Starting a business in Chile is an excellent opportunity for Spanish entrepreneurs who wish to expand their business to Latin America, so today we will show you how to create a company in Chile from Spain.
Chile stands out for being one of the most stable countries and with a favorable environment for foreign investment in the region.
In this guide we explain how to create a company in Chile from Spain, the steps you must follow, the requirements, and some useful tips to get started.
Why Create a Company in Chile from Spain?
Este 2024, Chile se ha convertido en un destino atractivo para inversores extranjeros debido a su estabilidad política y económica, además de contar con tratados comerciales con muchos países, incluyendo España. Entre las principales ventajas están:
- Sustained Leadership: Chile is the first South American economy to be part of the OCDE, which reflects a solid institutional framework and transparent and effective public policies.
- Sophisticated Talent: The country has become a magnet for talent within the region, thanks to its education system and its initiatives to attract foreign professionals.
- Entrepreneurial Environment: Chile has a world-class entrepreneurial ecosystem, with government policies that support innovation and facilitate the establishment of new companies.
- Latin American Hub: It is one of the economies with the most trade agreements in the world, which facilitates access to multiple international markets and reinforces its attractiveness to investors.
- Growing Foreign Direct Investment: Chile fue el tercer receptor de inversión extranjera directa en Latinoamérica en 2022, con un monto de USD 20.865 millones, equivalente al 6,9% del PIB del país, posicionándose por encima de economías más grandes como Argentina y Colombia en términos relativos.
More information at InvestChile
Requirements to Create a Company in Chile from Spain
To create a company in Chile from Spain, it is important to meet certain legal and administrative requirements. Below we indicate the main ones:
Have a Legal Representative in Chile
Para crear una empresa en Chile desde España, debes contar con un representante legal, este debe ser una persona residente en Chile que tenga poderes para representar la empresa. El representante legal puede ser chileno o extranjero con residencia definitiva en el país y actuará como el Gerente General de la sociedad.
At Iberocapital we provide this service for a value of 200 EUR per month, if you want to know more information about this service, you can see it at the following link: legal representative service.
Obtain a Foreign Investor RUT (Tax ID)
If you are not a national of Chile or a permanent resident in Chile, you will need to obtain a Foreign Investor RUT to be able to operate legally in Chile.
For this, you must have an attorney-in-fact, who is the person who can obtain this RUT before the SII in Chile.
Este poder debe estar legalizado ante un notario en Chile, junto con tu documento de identidad y pasaporte. Si el poder es otorgado fuera de Chile, este poder debe ser apostillado o firmado ante un Consulado de Chile en el país del mandante y luego debe ser legalizado ante el ministerio de relaciones exteriores en Chile.
In summary, if you are in Spain and wish to obtain a Foreign Investor RUT, you must grant a broad special power of attorney to a person in Chile so that they can obtain it.
This power of attorney must be apostilled or signed before a minister of faith in Spain.
Procedure to Apostille a Broad Special Power of Attorney in Spain
El proceso de apostillar un documento en España, como un poder especial amplio otorgado por un ciudadano español a un extranjero en Chile, garantiza que el documento sea reconocido legalmente en Chile bajo el Convenio de La Haya de 1961. A continuación, se detallan los pasos necesarios:
1. Drafting and Notarization of the Notarial Power of Attorney
- Visit to the Notary:
- El ciudadano español debe acudir a una notaría en España para redactar el poder especial amplio. En Iberocapital, ya contamos con el formato del poder que incluye las cláusulas necesarias para que pueda ser utilizado en Chile.
- It is essential that the document clearly specifies the powers granted to the foreigner in Chile.
- Required Documentation:
- National Identity Document (DNI) or valid passport of the grantor.
- Complete personal details of the attorney-in-fact in Chile (name, identification number, address, etc.).
- Signature and Authorization:
- The grantor will sign the document in the presence of the notary.
- The notary will certify the authenticity of the signature and the content of the document.
2. Obtaining the Hague Apostille
- Locating the Competent Authority:
- In Spain, the apostille for notarial documents is obtained at the Notarial Associations corresponding.
- Document Presentation:
- Go to the Notarial Association with the original power of attorney.
- It is not necessary to request an appointment in most cases, but it is advisable to verify it.
- Fee Payment:
- Pay the fees established for the apostille. Costs may vary depending on the Notarial Association.
