CHILE
To enter Chile, all passengers must pass through the international police check and present their identification documents (either an Identification Card or passport) and the visa stamp (depending on the country where you are coming from)
When entering Chile the international police give tourists a Tourist card (Tarjeta de Tourismo), a non-transferable and personal document, which lasts for 90 days and can be extended for a further 90 days. Tourists must hand in the tourist card when they leave the country. The extension of this card can be requested in Regional Intendancies, in the Foreign Office.
RECIPROCITY TAX
All passengers with Passports from Australia, Canada, United States and Mexico must pay a reciprocIty tax before going through International Police..
- Australia U$ 61
- Canada U$ 132
- United States U$ 131
- Mexico U$ 23
TEMPORARY ADMISSION OF VEHICLES There is an agreement between Argentina and Chile, which states that foreign tourists that enter the country through passes on the Chilean/Argentinean boarder must fill out a special form for the Temporary Departure and Admission of Vehicles.
On the other hand, tourists who enter Peru and Bolivia through border passes in a private vehicle must obtain the Temporary Importation Certificate-, which is valid for 90 days , although the length of stay can be extended for tourists in Chile.
In Chile, they drive on the right hand side and use seat belts.
Argentinean tourists must bring a Driving licence issued from their own country. Tourists from all other countries must bring an International Driving Licence issued from the country they come from.
CUSTOM FORMALITIES
Passengers have the right to enter with – free of customs duties and taxes- merchandise that makes up travel luggage , travel items ( suitcases, bags, personal effects), clothing items, ornaments, electrical toiletry appliances, items for personal use ( alarm clock, camera, portable type writer and calculator), appropriate for the use and normal needs of a person.
Objects exclusively used for the practice of their profession or trade, as long as they are used, portable, for manual use, simply made, that do not need to be installed for their normal use and correspond to the profession or trade of the traveller.
A quantity that does not exceed , per adult ( over 18 years of age), 400 cigarettes, 500 grams of pipe tobacco, 50 cigars, 2,5 litres of alcoholic beverage.
Excluded from the concept of luggage are:- Household furniture.
- Household goods, crockery, linen and paintings.
- Musical instruments.
- Apparatus, electrical or electronic appliances and their spare parts.
- office equipment.
SANITARY FORMALITIES On entering the country, you must declare the following:
- Milk, butter, cream and cheese.
- Fruit, vegetables and fresh vegetables.
- Meat of any kind, cured meats, sausages.
- Seeds, grains, nuts and fruit dried or dehydrated.
-Fruit, ornamental, and forestry plants or parts of them: branches, sticks, bulbs and others. Flowers, dried flowers and garden plants. Soil
- Wood and bark.
- Insects, snails and others. Bacteria and fungus for scientific investigation. Bees, honey and beeswax.
- Animal semen, biological products and veterinarian medicines.
-Small animals and pets (dogs, cats, others). Birds
- Live species, products or sub-products of these, made from wild fauna
It is important to bear in mind:
To make a sworn statement that is untrue is a crime and is punishable by law , with a minor prison sentence of a minimum of 61 days to a maximum of 3 years; declining to fill out the form will be penalized with a fine.
HEALTH No vaccinations are required to enter Chile, there is no risk of disease such as Malaria or hepatitis.
Water is drinkable but you should accustom yourself to it gradually, it is recommended to drink mineral water which is available in commercial establishments.
MONEY
- Exchange
There is no exchange control for tourists currently. They can enter or leave the country with national and foreign currency or any other payment form.
- Exchange bureaus:
In Chile, the Exchange of foreign currency is not regulated, for this reason anybody can buy or sell foreign currency in any of the established ‘Casas de Cambio' (money exchange houses)
- Credit Cards
Credit cards are widely accepted by business establishments and there is no surcharge for their use. The most commonly used are Visa, American Express, Diners Club International and Master Card.
- Automatic Teller machines
They are easy to find, generally in the banking and exchange areas, they can also be found in
Gas stations, pharmacies, malls and supermarkets.Tourists can use an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) if it has the ‘Cirrus' or ‘Plus' logo, these also show that the ATM is bilingual.
The ATM's only dispense money in national currency.
GETTING AROUND
- Highways:
The main highway is the Pan-American which stretches from Arica to Chiloe in Chile. There are also other highways that cross to neighboring countries, in excellent conditions. In the city of Puerto Montt the Austral Highway begins which joins the austral region, with its fjords and canals, to the Villa O Higgins locality. This road is 1.200 km long, passing through the scenery and the almost virgin landscape, is a real adventure, which brings you to Chilean Patagonia.
- Border passes:
The country has 66 border passes in operation throughout the country, the most important are: Chacalluta in Arica, which joins Chile and Peru; Los Libertadores in Argentina in the central zone and also Cardenal Samore also in Argentina, in the southern province of Osorno.
- Maximum speed limit:
On the highways the maximum speed limit is 120km/ph, on the secondary roads 80km/ph and in cities 60 km/ph. There are speed checks by radar and camera; above all there are permanent police checks by ‘Carabineros' or civil police (in their impeccable green uniforms), who are very strict. Never doubt in turning to a ‘carabinero' (policeman) if you have any problems, but do not try to resolve any misdemeanor on your part in any way other than the correct procedure
SAFETY
In Chile there are 2 types of police. ‘Carabineros de Chile' (Chilean Police) is a militarized police force, dressed in a green uniform, they are in charge of keeping order and interior public security within the national territory.
‘Policia de Investigaciones' (Investigative Police) are the civil police in Chile in charge of the scientific and technical investigation of crime.
Only members of the police force can ask you for you ID documents and passport. In the case of the investigative police (who do not use a uniform) always ask them to show you their identity badge .
- Emergency Numbers
Carabineros 133
Investigations 134
Fire Service 132
Ambulance 131
Thanks to Sernatur, Oficina de Turismo de Chile |
