You are arriving in Chile with suitcases, food or equipment. This article explains the order of the checks, how to fill out the SAG (Chile's Agricultural and Livestock Service) sworn declaration, what you must declare even in small amounts, and what happens during inspection. You will also learn which products are allowed, and which are confiscated or held.
The arrival steps: immigration, customs and SAG
The order is simple. First you go through International Police (Migraciones). Then you present yourself with your luggage at the Customs and SAG area, where you declare the items you are carrying using the Joint Customs-SAG Declaration[1].
SAG inspects all means of transport arriving in Chilean waters or territory (land, sea and air), once immigration and customs checks are complete[2]. Your luggage is therefore checked after the first two stops.
The SAG sworn declaration: who, when, how
Anyone over 18 who enters the country, Chilean or foreign, whatever the purpose of their trip, must individually declare under oath, on the declaration form (digital or paper version), the relevant products they carry on their person, in their luggage or in their means of transport, when they are not part of a commercial cargo[3].
For a minor under 18, their legal representative completes the declaration[1].
The digital form can be accessed from your mobile phone up until the day before your arrival in Chile, at www.ingresoachile.cl, or by scanning the QR codes available at entry points[4]. A paper version also exists: it is handed to you on the means of transport or is available at the border crossing[5].
The document is only valid for the arrival date you enter. You must therefore fill out a new form for each entry into the country, whether you pass through air, land or sea control[5].
Once you have cleared immigration, keep your completed declaration within reach to hand it over or show it to the SAG inspector, since your luggage will be inspected[4].
What you must declare
If you carry products, parts or by-products of animal or plant origin (other than commercial cargo), you must declare them, regardless of quantity or the date you obtained them[2]. This applies to your clothing, suitcases, backpacks, boxes or handbags, whatever their size[2].
For animal products, the list notably includes:
- ham, cured meats, cheese and yogurt
- honey, royal jelly and propolis
- animal feed
- hunting or museum trophies
- veterinary medicines[4]
For plant products, the list notably includes:
- fruits and vegetables, fresh, dried, dehydrated, frozen or processed
- grains and seeds, legumes
- spices, herbs and plant-based condiments
- wood
- ornaments or crafts of plant origin
- pesticides or fertilizers[4]
Flowers and plants (leaves, stems, cuttings, roots, soil) also fall under this requirement[4]. If in doubt, ask a SAG inspector before handing over your declaration[2].
How the inspection works and the inspector's decision
Your luggage is checked by manual inspection, by X-ray, or by the SAG canine unit (detector dog team)[5]. With X-rays, the suitcase is only opened if the image appears suspicious[4]. Manual inspection means opening the luggage to verify its contents, and may complement the other two methods[4].
After your declaration, a SAG inspector examines the products and assesses whether they meet the entry requirements[5]. Products you did not declare are examined in the same way: all SAG-regulated products, declared or not, are reviewed by an inspector, who determines whether they comply with the regulations[5].
The decision depends on the product: if the requirements are met, entry is allowed; if it is a high-risk product, entry is refused and the product is eliminated[3].
Special cases: alcohol, herbal infusions, handicrafts, frozen products
A few specific rules will help you avoid unpleasant surprises:
- Alcohol: alcoholic beverages in labeled, sealed packaging with a non-reusable closure, with no commercial purpose and forming part of a passenger's baggage, may enter up to 30 liters per type of product (wine, liqueur, beer) and per declaring person over 18, without prior SAG authorization[6].
- Infusions: ready-to-drink infusions containing pieces of fruit, flowers, seeds (whole or cut), bark and other dried or dehydrated plant parts enter freely after inspection[6].
- Handicrafts: items made from dry seeds or plant fibers (wicker, sisal, hemp, rattan…) for decorative, therapeutic or personal use may enter if the inspection confirms the absence of pests and bark[6]. Entry is refused when all or part of the seeds can be extracted without damaging the object, for example by opening the lid or removing the glass: the item is then considered a means of transporting seeds rather than a handicraft[6].
- Frozen products: vegetables frozen by IQF at -18 °C or in blocks are admitted, the condition being verified on the labeling[6].
Medicines and products under other services
For medicines, the rule concerns quantity: if their commercial character is presumed, i.e., if quantities exceed usual personal use and consumption needs, they are withheld by the National Customs Service[1].
SAG approval does not end the process: admitted products may still be subject to checks by other services, such as the National Customs Service and the Ministry of Health[6].
Pitfalls to avoid and points to watch
- No minimum quantity: any product of animal or plant origin must be declared, regardless of its quantity or how long ago it was obtained[2].
- A declaration is valid for one entry only: it applies only to the stated arrival date and must be redone at every border crossing, including by land or sea[5].
- A false declaration is punishable by a fine under the law, without prejudice to other measures the health authority may take[3].
- A high-risk product is eliminated in full[4].
- A handicraft from which seeds can be extracted without damaging it is treated as a means of transporting seeds and refused[6].
- Medicines in quantities deemed commercial are withheld by customs[1].
