rejection of the transaction, users should verify the authorized amounts in the bank where the account where the money will be debited is held, as well as the number of authorized transactions per day.
2. Payment by credit card:
Payment may be made by VISA and MasterCard. It should be noted that the applicant shall assume the cost of the commission charged by the franchises that issue the cards. The amount is indicated by the system at the time of payment.
3. Payment by voucher:
This method allows the payment of fees at a bank, while benefiting from the discounts applied to online filings. If the user wishes to make use of this payment method, at the time of filing, the user must select the "pago por cupón" (payment by voucher) option and click on the “continuar con el pago" (continue with payment) button. The user must fill in the data of the payer and select the option "pago por cupón" (payment by voucher). The system will download the payment voucher and, with this document, the user can make the payment at the bank of his/her choice. Once the payment has been applied and verified, the transaction is registered in the system.
Payment in person at the bank:
For a payment in person, the applicant or his representative can make the deposit at any preferred bank to the following account:
Current Account
Banco de Bogotá No. 062-75438-7
Account holder
Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (Colombia)
Identification: NIT 800.176.089-2.
Once the transfer has been made, the payment voucher must be sent to the Documentary Management office (oficina de Gestión Documental), so that it can be exchanged for an official cash receipt from the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce.
The official cash receipt must be submitted to the Documentary Management Office, or through the mail contactenos@sic.gov.co, accompanied by a memorandum indicating the number of the procedure to which the payment should be linked.
Forms
Please refer to the Office.
Current version applicable from 13 Mar 2025 , printed on 16 Apr 2025
2.0 #63 - 2024-11-04T12:26:35.870+01:00