Country guide · Chile
Form a US LLC as a Chilean citizen
Last updated: August 2026
Bottom line
Form a US LLC as a Chilean citizen is straightforward once the Chile paperwork is in order. As a Hague Convention member, Chile issues a single apostille that the US recognizes without further legalization. Tax treaty: US-Chile treaty (2023, ratified) reduces dividend withholding to 5·15%, interest to 4·10%, royalties to 2·10%.
The new US-Chile treaty changes the math for many cross-border setups. If you were avoiding US-source revenue because of withholding, revisit. This is the country-specific guide for Chilean citizens to form a us llc, apostille, banking, and treaty notes that change by jurisdiction. For the canonical procedural sequence (the steps everyone follows regardless of citizenship), see the main US LLC formation page.
A Wyoming or Delaware LLC is the cleanest holding entity for a non-resident founder. No state income tax, no minimum capital, no resident director requirement. The whole setup runs remote: file Articles online, fax Form SS-4 for the EIN, open Mercury for banking. The catch is the annual Form 5472 filing, miss it and the penalty is USD 25,000.
What Chilean citizens need to form a US LLC
Apostille
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
~1·2 weeks, ~USD 15. As a Hague Convention member, Chile issues a single apostille that the US recognizes without further legalization.
Banking flow
Chilean residents open Mercury remotely. CLP outbound via Wise to Banco de Chile/BancoEstado is reliable. Mach and Tenpo accept Mercury inflows.
Timezone
UTC-4, 1 hour ahead of IRS Austin. IRS Austin is on UTC-6 / Asunción Migración on UTC-3.
Country-specific note
Common: Chilean freelancers and SaaS founders who need an ITIN to claim treaty-rate withholding on US payments, particularly relevant since the treaty went into force.
Tax treaty: US-Chile treaty (2023, ratified) reduces dividend withholding to 5·15%, interest to 4·10%, royalties to 2·10%.
Questions Chilean citizens ask about us llc formation
How long does the apostille take for Chilean citizens? +
1·2 weeks through Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, at roughly USD 15. As a Hague Convention member, Chile issues a single apostille that the US recognizes without further legalization.
How do Chilean-resident clients usually handle banking with their US LLC? +
Chilean residents open Mercury remotely. CLP outbound via Wise to Banco de Chile/BancoEstado is reliable. Mach and Tenpo accept Mercury inflows.
Do Chilean citizens get US tax treaty benefits on an LLC? +
US-Chile treaty (2023, ratified) reduces dividend withholding to 5·15%, interest to 4·10%, royalties to 2·10%.
Form your LLC, Chilean citizen
See the full procedural sequence on the canonical US LLC formation page, or jump straight to the apply form.
Form your LLCKeep going
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Stay Compliant
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Banking
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