Shipping to Chile from the USA works with both USPS and UPS in 2026: USPS Priority Mail International carries parcels up to 44 pounds, Priority Mail Express International up to 66 pounds, and UPS delivers door to door with its Worldwide Express, Saver and Expedited services. U.S. goods enter Chile duty-free under the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement, but Chile’s 19% IVA applies to imports, and since October 25, 2025 it applies to low-value online purchases too.
This guide covers the services on the lane, transit times to Santiago and the regions, how IVA works for Chilean recipients, the agricultural rules that get parcels seized, and how to prepare a box. To price a specific parcel, compare live USPS and UPS rates to Chile in the ParcelPath rate calculator.
Which carriers ship from the US to Chile?
USPS hands Chile-bound mail to CorreosChile for customs and final delivery, while UPS carries parcels on its own network and clears them for the recipient. USPS has no service suspension in place for Chile, and Chile isn’t on its list of countries where the Priority Mail Express International guarantee is suspended.
| Service | Expected delivery | Max weight to Chile | Insurance | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPS Worldwide Express / Worldwide Saver | Typically 1 to 3 business days | Per UPS package limits | UPS declared value coverage | E-commerce orders, B2B and urgent parcels |
| UPS Worldwide Expedited | Typically 2 to 5 business days | Per UPS package limits | UPS declared value coverage | Heavier parcels that still need door-to-door tracking |
| USPS Priority Mail Express International | 3 to 5 business days to many major markets | 66 lb; Flat Rate Envelope 4 lb | Available for merchandise | Urgent documents and small, valuable parcels |
| USPS Priority Mail International | 6 to 10 business days to many major markets | 44 lb; Medium and Large Flat Rate Boxes 20 lb | Not available to Chile | Gifts and personal parcels |
| USPS First-Class Package International Service | Varies by destination | 4 lb | Not offered | Light, low-value items |
One detail matters for valuable items: USPS merchandise insurance isn’t available on Priority Mail International to Chile, only on Priority Mail Express International. Global Express Guaranteed has been suspended since September 29, 2024. FedEx and DHL also run US-to-Chile parcels if you book them directly; our FedEx shipping overview and DHL Express overview describe those networks. If you’re open to UPS or USPS instead, ParcelPath offers up to 85% off UPS and up to 89% off USPS.
How long does shipping to Chile take?
UPS express services usually reach Santiago in 1 to 3 business days, and USPS Priority Mail International typically takes 6 to 10 business days, with Priority Mail Express International at 3 to 5. Those windows assume a clean customs release; a parcel held for documents or inspection can sit for days longer.
Where in Chile the parcel is going matters more than on most lanes. The country is more than 4,000 kilometers long and rarely more than 200 wide, and nearly all international air cargo enters through Santiago. Deliveries along the central spine to Valparaíso and Concepción move quickly, while the Atacama in the far north and Patagonia in the far south add real time for the domestic leg. The late-year holiday peak slows every service.
What IVA and duty apply to parcels for Chile?
Chilean imports are cleared by the Servicio Nacional de Aduanas, and the tax that shapes landed cost is IVA, Chile’s 19% value-added tax on imported goods. Customs duty is less of a factor for U.S. senders: under the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement, trade between the two countries is duty-free for goods that qualify as originating, while non-FTA goods face Chile’s uniform general tariff.
- Low-value online orders: Chile ended the IVA exemption for purchases up to US$41 on October 25, 2025. Foreign platforms registered with Chile’s tax authority (SII) now charge 19% IVA at checkout on orders up to US$500.
- Orders from unregistered sellers: the buyer pays IVA, and any duty, when the parcel arrives.
- Foreign businesses selling to consumers: USPS notes that suppliers of goods to non-VAT-registered persons in Chile must register, declare and pay Chile’s digital VAT.
- FTA origin: commercial invoices to Chile need a signed origin declaration in English or Spanish, according to USPS, and duty-free FTA treatment needs proof that the goods qualify.
Couriers and Chilean customs commonly ask for the recipient’s RUT, the national tax ID, so include it on the customs data when you have it. Postage is separate from any IVA the recipient owes; our shipping calculator guide explains how carriers price an international parcel by weight and dimensions.
What can’t you ship to Chile?
Chile protects an isolated, disease-free farming sector, so its biosecurity rules are the strictest part of this lane. Since July 9, 2020, agricultural goods mailed to Chile are prohibited unless accompanied by proper documentation such as a phytosanitary certificate, and the agricultural service SAG seizes and destroys restricted goods that lack it.
- Fruit, seeds, plants, wood, soil and most animal products without SAG documentation
- Beverages and foodstuffs containing sugar substitutes, which USPS lists as prohibited for Chile
- Coins, banknotes, bearer securities, precious metals and stones, and jewelry
- Perishable biological substances and radioactive materials
USPS also advises checking with the recipient in advance whether an article will be admitted, which is good practice for medicines, supplements and anything sold commercially.
How do you prepare a parcel for Chile?
- Write a complete Chilean address. Include street and number, apartment (depto.), comuna, city and region, then CHILE on the last line.
- Add the recipient’s phone number and RUT. They help CorreosChile or the courier contact the recipient and release the parcel.
- Describe items in detail. List each item with quantity, value and country of origin, and leave out food and plant products unless you have SAG paperwork.
- Insure valuables the right way. Use Priority Mail Express International or UPS for items that need coverage, since Priority Mail International insurance isn’t available to Chile.
- Allow time for the regions. Add a few days for addresses in the far north or far south.
ParcelPath is free to use, with no subscription, per-label fee or minimum, and offers up to 89% off USPS and up to 85% off UPS on international labels. For neighboring markets, see our guides to shipping to Brazil and shipping to Colombia, or the overview of shipping to South America, which also covers Argentina.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way of shipping to Chile from the USA?
For gifts and personal parcels, USPS Priority Mail International is usually the lowest-priced tracked option for shipping to Chile, accepting up to 44 pounds, and items under 4 pounds can go by First-Class Package International Service. Insurance isn’t available on Priority Mail International to Chile, so valuable items are better sent with Priority Mail Express International or UPS. Compare both carriers for your parcel’s weight.
How long does shipping to Chile take?
Shipping to Chile usually takes 6 to 10 business days with USPS Priority Mail International and 3 to 5 business days with Priority Mail Express International. UPS Worldwide Express and Saver generally reach Santiago in 1 to 3 business days. Addresses in the far north or Patagonia add time for the domestic leg, and customs inspections can add more.
Do you pay IVA when shipping to Chile?
Yes, in most cases. Chile charges 19% IVA on imported goods, and the exemption for online purchases up to US$41 ended on October 25, 2025. Foreign platforms registered with Chile’s SII collect IVA at checkout on orders up to US$500; otherwise the recipient pays IVA and any duty on arrival. Qualifying U.S. goods are duty-free under the FTA.
Can I send food or plants when shipping to Chile?
Only with the right paperwork. Since July 9, 2020, agricultural goods mailed to Chile need documentation such as a phytosanitary certificate, and Chile’s agricultural service SAG seizes and destroys restricted goods sent without it. USPS also lists beverages and foods containing sugar substitutes as prohibited for Chile, so leave snacks out of gift boxes.
Sources
- USPS International Mail Manual: Chile
- USPS International Service Alerts
- USPS: Priority Mail International
- USPS: International Shipping
- UPS: International Shipping Services
- U.S. International Trade Administration: Chile import tariffs
- Servicio de Impuestos Internos (sii.cl) and Servicio Nacional de Aduanas (aduana.cl): IVA on low-value online purchases from October 25, 2025
Part of our South America guide. Related: Colombia, Brazil, Argentina.
