CO · Expiry & renewal tracking
Don't let your employment agency's authorisation expire before the new one is requested
Providing job placement services in Colombia requires Ministry of Labour authorisation, valid for four years from the date the act becomes final (Article 2.2.6.1.2.18 of Decreto 1072 de 2015). A new one is requested three months before expiry; operating without it brings a fine, suspension or cancellation.
Providers of the Public Employment Service are public or private legal persons authorised by the competent authority to provide job placement services (gestión y colocación de empleo) in person, online or both; they include public and private employment agencies, including those of the family compensation funds, and job boards (bolsas de empleo) (Article 2.2.6.1.2.15 of Decreto 1072 de 2015, as amended by Decreto 1823 de 2020). Only authorised legal persons may provide the placement services of Article 29 of Ley 1636 de 2013 (Article 2.2.6.1.2.18, paragraph 1).
The Ministry of Labour grants the authorisation once the legal, operational and technical conditions defined by resolution are met, together with the minimum documents: the deed of incorporation or by-laws stating placement as the corporate purpose, the certificate of existence and legal representation (not needed for entities registered with a chamber of commerce, which are checked in the RUES), the service regulations and the viability project (Article 2.2.6.1.2.19). The authorisation is valid for four (4) years from the date the administrative act granting it becomes final. A provider that wants to keep offering the services must request a new authorisation no less than three (3) months before expiry, showing it meets the conditions set by the Special Administrative Unit of the Public Employment Service; it need not resubmit documents already on file unless they need updating (Article 2.2.6.1.2.18). Where services are provided exclusively by electronic means, the authorisation is deemed granted for the whole national territory.
During the term, the provider must maintain the conditions that made the authorisation possible, file statistical reports at the frequency the Unit sets by resolution, send by-law amendments and changes of legal representative within the following twenty (20) business days, and request modification of the authorisation when changes to the authorised conditions are planned (Article 2.2.6.1.2.20(2), (12), (14), (15) and (16)). The Ministry of Labour applies the fines, suspension or cancellation of the authorisation provided for in Articles 38 and 39 of Ley 1636 de 2013 for irregular practice or breach of obligations (Articles 2.2.6.1.2.42 and 2.2.6.1.2.43). The operating authorisation of temporary staffing agencies is a separate regime.
At a glance
| Who needs it | Legal persons providing job placement services; only authorised ones may provide them (Articles 2.2.6.1.2.15 and 2.2.6.1.2.18 of Decreto 1072 de 2015) |
|---|---|
| Who grants it | The Ministry of Labour, by reasoned resolution (Article 2.2.6.1.2.18) |
| Validity | Four (4) years from the date the granting act becomes final (Article 2.2.6.1.2.18) |
| New authorisation | Request it no less than three (3) months before expiry (Article 2.2.6.1.2.18) |
| Processing times | 20 business days to review and request additions; 1 month to reply; 10 business days to decide (Article 2.2.6.1.2.18) |
| Territorial scope | National when services are provided only by electronic means (Article 2.2.6.1.2.18) |
| During the term | Maintain conditions, statistical reports, amendments and representative changes within 20 business days (Article 2.2.6.1.2.20) |
| If breached | Fine, suspension or cancellation of the authorisation under Articles 38 and 39 of Ley 1636 de 2013 (Article 2.2.6.1.2.43) |
The specific legal, operational and technical conditions are defined by resolution (Article 2.2.6.1.2.19); this page covers only what Decreto 1072 de 2015 itself establishes.
Who is responsible?
The authorised legal person, through its legal representative: it must maintain the conditions of the authorisation, send by-law amendments and changes of legal representation within the following twenty (20) business days and request the new authorisation with the required lead time (Articles 2.2.6.1.2.18 and 2.2.6.1.2.20 of Decreto 1072 de 2015). The Special Administrative Unit of the Public Employment Service keeps the Register of Providers (Article 2.2.6.1.2.16) and sends the Ministry the non-compliance report (Article 2.2.6.1.2.44).
If the deadline passes
The authorisation ceases to be valid four years after the granting act became final (Article 2.2.6.1.2.18 of Decreto 1072 de 2015). Since only authorised legal persons may provide placement services (paragraph 1), continuing to operate without a valid authorisation is irregular practice, which the Ministry of Labour sanctions with a fine, suspension or cancellation of the authorisation under Articles 38 and 39 of Ley 1636 de 2013, following the procedure of Ley 1437 de 2011 (Articles 2.2.6.1.2.42 and 2.2.6.1.2.43). If a request for a new authorisation is filed and the provider does not answer a request for additions within the following month, the application is deemed withdrawn and is archived (Article 2.2.6.1.2.18).
Request the new authorisation three months ahead
The rule does not speak of renewal but of a new authorisation, to be requested no less than three (3) months before expiry (Article 2.2.6.1.2.18 of Decreto 1072 de 2015). That is why the catalogue sets a 90-day advance notice: the first reminder coincides with the last day to file on time.
Tracking it with ExpirySuite
- Add the authorisation as a record, with the number of the resolution that granted it, and enter as the expiry date the day four years after it became final.
- Because the catalogue sets a 90-day advance notice for this document, the first reminder arrives three months before expiry, the minimum lead time to request the new authorisation; the others arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before and on the day.
- The legal team can upload the new authorisation resolution through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account; then update the expiry date to four years ahead.
- Assign the legal representative or legal team as responsible; if the date passes without a new authorisation, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.
Frequently asked questions
- How long is the authorisation valid?
- Four (4) years from the date the administrative act granting it becomes final (Article 2.2.6.1.2.18 of Decreto 1072 de 2015).
- When must I request the new authorisation?
- No less than three (3) months before expiry, showing compliance with the conditions set by the Special Administrative Unit of the Public Employment Service (Article 2.2.6.1.2.18 of Decreto 1072 de 2015).
- Do I have to resubmit every document?
- No. For that procedure, or to open new service points, the provider need not submit documents already on file unless they require adjustment, updating or have been modified (Article 2.2.6.1.2.18 of Decreto 1072 de 2015).
- Who grants it and how long does it take?
- The Ministry of Labour. The authority has twenty (20) business days to review the documents and request additions, the applicant one (1) month to reply, and the authority ten (10) business days to decide by reasoned resolution (Article 2.2.6.1.2.18 of Decreto 1072 de 2015).
- What if I operate with an expired authorisation?
- Only authorised legal persons may provide placement services (Article 2.2.6.1.2.18, paragraph 1); irregular practice is sanctioned with a fine, suspension or cancellation under Articles 38 and 39 of Ley 1636 de 2013 (Article 2.2.6.1.2.43 of Decreto 1072 de 2015).
Sources
Last checked: Oct 14, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.
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