BORDER CROSSINGS

There are five border crossings to enter to Region de Magallanes y Antartica Chilena enabled all over the year: Dorotea and Casas Viejas, at Ultima Esperanza province, that links Chilean city of Puerto Natales with Argentinean city of Rio Turbio; Monte Aymond, at Magallanes province, that links Punta Arenas with Rio Gallegos, capital city of Argentinean Santa Cruz province; San Sebastian, in Tierra del Fuego province, that links Porvenir (Chile) with Rio Grande and Ushuaia (Argentina); and Rio Don Guillermo, in Cerro Castillo, Chile.

There is a sixth border crossing, Bellavista, that allows crossing from Chilean Tierra del Fuego to Rio Grande (Argentina), only opened in summer, from 8 to 20 hours. 

Between October and March, the border crossings have the following opening hours:

Border Crossings	Opening Hours
DOROTEA :	The 24 hours of the day
CASAS VIEJAS :	From 08:00 to 22:00 hours
MONTE AYMOND :	The 24 hours of the day
SAN SEBASTIÁN :	The 24 hours of the day
RÍO DON GUILLERMO :	The 24 hours of the day

FORMALITIES FOR ENTRANCE TO THE COUNTRY 

TOURISTS FROM COUNTRIES WITH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
Natives from countries with diplomatic relations with Chile may enter with the only requirement of having passports current. 

Nationals of Argentina, Brasil, Uruguay and Paraguay can also enter with identity cards or equal documents. 

Argentineans under 21 travelling alone need legal authorization from their father or guardian. 

Other foreigners under 18 travelling alone need the same preceding authorization but endorsed by the resident Chilean consul in the origin country. 

The exception to this rule is the case of naturals from countries with diplomatic relations who, nevertheless, require a Tourism approval to enter the country and, in some cases, a previous authorization from the Foreign Office. This is the case, among others, of nationals from Peru, Francia, Venezuela and New Zealand. 

International Police Bureau, at the moment of entrance to the country, supplies a personal duplicate form called "Tourism Card", 90 days lasting, which can be extended for another 90 days.

The tourists must keep the copy as long as they stay in the country. 

The extension of the Card should be requested at the Province Governments, Foreigner's Bureau.

TOURISTS FROM COUNTRIES WITHOUT DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
Nationals from countries without diplomatic relations with Chile must enter the country with a Tourism Approval, demanding a previous authorization from the Foreign Office to be granted. 

At the moment of requesting this authorization it is necessary to inform the reason of the travel, the length of the visit, date of arrival and possession of return ticket to his country or to a third country, showing the approval, visa or entrance permission. 

The exception to the rule is for nationals from Croatia, who may enter to the country with valid passport without tourism approval, and those from Bolivia, who need the approval, without previous enquiry. 

TOURISTS IN SPECIAL SITUATION, SUCH AS REFUGEES AND STATELESS MUST HAVE TOURISM APPROVAL WITH FOREIGN OFFICE PREVIOUS ENQUIRY 

CONSULATES
ARGENTINA	21 de Mayo 1878 Tel: (56-61) 261912 - 261532 Fax : (56-61) 261264	Monday to Friday 10:00 to 15:30 hrs.	Consul : Mr. Luis Tettamanti
BELGIUM	Roca 817 Of.61 Tel / Fax: (56-61) 241472	Monday to Friday 10:00 to 13.00 hrs. 16.00 to 19:00 hrs.	Consul : Mr. Jorge Degrenade K.
BRAZIL	Arauco 769 Tel : (56-61) 241093 Fax : (56-61) 226290	Monday to Friday 09:00 to 12:30 hrs. 15:00 to 18:00 hrs.	Consul : Mr. Mario Babaic B.
CROATIA	Quillota 606 Tel / Fax : (56-61) 223574	Opening hours to suit.	Consul : Mr. Rudy Mijac
SPAIN	José Menéndez 910 Tel : (56-61) 243566 Fax : (56-61) 226516	Monday to Friday 08:30 to 12:30 hrs. 14:30 to 19:15 hrs. Saturday 08:30 to 13:00 hrs.	Consul : Mr. Rodrigo Fernández D.
GREAT BRITAIN	Cataratas del Niágara 01325 Tel:(56-61) 211535	Monday to Friday 09:00 to 13.00 hrs. 15:00 to 19.00 hrs.	Consul : Mr. John Rees J.
HOLLAND	Magallanes 435 Tel / Fax : (56-61) 248100	Monday to Friday 09:00 to 12:30 hrs. 15:00 to 17.30 hrs.	Consul : Mr. Cristián Matheson
ITALY	21 de Mayo 1569 Tel : (56-61) 221596 Fax : (56-61) 242497	Monday to Friday 09:00 to 12:00 hrs. 14:00 to 19:00 hrs.	Consul : Mr. Héctor Stefani G.
NORWAY	Magallanes 990 Tel : (56-61) 200200	Monday to Friday 08:30 to 13:00 hrs. 14:30 to 18.30 hrs.	Consul : Mr. Arturo Storaker
PARAGUAY	Av. Bulnes 0928 Dp.14 P.1 Tel / Fax : (56-61) 211825	Monday to Friday from 15:00 hrs. on (excepting for Thursday)	Consul : Mr. Francisco Eterovic.
URUGUAY	José Nogueira 1238 Tel : (56-61) 241594 Fax : (56-61) 226822	Monday to Friday 08:30 to 13:00 hrs. 14:30 to 19:00 hrs.	Consul : Mr. Juan Enrique Mattson.

EXPORT INVOICE 

To promote tourism Chile has a law that exempt foreign tourists from payment of VAT (value added tax of 19%) in lodging. 

Foreigners can ask an Export Invoice to cargo and passengers air transport companies with international flights, to overland cargo transport companies, to shipping companies and hotel business (D.S. 348,1975) provided that theses companies have authorization to issue said invoices. 

The export invoice is issued -and must be paid- in USA dollars, or credit cards if accepted, but it cannot be issued if it is paid with Chilean pesos.

As for hotel trades, this regulation is only valid for tourism lodging and not for restaurants, excursions, car rentals, etc. However, it can be accepted in case of full board lodging or a tourist package that includes excursions.

Important: Foreign tourists may ask for an export invoice, but if the company does not have this benefit, they have no right to demand this 19% discount in his bill. 

TEMPORAL ENTRANCE OF VEHICLES 

Foreign tourists who come into the country through border crossings between Chile and Argentina must fill at Customs a sole form for "Exit and Temporal Admission of Vehicles" (Chilean-Argentinean agreement). 

Tourist coming in bay border crossings with Peru and Bolivia receive form the Customs a form called "Certificate of Temporal Importation", required for the entrance of vehicles to the country. 

In both cases it is necessary to prove tourist position, present current documents of the vehicle, and in case the driver should not be the owner, a notarial authorized proxy, endorsed by the Chilean consul in the origin country. 

Temporal importation of vehicles lasts only 90 days, even if the tourist extends his stay in the country. 

In case the vehicle remains in national territory, customs regulations presume unlawful stay. 

In Chile the driving is on the right and with safety belt. 

Argentinean driving licenses are valid for tourists from that country.

Rest of foreigners must hold International Driving License granted by the origin country.