Customs Clearance in Chile
Import entries into Chile are administered by Servicio Nacional de Aduanas de Chile. Cargo typically sits 2–6 days at the gateway before release, and most of that window is documentation rather than physical inspection. We handle the entry itself — classification, valuation, duty and tax settlement, and the release — either as part of a delivered duty-paid movement or as a standalone brokerage service on cargo somebody else is shipping.
Clearance profile — Chile
| Customs authority | Servicio Nacional de Aduanas de Chile |
|---|---|
| Duty and tax | IVA 19%; general duty 6%, but 0% on most goods under the China–Chile free trade agreement with a valid certificate of origin |
| De-minimis | USD 41 for courier consignments |
| Certification | SEC certification for electrical products; SAG clearance for wood packaging and agricultural goods |
| Typical port dwell | 2–6 days |
| Sea gateways | San Antonio, Valparaíso, Coronel |
| Air gateways | SCL (Santiago) |
Compiled from the destination customs authority and port operators as a buyer-planning reference. It is not a customs ruling — the binding position depends on your HS heading and the consignee's status.
What we do on the entry
- Classification. We agree the HS heading before the cargo sails, not after it lands. A heading argued at the border costs storage every day it runs.
- Valuation. We build the customs value the way Chile expects it — including or excluding freight and insurance according to the local rule, with the supporting evidence attached.
- Entry filing and duty settlement. Lodged in the consignee's name or, where the market allows it, under our own importer arrangement.
- Release and onward delivery. Terminal release, any inspection attendance, and delivery to the door if you want the movement quoted duty-paid.
What actually holds shipments here
FTA preference depends on a correctly issued certificate of origin; without it the 6% general rate applies. SAG inspects wood packaging strictly — ISPM-15 treatment must be visible and valid. SEC certification is required for electrical goods.
None of that is unusual, but all of it is easier to resolve before the container sails than after it arrives.
How the lane behaves
Chile was the first South American country to sign a free trade agreement with China, and most goods now enter at 0% duty against a valid certificate of origin — leaving 19% IVA as the main landed-cost element. Clearance at San Antonio and Valparaíso is comparatively fast and predictable by regional standards, which makes Chile a common first market for exporters testing South America.
Documents we will ask for
- Commercial invoice and packing list matching the goods exactly
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Certificate of origin where a preference is claimed
- Consignee registration or tax identifier for the market
- Product certification, permits or licences where the commodity requires them
Mismatches between the invoice and the transport document are the single most common reason an entry is queried. We check them before filing rather than after a query lands.
Clearing agents in Chile
Our entries in Chile are filed by licensed local brokers, not sub-contracted blind. If you hold a customs broker licence or AEO authorisation here, we are open to adding capacity — we send referred volume from an ocean freight book that already discharges at your gateways.
The network is vetted rather than open: licence verification with the issuing authority, insurance, two contactable references and supervised trial entries before any unsupervised volume.
Apply to become our Chile clearance partner →Freight rates into Chile
Clearance is quoted alongside the freight. These are the priced lanes we currently run into this market.
- Ningbo to Antofagasta FCL Ocean Freight Rates | 20GP & 40HQ
- Ningbo to Iquique Container Shipping — 40NOR Rates
- Ningbo to San Antonio Container Shipping — 40HQ Rates
- Shanghai to Iquique Container Shipping — 40NOR Rates
- Shanghai to Valparaiso Container Shipping — 40NOR Rates
- Shanghai–San Antonio Sea Freight: Container Rates and Schedule
- Ship Shanghai to Antofagasta — FCL Container Cost from China
- Ship Yantian to Antofagasta — FCL Container Cost from China
Destination guide
Gateways, inland legs, port behaviour and seasonal pressure for Chile — the background this clearance page assumes.
Chile destination guide →Common questions
Who administers customs clearance in Chile?
Import entries are administered by Servicio Nacional de Aduanas de Chile.
How long does clearance take in Chile?
Cargo typically sits 2–6 days at the gateway. Complete paperwork lodged before arrival is what keeps a shipment at the short end of that range.
What duty and tax applies in Chile?
IVA 19%; general duty 6%, but 0% on most goods under the China–Chile free trade agreement with a valid certificate of origin The rate that applies to your shipment depends on the HS heading — send the specification for a firm figure.
Can you clear cargo in Chile that you did not ship?
Yes. Brokerage is available as a standalone service on cargo moved by another forwarder, as well as bundled into a duty-paid movement we carry ourselves.
Do you work with local brokers in Chile?
Yes — our clearance network is built on vetted local licence holders. Brokers in this market can apply to join through our partner programme.