Shipping boxes to and from Chile
Chile treats small personal shipments kindly. Since October 2025, an occasional, non-commercial box worth up to USD 500 FOB, such as a gift or your own used things, can enter free of both duty and IVA. Above that, expect 6% duty plus 19% IVA. Give the receiver's RUT, and take care with food: the agriculture service (SAG) inspects parcels and destroys anything that doesn't comply.
- Typical transit
- 3-5 business days from North America or Europe; 4-7 from Asia
- Currency
- CLP
- Duty-free up to
- Occasional, non-commercial shipments worth up to USD 500 FOB (about CLP 463,000), such as gifts or your own used belongings, are free of duty and IVA under tariff heading 00.23, subject to customs review
- Receiver ID
- RUT (Rol Único Tributario)
Price a shipment to Chile
Choose where it's from and where it's going.
What it costs to ship boxes from the US to Chile
- 1 medium box (16 × 16 × 16 in, 20 lb)$264.86delivered in 3 to 5 business days
- 5 medium boxes (30 lb each)$1,324.31 totalabout $264.86 a box
Includes pickup at your door, express delivery, fuel and prepared customs paperwork. Import duties and taxes, if any, are set by Chile and paid by the receiver. Prices updated November 2, 2026.
Get my exact priceSending to Chile
Duties and taxes1234510
- Duty-free threshold
- Occasional, non-commercial shipments worth up to USD 500 FOB (about CLP 463,000), such as gifts or your own used belongings, are free of duty and IVA under tariff heading 00.23, subject to customs review. Online purchases work differently: up to USD 500 they pay no duty but do pay 19% IVA, usually charged at checkout by platforms registered with the tax service. The old USD 41 tax-free limit ended on October 25, 2025.
- Import tax
- IVA (Impuesto al Valor Agregado) at 19%, charged on the CIF value plus duty. Above the exemption, customs duty is 6% of the CIF value. Used goods outside the exemptions pay a 50% surcharge on that duty, so 9% in total. Goods with proof of origin from a trade-agreement partner may pay less duty.
- How value is worked out
- The duty-free and courier limits (USD 500 and USD 3,000) are FOB values: the goods only, without shipping. Duty and IVA are then calculated on the CIF value: goods plus freight and insurance. Declare a fair second-hand value for used goods. Limits are set in US dollars, and Aduana publishes monthly equivalencies between the dollar and other currencies using Banco Central de Chile data. For menaje, value is the normal second-hand price in the country where the goods were bought, less wear for years of use.
- Who pays
- Shipments are sent DAP. The receiver pays any duties and taxes before or on delivery. The courier may add a clearance or disbursement fee.
- Moving there?
- Chileans returning for good after more than 6 months abroad can bring used household goods (menaje) and work tools free of duty and IVA: up to USD 675 FOB after 6-12 months abroad, USD 4,050 after 1-5 years, and USD 6,750 after more than 5 years, for the whole family. Foreigners arriving with a temporary residence or work-contract visa for a year or more can bring menaje up to USD 6,750 FOB free of duty and IVA, plus work tools up to USD 2,025 FOB that pay duty but no IVA. Goods must be used, owned before you arrive, sent in your name, and arrive within 120 days before or after you.
Worked example
Illustrative: a box of used books and kitchenware worth USD 900 FOB. With USD 100 of freight and insurance, the CIF value is USD 1,000 (about CLP 925,000). Assumes no trade-agreement origin is claimed, so the used-goods surcharge applies.
Duty: 6% plus the 50% used-goods surcharge = 9% x USD 1,000 = USD 90. IVA: 19% x (USD 1,000 + USD 90) = USD 207.10. Total USD 297.10.
About USD 297 (about CLP 275,000), plus any courier fee. The same kind of box worth USD 500 FOB or less, sent occasionally and non-commercially, would owe nothing.
How customs clearance works in Chile14
Express couriers present every shipment to Aduana electronically on a courier manifest, with the receiver's RUT on each waybill. Exempt shipments up to USD 500 FOB clear on the waybill alone. Taxable shipments up to USD 3,000 FOB clear on a simplified declaration (DIPS Courier) that the courier files and pays, then bills to the receiver.
- Formal entry
- Above USD 3,000 FOB, a licensed customs agent (agente de aduana) must file a full import declaration. Several waybills to the same receiver on one manifest can be grouped toward this limit.
- How long it takes
- Often 1-3 business days after arrival when the RUT and values are in order. Longer if SAG, ISP, or another agency must approve something first.
- Inspections
- Every courier shipment is subject to customs control, with risk-based selection for physical exam or X-ray. Aduana says it keeps reviewing 100% of low-value shipments for drugs, fakes, and missing permits. Anything needing SAG or ISP approval is held until it is approved.