- Procedure:
- Complete any form or request that is required.
- Submit the document for review and sealing.
- Receipt of the Apostille:
- The usual time frame is the same day or within 1 to 3 business days.
- The document will be returned with the apostille attached or stamped.
Procedure to legalize or sign a power of attorney before a minister of faith
If it is desired to proceed with the signature before a Chilean consulate in Spain, you must contact it for the sending of the document and verification of it.
It’s important to note that Chile has both Honorary Consulates and General Consulates.
It is important to verify whether the consulate has a Minister of Public Faith, therefore we are going to list the consulates, along with their jurisdiction.
The jurisdiction of a consulate refers to the specific geographical region in which the consulate has authority to perform its functions and provide consular services.
In simple terms, it is the defined area in which the consulate can assist its citizens and act on behalf of its government for legal, administrative, and consular protection matters. This jurisdiction can cover one or several cities, states, or provinces, depending on the location and scope of the consulate.
CONSULADO GENERAL EN BARCELONA
| Address | C/Consell de Cent, 357–359, 1°B 08007, Barcelona. España |
| Phone Numbers | +34– 93–3188586 Fax +34– 93–3186331 |
| barcelona@consulado.gob.clemergencia@consuladochilebarcelona.com | |
| Business hours: | Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 14:00 hrs. (with prior appointment) |
| Jurisdiction | Comunidad Foral de Navarra, con la Provincia de Pamplona; Comunidad Autonómica de La Rioja, Provincia de Logroño; Comunidad General de Cataluña, Provincias de Barcelona, Tarragona, Lleida y Girona; Comunidad Región de Murcia, Provincia de Murcia; Autonomía Islas Baleares, Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, Formentera, Cabrera, Menorca; Comunidad Valenciana, Valencia, Alicante y Castellón de la Plana; Comunidad de Aragón; Comunidad Autónoma del País Vasco y Diputación Regional Cantabria. |
JAIME EDUARDO FERRAZ ARAVENA
Counselor – Consul General (Since February 1, 2021)
JUAN CRISTÓBAL MARIN SILVA
First Secretary – Deputy Consul (Since February 16, 2020)
Authorized consular staff as Public Notary
Rosa María Chela Díaz (Since January 23, 1990)
HONORARY CONSULATE IN BARCELONA (DEPENDS ON C.G. BARCELONA)
| Address | C/Consell de Cent, 357–359, 1°B 08007, Barcelona. España |
| Phone Numbers | +34– 93–3188586 |
| valmuxi@gmail.com |
Honorary Consul without Authority to Act
VALENTÍN MUXI BALCELLS
Honorary Consul (Since April 15, 1999)
HONORARY CONSULATE IN PALMA DE MALLORCA (DEPENDS ON C.G. BARCELONA)
| Address | C/Jaime Ferrer n° 9, mezzanine 0800712 – Palma de Mallorca, Spain. |
| Phone Numbers | +34 – 636102908 |
| infconsuladohbalear@hotmail.es | |
| Jurisdiction | Balearic Islands, provinces of Palmas Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera and Cabrera. |
Honorary Consul without Authority to Act
MARÍA CRISTINA LEÓN NAVARRO
Honorary Consul
(As of May 24, 2013)
HONORARY CONSULATE IN SANTANDER (DEPENDS ON C.G. BARCELONA
| Address | Amós de Escalante, 2–1° dcha – 39002 – Santander. Spain |
| Phone Numbers | +34– 942–318391 |
| contacto@grupoluisdelrio.com | |
| Jurisdiction | Community of Cantabria, Province of Santander |
Honorary Consul without Authority to Act as Public Notary
LUIS DEL RÍO DIESTRO
Honorary Consul
(Since July 30, 2013)
HONORARY CONSULATE IN VALENCIA (DEPENDS ON C.G. BARCELONA)
| Address | Av. Marqués de Sotelo N° 4-1°-Pta – 46002 – Valencia. Spain |
| Phone Numbers | +34 – 96 – 3944028 |
| valencia@consulado.gob.cl | |
| Office Hours | Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 09:30 to 13:30 hrs. (by appointment) |
| Jurisdiction | Valencian Community, Provinces of Valencia, Castellón de la Plana and Alicante. |
Honorary Consul with Authority to Act as Public Notary
LEOPOLDO LOPEZ MAÑEZ
Honorary Consul
(Since November 10, 1989).
