Because of a lot of problems and a big misunderstanding I have overstayed the allowed time for my european plated bike in Chile. Its s very long story - but the main parts are: My bike broke down in Punta Arenas in Patagonia. After a lot of hassle without getting the bike back on track I decided to send it by truck to Santiago for repair. I have at that time already got one extension of the TVIP.

The truck guys who freighted my bike from Punta Arenas via Argentina to Santiago Chile asked for all neccesary paperwork, bike rego, TVIP, copy of my passport, a written letter explaining the situation etc - so I assumed they had to export the bike when exiting Chile and import it again when entering Chile. I didnt check it out and in the meantime I have been waiting for spare parts for months in Santiago and a 10-12 days ago I finally got the bike running again. And then I finally had a reason to have a look at a bike papers - and to my surprise the bike hasnt been exported and imported again. So it still was on the extension of the TVIP which at that time had expired by a week or so. I was then advised to write to Aduana in Punta Arenas who gave me the extension of the TVIP, and I did so with the help of an chileno friend. That was monday last week. Now its 11 days and I havent heard anything from the Aduana in Punta Arenas and my own visa expires next week so I will have to leave the country by then.

I am beginnig to think to just take the bike to the nearest border an try my luck.
I have been waiting for months to get my bike back in working condition and finally after heaps of problems the bike is running fine. But then this problem....

OMG what a mess....

Anyone overstayed their TVIP in Chile and have some experiences to share and/or advises about what to do?

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Snakeboy,

I have attached a screen shot (I think) of Punta Arenas to Santiago, to better understand the flow of your bike toward the expired TVIP. You are welcome to share this screen shot with the aduana, not only in Punta Arenas, but the closest aduana.

Did you send a letter or e-mail to aduana Punta arenas? I am not surprised you have not received an answer from aduana Punta Arenas, inquiries like yours get kicked upstairs for a collective decision so that blame cannot be placed on any one individual if things go south. Sorry for the bad pun.

Just curious, what did you pay to have your bike hauled Punta Arenas to Santiago a 3,225 KM journey through Argentina?

Arriving at a border with an expired TVIP will most likely be a coin toss as to whether you have complications or not. The border crossing "Liberatad" gave rosa and I problems because the document ID # used to purchase her bike in Argentina (Spanish passport) was different from the passport she was carrying. In Spain when a Spanish passport is renewed it receives a new ID #. She had renewed her Spanish passport after she purchased her bike in Argentina.

So, at "Libertad" they are very detailed about documents. I would take a print out of your bike's journey by truck Punta Arenas to Santiago to help explain the expired TVIP.... I would not overstay your visa, get an extension or get out. Chile will exact a fine for expired visa.

Sorry I could not be of more help Best of luck keep us posted.
xfiltrate

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Thanks for your reply Xfiltrate.

I paid 130 000 Chileno pesos for the +3000 kms transport, which is approx 175 € or 195 $. So I dont think it was too bad.

Well if I dont hear anything from Aduana in Punta Arenas on monday I guess I on the bus to Mendoza on tuesday.

Does anybody know exactly how to count when a visa expires in Chile? I arrived 22th of March - would that mean I must leave within 22th of June or is it 90 days as would be 20th of June? Or maybe even the 19th of they count the first day as in many southeastasian countries?

And also - lets say I stay 3 days in Mendoza, would I have any problems getting back through Immigration in Chile?

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Just a thought:
You might consider crossing the border at O'Higgins. The border there is not a road, but instead a river that you must cross during the dry season (now) into Argentina. Very few people do this crossing. I don't think there are official Aduanas there, only military folks - but they do allow crossings - which means that they will not be very familiar with all your issues, and will most likely be much more concerned with your safety of crossing the river.

OHiggins? Do you mean Villa O'Higgins Or Paso Vergara in O'Higgins province?

Dry season? Its been pissing down in Santiago the latest days and the streets here has been flooded so I dont think its dry season here right now...

But are there no Customs office at the Paso Vergara?

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

I mean Villa O'Higgins --- at the end of the Carraterra Austral.
Here is where the crossing is: -48.209663, -72.320960

The river is swollen in the spring and summer because of snow melt.

