National Tourism Registry (RNT) for Vacation Homes and Short-Term Rentals: Registration and Renewal Guide

Renting a vacation home in Anapoima, Carmen de Viboral, or the Coffee Region, or promoting an apartment for short stays in Medellín or Cartagena, has become a source of income for property owners in Colombia. Colombian legislation (Law 2068 of 2020 and Decree 1836 of 2021) formally classifies as tourist accommodation service any rental for less than 30 continuous days. This means that whether you operate through digital platforms or direct deals, you are required to have an active National Tourism Registry (RNT) active.

Contrary to what some informal agents claim, registering for and renewing the RNT is a 100% free procedure that is carried out entirely digitally. In this guide, we explain the current requirements, the steps in the Confecámaras portal, and the critical dates to avoid suspension and the reactivation penalty payable to FONTUR.

What is the RNT and who is required to obtain it?

The National Tourism Registry is the public catalog managed by the Chambers of Commerce and coordinated by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism (MinCIT). Its purpose is to formalize tourist service providers and provide legal security for both the traveler and the property owner.

The following are legally required to register in the RNT:

• Owners of vacation homes, country houses, and cabins rented by the day, weekend, or week.
• Owners of apartments or rooms offered under the temporary rental or tourist housing model.
• Providers offering tourist accommodation in properties correctly linked to the property and the corresponding owner.

Operating without an active RNT prevents you from legally marketing the property as tourist accommodation. To understand how this registration fits with other operational rules, review the guide on regulations for renting vacation homes in Colombia.

Prerequisites for applying for the RNT for the first time

Before entering the Confecámaras virtual platform, you must prepare the following documentation and operational conditions to prevent your application from being returned or rejected:

1. Updated RUT: Your Unique Tax Registry (RUT) with the DIAN must include the economic activity code (CIIU) corresponding to tourist accommodation. The most common code for tourist housing and rental homes is CIIU 5519 ("Other types of accommodation not previously classified") or CIIU 5511.
2. Property Horizontal Authorization (if applicable): If your property is an apartment or house within a gated community or building, the Property Horizontal Regulations registered in the public deed must expressly authorize the use of the dwelling for tourist purposes (Law 675 of 2001). If the regulations prohibit it, the Chamber of Commerce will not be able to approve your RNT.
3. Civil Liability Insurance Policy: The regulation requires having insurance that covers the physical integrity and property of guests during their stay.
4. Adherence to the Code of Conduct: You must declare your commitment to prevent the sexual exploitation and abuse of children and adolescents (ESCNNA) in accordance with Law 679 of 2001.

If you also post on platforms, consult the RNT regulation for Airbnb and other digital channels.

Step by step to register your vacation home or short-term rental in the RNT

The initial registration process is carried out centrally on the official Confecámaras portal. Follow this procedure to complete the registration:

1. Create a user on the official portal

Go to rnt.confecamaras.co and create an account with your document type and number (or NIT of the owning company). Make sure to register an email address you have permanent access to, as you will receive approval notices and renewal alerts there.

2. Link the property and select the category

Once inside the system, select the "Provider Registration" option. You must select the Chamber of Commerce with jurisdiction in the municipality where the vacation home or apartment is physically located. Choose the applicable accommodation category shown on the portal.

3. Complete technical and operational capacity details

The system will ask you to detail the property's infrastructure: number of rooms, maximum guest capacity, bathrooms, available services, and the exact address according to the property documents.

4. Sign the early childhood declaration and insurance policy

Digitally accept the Code of Conduct against ESCNNA and register your liability insurance policy details. Upon final submission, the Chamber of Commerce will review the consistency of the data with the RUT and the corresponding registries; there is no guarantee of immediate approval if there are inconsistencies.

RNT Renewal: Key dates and zero-cost procedure

Having the RNT is not a one-time process. To maintain the legality of your vacation home or short-term rental, it is mandatory to perform the annual renewal.

Take note of these fundamental rules of the legal calendar:

• Ordinary renewal window: Operates from January 1st to March 31st of each year.
• Cost of the procedure: Renewal with Confecámaras is 100% free. It does not require payment of registration fees or stamp duties.
• Update criteria: During renewal, you must update the requested information and report if the policy or contact details have changed.

What happens if you miss the March 31st deadline?

If April 1st arrives and you have not completed the renewal on the platform, the property's RNT will be in a state of automatic suspension. This implies:

1. The legal impossibility of renting the vacation home or property as tourist accommodation.
2. The impossibility of legally marketing the property under that modality while the registration is suspended.
3. To lift the suspension, the law requires paying a reactivation penalty in favor of the National Tourism Fund (FONTUR) equivalent to 106.11 UVB, before being able to process the reactivation in the portal.

Other complementary legal obligations for owners

Having the RNT certificate is the first step. To operate in an orderly manner, owners in Colombia must comply with additional control tools:

Accommodation Registration Card (TRA)

The MinCIT requires that each reservation and guest that enters your vacation home or apartment be registered in the official Accommodation Registration Card (TRA) system. It is filled out online with the information of each visitor at the time of check-in.

Foreigner report in the SIRE system

If you receive foreign guests in your vacation home or dwelling, you must report their entry and exit to Migración Colombia through the SIRE platform within the times stipulated by the migration authority.

Internal regulations and clear inventory

It is essential to have a lodging agreement or terms of service detailing house rules, noise restrictions, maximum capacity, and the condition of the property. To learn more about contracts and unforeseen events in country estates, check out our guide for owners renting out vacation fincas.

According to active listings on Colombia Move (August 2026), the finca category has 13 active listings. Complying with your RNT not only protects you from sanctions: it also helps you present clear information to tenants and families.

Market your finca or short-term rental without paying commissions

Once you obtain your RNT number, the next step is to connect with clients interested in renting your property directly, transparently, and without cutting into your margins with intermediary commissions. You can also compare direct rental options from owners.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is there an official cost to process the RNT for a rental finca?

No. The initial registration process, data updates, and annual renewal of the RNT with the Chambers of Commerce and Confecámaras is 100% free. You should not pay fees to public entities for this purpose.

❓ What is the deadline to renew the RNT each year?

The legal period to renew the RNT without incurring sanctions is from January 1st to March 31st of each year. The process is carried out virtually on the official Confecámaras portal.

❓ What happens if I don't renew the RNT before March 31st?

The registration is automatically suspended as of April 1st. To reactivate it, you must pay a fine to FONTUR equivalent to 106.11 UVB before you can request reactivation of the service on the platform.

❓ Can I get an RNT if my finca or apartment is in a gated community?

Yes, provided that the Horizontal Property Regulations of the community or building explicitly authorize the use of the property for tourist housing or rentals of less than 30 days.

❓ Which CIIU code must I have on the RUT to request the RNT for my finca?

You must have an economic activity oriented toward tourist accommodation, with the CIIU code 5519 (or others applicable, such as 5511) being the prerequisite for the Chamber of Commerce to approve your application.

❓ Is an insurance policy required to have the RNT for short-term rentals?

Yes. Law 2068 of 2020 requires tourist housing providers to have an active extra-contractual civil liability insurance policy that protects guests in the event of accidents or unforeseen events within the property.