Documents Needed to Sell Property in Chile: Complete Checklist

What documents do I need to sell property in Chile?

Selling property in Chile requires 14 core documents. You must present proof of ownership, tax compliance, and legal status before a notary will authorize the deed of sale (escritura de compraventa). Missing even one certificate can delay your closing by weeks. Start gathering documents at least 30 days before your intended sale date, as some certificates take up to 20 business days to process.

The full document checklist applies whether you are selling a house in Coyhaique, an apartment in Puerto Aysen, or rural land in Patagonia. Foreign sellers follow the same requirements, with minor additions covered in our guide for foreign sellers.

This guide explains each document in plain English, provides the official Spanish name, and tells you exactly where to get it, how much it costs, and how long it takes.

What is the complete list of 14 documents?

Every property sale in Chile requires 14 documents from the seller. These establish ownership, legal standing, tax status, and physical characteristics of the property. Here is the full summary table.

#	Document (Spanish)	Document (English)	Where to Get	Cost	Processing Time
1	Escritura de compraventa original	Original deed of purchase	Your own records or notary archive	Free (your copy) or ~CLP $5,000	Immediate or 3-5 days
2	Certificado de dominio vigente	Current ownership certificate	Conservador de Bienes Raices (CBR)	CLP $5,000-$10,000	1-5 business days
3	Certificado de hipotecas y gravamenes	Mortgage and liens certificate	CBR	CLP $5,000-$10,000	1-5 business days
4	Certificado de prohibiciones	Prohibitions certificate	CBR	CLP $5,000-$10,000	1-5 business days
5	Certificado de avaluo fiscal	Fiscal appraisal certificate	SII (online)	Free	Immediate
6	Certificado de no expropiacion	Non-expropriation certificate	SERVIU	CLP $5,000-$10,000	5-10 business days
7	Certificado de deuda de contribuciones	Property tax payment certificate	TGR (online)	Free	Immediate
8	Certificado de numero municipal	Municipal address certificate	Local municipality	CLP $5,000-$15,000	3-10 business days
9	Planos aprobados por la DOM	Approved building plans	Direccion de Obras Municipales	Varies	5-15 business days
10	Certificado de recepcion final	Final reception certificate	Direccion de Obras Municipales	Varies	5-15 business days
11	Cedula de identidad	Identity card	Your own records	Free	Immediate
12	Certificado de matrimonio/estado civil	Marriage or civil status certificate	Registro Civil	CLP $2,000-$5,000	1-3 business days
13	Formulario 2890 del SII	SII tax form for the transaction	Notary (at signing)	Free	Issued at signing
14	Carpeta de estudio de titulos	Title study folder (10 years)	CBR	CLP $30,000-$50,000	5-10 business days

Total certificate costs: approximately CLP $70,000-$130,000 (roughly USD $70-$130).

Source: ChileAtiende, Property Inscription

What does each document prove?

Each document serves a specific legal function. Chilean notaries and buyer’s lawyers will verify every one before allowing the sale to proceed. Here is a detailed explanation of the most important documents.

1. Escritura de compraventa original (Original deed of purchase)

This is the notarized deed from when you originally acquired the property. It proves how and when you became the owner. If you have lost your copy, the notary who processed the original transaction keeps an archive. You can request a certified copy (copia autorizada) from that notary’s office.

2. Certificado de dominio vigente (Current ownership certificate)

Issued by the Conservador de Bienes Raices (CBR), this certificate confirms you are the current registered owner. It is the single most important document in any sale. The buyer’s lawyer will require a recent copy, typically issued within 30 days of the transaction. In the Aysen Region, the CBR de Coyhaique handles most property registrations.

Source: ChileAtiende, Dominio Vigente

3. Certificado de hipotecas y gravamenes (Mortgage and liens certificate)

This certificate reveals whether the property has any active mortgages, liens, easements, or other encumbrances (gravamenes). A buyer will not proceed if there are unresolved financial claims on the property. If a mortgage exists, you must arrange to pay it off at closing or have the bank issue a cancellation letter (alzamiento).

