AliExpress ships to Chile and delivers to Santiago, Valparaíso, Concepción, and regions across the country. Standard orders from China take 20 to 40 days to reach the capital. Unlike buyers in Australia or the UK, Chilean buyers do not have VAT collected at checkout by AliExpress. That means customs duties and IVA are assessed at the border for orders above a certain value, and you may receive a notice before your package releases. This page covers the customs threshold, what CLP vs USD pricing means for your wallet, realistic delivery times, and which payment methods actually work for Chilean buyers.
Chilean Customs Duties: What You Pay on AliExpress Orders
Chile’s customs system, managed by the Servicio Nacional de Aduanas, applies import duties and IVA (19%) on incoming international shipments. AliExpress does not collect Chilean taxes at checkout, so any tax obligation falls on you at the border.
AliExpress Chile: Customs Duty at a Glance
| Declared Order Value (USD) | Customs Duty | IVA (19%) | Who Handles Clearance |
| Under ~$30 | Generally exempt | May not apply | Correos de Chile |
| $30 to $1,000 | ~6% on CIF value | 19% on taxable base | Aduanas via your carrier |
| Over $1,000 | Full formal entry | 19% | Servicio Nacional de Aduanas |
For packages assessed between $30 and $1,000 USD, expect a combined charge of roughly 6% customs duty plus 19% IVA calculated on the taxable base. On a $50 USD order, that works out to approximately $3 in duty plus $9.57 in IVA, totalling around $12.57 before carrier handling fees. On a $100 order, the total approaches $25.
These thresholds and rates have been subject to adjustment in recent years. Verify current rules at aduana.cl before placing any order above $30 USD, and do not rely on older guides since Chile’s customs rules for e-commerce have been updated more than once since 2022.
CLP or USD: Which Currency Should You Pay in on AliExpress?
AliExpress displays prices in USD by default. You can switch the display to CLP in the app settings, but the actual charge to your card typically processes in USD regardless of the displayed currency.
Most Chilean Visa and Mastercard credit cards apply a foreign transaction fee of 1.5% to 3% on USD purchases. On a $40 order, that adds roughly CLP 400 to CLP 800 depending on your bank and the current exchange rate. The fee is small in absolute terms but compounds across multiple orders.
Some Chilean international credit cards offer lower or zero foreign transaction fees. Check with your bank before ordering regularly from AliExpress. Paying with a card that minimizes that fee is the most practical way to keep costs down, since AliExpress itself does not add a currency surcharge.
How Long Does AliExpress Take to Deliver to Chile?
Santiago and the Región Metropolitana receive the fastest delivery because most international courier packages clear through Santiago customs facilities.
AliExpress Chile: Delivery Times by Region
| Location | Standard Shipping | AliExpress Direct |
| Santiago (RM) | 20-38 days | 12-22 days |
| Valparaíso / Viña del Mar | 22-40 days | 14-24 days |
| Concepción | 25-42 days | 15-25 days |
| Antofagasta / Norte | 25-45 days | 16-28 days |
| Punta Arenas / Extreme South | 40-65 days | 25-40 days |
Correos de Chile is the primary last-mile carrier for most AliExpress standard shipments. Track directly at correos.cl using the AliExpress tracking number once the package enters the country. Chilexpress and Starken handle some direct and heavier shipments, particularly for private courier services. DHL Chile covers express delivery.
Buyers in the Región de Los Lagos, Aysén, or Magallanes should add at least 7 to 14 business days beyond standard estimates for domestic routing after customs clearance.
What Payment Methods Work for Chilean AliExpress Buyers?
Chilean Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards from banks including Banco de Chile, BancoEstado, Santander Chile, and Scotiabank Chile work reliably at AliExpress checkout. These are the most dependable option and give you your bank’s dispute process as a backup alongside AliExpress buyer protection.
WebPay is Chile’s dominant online payment gateway, used across most local e-commerce. It is not available on AliExpress. This is the payment method Chilean buyers most often try that does not work.
Khipu is another popular local Chilean payment option. It is also not supported on AliExpress.
Apple Pay works in the AliExpress mobile app for Chilean buyers with compatible bank cards registered in Apple Wallet.
Google Pay works the same way, app only. PayPal is not available on AliExpress in Chile.
Ready to order?
Here are the most popular AliExpress categories for Chilean buyers:
- Accesorios para celular y cargadores
- Hogar y jardín
- Ropa y moda
- Deportes y actividades al aire libre
- Herramientas y ferretería
Takeaway
AliExpress works in Chile, but unlike many other markets, taxes are not collected at checkout. Budget for customs duty and 19% IVA on orders above $30 USD and verify current thresholds at aduana.cl before placing anything significant. Santiago receives the fastest delivery through Correos de Chile, and open an AliExpress dispute before your buyer protection window closes if an order goes wrong.
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