Your supplier in Valencia or Milan sends you an EXW proforma and tells you the EUR.1 certificate "is included". It sounds familiar, but that form no longer works in Chile, and the EXW price leaves you in charge of an export procedure in Europe.
In short: to import from Spain to Chile, or from Italy, the agreement that applies today is the Chile-European Union Interim Trade Agreement, in force since February 1, 2025. If the product originates in the EU and the exporter writes the statement on origin on its invoice, the tariff drops from 6% to that product's preferential rate, which in most cases is 0%. The 19% VAT (IVA) is still payable, and food, wine and cosmetics also need their Chilean health permit.
Which agreement applies today and how much tariff you pay
The Interim Trade Agreement replaced the trade part of the 2002 Association Agreement. Spain and Italy are covered as members of the European Union, so the rules are the same for both countries.
Without a preference, the import pays the general 6% tariff on the CIF value (goods, freight and insurance) and 19% VAT on the CIF value plus the tariff. With a preference, the tariff depends on the product's tariff code in Chile's schedule under the agreement. The European Commission reports that the agreement eliminates tariffs on 99.9% of its exports to Chile, but the rate is confirmed product by product.
Some products carry their own taxes. According to Chile's tax authority (Servicio de Impuestos Internos, SII), wine and sparkling wine pay an additional tax of 20.5%, on top of VAT. A wine shipment with a CIF value of US$10,000 and a 0% tariff pays US$1,900 in VAT and US$2,050 in additional tax: US$3,950 in taxes, before local charges and fees. Ask your customs broker (agente de aduana) to confirm the rate when they quote.
Which proof of origin works for importing from Spain to Chile?
Chilean Customs (Servicio Nacional de Aduanas) no longer accepts the EUR.1 or the old invoice declaration for new imports: the transition period ended on February 28, 2025. The current proof is the statement on origin of the new agreement: a fixed text that the exporter writes on the invoice, the packing list or another commercial document. It is worth asking for it this way, in writing, before shipment:
- The declared origin must say "European Union" or "EU". A statement that says only "Spain" or "Italy" does not match the text of the agreement.
- If the originating products in the shipment exceed EUR 6,000, the exporter must be registered in the REX system (the EU's registered exporter system) and include its number. Up to that amount, it can make the statement without registration.
- It needs no signature and no translation.
- It is valid for one year and can cover several shipments of identical products within 12 months.
- To claim the preference at import, a legible copy is enough. If you paid the 6% and request a refund, you have two years and Customs requires the original.
One point that often causes confusion: buying in Spain or Italy does not make the product European. If your supplier resells goods made outside the EU, there is no preference. Details on deadlines, errors and refunds are in the certificate of origin guide.
EXW or FCA: what to ask of your European supplier
Many European suppliers quote EXW (Ex Works). Under EXW the goods are placed at your disposal, not loaded, and the European export is, by contract, your responsibility. For sales that cross a border, the International Chamber of Commerce's academy (ICC Academy) recommends using FCA (Free Carrier).
| Aspect | EXW | FCA |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery | Goods available at the factory, not loaded | Delivered to the carrier you appoint |
| Loading onto the truck | At your cost and risk | Done by the seller if delivery is at its factory |
| Export clearance in Europe | Buyer's responsibility | Done by the seller |
| International freight | You book it | You book it |
| Import into Chile | Your responsibility | Your responsibility |
The clause should be written with the full address: "FCA [factory address], Incoterms 2020". In both cases you control the freight and the insurance, which is the same thing we recommend when comparing FOB and CIF.
On European VAT: exports are VAT-exempt in Spain and leave without VAT in Italy, as long as the supplier can prove that the goods left. That proof is the export declaration with its MRN number. You do not pay VAT there, but you do pay Chile's 19% when the goods enter Chile.
