Can a foreigner buy property in Chile?

Foreigners may buy on much the same terms as citizens

Chile gives foreigners the same property rights as Chileans. The main limit is a rule near the border, where nationals of neighbouring countries cannot own land.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

Rules change. This page describes the structure of the rule, not prices, taxes or quotas. Confirm the current position with the official source listed below, and with a lawyer in the country, before you pay anything. This is general information, not legal advice.

Land

Foreigners may own land. Land in border zones and some other areas has special rules.

Houses and flats

Houses and apartments can be bought on the same terms as by Chileans.

Buying through a company

A foreign buyer may buy through a Chilean company.

Limits and closed zones

Nationals of countries that share a border with Chile cannot own land in the border strip.

What to watch for

Check the property in the real estate registry (Conservador de Bienes Raíces) and use a notary.

Understand the legal system first

Chile belongs to the Civil law family. Property is registered and transferred differently in different traditions, so it helps to know how the system works.

Read the Chile legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
Compare Chile with another country →

Official sources

Library of the National Congress of Chile (laws)

TheLawToKnow Tools’s guide to foreign property ownership is an educational overview of general rules. It is not legal advice, and it does not replace the official source or a lawyer in the country. Report a mistake.