Flying private to Chile: permits, paperwork and handling
Chile requires foreign private and business aircraft to obtain authorization from DGAC Chile before landing or overflying. This guide covers what you need, how far in advance to ask, and which airports accept international arrivals, using live data from the i-Handler airport directory, sourced from the country AIP.
Authority: DGAC Chile · Reviewed: 2026-09-27
Permits: who issues them and when to apply
Landing and overflight permits for foreign civil aircraft are handled by DGAC Chile. Requests are processed on business days; plan on at least 48 business hours before the flight.
Reference the approved permit in your ICAO flight plan (item 18) and file the plan only once the permit is confirmed. Private non-revenue and charter (revenue) flights follow different tracks; charter requires additional commercial documentation, so start earlier.
Andean routes demand terrain and weather planning; Santiago arrivals from the east cross high cordillera.
Documents you will be asked for
Aircraft: certificate of airworthiness, certificate of registration, international insurance certificate with coverage valid for Chile, and noise certificate.
Crew: pilot licenses and current medical certificates.
Passengers: passports (6 months validity is the safe standard) and a General Declaration (GENDEC) for arrival.
The i-Handler App generates the GENDEC, passenger manifests and the ICAO flight plan from your trip data, so the paperwork above is produced in minutes instead of retyped per flight.
Airports of entry
Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez (SCEL) is the main gateway; Iquique (SCDA), Antofagasta (SCFA) and Punta Arenas (SCCI) serve the north and south.
Plan your first landing at an airport of entry. Other fields may show customs in the AIP data, but use them as onward stops after clearing in, unless the authority authorizes otherwise. The live table below marks entry, customs, mandatory handling, slots and fuel per airport.
Chile airports at a glance (live from the i-Handler directory)
| Airport | Entry | Customs | Handling | Slots | Fuel | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCARArica/Chacalluta | Yes | Yes | No | No | AVGAS JET | 1 |
| SCATCopiapo/Desierto de Atacama | No | No | No | No | AVGAS JET | 1 |
| SCBABalmaceda | No | No | No | No | AVGAS JET | 0 |
| SCBETocopilla/Barriles | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| SCCCChile Chico | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| SCCFCalama/El Loa | No | No | No | No | JET ONLY | 1 |
| SCCHChillan/Gen Bernard O'Higgins | No | No | No | No | AVGAS ONLY | 0 |
| SCCIPunta Arenas/Pdte. Carlos Ibanez Del Campo | Yes | Yes | No | No | AVGAS JET | 0 |
| SCCLCaldera | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| SCCYCoyhaique/Teniente Vidal | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 1 |
| SCDAIquique/Diego Aracena Intl | Yes | Yes | No | No | AVGAS JET | 3 |
| SCDWIsla Dawson/Almirante Schoeders | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| SCECEstacion Chanar/Pelicano | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| SCELSantiago Nuevo Pudahuel/Arturo Merino Benitez | Yes | Yes | Mandatory | No | JET | 7 |
| SCERQuintero AB | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| SCESEl Salvador/Ricardo Garcia Posada-El Salvador Bajo | No | No | No | No | AVGAS ONLY | 1 |
| SCFAAntofagasta/Cerro Moreno International | Yes | Yes | No | No | AVGAS JET | 3 |
| SCFMPorvenir/Capt Fuentes Martinez | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| SCFXIsla San Felix AB | No | No | No | No | JET | 0 |
| SCGELos Angeles/Maria Dolores | No | No | No | No | AVGAS ONLY | 0 |
| SCGZPuerto Williams/Guardiamarina Zanartu | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| SCHACopiapo/Chamonate | No | No | No | No | JET | 0 |
| SCIECarriel Sur International | Yes | Yes | No | No | AVGAS JET | 1 |
| SCJOOsorno-Canal Bajo/Carlos Hott Siebert | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| SCKPPica/Coposa | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| SCLLVallenar | No | No | No | No | AVGAS ONLY | 0 |
| SCNTPuerto Natales/Teniente Julio Gallardo | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 1 |
| SCPCPucon | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 1 |
| SCPESan Pedro De Atacama | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| SCQPTemuco/Freire/La Araucania | No | No | No | No | JET | 2 |
| SCRAChanaral | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| SCRGRancagua/De La Independencia AB | No | No | No | No | AVGAS ONLY | 0 |
| SCRMTeniente Rodolfo Marsh M | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| SCSELa Florida | No | No | No | No | AVGAS JET | 1 |
| SCTBSantiago/Eulogio Sanchez-Tobalaba | No | No | No | No | AVGAS ONLY | 0 |
| SCTCPadre Las Casas | No | No | No | No | AVGAS JET | 0 |
| SCTEPuerto Montt/El Tepual International | Yes | Yes | No | No | AVGAS JET | 0 |
| SCTNChaiten | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| SCVDValdivia/Pichoy | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 1 |
| SCVLValdivia/Las Marias | No | No | No | No | AVGAS ONLY | 0 |
| SCVMValparaiso/Vina Del Mar AB | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| SCVNVicuna/Huancara | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
Live data from the i-Handler directory; each ICAO links to the airport page with contacts, frequencies and live METAR/TAF.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a landing permit for a private flight to Chile?
Yes. Foreign private and business aircraft need authorization from DGAC Chile. Requests are processed on business days; plan on at least 48 business hours before the flight. The permit goes in item 18 of your ICAO flight plan.
Which airports in Chile accept international arrivals?
Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez (SCEL) is the main gateway; Iquique (SCDA), Antofagasta (SCFA) and Punta Arenas (SCCI) serve the north and south. The table on this page shows entry, customs and handling status per airport, live from the i-Handler directory.
How do I find a handler or FBO in Chile?
The i-Handler airport directory lists ground handlers and FBOs per airport with phone numbers, and pilots contact them by chat through the free i-Handler App.
What paperwork does a flight to Chile require?
Aircraft certificates, insurance, crew licenses, passports and a General Declaration. The i-Handler App generates the GENDEC, manifests and ICAO flight plan automatically from your trip.
Do the paperwork once, not per flight
The free i-Handler App organizes the trip, generates the GENDEC, manifests and ICAO flight plan, and connects you by chat with the handlers and FBOs listed at your destination. Create your pilot account at i-handler.app.
Create your free pilot accountLast reviewed 2026-09-27 against operational sources. Requirements change: always confirm current rules with DGAC Chile or your handler before the flight. This page is operational guidance, not legal advice.