Tools

Border Zone Checker

Check if a commune in the Aysen Region falls within Chile's restricted border zone and whether you need special authorization as a foreign buyer.

Check a commune

Select the commune where the property you are interested in is located. We will tell you whether it falls within a border zone under Decree Law 1,939.

What is the border zone?

Decree Law 1,939 of 1977 establishes that land located within 10 kilometers of Chile's land border is considered a "border zone" (zona fronteriza). In these areas, foreign citizens or entities must obtain prior authorization from the government to purchase property.

This regulation is designed to protect national sovereignty and control land ownership in strategic areas near international boundaries.

In the Aysen Region, the border with Argentina extends along the entire Andes mountain range. This means that several communes, especially rural ones on the eastern side, fall entirely or partially within this restricted strip.

Authorization process

If the property is located within a border zone, the foreign buyer must request authorization from the Ministry of National Defense (Ministerio de Defensa Nacional). The process involves the following steps:

1

Submit the application

File a formal request with the Undersecretariat of the Armed Forces, attaching all required documents.

2

General Staff review

The National Defense General Staff reviews the application and issues a report on whether the authorization is advisable.

3

Authorization decree

If the application is approved, the Ministry of National Defense issues a decree authorizing the purchase.

4

Registration at the Land Registry

With authorization in hand, proceed to sign the public deed and register the property at the Conservador de Bienes Raices.

Estimated timeline: 3 to 6 months

The full authorization process typically takes between 3 and 6 months from the date of submission. We recommend starting the paperwork well in advance.

Required documents

  • Valid passport (legalized copy)
  • Criminal background check from country of origin (apostilled)
  • Purchase agreement or promise of sale
  • Property location plan with georeferenced coordinates
  • Fiscal appraisal certificate from the SII (Chilean tax authority)
  • Sworn declaration of intended use of the property
  • Report from the National Defense General Staff

Important: this is NOT a prohibition

The border zone regulation does not prohibit foreigners from buying property. It is simply an additional step in the purchase process that requires government authorization. The vast majority of applications are approved.

Many foreigners have successfully purchased land and properties in border zone communes of the Aysen Region, including Chile Chico, Cochrane, and Futaleufu.

Which foreign buyers are affected in Aysen?

The rules are not the same for every nationality. Article 7 of Decree Law 1,939 restricts nationals of countries that border Chile (Argentina, Bolivia and Peru) from acquiring property in border zones. Exceptions can be granted by supreme decree on national interest grounds, but buyers from these countries should assume the restriction applies until a lawyer confirms otherwise.

Buyers from other countries, such as the United States, Canada or European Union members, are generally not barred. Instead, a purchase in an area declared a border zone usually requires prior authorization, and the file is typically reviewed with input from the Ministry of National Assets (Ministerio de Bienes Nacionales) and the Directorate of Borders and Limits (DIFROL). The exact authority, requirements and processing time depend on the property and can change, so treat this tool as a first screening only.

In practice this matters most in communes along the Argentine border, such as Chile Chico, Cochrane, Villa O'Higgins and Lago Verde, where much of the rural land sits in declared border areas.

Before signing a promise of sale, ask a Chilean real estate lawyer to confirm whether the specific lot is affected and which procedure applies to your nationality. For the wider picture, read our guide for foreign buyers and our article on buying property in Chile as a foreigner.