START A COMPANY / AMERICAS
How to register a company in Chile
Chile is one of the easiest places in Latin America: a SpA or SRL can be created free online in a day through the Tu Empresa en un Día portal. You then start activities with the tax service (SII), get a municipal licence and open a bank account.
- REGISTRY
- Tu Empresa en un Día (Registro de Empresas y Sociedades), Ministerio de Economía
- ONLINE
- Fully online
- FROM
- CLP 0 (≈ £1)
- STRUCTURES HERE
- 3
Setting up from abroad
Yes, with 100% foreign ownership allowed. Each foreign shareholder needs a Chilean RUT tax ID (obtained through a local representative with an apostilled power of attorney and passport). The legal representative should be a Chilean resident; no Chilean visa is needed to own shares.
PRIVATE LIMITED COMPANY
SpA: Sociedad por Acciones (simplified joint-stock company)
Startups and foreign subsidiaries; one shareholder is enough and the by-laws are very flexible.
- Liability
- Limited to what you put in
- You need
- 1 shareholder
- Minimum capital
- None
- Time
- 1–3 days to form; 2–6 weeks for RUT, bank account and invoicing
Steps
Get a RUT for each foreign shareholder from the SII, using a local representative and an apostilled power of attorney.
Obtain ClaveÚnica or use the e-signature for the legal representative (a Chilean resident, or a resident foreigner with a visa allowing any lawful activity).
Go to Tu Empresa en un Día and choose Constitute, then SpA.
Enter name, purpose, capital, shareholders and legal representative, then sign electronically.
Receive the electronic certificate and the company RUT, normally immediately.
File Inicio de Actividades with the SII (declaring your activity and tax regime) and obtain electronic invoicing.
Request the municipal licence (patente comercial), then open a bank account.
Documents
- Apostilled power of attorney and passport copies for foreign owners
- Constitution data on the portal
- SII RUT registration
- Municipal licence application
Official fees
Filing on Tu Empresa en un Día is free; notary fees apply only if you use a paper deed; municipal licence varies by commune.
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | CLP 0≈ £1 | DIY: portal filing is free; excludes municipal licence and apostille costs |
| With an accountant or agent | CLP 350,000≈ £270 | About: accountant or lawyer formation, SII start-up and municipal licence |
| Full service | CLP 1,500,000≈ £1,200 | About: law firm set-up, resident legal representative, RUT and bank account help |
Every year
- File monthly VAT (F29) returns and issue electronic invoices
- File the annual income tax return (Operación Renta) in April
- Renew the municipal licence every half year
- Keep beneficial-ownership data updated
Check before you rely on it. Not confirmed with an official source: lawyer and agent costs are market estimates. Tax: 27% general first-category rate; the Pro-Pyme regime gives a temporary 12.5% for eligible SMEs through 2027 per secondary sources.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
SRL / Ltda.: Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada (limited liability partnership company)
Small firms with several partners who want a simple, familiar structure.
- Liability
- Limited to what you put in
- You need
- 2 partners (maximum 50)
- Minimum capital
- None
- Time
- 1–3 days to form; 2–6 weeks for tax and bank set-up
Steps
Get a RUT for each foreign partner through the SII.
Obtain ClaveÚnica for the legal representative.
Use Tu Empresa en un Día and choose Constitute, then SRL.
Complete partners, capital and activity, and sign electronically.
Receive the electronic certificate and company RUT.
File Inicio de Actividades with the SII.
Get the municipal licence and open a bank account.
Documents
- Apostilled power of attorney and passports
- Portal constitution form
- SII start-of-activities
- Municipal licence
Official fees
Free through the portal; notary fees only for paper deeds.
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | CLP 0≈ £1 | DIY: portal filing is free; excludes licence and apostille costs |
| With an accountant or agent | CLP 350,000≈ £270 | About: accountant or lawyer formation, SII and licence |
| Full service | CLP 1,500,000≈ £1,200 | About: law firm set-up, legal representative and bank help |
Every year
- Monthly VAT (F29) returns
- Annual income tax return (Operación Renta)
- Keep partner records and update the beneficial-owner register
- Renew the municipal licence
Good to know. Partners must all sign amendments; a SpA is usually more flexible for foreign investors.
SOLE TRADER
Persona natural con giro: Individual trader with business activity (sole proprietor)
Freelancers resident in Chile; no separate legal entity, so unsuitable for non-residents.
- Liability
- Unlimited: you are personally liable
- You need
- 1 individual
- Minimum capital
- None
- Time
- 1–7 days
Steps
Get a RUT (national ID for residents, or RUT from the SII for foreigners).
Obtain a SII clave tributaria.
File Inicio de Actividades on the SII website (Formulario 4415) with your activity code.
Enable electronic invoices or boletas de honorarios.
Request the municipal licence.
Open a bank account.
Documents
- RUT
- Proof of address
- SII clave
- Municipal licence application
Official fees
SII start-up is free; municipal licence varies by commune.
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | CLP 0≈ £1 | DIY: SII start-up is free, excluding municipal licence |
| With an accountant or agent | CLP 100,000≈ £78 | About: accountant help and licence |
| Full service | CLP 300,000≈ £230 | About: accountant with a year of filings |
Every year
- File monthly VAT (F29) if applicable
- Annual personal income tax return
- Pay social security and health contributions as an independent worker
Good to know. Foreigners need a residence visa that allows work.
After you register
- Inicio de Actividades with the SII: declare your activity, tax regime (Pro Pyme or general) and get electronic invoicing.
- Corporate income tax: 27% general rate; eligible SMEs can use the Pro Pyme regime (12.5% temporary rate, unverified for 2026).
- IVA (VAT) is 19%; file monthly Form F29 online.
- Employer registration: pension (AFP), health and unemployment insurance; sign contracts under the Labour Code.
- Municipal commercial licence (patente comercial) and sector permits as needed.
- Beneficial ownership: Chile has introduced a beneficial-owner registry reported to the SII under Law 21.713; check current deadlines. Unverified.
- Open a Chilean bank account; banks usually ask for RUT, constitution certificate, SII start-up and proof of the legal representative.
Sources
Checked against:
Pound amounts use HMRC's exchange rates for 2026-10 and are a rough guide only.
Other countries in Americas
This guide is general information to help you plan, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Fees, forms and rules change: check the official registry before you file, and take professional advice for anything complex. Agent and lawyer costs are typical market prices, not quotes.