Search and document delivery at a glance
- Search online
- CCB search and document selection are publicly accessible. The electronic file is a separate reading service with CAPTCHA and time-limited sessions. [9] [15] [14] [16] [11] [12] [6] [7] [4]
- Search language
- The Bogotá Chamber of Commerce (CCB) company search is available in Spanish. Search options include company name, registration number and identification number. [6]
- Digital documents
- Purchased CCB certificates are downloaded as digitally signed original PDFs. The guide states availability 5 to 10 minutes after payment, with a 60-calendar-day download period. [8] [9] [10]
- Document language
- Not specified
- Paper and collection
- Not specified
- International delivery
- Not specified
- Fees at a glance
- RUES basic data free; Bogotá certificates from 6,100 Colombian pesos (COP)
- Access
- Public research; certificates carry a fee
Choose the right register
The Registro Único Empresarial y Social (RUES) brings together the public registers of Colombia’s chambers of commerce. It connects national discovery with local registration files. A company, its business establishments and its public procurement registration can therefore have separate entries. [1] [2]
This guide explains the national register structure and provides detailed certificate instructions for Bogotá. The chamber fees quoted here come from the CCB’s 2026 schedule. If another chamber is responsible, use that chamber’s service and check the requested document there. [5] [4]
Find basic information and the responsible chamber of commerce.
Public search and selection of a paid chamber certificate.
Use the identification type and number supplied at purchase.
Check the document using its verification code.
Entry to the free reading service, with a security check and terms.
Separate file service for the public procurement register.
Find a reporting company and open the required reporting date.
Official unit prices for certificates and copies in Bogotá.
Names and abbreviations explained
- RUESRegistro Único Empresarial y Social
- The chambers’ national information system. Its name means Unified Business and Social Register. [1]
- CCBCámara de Comercio de Bogotá
- Bogotá Chamber of Commerce. It maintains the registers for its jurisdiction and issues the certificates described here. [3] [5]
- Registro MercantilCommercial Register
- The register of traders, their business establishments and commercial acts and documents that require registration. [2]
- NITNúmero de Identificación Tributaria
- Tax identification number. It helps distinguish companies with similar names. The registration forms distinguish it from the local Matrícula number. [21] [17]
- Matrícula mercantilCommercial registration and registration number
- The registration of a trader or business establishment. Use the number together with the responsible chamber. [1] [21]
- Razón social / Palabra claveCompany name / keyword
- Two separate search options in the CCB certificate service. Use the keyword option when you only know part of the name. [6]
- Existencia y representación legalExistence and legal representation
- A certificate confirming that a legal entity exists and identifying its legal representative. [3]
- RUPRegistro Único de Proponentes
- Register of participants in public procurement. It records experience and legal, financial and organisational capacity. [2]
- ESALEntidades sin Ánimo de Lucro
- Non-profit entities, such as foundations and associations. These have separate register entries. [2]
- ExpedienteRegistration file
- The collection of submitted forms and registered documents. Viewing the electronic file is a separate service from buying a certificate. [16]
- Clave virtualPersonal access credential for the chamber’s online services
- The CCB’s personal credential process. Identity checks may include questions about Colombian banking or credit history. [11]
- SIISSistema Integrado de Información Societaria
- The financial information portal of the corporate supervisory authority, Superintendencia de Sociedades. It covers companies that report to the system. [18]
- Corte / Tipo de entradaReporting date / report type
- SIIS separates the reporting date from the type of financial statement. Do not mix individual company figures with consolidated group figures. [20] [18]
- RUB / DIANRegistro Único de Beneficiarios Finales / Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales
- The beneficial ownership register maintained by the national tax and customs authority. Its data is confidential. [17]
Search step by step
Identify the responsible register nationwide
Start with RUES
Open RUES and look for the company in the Registro Mercantil. Have its full name and, if possible, its NIT ready. Record the chamber of commerce identified in the entry. [1] [2]
Distinguish the company from its business establishment
Check the result category. Persona jurídica means a legal entity; Establecimiento de comercio means a business establishment. Compare registration number and status. For public procurement, also check the RUP entry. [1] [2] [21]
Move from basic data to the required certificate
For a legal entity’s existence and representation, choose the Certificado de existencia y representación legal. Open the responsible chamber’s certificate service. RUES basic data helps you identify the record; the chamber certificate is the official document. [3] [5]
Obtain a certificate from the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce
Choose the search mode
Open the CCB certificate search. Under Opciones de Búsqueda choose Matrícula, Identificación, Razón Social, Palabra Clave or Proponente. Enter the search value in Filtro and select Buscar Inscritos. Use Palabra Clave for part of a name. [6]
Select the entry and the document
Open the matching result. The selection page shows its registration number and organisation type. For a company’s representation, select Existencia y representación legal. Check the unit price and quantity before proceeding to payment. [7] [3]
Check payment and purchaser identification separately
Continue using your actual purchaser and billing details. Use only payment methods offered by that service. The CCB’s general payment information lists PSE, Visa and MasterCard; the available methods can differ between services. [12] [13]
