Relocating to Chile

Budgeting your move to Chile

The first task is to save some money. Six months or more of your anticipated budget will definitely come in handy for all those unexpected moving costs that seem to happen even with the best planning. It also gives you a comfortable buffer until you get some money rolling in.

Don't leave any debt behind and cut your expenses so you can live on less and save more.

Paperwork

Prepare all your paperwork before you leave as it will be much easier to do in your home country than it will be once you are in Chile. You will need copies of birth certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas, bank statements, statements of your income, and any professional credentials. These will all need to be apostilled or authenticated by your state or national government. They may or may not need to be translated into Spanish as well, depending on what you will use them for. 

It is also important to contact your bank to let them know you will be travelling, so they don't reject your credit card while you are abroad or block your account altogether.

Sell or ship your belongings?

A major consideration you will need to make is whether you are going to sell everything you own or ship it to your new home. To make the best decision, you will need to do some research into shipping containers. First, you should think about the cost to purchase them or rent them. From there, how much will it be to get the container to the nearest port and then how much to ship to Chile? Finally, you will have to have it delivered to your new home in Chile. This has a cost of $1,000 USD and up, depending on the size of the crate requested. You can often get online quotes from companies to help make your decision. 

Because of all of these different factors to consider, it may just be cheaper and easier to sell everything and purchase what you need when you get settled in.

Customs regulations and restrictions in Chile

Chile has trade agreements with several countries around the world. Customs will generally charge 6% of the normal price of the item(s) as well as shipping and insurance costs. On top of this, shipped items are generally subject to a 19% IVA tax. Used items may have an additional surcharge of up to 50%. 

Fortunately, Chile offers a special for new residents- during your temporary residency, you can import a container of goods up to USD 5,000 duty-free. However, there will still be port taxes and customs agents fees. You will have to have a customs agent or aduana who will help get your container in duty-free. He will also tell you what you can and can't bring. For example, used cars are not allowed. 

There are very few restrictions on what you can bring into the country, but among those items that are prohibited are agricultural items, meat, used motorcycles, used tires, and used cars. Some items are allowed with restrictions. For example, firearms can only be imported for hunting, and a special permit must be obtained before it is shipped. Additionally, wooden furniture might be subject to fumigation if it has not been previously treated. 

Finding accommodation in Chile

You will need a place to stay when you arrive. For short-term stays, hospedajes or tourist rentals would be the way to go, and you can find good deals on Airbnb.com. No sense in committing to a long-term lease until you have checked out different areas and found a place to settle in. While a deposit is commonplace to secure accommodation, never buy or rent without seeing the place and the contract beforehand. Short term rentals will give you some time to explore the area and get a feel for the people, culture, and prices.

Transportation in Chile

You will need to think about transportation. If you stay in the towns and cities, you can easily get around by bus and/or subway, but if you want to explore more, you might like the freedom of your own vehicle. First, you will need to go to the SII, the Chilean Tax Service, to get your RUN card or your tax ID so that you can pay taxes on your first purchase of a car. Most larger cities have these offices near the central plaza and other government offices. Here are a few links to look at the prices of vehicles.

 Useful links :

Chile - U.S. Travel Information
Chile Autos
Autos Usados
Long-term Rentals
Ward Relocation Services
iContainers
USG Shipping
NEX Shipping