International: Chile

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

International Road Transport Permit (Permiso Originario)

Yes

Required for cross-border road moves in the mover’s own trucks. The ATIT is a land transport agreement among Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. Under it, each country grants an “original permit” (permiso originario) to its own carriers, authorizing international road transport of goods. Chile’s original permit covers freight between Chile and Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, or Uruguay. It is issued by the Subsecretaría de Transportes through the MTT’s Department of International Affairs in Santiago or the regional transport office, is valid for 10 years for freight, can be renewed for a similar period, and has no fee. The application lists each truck to be used, with a current registration certificate and a dimensions certificate from an authorized inspection plant.

Ownership and Establishment Conditions

Yes. Under ATIT Article 22, original permits are granted only to companies constituted under the issuing country’s law with a real domicile in its territory, and more than half of the company’s capital and its effective control must be held by nationals (or naturalized citizens) of that country. Chile’s application asks companies for their incorporation documents and a certified copy of their shareholder register, and asks individual applicants for proof of Chilean nationality and residence.

Complementary Permits in Other Countries (Permiso Complementario)

Required for each destination or transit country. After granting an original permit, Chile issues a certificate of suitability (“documento de idoneidad”) that the carrier presents to the transport authority of each other ATIT country it will enter, to obtain that country’s complementary permit. The carrier must also appoint a legal representative in that country. In the same way, a foreign carrier entering Chile must obtain a Chilean complementary permit from the MTT.

Occasional Permit (Permiso Ocasional)

Available for occasional international freight trips. Chile also issues occasional bilateral permits for freight between Chile and Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, or Uruguay, valid for 90 to 180 days depending on the country. The ownership-related documents required are the same as for the original permit.

Moves Between Two Points in Chile Through Argentina

Covered by a specific agreement. A Chile-Argentina transit agreement, approved by Decree Law 618 of 1974, governs land transport linking two points within the same country through the other’s territory (for example, between central Chile and the far south via Argentina). Available sources indicate that Chile’s original permit covers this route.

Cabotage Restrictions

Yes. Foreign-registered trucks may not carry goods between two points in Chile, and Chilean trucks with international permits may not carry goods between two neighboring countries. The MTT lists fines and suspension of the international permit as penalties. The ATIT also bars carriers from doing local transport in the other countries.

Insurance

Yes, for international road trips. ATIT Article 13 requires companies making international trips to hold insurance, including civil liability for injury or damage to third parties not being carried, as set out in the agreement’s insurance annex. The MTT lists international liability insurance among the documents to carry on international trips. This is in addition to Chile’s domestic compulsory accident insurance (SOAP). Cargo insurance appropriate to the shipment’s value is a separate commercial matter.

Multimodal Transport and Freight Forwarding

No separate national registration for multimodal transport operators or international freight forwarders was identified in this research. A mover that arranges sea or air moves without operating its own trucks across a land border does not need the ATIT permits, but should use road carriers that hold them for any cross-border leg.

OverviewOverview & Scope

A household goods mover operating only within Chile needs the business registration and vehicle, driver, and insurance requirements on the Chile page; Chile does not license domestic freight carriers as businesses. International moves by road are where company-level permits apply. Under the ATIT, a Chilean mover whose own trucks cross into Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, or Uruguay needs an original permit from the MTT, and Chile grants it only to companies constituted and domiciled in Chile that are majority Chilean-owned and controlled. The mover then needs a complementary permit from each country its trucks enter, international liability insurance, and must respect cabotage limits. Where a mover subcontracts the cross-border road leg, the carrier’s own permits cover the transport it performs, and the mover should use carriers that hold them. International moves by sea or air do not require the ATIT permits, and no separate Chilean registration for multimodal operators or forwarders was identified.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Movers whose own trucks cross a land border to or from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, or Uruguay, or travel between two points in Chile through Argentina, must:

1. Meet the ATIT conditions: constituted under Chilean law, with real domicile in Chile, and more than half of its capital and effective control held by Chilean nationals.
2. Obtain an original permit (or an occasional permit) from the MTT, listing every truck to be used, and renew the original permit before it expires.
3. Obtain a complementary permit from each destination or transit country, using the Chilean certificate of suitability, and appoint a legal representative there.
4. Hold international civil liability insurance for every international trip, as the ATIT requires.
5. Observe cabotage restrictions: no carriage between two points in another country, and no carriage between two neighboring countries outside Chile.

Movers that subcontract the cross-border road leg must:

6. Use carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Company licensing

• Company constituted and domiciled in Chile, with majority Chilean ownership and effective control (ATIT Art. 22)Where applicable (mover operates its own trucks across a land border)Verified by DocumentRequired
• ATIT original or occasional permit from the MTT heldWhere applicable (mover operates its own trucks across a land border)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Complementary permit held for each destination or transit countryWhere applicable (mover operates its own trucks across a land border)Verified by DocumentRequired

Subcontracted transport

• Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

• Every truck used internationally listed on the permitWhere applicable (mover operates its own trucks across a land border)Verified by DocumentRequired
• International civil liability insurance in force for international road trips (ATIT Art. 13)Where applicable (mover operates its own trucks across a land border)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Cabotage restrictions observedWhere applicable (mover operates its own trucks internationally)Verified by AffirmationRequired