Download and verify the document
Under Descarga de certificados, use the identification type and number supplied at purchase. The CCB states a processing time of 5 to 10 minutes after payment has completed and a download window of 60 calendar days. Keep the original PDF and check its digital signature. Use the verification code to check a printed copy. [8] [9] [10]
Research financial statements in SIIS
Select the reporting company
Open SIIS. Enter the company name in Búsqueda de sociedades, select the matching suggestion with its NIT and press BUSCAR. Results identify the company and reporting date. [19] [20]
Set the reporting date and report type
Select VISTA 360 for the required reporting year. Check Corte and Tipo de entrada. The Ver filtros panel includes reporting year, assets, revenue, insolvency status and region. A similar company name or different reporting date can lead to a different report. [19] [20]
Open the required financial view
In Vista 360, choose Ver Situación Financiera for the statement of financial position or Ver Resultado Integral for the statement of comprehensive income. Select individual notes through Formulario, then VER INFORME. Check the units: M means thousands of Colombian pesos here. [20]
Documents and fees
| Document / information | Contents and purpose | Fee | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| RUES basic record [1] | Responsible chamber, identification, status and registered basic information about the company. | Free. | Use the national RUES entry point, then the responsible chamber. |
| Certificado de matrícula mercantil [3] [4] [7] | Evidence of commercial registration, for example for an individual trader or a business establishment. | CCB 2026: COP 6,100 per certificate. | Open the CCB certificate search, select the entry and choose Matrícula mercantil. |
| Certificado de existencia y representación legal [3] [4] [7] [8] | Evidence that a legal entity exists and identification of its legal representation. | CCB 2026: COP 12,100 per certificate. | Choose the relevant certificate in the CCB result and pay; download the original PDF. |
| Certificados especiales [3] [4] | Special certificates, including historical, verbatim or negative certificates. | CCB 2026: COP 12,100 per certificate. | Use Certificados especiales on the Certificados CCB page and specify the information required. |
| Certificado de libros de comercio [3] [7] | A certificate concerning registered business books. | COP 12,100 through CCB. | Choose Libros de comercio in the document selection. This certifies registered books; it does not provide a general download of their contents. |
| Certificado del Registro Único de Proponentes [2] [3] [4] [6] | Evidence of the public procurement registration, relevant to experience and capacity. | CCB 2026: COP 75,000. | Search by Proponente in the certificate service or open its RUP certificate section. |
| Electronic registration file (Expediente) [4] [14] [15] [16] | Images of submitted forms and registered documents. | Inspection free. The CCB schedule lists physical photocopies at COP 211 including VAT. | Open Otras consultas and the relevant file service. CAPTCHA and terms apply; reading sessions last 60 minutes. |
| SIIS financial views and notes [18] [19] [20] | Annual statement of financial position and income figures, plus the notes included in the particular report. | Free. | Search for the company, select the reporting date, and use Vista 360 to open the required financial view or Formulario. |
Register coverage and company types
RUES covers several public chamber registers. The Registro Mercantil records traders and business establishments. Non-profit entities have ESAL entries. RUP provides additional information on participants in public procurement. [2]
The responsible chamber remains essential when obtaining the actual file. The online certificate service shown here belongs to the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce. Its instructions expressly limit the certificates available through it to its own jurisdiction. [5]
The official register instructions require basic RUES access to be free for everyone. The prescribed fields include the responsible chamber, name and identification number. They also include registration and renewal dates, organisation type, registration status, business activity, and legal representatives with limits on their powers. [1]
Free inspection and paid documents
The CCB’s 2026 schedule distinguishes inspection from issuing a certificate. A commercial registration certificate costs COP 6,100. Certificates of existence and legal representation and special certificates each cost COP 12,100. These certificate fees apply regardless of page count. [4]
A RUP certificate costs COP 75,000 in the same schedule. The COP 8,500 listed for the RUES form concerns a registration form. It is not a charge for the national basic search. COP means Colombian pesos. [4]
Registration files can be inspected free of charge. The CCB lists photocopies at COP 211 including VAT. Its virtual file terms provide a reading service; the chamber directs users to its offices for printouts or copies. [4] [16]
Access from abroad: search, identity and payment
The CCB certificate search is accessible without signing in through the result and document-selection stages. SIIS also allows you to open a company’s financial view without using the separate Iniciar sesion link. [6] [7] [19] [20]
For purchased CCB certificates, the download form asks for the purchaser’s identification type and number. It offers PASAPORTE for a passport and Cédula de extranjería for a Colombian foreigner identification card. [9] [12]
Under Acceso al Servicio, the linked purchase terms refer to a clave virtual. Its identity verification may ask about Colombian credit or banking history. A foreign visitor should therefore not assume that every later purchase step can be completed without additional identity checks. [12] [11]
PSE takes payment through a supported financial institution. The CCB lists Visa and MasterCard for credit card payments. The options in the particular service determine what you can use. Before purchasing, confirm with the chamber which identification and payment method are suitable for your country. [13] [12]
