Chile

Scope

This guide covers owners, crew and passengers planning to visit Chile aboard private pleasure craft and summarises public maritime, immigration, customs and agricultural health requirements. Different authorities handle arrival and departure formalities separately. Visa and stay eligibility depend on individual nationality and entry category. Confirm current procedures with the intended entry port's harbourmaster and relevant authorities before departure.

Chile's Navigation Law requires reception inspections by the maritime authority at authorised ports and maritime clearance before departure. The maritime authority coordinates inspections by other agencies. Temporary admission for pleasure craft does not authorise paid commercial activity.

Maritime ports of entry

Chile's DIRECTEMAR requires vessels arriving from abroad to report in advance and undergo reception coordinated by the maritime authority at their first Chilean port. Port, customs and other authorities participate within their respective responsibilities. No nationwide official list expressly identifying ports offering complete entry clearance for foreign private yachts was found. Do not infer yacht-entry capability solely from a cargo quarantine port list. Before sailing, confirm reception with the intended port's local Capitanía de Puerto. Temporary operating restrictions and port status can be checked in DIRECTEMAR's SITPORT.

DIRECTEMAR Maritime Circular A-32/001 requires vessels entering Chilean jurisdictional waters from abroad to submit a pre-arrival application through SIAN or another paper/electronic method designated by the authority at least 24 hours before the expected port call. Apply for arrival reception at least 2 hours in advance. If valid vessel certificates and other documents are not yet in the system, the owner, master or agent must submit the documents listed in Annex A with the reception application. The original third-party claim of 48 hours conflicts with the official circular. Confirm available system access, current forms and documents required for this vessel category with the local maritime authority.

The Chilean maritime authority's Vessel Reception and Dispatch Regulations, amended through June 2025, provide for the Investigations Police of Chile (PDI) to check foreign-vessel passenger and crew travel documents at the first port. The regulations do not summarise nationality-based visa eligibility or yacht-crew stay exceptions; confirm with immigration authorities according to nationality.

Vessel customs

Chilean Customs provides a simplified temporary-admission procedure for foreign civilian vessels used non-commercially. Exempt Resolution No. 667 permits the entry customs office to process a Temporary Admission Declaration for Foreign Civilian Vessels for Non-commercial Use. The owner, authorised representative or master signs the declaration and submits the vessel registration certificate or equivalent. A representative must also provide a power of attorney.

Confirm the specific temporary-admission period, possible charges, extensions, crew changes, repairs, proposed sale or commercial activities directly with entry customs. Do not assume this simplified procedure automatically covers every vessel, flag or circumstance.

Quarantine and biosecurity

Chile's SAG requires each entrant to declare non-commercial animals, plants and their products carried on their person, in baggage or in the means of transport used. SAG border inspectors assess the goods and decide admissibility under applicable rules. Sea arrivals must also declare as required by the entry checkpoint. Confirm specific ship's stores and pet requirements with SAG beforehand.

On entering Chile, travellers must declare non-commercial animals, plants, their products, by-products and related goods carried personally or aboard. Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) inspectors inspect and determine whether each item meets entry conditions. Declaration does not itself authorise entry. Consult SAG's current list for specific items and conditions.

The Chilean maritime authority's Vessel Reception and Dispatch Regulations, amended through June 2025, require reception of foreign vessels by the maritime authority, with customs, PDI and health authorities participating as necessary. Departure requires maritime clearance and submission of a General Declaration. These are nationwide general vessel rules; confirm local yacht berthing, agents and processing times with the destination port.

Maritime clearance charges and departure

DIRECTEMAR's Regulations on Maritime Authority Fees and Dues, in the current website version updated through September 22, 2026, charge for vessel reception and departure despacho according to tonnage and vessel category, with separate rates for foreign vessels. Reception/departure services requested by the owner or agent on non-working days or outside working hours carry a 50% surcharge, and hourly charges for duty and office staff may also apply. Obtain a quote from the local maritime authority based on this vessel's gross tonnage, port, service category and processing time. These rates do not represent the combined total for customs, immigration, agents, pilotage or marinas. Before departure, apply for despacho under A-32/001 through SIAN or another designated method and comply with maritime and customs clearance requirements.