There is a customs place in Villa O'Higgins I think - for the cyclists and hikers who take the ferry south to Argentina across the lake. Motos and cars are not allowed on the ferry....but there is this 'escape route' at the coordinates listed above, if you have the stomach for it.

Also... the border crossing in San Pedro de Atacama is very loose.... The Aduanas is in the town of San Pedro, but the crossing into Bolivia is far East of the town on the highway. It is extremely easy to not stop at the Chile Aduanas as there are many other streets to the highway, and cruise right onto Bolivia. Hide the bike in town, walk to Aduanas, get Passport stamped out, walk back to bike, take detour through town, and hit the highway to Bolivia. The only thing to worry about is that you (or someone else) will never be allowed to take the bike back into Chile again.

Ok - thanks for the information and the effort, appriciated. Villa O'Higgins now in June doesnt sound very tempting. San Pedro de Atacama might be a solution if Im moving into desperate mode.
I will go to the Immigration tomorrow and ask about my visa.

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Snakeboy,
Not sure about a crossing out of San Pedro de Atacama, to Bolivia....

But, if you cross out of San Pedro de Atacama via Pas de Jama into Argentina, the route is more than 300 K with no gas stations. It is true the aduana is in San Pedro de Atacama, and the Argentine aduana is sort of rual but they might check exit stamp of your bike from Chile. Not sure.

A word to the wise - if you cross at Paso de Jama you will be crossing the Andes at more than 5000 meters. Rosa passed out from lack of oxygen (twice) and we froze our asses off just about this time of year. It might have been May.

WE crossed at Paso de Jama twice.... and I pulled the air filters on our NX400 Honda Falcons - no fuel injection, and we barely made 40 K per hour as we summited the Andes. It is one hell of a long up hill out of San Pedro de Atacama to Paso de Jama....

Anyone who has exited into Bolivia might help out here. I think there is a route through the solar??? best of luck...
xfiltrate

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Passo Jama was closed for a long time because of the heavy snow this year...even now everything should be open again, chile has built a new custom control on the top of passo jama at the point you go left to bolivia.

the control point should be open now, might somebody could write if it´s only for the border to bolivia or also for the argentinia crossing and if they have closed the custom down in San Pedro.

at least i would really recommend using a little, not high frequented border.
Don´t use mendoza!!!

The worse case scenario would be a fine for overstaying your TVIP. They will determine the value of your Moto and then how many days over, determine the fine. I negotiated and then paid cash, no bribe, they issued a receipt. I could of went back to aduna office but the cost and time ferry ride back was not worth it. It's a crap shoot if they check the dates, my brother was cleared but mine caught their attention. Keep your records it will help. Your decision to go to aduana and try and clear it or run to the border.
Hurts in time or pocket book

So how much was the fine? And how many days overstay and what bike did you ride?

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

I have crossed that border 2 weeks ago what means in the middle of S. American winter.
1. The border has to be open, day before my arrival to San Pedro the Paso was closed due to the snowfall. Next day between 10AM-2PM.
2. All border procedures (both Arg and Chilean) are in Paso de Jama, only crossing to Bolivia requires visit to San Pedro aduana and migration (9AM-12PM)
3. The highest point on the road is 4830, 60km before the Argentina. But (at least for me and my bike - F800GS) it wasn't any problem. The real problem was a temperature, at 12:30PM i had -11.5C on my termometer, brrr... really tought experience,
4. Fuel. Fill up in San Pedro (gas station in one of the hotel) the next fuel pomp is at very modern gas station on the border (so it's only 160km). There is a fastfood stand between the border post and gas station, that is the place when you can change money (Chilean<->Arg. currency only)
5. First restaurant (very expensive) is in Susques

Hmm - so whats your advice to me then? That I should ride the 1785 kms from Santiago to Paso de Jama without a TIP, to bordercrossing who might or might not be open and to a bordercrossing where theres no chance to avoid chilean Aduana whatsoever?
I appologise if Im slow - but I didnt quite get it....

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Hi Snakeboy
No
I have just added additional comments about the Paso de Jama as such ideas appeared in the discussion.
Riding from Santiago isn't a good idea
Enjoy Your ride

Ok amigo - thanks for the update on the conditions at Paso de Jama then

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....