Forming a US LLC from Colombia in 2026 uses the same three-gate framework every non-resident follows — a real US commercial address, an EIN from the IRS, and an online bank that accepts foreign-owned LLCs. What changes for a Colombian founder is the documentation layer underneath: passport and proof-of-residence run through the Cancillería's apostille process, the ITIN goes through an IRS-accredited Certifying Acceptance Agent in Colombia, and your LLC ownership has to be reported to DIAN.
Forming a US LLC from Colombia in 2026 uses the same three-gate framework every non-resident follows — a real US commercial address, an EIN from the IRS, and an online bank that accepts foreign-owned LLCs IRS Publication 519 — U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens. What changes for a Colombian founder is the documentation layer underneath: passport and proof-of-residence run through the Cancillería's apostille process, the ITIN — when needed — goes through an IRS-accredited Certifying Acceptance Agent in Colombia IRS ITIN FAQ — Acceptance Agents for Non-Residents, and your LLC ownership has to be reported to DIAN under Colombia's foreign-asset rules DIAN — Renta Personas Naturales (Formulario 110, renta de fuente mundial)DIAN — Cuentas en el exterior (declaración informativa). This is the Colombia layer on top of the non-residents pillar.
Start with the pillar if you haven't already. The walkthrough below assumes the address, EIN, and bank gates.
1. Apostille via Cancillería de Colombia
Colombia is a Hague Apostille signatory, so a Colombian document gains international legal validity in the US once apostilled by the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores — the Cancillería Cancillería Colombia — Apostilla y Legalización en Línea. The single stamp turns a notarized document into something a US notary, bank, or court accepts without further authentication.
Three documents typically need an apostille for LLC setup: your passport's biographical page (or a notarized copy), proof of residential address (utility bill or certificado de residencia), and any power of attorney you plan to grant inside the US. The Cancillería runs the service online through its trámites portal — fees and turnaround update annually, so check the Cancillería portal before you start Cancillería Colombia — Apostilla y Legalización en Línea.
The apostille does not replace USPS Form 1583 notarization. USPS requires a US-commissioned notary regardless — see the Form 1583 guide for the remote-video workflow USPS authorized in 2024.
2. ITIN application via CAA-Colombia
Most single-member non-resident LLCs do not need an ITIN to operate — the EIN identifies the LLC, and the bank typically does not require the owner to have an ITIN IRS ITIN FAQ — Acceptance Agents for Non-Residents. You will need one when you personally receive US-source income that requires individual filing, when a US client refuses to issue a 1099 without one, or when a bank flags your file.
When you do need one, the Colombia path is the Certifying Acceptance Agent network. A CAA is authorized by the IRS to verify your identity documents in-country, so you do not mail your passport to Austin, Texas IRS ITIN FAQ — Acceptance Agents for Non-Residents. The IRS maintains a public directory by country; Colombia has CAAs registered in Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali IRS — Acceptance Agent Program (Certifying Acceptance Agents by country).
The flow: complete Form W-7, attach the federal return that triggers the ITIN requirement, meet the CAA in person or by video. The CAA verifies your original passport, signs the W-7 certification, and submits to IRS Austin on your behalf IRS ITIN FAQ — Acceptance Agents for Non-Residents. Turnaround varies with IRS workload — the CAA confirms the current range when receiving your packet. Fees are set by each CAA.
3. EIN — IRS Form SS-4 from a Colombian residence address
The EIN gate works identically for Colombian founders as for any non-resident. File Form SS-4 by fax to the IRS international EIN unit; Colombian residential address as the responsible party; US commercial address as the entity; "Foreign" in the SSN/ITIN field IRS Form SS-4 Instructions — Application for Employer Identification Number. Turnaround by fax is four to six weeks. The IRS issues the EIN as letter CP 575, which the bank later expects scanned into your application. Most Colombian founders use an online fax service; the IRS does not validate sender location.
4. The US business address — why your Colombian address won't work for banks
A residential address in Bogotá or Medellín works as the responsible-party address on Form SS-4 but not as the LLC's principal-office address — the IRS routes correspondence to the entity address, Florida lists it on the public Sunbiz record, and online banks scrape it against US registries before approving.
The category that works is a licensed CMRA with a real lease, a verifiable suite in PMB# format, and a notarized Form 1583 on file. Mailbox aggregators fail bank verification almost universally Mercury — Non-resident LLC eligibility (support docs, verified May 2026). A Miami CMRA is the natural fit for a Florida LLC.
