Here are some random semi-tecnical information and resources which you might find useful at some point during your vacation or relocation planning.

Identification Documents

When opening a bank account – or signing up for other things – you might run into some acronyms related to your type of Identification Document. Here are the ones of which I am aware, and their full meanings.

1. CC = cédula de ciudadanía (Citizenship Card)
2. TI = tarjeta de identidad (Identity Card)
3. PPN = partida de nacimiento (Birth Certificate)
4. PP = Passport (I’ve only seen this in one place)
5. CE = cédula extranjera (Foreign ID Card, though sometimes your Passport satisfices)
6. PEP = Permiso especial de permanencia (Special Permit to Stay)

Equipment and Emergency Kit

Based on my experiences, these are some items that I strongly suggest you pack, for Colombia or any developing country.

1. Insect repellent for skin
2. Bug spray
3. Portable solar collector and USB cable
4. Portable water purifier
5. Portable battery pack
6. Anti-parasitic medication
7. Painkillers and fever reducers, the most powerful you can acquire
8. Sleep aids
9. Long johns and Long-sleeve shirt
10. Washcloths

Shipping and Freight Forwarding

As you might or might not know, Colombia’s Customs is notorious for finding wasy to do “cash-grabs” when they see people shipping things into Colombia. In this respect, it is very reminiscent of Nigeria. Here’s something a friend explained to me about his experience freight-forwarding his personal property from USA to Colombia:

  
For the items you are shipping via freight forwarding.
I like to keep the original box/container my large high priced items came in.
No safer way to move an Expensive TV or monitor than in the original packaging,
right? Well that bit me in the ass when I shipped my LG OLED TV. Colombia
typically will not charge tax on used goods bit they thought it was a new TV
because it was in the original box. TV was a year old and they assessed a value
of $700 USD 😂 (half the actual cost) then taxed me. Even after I showed them
proof of purchase they still charged me. So my point. Do not ship in anything
in packaging that makes the think it's new. They will not reverse course even
if you provide proof of purchase.

Everything was personal and everything was used for the most part. The TV was
taxed and I got charged for weight on the TV and desk. If you have proof of
purchase for the monitors make a photocopy and make sure the forwarding shipper
has that to add to  the paperwork submitted. I provided mine after the tax was
imposed and they refused to do the reversal of the charge so it was an additional $200.

Luggage

Here’s a generic luggage chart.