- If duties go unpaid
- Shipments can stay at the courier's customs facility for up to 30 days. After that they fall into presumed abandonment and a surcharge applies. A receiver who does nothing within 5 calendar days of a certified-letter notice is treated as refusing the shipment, which can then be returned abroad or handed over to customs.
Moving to Chile: claiming duty relief25
- 01
Check you qualify
Chileans returning for good after more than 6 months abroad, or foreigners arriving with a temporary residence or work-contract visa for a year or more.
- 02
Know your limit
Returning Chileans: USD 675 (6-12 months abroad), USD 4,050 (1-5 years), or USD 6,750 (over 5 years) FOB for the whole family. Foreigners: menaje up to USD 6,750 and work tools up to USD 2,025 FOB.
- 03
Prove your time abroad
Returning Chileans need the PDI travel certificate (Certificado de Viajes), no older than 30 days. The stay abroad must be continuous, with only short breaks allowed.
- 04
Ship in your name, on time
Goods must be used, owned before you arrive, consigned to you, and arrive within 120 days before or after you. Aduana can extend this once in justified cases.
- 05
Keep them for a year
Franchise goods can't be sold, rented, or lent within a year unless you pay the duty and taxes.
Documents to have ready158
- Receiver's RUT (tell the courier in advance if the receiver doesn't have one yet)
- Itemized packing list with a fair value for each item, marked as used personal effects or gift
- For menaje: the PDI travel certificate (Certificado de Viajes, no older than 30 days) for returning Chileans, or the residence visa for foreigners, plus a valued list of the goods
- ISP authorization (CDA for personal use) for any medicines or cosmetics
- Copy of the receiver's ID card or passport
RUT (Rol Único Tributario): Courier waybills sent to Chilean customs must carry the receiver's valid RUT. If the receiver has no RUT yet, the courier may file a temporary generic RUT but must correct it within 30 days of arrival, so tell the courier before you ship. We ask for it during booking.
Onvoyo prepares the commercial invoice from your contents list. You print three copies, sign them, and send them with your boxes.
Official forms158
- DIPS Courier (Declaración de Importación de Pago Simultáneo) (opens in a new tab)
Simplified import declaration the courier files and pays for taxable shipments up to USD 3,000 FOB.
- Certificado de destinación aduanera y uso provisional para uso personal (ISP) (opens in a new tab)
Authorization to import medicines, cosmetics, or medical devices for personal use.
- Certificado de Viajes (PDI) (opens in a new tab)
Record of entries and exits that returning Chileans use to prove time abroad for menaje.
- Solicitud para calificar de ininterrumpida la permanencia en el extranjero (opens in a new tab)
Request to have a stay abroad with breaks treated as continuous for the menaje franchise.
- Declaración Jurada Conjunta SAG-Aduana (opens in a new tab)
Travelers' arrival declaration for plant and animal products and cash over the limit.
What you can pack, category by category1678
| Category | Status | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing and shoesMore on clothes | Allowed | Used clothing for personal use is fine. Occasional, non-commercial boxes up to USD 500 FOB can clear free of duty and IVA. |
| Books and papersMore on books | Allowed | Books and printed papers are welcome. |
| ElectronicsMore on electronics | Conditions | Personal quantities only, with batteries installed in the device. |
| MedicationMore on medicine | Conditions | Needs ISP authorization (CDA for personal use) with a prescription. Apply before shipping. |
| FoodMore on food | Conditions | SAG inspects all food of plant or animal origin. No fresh or raw meat. Send only sealed, labeled, commercially made products, and declare them. |
| Cosmetics and toiletriesMore on cosmetics | Conditions | Need ISP authorization like medicines. No aerosols or nail polish. |
| Alcohol and tobaccoMore on alcohol or tobacco | Not allowed | Couriers generally refuse alcohol and tobacco in personal boxes. Travelers' allowances don't apply to shipments. |
| Sports and outdoor gearMore on sports and outdoor gear | Conditions | Clean off soil and plant matter. No fuel canisters, flares, or pepper spray. |
| Children's items and toysMore on toys and baby gear | Allowed | Used toys are fine. Remove loose batteries. |
| Documents and photosMore on documents and photos | Allowed | Personal papers and photos are fine and carry no duty. |
| Other | Conditions | Plants, seeds, wooden crafts, and items made with animal parts go through SAG inspection. Declare them clearly. |
Quantity limits15
| Item | Limit |
|---|---|
| Personal shipments | Occasional, non-commercial shipments up to USD 500 FOB: no duty and no IVA, subject to customs review. |
| Tobacco (travelers only) | 400 cigarettes, 500 g of pipe tobacco, and 50 cigars per adult traveler. Does not apply to shipments. |
| Alcohol (travelers only) | 2.5 liters of alcoholic drinks per adult traveler. Does not apply to shipments. |
| Medicines | Travelers may carry amounts suited to their needs and stay, over the counter or with a prescription. Shipped medicines need ISP authorization. |
| Gifts (travelers only) | New or used gifts up to USD 300 per traveler over 14, carried in baggage. |
| Cash (travelers) | Declare cash or bearer instruments over USD 10,000 (about CLP 9.3 million) to customs on arrival. |
What you can't send to Chile13678
Not allowed
- Aerosols, spray cans, and compressed gas cylinders
- Flammable liquids and solids: fuel, lighter fluid, paint, nail polish, matches
- Loose or spare lithium batteries and power banks not installed in a device
- Cash, gift cards, checks, and other negotiable items
- Firearms, ammunition, replicas, and weapon parts
- Perishable food, and meat, dairy, or fresh produce
- Cannabis, CBD, and THC products, even where they are legal at origin
- Used or retreaded tires
- Asbestos in any form
- Fireworks and pyrotechnic articles
- Tear gas, pepper spray, and similar chemical self-defense products
- Pornographic material
- Cultural property taken illegally from another country
Allowed with conditions
- Medicines, cosmetics, and medical devices
- Need a Customs Destination Certificate with provisional-use authorization (CDA) from the Public Health Institute (ISP). Apply online with a prescription showing the treatment length, the invoice or receipt, and the transport document. Allow about 15 business days.
