Can foreigners buy land in Chile?

Yes — Chile is one of the most open land markets in Latin America. Foreign nationals can own property in Chile under virtually the same rules as Chilean citizens, with two narrow exceptions.

The general rule

Chile's constitution guarantees equal property rights to nationals and foreigners alike. There is no foreign ownership cap, no mandatory local partner requirement, and no restriction on repatriating sale proceeds. You can own land as an individual, through a Chilean company (SpA or SRL), or through a foreign entity.

Border zone restrictions

Law 16.441 restricts foreign ownership within 10 km of international borders and 5 km of coastlines classified as "frontier zones." This affects land near the Bolivian and Argentine borders in the north, and certain Patagonian coast lines. The restriction requires a special authorization from the Interior Ministry — it is not an outright ban, but adds time and cost.

Most terrain listed on Chilelands is outside these zones. Check the GPS coordinates against the official Zona Fronteriza map if you are interested in northern or far-southern parcels.

Indigenous land (CONADI)

Law 19.253 protects indigenous community land administered by CONADI (Corporación Nacional de Desarrollo Indígena). Land classified as "tierra indígena" cannot be sold or transferred to non-indigenous persons. This is a hard restriction, not an authorization issue.

Your due diligence must include a CONADI certificate confirming the land is not subject to this classification. See our Due Diligence chapter for the full checklist.

What "dominio pleno" means

"Dominio pleno" is full freehold ownership — the closest Chilean legal equivalent to fee simple in English law. It means no landlord above you, no expiry date, and the right to sell, lease, or bequeath the land as you choose. Chilean rural land is almost always sold as dominio pleno. Confirm this in the escritura and title search before signing anything.