{"id":22599,"date":"2018-03-22T16:08:40","date_gmt":"2018-03-22T05:08:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/slingadventures.com\/?p=22599"},"modified":"2018-05-06T13:59:17","modified_gmt":"2018-05-06T03:59:17","slug":"border-crossing-chile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/slingadventures.com\/destinations\/chile\/border-crossing-chile","title":{"rendered":"Crossing Chile’s Borders With a Chilean Vehicle As a Foreigner"},"content":{"rendered":"
As many overlanders will have experienced, crossing borders in Central and South America is a wildcard. Sometimes you get the impression the officials just do not want you to leave or are just not interested in supporting the flow of tourism into their country. Sometimes, it is a breeze. Sometimes, the same border you had many issues with is the same border where somebody else had none. And sometimes, there are just well known and reported hard or easy borders.<\/p>\r\nEither way, you need to be organised, prepared and come ready for reasonable and crazy conversations. This article specifically looks at the law affecting foreigners who own a Chilean vehicle. It is written from our first-hand experience combined with some post-travel research. If you are a foreigner with a Chilean car, I hope you find this helpful as you plan your road trip around South America.\r\n
Remember according to clause a of sub-section 17.1, the 'driver' needs to be a resident, not the owner (so no loopholes here). See more information on the Autorizacion<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n You can actually request an extension online. A wonderful world-travelling wedding photographer\u00a0Ivan Bu\u0161tor has written an article on how do this based on his personal experience. Whether you are crossing via Peru or not, if you want to travel out of Chile for longer than the period authorised on your Temporary Import Title (TIP), you should check out Extending the temporary export of your Chilean car<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n17.2 - Exit and Temporary Vehicle Admission: Chile to Argentina<\/h3>\r\n17.2.3. However, in the event that the driver of the vehicle is its owner and has a foreign nationality, he must present a simple affidavit before a Notary, in which he undertakes to return the vehicle to the country within the authorized period. Such declaration will not be required of those persons who entered the country as \"Official Residents\" or who, due to their investiture, can prove the documentation issued by a competent authority that ensures that the vehicle will return to the country.\r\n17.2.4. Likewise, the presentation of a simple affidavit before a Notary will be required in case the owner of the vehicle has a foreign nationality and has authorized another person to drive the vehicle, whether the latter is of Chilean or foreign nationality, in which case the aforementioned declaration must be signed by the owner and by the person authorized to drive the vehicle, in which both agree to return the vehicle to the country within the authorized period.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nSub-section 17.2.3. allows the passage of a foreigner with a Chilean plated car as long as they have a notarised Declaracion Jurada<\/a> and 17.2.4. a notarised Autorizacion<\/a> if they are not the owner (or do not have the Padron<\/a> in hand).\r\n\r\nSo this one is easy, si? Well, not always. We had first-hand experience at the forbidden Chile Chico crossing from Chile to Argentina.\r\n\r\nThis border had received a communication from head office by what can only be referred to as a memo. This memo stated that foreigners (Extranjero RUT<\/a> holders) are not allowed to take a Chilean vehicle out of Chile, irrelevant of whether they own the car or not. The official we dealt with was very firm about this 'law'. We presented all of our documents including our Declaracion Jurada alongside the law from the Aduana website and started to highlight the sub-sections of that law. Very weirdly he did not trust our reference (the most up to date version of the law on the official website). Instead, he kept pointing to his memo?\r\n\r\nLong story short we were there for two hours in what I politely refer to as negotiating. We held firm, were respectful and consistent with facts. I think he could tell we were not going to give up and he eventually phoned someone. A short while later, they phoned back and success! We could not believe it but we were so happy and more happy that he did not take the side of pride and power by withholding the truth that had just been shared with him. At this point, there was a small crowd of officials around him, so it was confirmed to the group. He also printed out and replaced the memo with a copy of the section of the actual law. I like to think this has now paved the way for easy access to overlanders from Chile Chico. If you are planning to take that route, or have travelled there since the 9th December 2017, please let me know how it went!\r\n\r\nOn the other hand another Chile to Argentina crossing, Los libertadores was a breeze. I actually loved the guys at this mixed border (well, at least on the Chile to Argentina route). They were amazing! So friendly, helpful, passionate and seemed to totally get we were just touring their beautiful countries. I say this because we did have an unrelated problem with the system not being properly updated with our details but the way they handled it was totally commendable.\r\n\r\nAnd finally, before we leave this section I should highlight that it also states \u2018return the vehicle to the country within the authorized period.\u2019 I was told 180 days was the maximum but I can't see where this is stipulated other than in sub-section 17.1 which doesn't relate to travel into Argentina. Our Declaracion Jurada states we will 'return the vehicle to Chile according to the deadline of the Aduana'. I guess it could be possible for someone to request a specific period is noted on their Declaracion Jurada (like 360 days) and see if Aduana use this period on the TIP? If so, this is a potential loop hole for 6 month+ travellers. However, it is just as likely the Aduana will only approve the TIP at 180 days, as this seems to be the standard period used at the border crossings. Anyway, it's a shame I have only picked up on this now, otherwise I definitely would have tested it myself! I would love to know if someone gives this a go?\r\n\r\n
17.3 - Exit and Temporary Vehicle Admission: Chile to Bolivia<\/h3>\r\nThe operation of this document is identical in its entirety to the one described in number 17.1 above.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nHmmm, say what now? This one makes me laugh! So Chile to Bolivia is known as the \u201cbig easy\u201d (well I just called it that but I am sure it will catch on). You go here because you can\u2019t go through Peru. It is easier than Argentina. So what's going on here? This is where I stand at a loss. Maybe the \u2018excludes Bolivia\u2019 cancels out the clause in its entirety, including the requirement for the driver to have Chilean residency? I just do not know. What I do know, is that provided you have all of your vehicle documentation in check, you can cross from Chile into Bolivia relatively\u00a0pain-free.\r\n
So what happens at the border crossing?<\/h2>\r\n