🇨🇱 Chile · Import & Export
Customs procedures, duties, de minimis thresholds, EORI/registration, and restricted goods.
Quick answer
Chilean trade clears through the National Customs Service. You need a tax ID (RUT); imports above a value threshold must go through a licensed customs agent (agente de aduana). Goods are classified by HS code for the general 6% import duty — often zero under Chile's many FTAs — plus 19% VAT. Declarations are electronic.
Customs are administered by the National Customs Service (Servicio Nacional de Aduanas). Chile has an extensive network of free-trade agreements.
- Customs declarations are filed with the National Customs Service.
- Chile's free-trade agreements give preferential access to many markets.
- Duties and VAT are assessed on customs value and classification.
Step-by-step
- 1
Get a tax ID (RUT)
Have a Chilean tax ID (RUT); most importers do not need a special registry but engage a customs agent for formal entries.
- 2
Classify goods and check duty
Classify goods by HS code; the general import duty is 6%, but Chile’s wide FTA network often reduces it to zero with proof of origin.
- 3
Check controls and permits
Check whether goods need certificates or permits (health, agriculture, standards) from the relevant agency.
- 4
Handle duty and VAT
Pay any import duty and the 19% VAT on the CIF value plus duty at clearance.
- 5
Declare and clear
File the electronic import declaration (DIN) with documents (invoice, packing list, bill of lading), usually via the customs agent; Customs releases the goods.
- 6
Get rulings or resolve disputes
Request a classification ruling and use the Customs review/appeal process for disputes.
Checklist
- Tax ID (RUT)
- HS classification + FTA origin (duty often 0)
- Certificates/permits (health, agriculture, standards)
- Import duty (6% general) + 19% VAT
- Electronic import declaration (DIN)
- Invoice, packing list, B/L
- Customs agent (agente de aduana)
- Classification ruling / appeal route
Official authorities
- National Customs Service
Customs — declarations and duties.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a customs agent in Chile?
Imports above a set value must be processed through a licensed customs agent (agente de aduana); lower-value shipments can use simplified clearance.
What duty applies in Chile?
The general import duty is 6%, but Chile’s extensive FTA network means many goods enter at zero duty with valid proof of origin.
What is the VAT on imports?
VAT (IVA) of 19% applies to imports on the CIF value plus customs duty.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.