- Food and products of plant or animal origin
- SAG inspects them and destroys items that don't comply. Fresh or raw meat is banned. Most cheeses are allowed, but fresh cheese has conditions. Honey and bee products have conditions, with extra limits for Easter Island (Rapa Nui).
- Crafts made with bone, horn, feathers, hair, or leather
- Allowed only if they can be fully inspected and show no traces of blood, tissue, soil, or other organic matter.
- Pet food and treats
- Must be commercially made, labeled, and factory-sealed, with limits on ruminant meat-and-bone meal.
- Used goods above the exemptions
- Pay the normal duty plus a 50% surcharge on it (9% instead of 6%), plus IVA.
- Shipments over USD 3,000 FOB
- Need a licensed customs agent and a full import declaration. Several waybills to the same receiver on one manifest can be grouped toward this limit.
Sending from Chile
Shipping boxes out of Chile19
Sending your own belongings out of Chile by express courier is straightforward. For shipments up to USD 3,000 FOB, the courier files a simplified export declaration (DUSSI) for you. Anything that needs a permit must have it before the courier hands the boxes to customs.
Documents
- Itemized packing list with fair values, marked as used personal effects or gift
- Sender's ID card or passport; the courier may ask for your RUT
- Export authorization from the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes for original artworks
- Export license from the Consejo de Monumentos Nacionales or CONADI for heritage or Indigenous heritage items
Can't leave the country
- Archaeological and paleontological items, including fossils, cannot be exported permanently
- Original paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints need an exit authorization
- Items of Indigenous historical heritage need an export license from CONADI
- Couriers will not carry cash or negotiable instruments
Before pickup
- Buying crafts to send home? Keep receipts that show they are modern pieces.
- Don't pack anything that looks archaeological unless you can prove it is a replica.
- Describe contents clearly. Vague lists slow checks.
- Check the destination's customs rules. The receiving country decides duties.
Addresses, delivery and timing4
Writing the address
Write the street name and number, then the apartment (depto.), then the comuna (district), city, and region. Add the seven-digit postal code if you know it. The comuna matters most for routing.
Camila ExampleCalle Los Aromos 1234, Depto. 56Providencia7500000 SantiagoRegión MetropolitanaChileExample only; not a real address.
Delivery coverage
Fastest to: Santiago, Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Concepción, La Serena, Antofagasta, Temuco, Rancagua, Puerto Montt.
Remote areas: Easter Island (Rapa Nui), the Juan Fernández Islands, and the far south (Aysén and Magallanes, including Punta Arenas and Puerto Williams) can add several days and surcharges. Small towns in the far north and in the Andes may be served from a regional hub.
Low-value courier imports enter through the Santiago metropolitan customs office, then travel on the courier's domestic network. Give the receiver's phone number so the courier can arrange payment and delivery.
When things slow down
Expect slower service around Fiestas Patrias (September 18-19), during online sales events such as CyberDay and Black Friday, and from Christmas through New Year. January and February are the summer holiday months, when some offices run slower.
Advice for your situation
Students
Foreign students with a temporary residence permit for a year or more may qualify for the foreigners' menaje allowance; check with Aduana first. Otherwise keep boxes occasional, non-commercial, and at USD 500 FOB or less where that is honest.
Returning home
Chileans back after more than 6 months abroad can bring used household goods tax-free up to USD 675, 4,050, or 6,750 FOB depending on time away. Get the PDI travel certificate and ship within 120 days of your return.