Financial statements: SIIS and the local registration file
SIIS publishes financial data from reporting companies, including supervised or controlled companies and a statistical sample of companies. [18]
The free view separates the reporting date from the report type. It provides a statement of financial position, a statement of comprehensive income and other financial views. Select individual notes through Formulario. Cifras en Miles de Pesos Colombianos means that monetary amounts are expressed in thousands of pesos. [20] [19]
Financial statements, their notes and an auditor’s report where applicable may be deposited in the local chamber’s registration file. Section 1.3.10 of the register instructions removes the need for an additional chamber deposit when the documents have already been deposited with the Superintendencia de Sociedades. [1]
For Bogotá, Otras consultas leads to Consulta de expedientes de registros públicos. Choose Consultar RM y Esales or Consulta RUP. The entry page identifies NIT, identification number or company name as search details. It requires a CAPTCHA check and acceptance of the terms before starting. The terms limit a session to 60 minutes. [14] [15] [16]
Beneficial owners and legal representatives
The DIAN’s RUB is not a public ownership directory. Article 1.4.1.22 of Resolution 227 of 2025 makes the information confidential. Legally authorised bodies may access it for their prescribed functions after the required agreement between public authorities. [17]
The beneficial ownership rules include individuals with at least 5% of capital, voting rights or economic benefits. Other means of control also count. If nobody can be identified under those criteria, the legal representative is generally reported. An individual with higher managerial authority takes precedence. A representative named in the commercial register is therefore not automatically the actual owner. [17] [3]
Official samples and reading guides
Official RUES form with a reading guide
Freely downloadable PDF containing two instruction pages and blank Hoja 1 and Hoja 2 forms. It explains identification, register categories and financial fields. This is a registration form, not an issued company certificate. [21]
Avoid common mistakes
- An active registration and an up-to-date annual renewal are separate matters. Check registration status and the last renewal date separately. [1]
- Use the category and registration number to identify the right record. [2] [21]
- The 60-day download and online verification windows are service time limits. They do not require a receiving bank or authority to accept every document that is up to 60 days old. [8] [10]
- Do not read M in SIIS as millions. The portal expressly describes its monetary figures as thousands of Colombian pesos. [19] [20]
Frequently asked questions
Which document identifies the authorised representative?
For a legal entity, select the Certificado de existencia y representación legal. The CCB describes it as proof of existence and legal representation. A certificate of Matrícula alone serves a different purpose. [3]
Can I use a foreign passport?
The CCB download form offers “PASAPORTE” as an identity-document type. Search and document selection are publicly accessible. The subsequent purchase is subject to the selected service’s identity and payment requirements. [9] [6] [7] [12] [11]
Does SIIS contain every Colombian company’s accounts?
No. The supervisory authority describes a defined population of reporting companies. For other companies, check the local registration file and the documents deposited there. [18] [1]
Can I query beneficial owners at the DIAN?
The RUB does not offer a general public query. Its data is confidential under Article 1.4.1.22; legally authorised bodies have a separate access route. [17]
How do I check a CCB certificate someone has sent me?
For a printed copy, enter the alphanumeric code at the top of the certificate in the CCB verification service. For an original PDF, check its digital signature. The CCB permits unlimited online verification within 60 calendar days. [10]
Original sources
Sources reviewed: 15 September 2026. The guidance is based on the linked information published by registers and public authorities.
- RUES: öffentlicher Zugang und Registerunterlagen Superintendencia de Sociedades, veröffentlicht bei Confecámaras
- Die öffentlichen Register der Handelskammern Confecámaras
- Bescheinigungen der Handelskammer Bogotá Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá
- Tarifas del Registro Mercantil 2026 Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá
- Schritte zur Bestellung und örtliche Zuständigkeit Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá
- Öffentliche CCB-Suchmaske Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá
- CCB: Dokumentauswahl mit aktuellen Einzelpreisen Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá
- Download bestellter Zertifikate Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá
- CCB: Ausweisdokumente beim Download Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá
- Echtheit und Prüffrist von Zertifikaten Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá
- CCB: persönliches Zugangskennwort (clave virtual) Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá
- Bedingungen für Zertifikatsbestellung und Zahlung Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá
- Zahlungsmittel bei Online-Diensten der CCB Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá
- Direkte Zugänge zu Handelsregister- und RUP-Akten Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá
- CCB: Eingang zur Registerakte Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá
- Bedingungen für die Online-Akteneinsicht Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá
- Wirtschaftlich Berechtigte: RUB und Vertraulichkeit Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales (DIAN)
- SIIS: amtliche Beschreibung der Finanzdaten Superintendencia de Sociedades
- SIIS: öffentliche Suche und Filter Superintendencia de Sociedades
- SIIS: Jahresabschluss in Vista 360 Superintendencia de Sociedades
- Amtliches RUES-Formular mit Ausfüllhinweisen Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá
- PSE: Name und Funktionsweise des Zahlungsverfahrens ACH Colombia (Betreiber von PSE)