Source: ChileAtiende, Hipotecas y Gravamenes

4. Certificado de prohibiciones (Prohibitions certificate)

This shows whether any court orders, legal prohibitions, or restrictions prevent the sale of the property. Common prohibitions include restraining orders from lawsuits, divorce proceedings, or tax debts. If a prohibition exists, you must resolve it before selling.

5. Certificado de avaluo fiscal (Fiscal appraisal certificate)

Issued by the SII (Servicio de Impuestos Internos, Chile’s tax authority), this shows the official tax valuation of the property. The fiscal appraisal is used to calculate property taxes (contribuciones) and may affect capital gains calculations. You can download it for free at sii.cl using the property’s ROL number.

What additional documents do I need for a condominium sale?

Condominiums and apartments require two extra documents beyond the standard 14. These protect the buyer from inheriting unpaid common expenses and ensure they understand the building’s rules.

Certificate of current common expenses (gastos comunes al dia): Issued by the building administrator. Proves you have no outstanding monthly fees. Most administrators issue this within 1-3 business days
Condominium bylaws (reglamento de copropiedad): The legal document governing shared spaces, pet policies, rental restrictions, and voting rights. Regulated by Ley 19.537 (Condominium Law)

If you are selling an apartment in Coyhaique or Puerto Aysen, request these from your building administrator at least two weeks before closing.

What is a title study and why does it matter?

A title study (estudio de titulos) is a legal review of the property’s ownership chain over the past 10 years (the legal prescription period under Chilean law). For rural or complex properties, lawyers recommend reviewing 20 to 30 years. The study verifies there are no defects in the title, pending lawsuits, or hidden encumbrances.

The title study has two stages:

Document review: The lawyer examines all certificates, deeds, and CBR records
Written legal opinion: A formal recommendation on whether the title is clean and the purchase can proceed safely

The CBR offers a pre-assembled “Carpeta de Estudio de Titulos” containing 10 years of records, costing approximately CLP $30,000-$50,000. This saves time compared to requesting each historical document individually.

Source: ChileAtiende, Carpeta de Estudio de Titulos

How long does the full documentation process take?

Plan for 30 to 45 days from start to finish. Here is a realistic timeline:

Week 1-2: Request all certificates from CBR, municipality, SERVIU, and Registro Civil
Week 2-3: Receive certificates (some take up to 10 business days)
Week 3-4: Buyer’s lawyer conducts title study (5-10 business days)
Week 4-5: Resolve any issues found during the title study
Week 5-6: Sign the deed at the notary, then register at the CBR (approximately 20 business days for inscription)

The CBR inscription alone takes approximately 20 business days in Aysen. In Santiago, simple cases may take 5 business days. Total time from listing to completed transfer: typically 60 to 90 days.

What are the most common document problems that delay sales?

Several issues frequently cause delays. Knowing them in advance helps you resolve problems before they stall your transaction.

Missing final reception certificate: Common for older homes or rural properties in Patagonia. You may need to apply for a retroactive certificate through the Direccion de Obras Municipales, which can take 30 or more days
Outstanding property tax debt: The TGR certificate must show zero debt. Check your status for free at tgr.cl
Unresolved mortgage: If you still owe on the property, coordinate with your bank early. Mortgage cancellation (alzamiento) can take 10-15 business days
Inheritance without regularization: Properties acquired through inheritance may show “posesion efectiva” rather than a clean title. Regularization requires additional legal work, particularly common in the Aysen Region
Marital property issues: If you acquired the property during marriage under the default “sociedad conyugal” regime, your spouse must co-sign the sale

How much do all the documents cost in total?

Certificate costs are modest relative to the property value. For a typical sale, expect to spend approximately CLP $70,000-$130,000 (roughly USD $70-$130) on all certificates combined. The fiscal appraisal and property tax certificates are free online. The most expensive single item is the title study folder at CLP $30,000-$50,000.

For a full breakdown of all selling costs (including agent commission, notary, lawyer, and taxes), see our complete cost guide.

Ready to sell your property in Patagonia?

Start by gathering your documents using the checklist above. If you already have your paperwork in order, list your property on Propiedades Patagonia to reach buyers searching for houses in Coyhaique, land in the Aysen Region, and properties across Chilean Patagonia.

For more information on the selling process, read our complete guide to selling property in Patagonia.