One of the most common questions we receive from entrepreneurs in Colombia, Venezuela and Argentina is: "Can I really sell on Amazon from my country?" The answer is yes — and thousands of Latin Americans are already doing it. What it does require is understanding exactly how the process works for each country, and that is precisely what this guide covers.
Yes. Amazon Seller Central is available for sellers from almost any country in the world, including Colombia, Venezuela and Argentina. However, there are important differences in how registration, payments and logistics work depending on your country of residence. This guide covers all of them.
Full access. COP or USD accounts accepted. Most straightforward registration of the three.
Access available. Requires external bank account (Payoneer recommended). Active Venezuelan seller community worldwide.
Full access. Payoneer widely used due to currency controls. Strong e-commerce community.
Registration is the same regardless of your country. You need:
International passport (most recommended for all LATAM countries), Colombian cédula de ciudadanía, Venezuelan cédula de identidad, or Argentine DNI. Amazon performs video identity verification.
All Colombian, Venezuelan and Argentine mobile plans are compatible. If you have a number from another country (e.g., US or Spain) that also works.
Required for the monthly account fee ($39.99 USD on Amazon US). Visa, Mastercard or Amex valid in all three countries. In Venezuela, many use cards from family abroad or international prepaid cards.
This is the most important point and the one that varies most by country. See the next section for the solution specific to your country.
Option 1: Local bank account in COP (Bancolombia, Davivienda, Nequi) — Amazon accepts direct international transfers in Colombian pesos.
Option 2: Payoneer — very popular, converts and deposits to your local account.
Fee: Amazon charges ~1.5% on currency conversion.
Recommended: Payoneer — accepts Venezuelan accounts and converts to dollars.
Option 2: US bank account (family/acquaintance) with owner's permission.
Option 3: Account in Panama, Colombia or Spain — widely used by the Venezuelan diaspora.
Note: Amazon does not accept bolívar accounts directly.
Recommended: Payoneer — the standard solution for Argentine sellers due to currency controls.
Option 2: USD account at an Argentine bank.
Key: The cepo cambiario does not block Amazon payments — Payoneer acts as intermediary and most resolve it within 1-2 business days.
Payoneer is the most widely used payment platform by Latin American Amazon sellers. It's free to register, accepts accounts from all LATAM countries, and Amazon recognizes it as an official payment method. Activation time: 2-5 business days.
"Being Venezuelan is not an obstacle to selling on Amazon — it's an advantage. We understand the Latin American entrepreneurial mindset, we know how to work with limited resources, and we have hunger for results. I've seen dozens of Venezuelans, Colombians and Argentines build profitable Amazon businesses from scratch." — Diego Medina F, Venezuelan, Founder of MerchandisePROS in Miami
World's largest market. 200M+ Prime buyers. Sales in USD. Requires inventory in the US (or supplier who ships there). Recommended if your product has universal demand or you already have a US/China supplier.
62M+ active buyers. Sales in MXN. Less competition than Amazon US. Ideal if you have contacts or suppliers in Mexico, or if you sell products with specific Latin American demand.
Over 60% of LATAM sellers on Amazon US use Alibaba to find a supplier in China who ships inventory directly to Amazon warehouses in the US. You never touch the product. Typical shipping cost: $1.50-$3.00 USD per kg via sea freight.
A prep center is a warehouse in the US that receives your inventory, labels it to Amazon FBA specs, and ships it to Amazon warehouses. Cost: $1-$2 USD per unit. Widely used by Argentine and Venezuelan sellers importing from other countries.
With FBM you handle shipping for each order. You can use DHL, FedEx or UPS from your country. No bulk inventory needed upfront. Ideal for testing the market before investing in FBA. International shipping cost is added to the product price.
Amazon pays in dollars to your Payoneer or bank account. There is no restriction from Amazon regarding the Venezuelan exchange rate. The dollars you receive are international dollars — you decide how to handle them locally according to current regulations.
The recommended minimum budget is $1,000-$2,000 USD: $39.99/month for the account, $500-$800 for the first inventory batch, and $200-$500 for initial advertising. With FBM you can start with less, without needing to send bulk inventory.
No. Amazon does not discriminate sellers by nationality. What it does require is identity verification and a valid bank account. Venezuela is not on the OFAC sanctions list for this type of commercial activity. Thousands of Venezuelans actively sell on Amazon from Venezuela and the diaspora.
Crafts, natural products, coffee, cacao and textiles have demand on Amazon. However, for most LATAM sellers the most profitable model is not exporting local products, but importing from China or buying from US distributors to resell. Our free audit helps identify the right model for your situation.
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