How to import from China to Chile: steps, taxes and documents
Requirements, a step-by-step process, duty and VAT with a real cost example, how to use the Chile–China FTA, and the mistakes that make an import cost more.
Supro Group team
Chile was the first country in Latin America to sign a free trade agreement with China, in force since 2006. Thanks to it, almost all Chinese goods can enter at 0% duty. But that benefit is not automatic: it depends on a document that many first-time importers forget to ask for. This guide sums up the requirements, the taxes and the timelines in plain language.
Before you start: what you need to have ready
- A RUT (tax ID) for the importing company with the SII (the Chilean tax authority), registered with the right business activity (giro) for what you will import.
- An agente de aduanas (customs agent): it is mandatory for imports over USD 1,000 FOB. Talk to one before you order, not after.
- SEC certification if your product is electrical or runs on fuel: it must be obtained before you sell.
- Compliance with the Ministry of Health (MINSAL/ISP) sanitary rules for food-contact articles, and with the ISP (Public Health Institute) for cosmetics.
- Wood packaging (pallets, crates) treated according to ISPM 15 and the rules of the SAG (Agricultural and Livestock Service).
The biggest single saving on an import from China to Chile is the FTA certificate of origin. The Chinese supplier requests it for each shipment, and it must match the invoice. Ask for it at the quotation stage, not when the cargo is already at sea.
Step by step
- Define the product, the quantity and the target price, and ask for a written quotation.
- Review and approve the samples before committing.
- Confirm the order with a proforma invoice and pay the deposit (usually 30%).
- During production, ask for progress photos; before shipment, an inspection with a report.
- Pay the balance and receive the documents: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading (B/L) and certificate of origin.
- Ocean transit: about 32–38 days to San Antonio or Valparaíso.
- Your customs agent files the import declaration and you pay the duty (if any) and the VAT.
- Once the goods are released, they leave the port for your warehouse.
Taxes: duty and VAT
In Chile, goods pay two main taxes. The general duty is 6% on the CIF value (goods, freight and insurance). Then 19% VAT (IVA) is charged on the CIF value plus the duty. For a VAT-registered company, that VAT is creditable. Some goods also pay additional taxes (for example, certain luxury goods and some beverages).
Under the Chile–China FTA, if the shipment arrives with a certificate of origin issued in China, almost all products pay 0% duty. Without the certificate, the general 6% applies. The Chinese supplier is the one who must request it; Supro can arrange it for you.
| Example: 5,000 units at USD 2.00 FOB, one 20' container to San Antonio | With certificate of origin (0%) | Without certificate (6%) |
|---|---|---|
| Goods (FOB) | 10,000.00 | 10,000.00 |
| Ocean freight (reference) | 2,100.00 | 2,100.00 |
| Insurance (0.5%) | 60.50 | 60.50 |
| CIF value | 12,160.50 | 12,160.50 |
| Duty | 0.00 | 729.63 |
| 19% VAT on CIF + duty | 2,310.49 | 2,449.12 |
| Port, customs agent and transport (reference) | 800.00 | 800.00 |
| Landed cost at warehouse | 15,270.99 | 16,139.25 |
| Per unit | 3.05 (2.59 without the creditable VAT) | 3.23 (2.74 without the creditable VAT) |
Freight and local charges change with the season and with your destination city. Use this as an order of magnitude and ask your customs agent for the figures for your product.
Mistakes that most often raise costs or cause delays
- Shipping without a certificate of origin, or with data that does not match the invoice: you lose the 0% and pay 6%.
- Discovering that the product needs SEC certification when it is already in Chile.
- Using untreated wooden pallets or crates: the SAG can order them treated, rejected or sent back.
- Not having the documents ready on arrival: every extra day at the port generates storage and container charges.
- Paying to a new bank account received by email without confirming it by phone.
- Confirming the order too late before Chinese New Year.
How Supro helps
We are a sourcing company in Shanghai that works with small and medium importers in Latin America, many of them on their first import. We coordinate samples, carry out a pre-shipment inspection with a photo report, and prepare the certificate of origin and the other documents so they match what your customs agent needs. Our team speaks Spanish, so you can solve your questions without intermediaries.
Summary
- You need a RUT with the right business activity and a customs agent for more than USD 1,000 FOB.
- With an FTA certificate of origin, almost everything enters at 0% duty; without it, you pay 6% on CIF.
- VAT is 19% on CIF plus duty, and it is creditable for VAT-registered companies.
- Before ordering, check SEC certification, sanitary rules and wood packaging.
- Allow about 32–38 days of transit to San Antonio or Valparaíso, plus production and customs.
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