Importing Goods into Chile from the USA
Foreign workers who are thinking of getting a job in Chile will be glad to know that Chilean customs authorities will not charge them the normal duties for their personal properties and household goods. Of course, this will depend on the type of merchandise that will be brought into the country. Typically though, this should include any item that a person uses for his own personal convenience.
Strangely, this does not include motor vehicles as these carry comparatively higher charges under present Chilean customs regulations. The same thing applies to a variety of brand-new products such as furniture and exquisite merchandise like pearls and precious stones.
The importation of motor vehicles should be of particular interest to the average Chilean tourist. Apart from having generally high customs taxes, these are allowed entry into the country only on a temporary basis. The maximum staying period is three months which starts on the entry date. Unfortunately, even if a tourist gets to have an extension of his tourist visa, this cannot be applied to his imported car. As such, after 90 days and the vehicle is found to have remained in Chile, this will be tagged as illegal and will be treated accordingly under existing Chilean road safety regulations.
It is perhaps this 90-day temporary stay for imported vehicles that has prompted Chilean customs to loosen up on the requirements for this particular merchandise. Fully aware that the automobile will only remain in Chile for a limited period of time, customs officials only ask for the original copy of the purchase invoice when making the needed inspection.
Yet, this is not the case for all foreign tourists visiting Chile. For instance, travelers entering the country from its border posts with Bolivia and Peru are required to fill up a temporary import document if they wish to bring in an automobile to Chile. They are then asked to submit their proof of tourist status to the International Police Service along with several documents showing the validity of the car that is intended to be imported.
On the other hand, tourists from Argentina are given the privilege of using the driving licenses obtained from their very own country. This privilege is not necessarily extended to tourists from other nations. At most, what they are allowed to use are international driving licenses secured from their country of origin.
Driving in Chile can also be a bit awkward for many. This is because Chileans drive on the right side of the road. They also happen to be law abiding as they make it a point to wear a seat belt whenever they drive. As such, when thinking of shipping in a motor vehicle to the country, several modifications may have to be made in order to conform with existing Chilean traffic rules.
Additionally, look into the make and model of the vehicle set to be imported. Consider its present market value, the transmission type and the cubic capacity of the engine. These are often the areas that Chilean customs take into account when trying to determine the appropriate duties for the vehicle.