Chile - Clearance

Chile Pre-Arrival Procedures for Yachts

Capitan de Puerto

All captains of foreign flagged yachts must contact the corresponding "Capitán de Puerto" or port authority, not later than 48 hours before arrival (all emails and contact details of the Capitanías de Puerto are available from the Armada de Chile website. The port authority will notify the other agencies.

MRCC Chile

Upon entering the Chilean area of SAR responsibility (this is well beyond the Chilean economic zone - in the Pacific it extends to 131ºW), captains should submit a daily position report to MRCC [mrccchile@directemar.cl] with position, course speed and Port/ETA.

Chile Arrival Procedures for Yachts

Ports of Entry:

This is a list of relevant ports from North to South (see Main Ports for details):

Arica, Iquique, Mejillones, Antofagasta, Valporaiso and surrounding marinas, Talcahuano, Valdivia, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, Puerto Williams.

While both Puerto Natales and Chacabuco are first ports of entry and are used by yachts already ‘in country’, they are both a long way from the ocean and ‘questions will be asked’ as to why you had not cleared in earlier.

General Yacht Clearance Process for Chile:

Captains are not requested to hire or pay a customs agent or representative.

Foreign vessels arriving directly from a foreign port must immediately contact the corresponding Capitanía de Puerto. (If using VHF Ch. 16: "Capuerto Valdivia", or "Capuerto Williams", etc.).

The Capitanía de Puerto will coordinate with Immigration (PDI - Policia de Investigaciones), SAG (Quarantine) and Aduana (Customs) to arrange a visit to the boat. No crew must disembark until authorised by the maritime authority.

• Quarantine (SAG - Servicio Agricola y Ganadero): From January 2016, "SAG" (the authority responsible for preventing the introduction of alien flora and fauna into Chile) has implemented the law requiring the declaration of any fresh fruit, vegetables, meat or other animal products on board. Any such item may be confiscated and destroyed. There is a fine for not declaring such itemsof over US$4000. Only the skipper needs to sign for his or her vessel and the crew using this form: Joint CUSTOMS-SAG sworn declaration which can also be given to you on arrival. This procedure may have to be repeated at every Chilean port visited. SAG website.
• Health: The Maritime Health Department may also visit the yacht. In Arica they always do, and they charge more than US$200 for the inspection.
• Customs (Aduana): All visiting yachts are issued with a 12-month temporary import permit. For details see the Customs section.

Foreign-flagged yachts arriving from another Chilean port must immediately contact the port captain on VHF Channel 16, who may inform the captain of the vessel that within 24 hours he needs to visit the maritime authority office to report his arrival (this varies from port to port).

Domestic Cruising in Chile

Daily Report:

Chilean waters are not free to roam. The Armada de Chile (the Navy) controls all movement and they keep a close watch on foreign yachts.

Remember, throughout your time cruising in Chile, a daily position report should be sent to MRCC with position, course, speed and ETA to next port. For coastal cruising the local MRCC e-mail address will be listed on your domestic zarpe (see below) - for example if leaving from Puerto Williams it will give mrccpuntaarenas@directemar.cl. The full list of MRCC e-mail addresses can be found at https://sarcontacts.info/countries/chile/.

This can also be communicated via VHF if within range. HF radio channel 4146.0 kHz.

It's recommended to keep a daily Radio Log of all attempts and contacts.

Only a single, daily e-mail is required/expected.

Zarpe:

A domestic Zarpe is required to move from one Chilean port to another. In the domestic zarpe you will have to detail all onwards stopovers in Chile and the ETA for your final port in Chile.

A domestic zarpe should be requested from the local Capitaneria within 24 hours of  departure. If departure is delayed beyond 24 hours, contact the Port Captain’s office for an extension.

Foreign yachts requiring emergency help from the Chilean Navy or using the Chilean SAR may have to pay for these services.

Chile Departure Procedures for Yachts

For Domestic Clearance see above.

International Yacht Clearance from Chile:

An international Zarpe should be requested the day before departure as a considerable amount of visits to different offices may be required. Start with the Port captain and then expect to have to visit both Aduana and DPI before returning to the Port Captain’s office for it to be finalized. If departure is delayed beyond 24 hours, contact the Port Captain’s office for an extension.

Clearance rules may vary from port to port:

• Boats will get into trouble by not going through the correct procedure when leaving Puerto Williams for Ushuaia, in neighbouring Argentina, a routine trip which many boats do on a regular basis.
• Those intending to cruise northwards through the Beagle Channel may not stop at Ushuaia, if they do, they must return to Puerto Williams to go through all the formalities again.
• In Puerto Montt zarpes will be issued all the way to Puerto Williams, however, the Armada will request that a daily check-in is made to monitor movements.
• An Argentine permit is not required to go from Chile to the Falklands, however if you ever plan to visit Argentina in the future it will pay to have one.
• Recently, requesting proof of insurance has generally been abandoned due to the difficulty of identifying genuine, valid papers.

In Chile, local officials can (and do) modify the official regulations.  The best advice to dress smartly, be helpful and patient.

Last updated:  August 2023