CONSULATE GENERAL IN MADRID
| Address | Calle Rafael Calvo N° 18, 5 C yD, 28010, Madrid, Spain. |
| Phone Numbers | +34 609 30 15 |
| madrid@consulado.gob.cl | |
| Office Hours | Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 14:00 h |
| Jurisdiction | Comunidad de Castilla León, Provincias de León, Burgos, Valladolid, Zamora, Soria, Salamanca, Avila, Segovia y Palencia; Comunidad de Madrid, Comunidad Junta de Comunidades de Castilla La Mancha, Provincias de Toledo, Ciudad Real, Cuenca, Albacete y Guadalajara; Comunidad de Galilea, Provincia de Pontevedra, Orense, Coruña y Lugo; Comunidad Junta de Andalucia; Autonomia de Canarias; Principado de Asturia y Junta de Extremadura. |
CARLOS FRANCISCO CORNEJO RODRÍGUEZ
Counselor Minister – Consul General
(Since February 16, 2021)
JAVIERA BELÉN FLORES ARAYA
First Secretary – Consul
(Since April 1, 2022)
Authorized consular staff as Public Notary
Ms. Cristina Gómez De Ureta
(Since December 03, 2014)
HONORARY CONSULATE IN CÁDIZ (DEPENDS ON C.G. MADRID)
| Address | Hotel Jerez, Av. Alvaro Domecq, 35, 11405, Jerez de la Frontera |
| Phone Numbers | +34 – 956–606975525 (by appointment) |
| Consulhonor.chile.cadiz@gmail.com | |
| Jurisdiction | Province of Cádiz. |
Honorary Consul without Authority to Act as Public Notary
DANIEL MARTÍNEZ BECERRA
Honorary Consul
(Since March 5, 2013)
HONORARY CONSULATE IN MÁLAGA (DEPENDS ON C. G. MADRID)
| Address | Ángel, N° 1, 1° A, 29008 Málaga, Spain. |
| Phone Numbers | 952 21 14 14/6822 11 414 |
| acheca@minrel.gob.cl | |
| Jurisdiction | Community of Andalusia. |
Honorary Consul without Authority to Act as Public Notary
ANTONIO CHECA GÓMEZ DE LA CRUZ
Honorary Consul
(Since January 23, 2017)
HONORARY CONSULATE IN VIGO (DEPENDS ON C. G. MADRID)
| Address | Argentina Republic, No. 27, 5th Left. 36201 Vigo, Spain. |
| Phone Numbers | 98 62 22 28 81/ 60 97 37 860 |
| mdopico@minrel.gob.cl | |
| Jurisdiction | Community of Galicia. |
Honorary Consul without Authority to Act as Public Notary
MANUEL DOPICO GÓMEZ –ALLER
Honorary Consul
(Since January 30, 2017)
HONORARY CONSULATE IN LA CORUÑA (DEPENDS ON C.G. MADRID)
| Address | Sol Joaquina Street, 5 Ground Floor, La Coruña |
| Phone Numbers | +34–609866922 |
| Conchile-lacoruna@hotmail.com | |
| Office Hours | Monday and Wednesday from 09:30 to 13.00 hrs. |
Honorary Consul without Authority to Act as Public Notary
WILSON ZAMBRANO BUCAREY
Honorary Consul
(Since August 12, 2013)
HONORARY CONSULATE IN MADRID (DEPENDS ON C.G. MADRID)
| Address | Caleruega Street, 88, 7th C |
| Phone Numbers | 6076 39090 |
| fonte@ccf.es | |
| Jurisdiction | Madrid |
Honorary Consul without Authority to Act as Public Notary
MARIANO FONTECILLA LIRA
Honorary Consul
(Since April 2, 2008)
HONORARY CONSULATE IN SEVILLA (DEPENDS ON C.G. MADRID)
| Address | Avda. Argentina Republic 24–pl 16 Portal Code 41011 |
| Phone Numbers | 955 199 914 / 954 990 301 |
| rcasado@minrel.gob.cl / chsevilla@minrel.gob.cl | |
| Office Hours | Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. |
| Jurisdiction | City of Seville, Community of Andalusia. |
Honorary Consul without Authority to Act as Public Notary
RAFAEL CASADO GONZÁLEZ
Honorary Consul
(From November 4, 2015)
HONORARY CONSULATE IN SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE (DEPENDS ON C. G. MADRID)
| Address | Bethencourt, 10-3D, Santa Cruz de Tenerife |
| Phone Numbers | +34 657 135 695/ +34 822613 757 (by appointment) |
| Office Hours | Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 to 13:00 hrs |
| Jurisdiction | Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife |
Honorary Consul without Authority to Act as Public Notary RAFAEL MONTERO DEL PINO
Honorary Consul
(From August 8, 2022)
Una vez hayas escogido el consulado donde firmarás el poder, debes poner te en contacto directamente con ellos. Ten en cuenta que el consulado debe contar con personal que pueda Actuar como Ministro de Fe Pública (MFP).
