Skip to content
Compare

Hiring in Colombia

Statutory employer contributions add 30% on top of gross salary, before any provider fee. Payroll runs twice monthly in COP.

America/Bogota | Spanish | Latin America

Last verified 13 Oct 2026Next review 14 Nov 2026Methodology
Cost calculator for Colombia
Sponsored

Paid placement. It has no effect on scores or editorial ranking. Advertising disclosure

Overall score 8.1 out of 10
DeelVerified

130countries covered

  • Price 599 USD per employee per month

Deel says it owns entities in more than 130 countries, which puts it among the largest owned networks of any EOR provider. Its published EOR fee of USD 599 per employee per month is in line with the other large platforms, and contracts run month to month. It suits companies hiring both contractors and employees across several countries. Before signing, get the deposit amount and FX markup in writing, confirm that no offboarding fee applies, and check which of your countries run through a partner rather than a Deel entity.

Read profileVisit Website
Overall score 8.2 out of 10
RemoteVerified

90countries covered

  • Price 699 USD per employee per month

Remote employs your staff through entities it owns in every country where it offers EOR, and its terms leave indemnities for EOR services uncapped, so it ranks well on compliance. The cost is a list fee of USD 699 per employee per month, and the margin in its monthly FX rate is not published. Standard terms can be cancelled on 30 days' notice, but an order form with a minimum contract value commits you for its full term and renews at a higher price. Shortlist it if owned entities in every country matter most to you, and get the FX margin and any order form terms in writing before you sign.

Read profileVisit Website

Hiring here at a glance

Employer contributions
30%
Probation cap
2 months
Annual leave
15 days
Public holidays
18 days
Standard week
42 hours
Annual bonus
Required
Termination difficulty
4 out of 5
Payroll
Twice monthly

Notice: notice limited, indemnity applies

Statutory employer contributions

Statutory contributions in Colombia
ContributionEmployerEmployeeStatus
Pension System (AFP)12.0%4.0%Mandatory
Health System (EPS)8.5%4.0%Mandatory
Family Compensation Fund (Caja de Compensación)4.0%0.0%Mandatory
ICBF (Family Welfare)3.0%0.0%Mandatory
SENA (Learning Service)2.0%0.0%Mandatory
Occupational Risk (ARL)0.5%0.0%Mandatory
Total30%8%

Employment contracts

Written contracts in Colombia are effectively mandatory for EOR hiring, and the EOR signs them as the legal employer. Your company signs a separate service agreement.

The contract sets out role, salary in COP, working time, leave, notice and any restrictive covenants. The EOR is the counterparty to the employee, which is what removes the need for your own entity.

Language matters. Local-language contracts, or bilingual versions, are expected where the employee does not work in English.

Fixed-term contracts are treated cautiously. Repeated renewals can convert an engagement into an indefinite one, and most EORs will default to indefinite terms.

Probation

Probation in Colombia is capped at 2 months. Notice during probation is shorter, but dismissal is not consequence free.

Set probation in the contract from day one. It cannot usually be added later, and an extension beyond the statutory cap is normally unenforceable.

Some EORs shorten probation as policy because they, not you, carry the dismissal risk. Ask before you agree a start date.

Working time and overtime

The standard week is 42 hours. Overtime is paid at a statutory premium and is often capped per week and per year.

Overtime premiums of 125% to 200% apply depending on when the hours fall. Night work, rest days and public holidays usually attract the higher end.

Exempt categories are narrower than most buyers expect. Seniority alone rarely removes an overtime entitlement.

Leave and public holidays

Employees get at least 15 days of paid annual leave plus 18 public holidays. Sick leave, parental leave and carer leave sit on top.

Accrual rules differ from the headline. Leave often accrues monthly and carries over for a limited window before it lapses or must be paid out.

Parental leave is usually part statutory pay and part employer top up. Confirm which side the EOR funds before you quote a package.

Termination and severance

Termination difficulty here is 4 out of 5. notice limited, indemnity applies. Severance is calculated on tenure and final salary.

At-will employment does not exist. You need a documented, lawful reason, and in many cases a process that predates the decision.

The EOR runs the process and carries the liability, so expect it to insist on its own timeline and paperwork. Budget for notice, accrued leave, severance and, where applicable, a settlement uplift.

Statutory benefits

Mandatory benefits include a thirteenth month payment, pension or social insurance and statutory medical cover. Market-competitive packages usually add private cover.

Statutory minimums win offers rarely. Private medical, life cover and a meal or transport allowance are common market practice.

EORs often bundle benefits through a group scheme. Ask what is included in the fee and what is billed on top.

Payroll and tax

Payroll runs twice monthly in COP. The EOR withholds income tax and social contributions and files them under its own registrations.

Employer contributions add 30% on top of gross salary. That is before the EOR fee.

Cut-off dates are strict. Late variable pay data usually lands in the following cycle rather than being rerun.

