Colombia’s most recent regulation on driver’s licenses for persons with disabilities is Resolution 20223040030355 (2022), which establishes licensing conditions for deaf persons. Circular 20234200000167 (May 2023) reinforced its implementation by requiring training and recognition centers to provide reasonable accommodations. The Ministry of Transport launched a public information campaign and identified about 40 centers nationwide equipped to serve deaf applicants under equal conditions.

Article 1 of Resolution 20223040030355 of 2022 amended item 2 of Annex I of Resolution 217 of 2014 issued by the Ministry of Transport, entitled: “Assessment Areas of the Physical, Mental, and Motor Coordination Aptitudes required to obtain, upgrade, or renew a driver’s license.” The referenced resolution is attached as supporting documentation.

Colombia does not have additional regulations for foreign persons with disabilities seeking a driver’s license. They must meet the requirements established under existing bilateral agreements, including certifying their disability and completing examinations at a Driver Recognition Center. Colombia currently has operational driver’s license recognition agreements with Argentina, Chile, South Korea, Spain, Peru, and Paraguay.

Name of Department/Ministry: Ministry of Tranport
Name of section responsible: Transit Subdirectorade
Email address for queries: servicioalciudadano@mintransporte.gov.co
Phone number for queries: +57 6013240800
Website: mintransporte.gov.co

In Colombia, persons with disabilities do not receive an identification card; instead, disability is certified through an official assessment recorded in the national Registry for the Localization and Characterization of Persons with Disabilities (RLCPD), managed by the Ministry of Health. Vehicles of persons with disabilities may use a demonstrative sign for parking, and parking spaces reserved for this population are regulated by Law 1287 of 2009, which authorizes municipal and district authorities to establish, regulate, and charge legally permitted fees for these bays. Municipalities are responsible for ensuring that at least 2% of parking spaces in public and private facilities are accessible and properly marked, and sanctions apply both to establishments that fail to comply with construction requirements and to drivers who improperly occupy these spaces.

Decree 1538 of 2005 sets the requirements for reserving and locating accessible parking spaces in Colombia, mandating that all public buildings, commercial centers, residential complexes, and any facility with visitor parking must provide spaces for persons with reduced mobility, properly marked and meeting international dimensions. At least 2% of total parking spaces must be accessible, with no fewer than one designated spot, and these must be located near building entrances with appropriate ramps or level changes to ensure autonomous circulation. As established by law, municipal authorities are responsible for regulating and operating these parking bays—both public and private—and may charge the legally authorized fees.

Varies depending on local government policy

N/A

In Colombia, parking concessions for persons with disabilities operate only under the general framework previously described, and there is currently no mechanism linking parking benefits to holders of foreign driver’s licenses. Parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities follow the same national rules, and in Bogotá—where a pilot “Paid Parking Zones” program is administered by the city’s Transport Terminal—there are 9,368 on-street paid parking spaces, of which 102 are designated for persons with disabilities or reduced mobility. Each municipality or district is responsible for managing public parking spaces and overseeing off-street parking within its jurisdiction.

Name of Department/Ministry: Ministry of Tranport
Name of section responsible: Transit Subdirectorade
Email address for queries: servicioalciudadano@mintransporte.gov.co
Phone number for queries: +57 6013240800
Website: mintransporte.gov.co

In Colombia, vehicle adaptation services for persons with disabilities are provided by private companies that must comply with national technical regulations. Since January 1, 2018, the Ministry’s Homologation and Valuation Group has worked to ensure that microbuses, buses, intermunicipal vehicles, and mass transit fleets are accessible for persons with reduced mobility, in accordance with Resolution 4200 of 2016. This resolution mandates compliance with several Colombian Technical Standards (NTC 5206, 4901 series, and 5701) and certain UNECE Regulation 107 requirements, depending on the type of passenger transport service. These standards establish accessibility features, design specifications, and testing methods for public service vehicles. Lastly, vehicle rental companies operate under private-law rules, as Colombia has no specific regulation governing the rental of adapted vehicles.

In Colombia, the most recent information on vehicles adapted for persons with disabilities was collected through Circular 20224000000287_95821 on Accessibility, issued on December 29, 2022. The circular requested public transport companies—municipal, district, metropolitan, intercity, and special passenger services—to report the number of accessible vehicles in their fleets at that time. This information is currently undergoing an update.

Name of Department/Ministry: Ministry of Tranport
Name of section responsible: Transit Subdirectorade
Email address for queries: servicioalciudadano@mintransporte.gov.co
Phone number for queries: +57 6013240800
Website: mintransporte.gov.co