5. DIAN reporting obligations
This is unique to Colombia and no US-side guide will cover it for you. Colombian tax residents holding equity in a foreign entity have obligations to the Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales (DIAN) under three regimes.
First, the annual income tax return — Form 110 for individuals — requires declaring your stake in the US LLC as part of global income; Colombia taxes residents on worldwide income DIAN — Renta Personas Naturales (Formulario 110, renta de fuente mundial). Second, if the US LLC's bank balance plus other foreign assets exceeds the DIAN threshold — republished annually in UVT — you file the informe de cuentas en el exterior; consult the current DIAN cartilla for the active threshold and form number DIAN — Cuentas en el exterior (declaración informativa). Third, the outbound investment is registrable with the Banco de la República under the régimen cambiario Banco de la República — Normas del régimen cambiario (inversión extranjera).
We are not Colombian tax accountants. A consultation with a Colombian contador handling cross-border structures, before your first US transaction, is trivial compared to the penalties for missing these filings.
6. Banking — what online US banks accept from a Colombian-owned LLC
Online banks for non-residents publish written eligibility policies. Some accept foreign-owned single-member LLCs with a Colombian owner and a US commercial address; others require a US-resident beneficial owner or a US operating presence Mercury — Non-resident LLC eligibility (support docs, verified May 2026), Relay — Eligibility requirements for non-US LLCs (support docs, verified May 2026). The banking-acceptance guide covers the application packet.
A Colombian applicant's typical pack: Florida articles of organization, EIN confirmation letter (CP 575), US CMRA address, Colombian passport, proof of Colombian residential address. The FinCEN Beneficial Ownership Information confirmation is increasingly expected — most non-resident LLCs must file under the Corporate Transparency Act 31 USC §5336 — Corporate Transparency Act (Beneficial Ownership Reporting). The filing is free and accepts Colombian passports.
7. Summary checklist
Run them in roughly this order: (1) apostille passport and proof of residence at the Cancillería; (2) secure a US commercial CMRA address and complete the Form 1583 video notarization; (3) file Florida articles of organization on Sunbiz; (4) fax Form SS-4 to the IRS international EIN unit IRS Form SS-4 Instructions — Application for Employer Identification Number; (5) file the FinCEN BOI report once the EIN clears 31 USC §5336 — Corporate Transparency Act (Beneficial Ownership Reporting); (6) apply to an online bank for non-residents; (7) coordinate DIAN reporting with a Colombian contador before year-end.
The address, EIN, and bank gates are the universal non-resident framework. The apostille, ITIN-via-CAA, and DIAN steps are the Colombia layer.
FAQ
Do I need to travel to the US to form the LLC?
No. Every step — apostille at the Cancillería, Form 1583 video notarization, the SS-4 fax, the Sunbiz filing, the FinCEN BOI report, the bank application — is done remotely from Colombia IRS Publication 519 — U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens.
Is a Colombian notary's signature valid on Form 1583?
No. USPS requires a US-commissioned notary regardless of any Cancillería apostille. Since May 2024, USPS authorizes remote video notarization with a US-commissioned notary — see the Form 1583 guide.
Do I need an ITIN before opening the bank account?
Usually no. Online banks for non-residents typically accept a Colombian passport plus the LLC's EIN. The ITIN becomes necessary later if you receive US-source income requiring individual filing IRS ITIN FAQ — Acceptance Agents for Non-Residents. When you do, use a CAA registered in Colombia so you do not mail your passport to Austin.
How does DIAN find out about my US LLC?
Through your own filings. Colombia taxes residents on worldwide income, so US LLC earnings flow into Form 110, and any foreign-account balance above the current DIAN threshold (republished annually in UVT) triggers the informe de cuentas en el exterior DIAN — Cuentas en el exterior (declaración informativa).
Is the US-Colombia tax treaty relevant?
There is no comprehensive bilateral income tax treaty in force as of 2026. A Colombian contador and a US accountant design the structure together using foreign tax credits rather than treaty rates.
Need a Miami business address from Colombia?
Our Brickell CMRA is a verifiable Miami business address USPS accepts for Form 1583, the IRS accepts on your SS-4, and online banks accept on your LLC. Bilingual staff handle mail in Spanish, and we coordinate Form 1583 video notarization for Colombian founders directly. See plan comparison on the pricing page.
See also the banking acceptance guide and the sister Mexico walkthrough to compare the Colombian apostille route against the Mexican SRE route.
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Last updated: May 2026