Work permits

Only some EORs sponsor work permits in Colombia, and sponsorship depends on the entity holding a licence. Processing takes 4 to 12 weeks.

If you are hiring a non-national, ask whether the EOR sponsors directly or refers to a partner. A partner-model EOR often cannot sponsor at all.

Start dates should be set after approval, not before.

Data protection

Employee data is processed under the local data protection framework, with the EOR acting as controller for employment records and processor for your instructions.

Get the data processing terms in the service agreement, not just the privacy notice. Cross-border transfers need a lawful basis.

Ask where payroll data is hosted and who in the partner chain can see it.

When to open your own entity

The usual trigger in Colombia is 5 to 15 employees, or a permanent commercial presence. Below that, an EOR is normally cheaper and faster.

Run the comparison on total cost, not fee per head. Entity setup, local directors, accounting, audit and payroll software add a fixed annual floor.

Permanent establishment risk is about what people do, not where payroll sits. Revenue-generating activity can create exposure regardless of the employment route.

Editorial ranking

Best EOR providers in Colombia

Best EOR providers in Colombia

Ranked by our seven criteria, with the coverage score adjusted for whether the provider owns an entity here. Complete list of Best EOR providers in Colombia

Verified provider
RemoteVerified

90countries covered

Owned
  • Price 699 USD per employee per month
  • Billing flat fee per employee per month
  • Minimum term None reported
  • Deposit None reported
  • FX margin Not published

Remote employs your staff through entities it owns in every country where it offers EOR, and its terms leave indemnities for EOR services uncapped, so it ranks well on compliance. The cost is a list fee of USD 699 per employee per month, and the margin in its monthly FX rate is not published. Standard terms can be cancelled on 30 days' notice, but an order form with a minimum contract value commits you for its full term and renews at a higher price. Shortlist it if owned entities in every country matter most to you, and get the FX margin and any order form terms in writing before you sign.

Read profile
Verified provider
DeelVerified

130countries covered

Owned
  • Price 599 USD per employee per month
  • Billing flat fee per employee per month
  • Minimum term None reported
  • Deposit Required
  • FX margin Not published

Deel says it owns entities in more than 130 countries, which puts it among the largest owned networks of any EOR provider. Its published EOR fee of USD 599 per employee per month is in line with the other large platforms, and contracts run month to month. It suits companies hiring both contractors and employees across several countries. Before signing, get the deposit amount and FX markup in writing, confirm that no offboarding fee applies, and check which of your countries run through a partner rather than a Deel entity.

Read profile
Verified provider
G-P (Globalization Partners)Verified

156countries covered

Unknown
  • Price 599 USD per employee per month
  • Billing flat platform fee per employee per month, invoiced monthly with payroll pre-funded in advance
  • Minimum term None reported
  • Deposit Required
  • FX margin Not published

G-P is one of the most compliance-focused EORs available, with over 100 of its own legal entities and a long record in heavily regulated countries. Its list price starts at USD 599 per employee per month, but independent reviewers report higher quotes, a one-off setup fee per hire, a deposit, an FX markup and an offboarding charge. Shortlist it if you’re a larger business that puts compliance ahead of cost, and get the full fee schedule in writing before you sign.

Read profile
Verified provider
OysterVerified

116countries covered

Unknown
  • Price 699 USD per employee per month
  • Billing flat fee per employee per month, billed monthly; discounted annual seat-based billing also available
  • Minimum term None reported
  • Deposit Required
  • FX margin Not published

Oyster suits companies that want HR experts, legal support and termination handling included in one EOR fee, along with integrations for the most common HRIS and ATS platforms. The trade-offs are a USD 699 monthly list price, a refundable deposit of about one month's employment cost per hire, and EOR coverage of 120+ countries rather than the 180+ headline. There are no onboarding or offboarding fees, and monthly billing carries no minimum term.

Read profile

Questions buyers ask about Colombia

How much does it cost to employ someone in Colombia through an EOR?
Budget the gross salary, plus 30% in employer contributions, plus the EOR fee. Published EOR fees sit in the 199 to 699 USD per employee per month band, or a percentage of payroll.
How long does it take to onboard an employee in Colombia?
Typically 3 to 10 working days once the candidate has accepted and right to work is confirmed. Work permit cases take considerably longer.
Can an EOR terminate an employee in Colombia?
Yes, but the EOR runs the process as the legal employer and will require a lawful reason and documentation. Termination difficulty here is 4 out of 5.
Does the EOR need its own entity in Colombia?
Someone in the chain must hold a local entity. Providers either own one or use a partner. Ask which, in writing, because it changes who carries the liability.

Popular roles hired here: Support, Developer, Sales, Operations.

Verified EOR providers in Colombia

Entity model by provider

Verified EOR providers in Colombia
ProviderEntity model
RemoteOwned
DeelOwned
G-P (Globalization Partners)Unknown
OysterUnknown