Expats and relocations
Foreigners with a temporary residence or work-contract visa for a year or more can bring menaje up to USD 6,750 FOB free of duty and IVA. After the 120-day window, household goods pay full duty and IVA plus the used-goods surcharge, and you need a customs agent.
Tips for a smooth delivery
- Keep each shipment occasional, non-commercial, and honestly valued. At USD 500 FOB or less it can clear free of duty and IVA.
- Get the receiver's RUT before you book. The courier needs it for every waybill.
- Leave out fresh food, plants, and seeds. SAG destroys items that don't meet its rules.
- Sending medicine or cosmetics? Apply for ISP authorization first. It takes about 15 business days.
- Moving home to Chile? Ship in your own name so the boxes arrive within 120 days of you, and get the PDI travel certificate.
Shipping to and from Chile: questions
Is there a tax-free limit for packages to Chile in 2026?
Yes, for occasional, non-commercial shipments that are not purchases, such as gifts or your own belongings, worth up to USD 500 FOB: no duty and no IVA. Online purchases up to USD 500 pay 19% IVA but no duty. The old USD 41 limit ended in October 2025.
How much will the receiver pay above USD 500?
Duty of 6% on the CIF value (goods plus shipping and insurance), or 9% for used goods because of the used-goods surcharge, plus 19% IVA on the CIF value and duty. Proof of trade-agreement origin can lower the duty.
Do I need a RUT to receive a package in Chile?
Yes. Courier waybills must carry the receiver's RUT. If the receiver doesn't have one yet, tell the courier before shipping so it can be sorted out.
Can I bring my household goods to Chile tax-free when I move?
Returning Chileans (after more than 6 months abroad) and foreigners with a temporary residence or work-contract visa for a year or more can bring used household goods tax-free up to set limits, if they arrive within 120 days before or after you.
Can I send medicine to Chile?
Only with authorization from the Public Health Institute (ISP). Apply for the personal-use CDA with a prescription and the shipping document before the box arrives.
How long does shipping boxes to Chile take?
Express door-to-door usually takes 3-5 business days from North America or Europe and 4-7 from Asia, plus time for customs and any SAG inspection.
How do I ship boxes from Chile to another country?
Book an express courier and list every item with a fair value. For shipments up to USD 3,000 FOB the courier files a simplified export declaration. The receiver pays any import charges at the other end.
What can't I send from Chile?
Archaeological and paleontological items (including fossils) can't be exported, and original artworks need an exit permit. Couriers also refuse aerosols, flammables, loose batteries, weapons, and cash.
Official help in Chile
- Servicio Nacional de Aduanas: Contáctanos (OIRS) (opens in a new tab)
Online forms for questions and complaints. OIRS phone line: 600 760 0502.
- Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG) (opens in a new tab)
Questions about food, plant, and animal products: 600 818 1724 or the online contact form.
Official sources
Every section above is checked against these official pages. Rules change, and customs in Chile makes the final decision on every shipment. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
- 1.
Servicio Nacional de Aduanas de Chile
Capítulo 7: Mercancías sujetas a Despacho Especial (opens in a new tab)Customs · checked September 26, 2026
- 2.
Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile (Ley Chile)
Decreto Ley 825, Ley sobre Impuesto a las Ventas y Servicios (opens in a new tab)Legislation · checked September 26, 2026
- 3.
Servicio Nacional de Aduanas de Chile
¿Cuáles son los impuestos que debo pagar al importar? (opens in a new tab)Customs · checked September 26, 2026
- 4.
Servicio Nacional de Aduanas de Chile
Compras online internacionales: IVA se pagará en las plataformas y Aduanas seguirá fiscalizando el 100% de los envíos (opens in a new tab)Customs · checked September 26, 2026
- 5.
Servicio Nacional de Aduanas de Chile
Preguntas Franquicia Viajeros & Turistas (opens in a new tab)Customs · checked September 26, 2026
- 6.
Servicio Nacional de Aduanas de Chile
¿Qué mercancías puedo importar y cuales están prohibidas? (opens in a new tab)Customs · checked September 26, 2026
- 7.
Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG)
Productos que podrían ingresar en equipajes y medios de transporte (opens in a new tab)Biosecurity · checked September 26, 2026
- 8.
ChileAtiende (Instituto de Salud Pública procedure)
Certificado de destinación aduanera y uso provisional para uso personal (opens in a new tab)Government · checked September 26, 2026
- 9.
Servicio Nacional del Patrimonio Cultural
Preguntas frecuentes acerca de bienes patrimoniales (opens in a new tab)Government · checked September 26, 2026
- 10.
Servicio Nacional de Aduanas de Chile
Equivalencias septiembre 2026 (opens in a new tab)Customs · checked September 26, 2026