Latin America
ChileChina sourcing guide
Plan your purchase from China, with supplier checks, import paperwork and delivery considered before shipment.
Discuss your sourcing needsPlan your first order
- Decide whether the buy is a low-value remote purchase or a formal commercial import.
- Check whether the selling platform is registered under SII's IVA-goods regime when relevant.
- Review Aduanas restrictions and confirm whether the product needs prior authorization.
- Prepare commercial invoice, transport documents, and proof of origin if you want preferential China treatment.
- Confirm whether the shipment fits the DIPS courier route or needs a Declaración de Ingreso.
- Set up SICEX or customs-agent support before the cargo arrives.
- Model ordinary import taxes if the transaction does not stay inside the simplified regime.
Import requirements
Start by deciding whether the shipment is a low-value remote purchase or a formal import, then align Aduanas, SII, and origin paperwork accordingly.
- SII IVA Bienes
- Aduanas
- SICEX
- Origin proof
Chile's remote-goods IVA regime is live
SII says platforms could register from August 1, 2025 and the IVA-on-goods regime for remote purchases up to USD 500 took effect on October 25, 2025.
SII IVA BienesThe first 2026 cycle is already defined
SII identifies January 20, 2026 as the first quarterly filing deadline under the IVA-goods system, which signals that the regime is fully active in 2026 operations.
SII IVA BienesOrdinary import taxes still exist outside the simplified lane
SII's indirect-tax guidance explains the ordinary import structure, including ad valorem customs duty and VAT, subject to reductions where trade agreements apply.
SII indirect taxesCourier simplification has a ceiling
Aduanas states that courier imports up to USD 1,000 FOB can use the DIPS route, while higher-value shipments move into formal Declaración de Ingreso handling.
Aduanas courier resolutionFrom order to delivery
Check which regime applies
Confirm whether IVA was already handled through the low-value remote-goods regime or whether the cargo must be processed as an ordinary import.
Present customs documents
Submit the DIPS file or the full Declaración de Ingreso package depending on the shipment value and route.
Clear taxes and review
Settle the taxes or charges due and be ready for aforo or any other customs review step at arrival.
Release the goods
Move the goods out quickly once release is granted so the first order becomes a clean model for the next one.
Market context
Chile still works well for disciplined small buyers in 2026 because low-value remote purchases now have a clearer IVA regime, while formal commercial imports can still benefit from the Chile-China trade framework when origin rules are met.
Chile is comparatively beginner-friendly
Official Chilean rules now separate smaller remote purchases from larger formal imports more clearly, which gives beginners a cleaner first step than many other Latin American markets.
The China trade framework still matters
Chile continues to publish the Chile-China agreement structure through SUBREI, so origin planning can still improve landed-cost outcomes for formal commercial cargo.
Clarity beats improvisation
The real edge in Chile is knowing which tax and customs route applies before the goods ship, not trying to solve the route at the airport or port.
Choosing your sourcing partners
- Work with partners who can tell the difference between the IVA-goods route and a formal import without guesswork.
- Ask whether they can support origin proof and Chile-China agreement documentation when relevant.
- Prefer brokers or sourcing teams who understand DIPS thresholds and when a customs agent becomes necessary.
- Look for strong pre-arrival document review rather than only freight booking support.