Once you have signed the power of attorney before the Public Notary, it must be legalized in Chile by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Therefore, the document must be sent to Chile for further legalization.
Once the document is legalized, along with your identity documents, it must be submitted to the SII through its online platform to process the Foreign Investor RUT.
Once you have obtained the Foreign Investor RUT, you can proceed with the formation of the company through the One-Day Company System or through the Commercial Registry. However, you must first choose the type of company you are interested in establishing in Chile.
Types of Companies in Chile
To create a company in chile from spain, you must choose among several types of companies, depending on your needs and commercial objectives. The most common options are:
Individual Limited Liability Company (EIRL)
It is a suitable option for a single person who wishes to have a company with limited liability. The EIRL has its own legal personality, separate from the personal assets of the owner.
Company by Shares (SpA)
It is a company that allows for the flexible entry of new shareholders, making it ideal for startups and businesses seeking financing or investors. Only one shareholder is required to establish it, and it has fewer formalities than other types of companies.
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
It is a company formed by a limited number of partners (a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 50), where each partner has limited liability to the amount of their contribution. It is ideal for small and medium-sized family businesses or those with few partners.
Joint-Stock Company (SA)
It is a type of company recommended for larger projects. The SA can be open or closed, and its shares can be sold freely. It requires compliance with various legal formalities and is suitable for companies looking to go public or have many shareholders.
Each type of company has its advantages and specific requirements, so it is essential to assess which one best fits the goals and characteristics of your business.
Step by Step to Create a Company in Chile from Spain
Below, we explain step by step how to create your company in Chile from Spain:
Choosing the Type of Company
The first step is to choose the type of company that suits your needs. As mentioned before, the Company by Shares (SpA) is often the most flexible option.
Appoint a Legal Representative
To incorporate the company, you need a legal representative in Chile who can carry out the necessary procedures. This representative must be a person resident in the country.
Obtain a Foreign Investor RUT (Tax ID)
This step must be done by a person in Chile, who can be the attorney-in-fact or representative, and they will need to process it at the Internal Revenue Service office.
Choosing the Company Incorporation System
You must decide whether you want to create your company in Chile from Spain under the traditional system or through the Empresa en un Día system (www.registrodeempresasysociedades.cl).
- Traditional System: This system involves signing a public deed before a notary, registering the company in the Commercial Register, and publishing an extract in the Official Gazette. It is a more formal process and may take longer.
- Company in a Day System: Este sistema permite constituir una empresa en chile desde españa de forma más rápida y menos costosa mediante un formulario electrónico que se completa en línea. Es ideal para emprendedores que buscan optimizar tiempos y recursos, ya que la inscripción se realiza de manera digital y simplificada. Si se ha escogido el sistema de Empresa en un Día, el representante legal deberá ingresar a www.registrodeempresasysociedades.cl and proceed with the company's registration, indicating the name, purpose, and partners (if applicable). At Iberocapital, we have created a video that outlines the step-by-step process for company formation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72itjTKXwGM.
The next step is for the partners to sign the deed, which is done through an advanced electronic signature or before a notary. If the partners are not in Chile, then the legal representative must be authorized to sign on behalf of the partners with a foreign investor RUT.
Once the company has been signed, a RUT number will be obtained and the next steps are to make the start of activities before the SII.
Nuestra recomendación es que constituyas la sociedad bajo el sistema de empresa en un día, puesto que permite ahorrar costos y la emisión y administración de la sociedad por internet.
