Buying my own place: transaction in UF
A foreigner buys on equal terms with a Chilean — the question is the RUT and the budget
Chilean law makes no distinction between locals and foreigners: buying property in full ownership is available to anyone. The two real challenges are RUT for non-residents, and the fact that all prices here are quoted in UF, a unit that which is recalculated daily for inflation.
Who it suits. For those buying property for personal use or to rent out — with or without residency.
What is included
- RUT for a non-resident through a representative, if you do not yet have status
- Property and developer check before the deposit
- Full transaction budget: ancillary costs in Chile — 1.5–3% of the price, up to 5% on a mortgage
- Accompaniment at the notary and registration with the Conservador de Bienes Raíces
- ⚠️ Price recalculation: the UF changes daily, so the dollar amount fluctuates twice — from the UF and from the peso exchange rate. We calculate as of the date of the transaction, not the date of viewing
What the package does not include
Paid separately and directly, with no markup from us.
- The property cost itself and associated transaction expenses
- Mortgage and working with the bank
- ⚠️ Residency: purchasing property in Chile does not in itself confer residency status. If you need both the property and the residence permit — those are two separate agreements, and we make that clear about this before the deposit
- Property management and rental
Since 12 February 2022, Law 21.325 has been in effect: a foreigner present in Chile on tourist status cannot apply for residency. Exceptions are narrow — family reunification, humanitarian cases, and those who arrived before that date. So the usual process doesn’t apply here: person who arrives on 90 visa-free days ’to look around and apply’ finds out only on arrival and has to leave and reapply again from the country of residence. That is why the residence permit is arranged before departure, and entry is only permitted after a positive decision. That is why the first package in the range is our most expensive: it delivers status, not preparation o them. The timelines are departmental: SERMIG reviews the temporary residence for up to twelve months, permanent — from one to two years, and we we state this before payment, not after.
RUT, property inspection, cost estimate, notary, and title registration.
Prices are in US dollars and are all-inclusive — nothing is added on top. Chilean government fees are paid separately and directly to the authority: $85 for a visa for Russian citizens, 138,974 pesos (approx. $152) for permanent residence, 38,697 pesos (approx. $42) for naturalisation. Fees are set in UTM and converted to pesos at the exchange rate on the day of payment. Chile’s 19% IVA is included in the service provider’s price and is not shown as a separate line item. SVOY initial consultation — 100 $, credited in the cost of support — the same as for Mexico and Argentina. It is paid from the first minute: a breakdown of the Chilean case — these are two dates that must align, a category matching your income and an honest answer on whether you can make it in time. We hand over the roadmap with a schedule and budget, even if the conclusion is negative.
Other points
Housing rental and purchase, documents, bank accounts and taxes, schooling, driving licence — 28 services in Chile, each has its own price.
Package «Buying my own place» · Chile
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The same package in another country
There is only one moment in life, but the documents, deadlines and costs are unique to each case: the rules are set by the country.