Chile operates a single national e-procurement portal, Mercado Publico (www.mercadopublico.cl), run by ChileCompra. Any supplier - Chilean or foreign - creates a free account on Mercado Publico, then enrolls in the Registro de Proveedores (managed via ChileProveedores) and must reach 'hábil' (eligible) status to validly bid, be awarded, and contract with the State. Following full entry into force of Ley 21.634 on 12 December 2024, being registered and in 'hábil' status in the Registro de Proveedores is mandatory to contract with the State. Foreign companies register through the 'Usuarios extranjeros' path, submit apostilled/legalized incorporation and legal-representative documents (Spanish translation if applicable), and must act through a representative with sufficient authority in Chile.
Mercado Publico (ChileCompra)
Direccion de Compras y Contratacion Publica (ChileCompra)
Foreign companies eligibleNo local entity required to bid
A locally incorporated entity is NOT required to register or bid; foreign legal entities may register directly via the 'Usuarios extranjeros' path. However, official guidance indicates a foreign legal entity must act through a representative domiciled in Chile with sufficient authority to act on the company's behalf, and must supply a 'certificado de poderes vigentes' identifying the legal representative. A Chilean RUT is not required at registration (foreign representatives can be entered without a RUT), though contracting/tax steps in Chile may later require a RUT for the foreign legal entity via SII. This nuance should be confirmed for a specific contract.
Go to www.mercadopublico.cl, click 'Regístrate' on the homepage, select the 'Usuarios extranjeros' (foreign users) option, and choose your preferred language (Spanish or English). Complete the required fields with your company and legal-representative information. Basic registration on Mercado Publico is free.
Per Art. 146 of Reglamento DS N° 661/2023, foreign natural or legal persons must accredit the existence and legal validity of the company in its country of origin. Documents must be apostilled (if the country is party to the Apostille Convention) or legalized by a Chilean consular agent, and translated to Spanish where applicable.
Enable the company in the State Suppliers Registry (Registro de Proveedores). Complete and submit the mandatory sworn statement (Declaracion Jurada) - required for legal entities and a prerequisite to bid, send quotations and manage purchase orders/contracts on www.mercadopublico.cl. Mandatory documents are attached online in the supplier's private desk at www.chileproveedores.cl (login with the Mercado Publico RUT/credential), under 'Operaciones de Proveedor' > 'Adjuntar Documentos Obligatorios'.
Pay the annual accreditation right (arancel) to become 'hábil'. Foreign providers pay via the Compraquí platform. For large companies or foreign companies wishing to sell to the Chilean State, the 2025 fee is CLP $50,024 per year (single annual value, no semi-annual option). Only a provider in 'hábil' status - with no active disqualifications and compliant with tax, pension, judicial and transparency obligations - may validly bid, be awarded and contract with the State.
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Create free accountMercado Publico account: free. Registro de Proveedores annual accreditation for foreign/large companies: CLP $50,024/year (2025). Additional third-party costs for apostille/legalization and Spanish translation of documents are the supplier's responsibility and vary by country.
Varies per tender — not a fixed registration time.
Ley 19.886 (Ley de Bases sobre Contratos Administrativos de Suministro y Prestacion de Servicios / Ley de Compras Publicas), modernized by Ley 21.634 (in force from 12 Dec 2024), with implementing Reglamento DS N° 661/2023 (Ministerio de Hacienda); Art. 146 of DS 661/2023 governs foreign-supplier documentation.
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This guide is grounded in official sources, last verified 2026-07-20.