Steps, in order: from preparation to leaving the airport
- Before departure: list what you are carrying in food, plants, animal products and medicines.
- Before or upon arrival: fill out the SAG sworn declaration. The digital form is accessible until the day before arrival[4]; otherwise, a paper version is handed out on the means of transport or available at the border crossing[5].
- Go through immigration control.
- Present your declaration to the SAG inspector, then go through the inspection of your baggage[4].
Sources
- 1.^ abcdchile.gob.cl — Customs procedures (SAG) - Chile en el Exterior: “When you enter our country, and after passing through International Police (Migraciones), you must present yourself with your baggage at the Customs and SAG area to declare the items you are carrying, by filling in the data requested in the Joint Customs-SAG Declaration.” ; “This declaration must be completed by persons aged at least 18; for those under 18, their representative must complete it.” ; “If the commercial character of medicines is presumed, i.e., if quantities exceed usual personal use and consumption needs, they will be withheld by the National Customs Service.” https://www.chile.gob.cl/cordoba/tramites/para-chilenos/tramites-aduaneros-sag (accessed October 20, 2026)
- 2.^ abcdesag.gob.cl — Entry to Chile | SAG: “All means of transport arriving by water or into Chilean territory (land, sea and air) will be inspected by SAG officials once the immigration and customs control formalities have been completed.”; “If you are carrying, in your clothing, in your luggage (suitcases, bags, backpacks, boxes, handbags, etc., regardless of their nature and size), or in any way in the means of transport in which you are travelling, products, parts and/or by-products of animal and/or plant origin (that do not have the character of commercial cargo), regardless of their quantity or the time elapsed since you obtained them, YOU MUST DECLARE THEM.”; “Don't take risks: declare, and if you have a question, ask a SAG inspector before handing in your sworn declaration.” https://www.sag.gob.cl/ambitos-de-accion/ingreso-chile (accessed October 20, 2026)
- 3.^ abcsag.gob.cl — Products of Plant and/or Animal Origin, Handicrafts and Others | SAG: “Every person over 18 years of age entering the country, Chilean or foreign (including Chilean diplomats and official government employees, foreign government officials and officials of international organizations), regardless of the reason for their trip, must declare individually and under oath, on the sworn declaration form (in digital or paper version), whether they are carrying, in their clothing, in their luggage or in any way in the means of transport in which they are travelling, one or more of the products referred to in the preceding paragraph, when they do not have the character of commercial cargo.”; “if, after inspection, it is confirmed that the product meets the established requirements, its entry will be authorized; otherwise, if it is classified as a risk product, entry will not be permitted and the product will be disposed of.” https://www.sag.gob.cl/ambitos-de-accion/productos-de-origen-vegetal-yo-animal-artesanias-y-otros (accessed October 20, 2026)
Show 3 more sourcesShow less
- 4.^ abcdefghijsag.gob.cl — Entry through Controls with Digital Sworn Declaration | SAG: “The form is available in digital format, which you can access from your mobile device until the day before your arrival in Chile, via www.ingresoachile.cl or by scanning the QR codes available at the entry points.”; “After completing the immigration entry formalities in Chile, you must have your complete SAG sworn declaration available to hand over or show to the SAG inspector, as your luggage will be inspected.”; “When you enter Chile with animals (pets, bees, birds, insects, etc.) or products of animal origin, such as: ham, cured meats, cheese, yogurt, honey, royal jelly, propolis, animal feed, trophy, hunting or museum pieces, or veterinary medicines.” https://www.sag.gob.cl/ambitos-de-accion/ingreso-por-controles-con-declaracion-jurada-digital (accessed October 20, 2026)
- 5.^ abcdefgsag.gob.cl — SAG Sworn Declaration on the Entry of Products of Plant or Animal Origin into Chile. | SAG: “Fill out the SAG Sworn Declaration form, which will be provided to you on the means of transport in which you are travelling or will be available at the border control point of entry into the country.”; “Each time you enter the country, whether through an air, land or sea border control, you must fill out a new form, as the document is only valid for the arrival date you indicate.”; “Your luggage will be checked by manual inspection, X-ray, or the detection team of the SAG Canine Brigade.” https://www.sag.gob.cl/tramites/declaracion-jurada-sag-sobre-ingreso-de-productos-de-origen-vegetal-o-animal-chile (accessed October 20, 2026)
- 6.^ abcdefgsag.gob.cl — Products of Plant Origin | SAG: “Alcoholic beverages in labeled and sealed packaging, fitted with a non-reusable closure, that are not intended for sale and form part of passengers' luggage, may enter up to a limit of 30 liters per product type (wine, liqueur, beer) and per declaring person (over 18 years of age), exempt from SAG import sampling and analysis, without prior SAG authorization being required.”; “All ready-to-drink infusions containing pieces of fruit, flowers, seeds (whole or cut), bark and other dried or dehydrated plant parts will enter freely after inspection.” https://www.sag.gob.cl/ambitos-de-accion/productos-de-origen-vegetal (accessed October 20, 2026)