Costs of the Process of Incorporating a Company in Chile
Crear una empresa en Chile tiene diferentes costos asociados que varían según el tipo de sociedad y los servicios legales que se requieran. A continuación, se presentan algunos de los costos más comunes involucrados en el proceso de constitución:
Legal Representative
In countries such as Brazil, Mexico, and Chile it is necessary to have a Legal Representative; in the case of Chile, this must be Chilean or a Permanent Resident.
Si no cuentas con un connacional Chileno, en Iberocapital, brindamos el servicio de representante legal por un costo de 200 EUR al mes. Esto garantiza que la empresa cumpla con los requisitos legales y tenga un representante autorizado para operar en Chile.
En resumen, si cuentas con algún chileno, que pueda asumir el rol de Representante Legal, este procedimiento te saldrá sin costo, de lo contrario, puedes contratar nuestro servicio por 200 Euros al mes.
Obtaining RUT for Foreign Investor.
The process of obtaining an Investor RUT has no associated cost; it can be processed online or in person at SII offices. To do this, you must meet all the requirements for the procedure.
Puedes contratar este trámite con Iberocapital, para que realicemos este proceso por ti. Este proceso tiene un costo de 120 euros, el cual incluye la redacción del poder, la gestión de la firma en el consulado chileno, la posterior legalización en Chile, y el trámite del RUT de Inversionista ante el Servicio de Impuestos Internos (SII).
No incluye los costos asociados a la firma en algunos consulados, ya que mientras algunos consulados chilenos no aplican tarifas, otros sí lo hacen, dependiendo del número de páginas del documento a firmar. Tampoco se incluye el costo de envío de los documentos a Chile, puesto que, una vez firmados, legalizados o apostillados, deben ser enviados físicamente a Chile.
In conclusion, doing the procedure on your own will not incur additional costs, but if you wish to hire a specialist law firm and save time, the cost is 120 euros, one time.
Establish a domicile for the company
Tu sociedad debe tener un domicilio social y tributario, en Iberocapital Ofrecemos el Servicio de Oficina Virtual, que consiste en que te arrendemos un espacio virtual en nuestras oficinas ubicadas en el casco histórico de Santiago. Este servicio tiene un costo de 10 euros al mes.
Execution of Deed to create your company in Chile from Spain
Si se utiliza el sistema tradicional, los costos notariales para la firma de la escritura pueden variar, mientras que en el sistema de Empresa en un Día se puede utilizar una firma electrónica avanzada, que también tiene un costo asociado, si no se cuenta con firma electrónica avanzada, se deberá firmar ante notario, esta firma tiene un costo de 20 EUR.
Inscripción en el Registro de Comercio: En el sistema tradicional, la inscripción de la empresa en el Registro de Comercio y la publicación en el Diario Oficial tienen un costo adicional que puede oscilar entre 100 y 300 EUR, dependiendo de la extensión de los documentos. Si la constitución se hace bajo el sistema de empresa en un día, no se incurre en este costo.
Obtaining the RUT and Start of Activities: Obtener el RUT bajo el sistema de empresa en un día es automático y gratuito, se obtiene una vez se ha firmado la escritura. Mientras que si se ha constituido bajo el sistema tradicional, se debe tener en cuenta el costo asociado a tramitar un RUT ante el SII, una vez la empresa se ha publicado en el diario oficial, esta gestión tiene un costo de 20 EUR.
En Iberocapital contamos con diferentes planes de constitución de sociedades, que incluyen diferentes trámites, si quieres que tu empresa quede funcionando puedes contratar nuestro plan completo de constitución de sociedades por un costo de 120 euros al mes.
In conclusion, if you wish to incorporate your company with Iberocapital, the costs are as follows:
One-time services: 275 euros.
| One-time Payment Services | Price in EUR |
| Foreign Investor RUT Processing | $120 |
| Municipal Business License Processing | $35 |
| Company Incorporation | $120 |
Recurring services: 265 euros.
| Recurring Services | Price in EUR |
| Monthly Legal Representative Service | $200 |
| Monthly Accounting, Invoicing up to 10M CLP | $55 |
| Virtual Office x 12 months – Santiago Downtown | $10 |
Depending on your company’s line of business, you may also need a virtual warehouse.
At Iberocapital, we offer a comprehensive service that includes advice throughout the entire process of creating a company in Chile from Spain, helping you optimize time and resources.
You can schedule a call or message us on WhatsApp if you have any questions.