Ports and transit times: Spain versus Italy
No shipping line publishes a single transit table from the Mediterranean to Chile, and schedules change during the year. The transit times in this table are market references published between September 2025 and October 2026; the timing of your shipment is set by the schedule of the shipping line that quotes it.
| Aspect | Spain | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Ports with sailings to Chile | Valencia, Barcelona, Algeciras | Genoa, La Spezia |
| Ocean transit to San Antonio | About 45 days | 25 to 35 days |
| Air to Santiago | Madrid-Santiago route; from Barcelona and Valencia, with a connection | From Milan and Rome, with a connection |
| Export | Declaration in the AES system of the Spanish Tax Agency (Agencia Tributaria) | Declaration with Italian customs |
Transit time is port to port. You still have to add pickup at the factory, waiting for the vessel, customs clearance in Chile and the truck to your warehouse. To compare two offers, ask for the same data in each: shipping line, transshipment ports, departure date, arrival date and free days at destination.
For air freight, ask for the confirmed route and date, because from most of these airports the cargo travels with a connection. To decide between ship and plane, use the comparison of ocean and air freight.
Typical products and their permits
The tariff preference and the health permit are separate procedures: having one does not guarantee the other.
| Product | Agency | What it requires |
|---|---|---|
| Olive oil, pasta, canned goods | Regional Health Authority (Seremi de Salud) | Customs Destination Certificate (Certificado de Destinación Aduanera, CDA) and authorization for use and disposal (autorización de uso y disposición) |
| Ham, cured meats, cheeses | Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) and Regional Health Authority | Health requirements by product and, depending on the case, an approved plant |
| Wines and sparkling wines | SAG | Registration of the importer and of each beverage, a procedure per shipment, label with warnings |
| Creams, makeup, perfumes | Public Health Institute (ISP) | Health registration (5 years) or notification, plus CDA |
| Medical devices | ISP | CDA for import clearance |
These permits are checked before you pay the supplier. The step-by-step process is in the SEC, ISP, SAG and SUBTEL permits guide.
What SICE does in this case and where its responsibility ends
SICE coordinates the operation from the European factory to your warehouse through its network: freight forwarder, insurance, customs broker, domestic transport and warehouse. Before shipment, it contacts the supplier and reviews the invoice, the packing list, the proof of origin and the transport document. Export clearance is handled by the supplier or its agent in Europe, the import declaration is filed by the customs broker in Chile, and the permits are resolved by SAG, ISP or the Regional Health Authority. Spain and Italy are among the most frequent origins of the imports from Europe that SICE coordinates.
Frequently asked questions
Does the EUR.1 my supplier offers still work?
Not for a new import. Ask for the statement on origin under the current agreement on the invoice, with the REX number if the shipment exceeds EUR 6,000.
Do I pay VAT in Spain or Italy and again in Chile?
No. The export sale leaves without European VAT. You pay Chile's 19% VAT when the goods enter Chile, and it is a tax credit if your company is a taxpayer.
Does everything from Spain or Italy pay 0%?
No. It depends on the tariff code and on the product meeting the European Union rule of origin.
What happens if my supplier is not registered in REX?
It can still issue the statement if the originating products in the shipment do not exceed EUR 6,000. Above that amount, it must register.
Official sources (in Spanish)
- Customs: Circular 25 of 2025, instructions for the Chile-EU Interim Trade Agreement. Proof of origin, validity and refunds.
- Customs: frequently asked questions on implementing the agreement. End of the EUR.1, REX and use of copies.
- SUBREI: implementation of the Chile-EU Interim Agreement. Model text of the statement on origin.
- SII: additional tax on alcoholic beverages. Rates for wines and spirits.
- ChileAtiende: authorization for use and disposal of imported food. Procedure with the Regional Health Authority.
- ChileAtiende: registration of cosmetic products. ISP registration and its validity.
If you have a proforma from a Spanish or Italian supplier, send it to us and we will prepare the free complete quote: the total landed cost delivered to your warehouse, in writing, with estimated duties and VAT. You can also write to us on WhatsApp at +56 9 9872 6863.
