Chile Government Lobby Law

Chile’s Lobby Law was approved on March 8, 2014, and was designed to address two critical issues: first, reducing influence peddling by creating a system that aims for transparency by authorities and elected officials in their agendas, travel, and donations; and second, by providing mechanisms and opportunities to improve citizen access to authorities. The law has contributed to shaping new standards in public-private relations, setting rules, and a framework to promote interests before public authorities.

How does it work?  

Interested parties (also known as lobbyists under the Law) access the Chilean lobbyist website Plataforma Ley del Lobby and request an audience with a government official by completing a form.  

Steps:  

1. Select the government agency with which they would like to meet from the dropdown menu.  
2. Once the selection is made, the website will take the applicant to a required form: “Formulario Solicitud Audiencia Ley N°20.730.”
3. On the form, complete five mandatory sections:
   1. Recipient of the request: with what authority or official do you wish to have a hearing?
   2. Information about the applicant: full name, ID or passport number, and citizenship.  
   3. Information about each person attending the hearing or meeting: full name, ID or passport number, citizenship, email and/or phone number, AND answering whether they are a paid or unpaid lobbyist.  
   4. Specific topic to be discussed at the hearing or meeting: there are four options under the law (artículo 5° ley N°20.730) to choose from: discussing a government project; lobbying for approving, denying, or modifying a decision being made by Congress; asking about a tender and offering a product or a service; implementing, denying, or changing a government policy, plan, or program.  
   5. Specific matters that will be addressed at the meeting: in this section the lobbyist should explain in detail what the topic and the purpose of the meeting will be.
4. Submit the form.  

What happens next?  

• The applicant will receive a confirmation email that the request has been received.
• The government authority has three business days to respond.
• The meeting is approved, and an email is sent including details about the meeting, time, place etc., OR the meeting is denied, with a brief explanation.  

Is there a record of the meetings arranged through the Lobby Law?  

Yes, all meetings are public record, including the names, companies, and the topic discussed in the meeting. If there is a gift/donation or travel involved, the government authority is required to record it.  

It is important to note that the applicant does not need to be pre-registered to request a meeting, nor do they need to be a citizen of Chile. However, the platform of the Lobby Law is in Spanish only.  

The Lobby Law has sought to provide more transparency and information about preliminary negotiations related to government procurements. The law allows companies interested in making their products known or positioning their brands to set up meetings, which must be publicly registered, with potential public-sector clients, making those preliminary contacts more transparent1.

U.S. companies may have direct access to Chilean government decision-makers by requesting meetings directly with Chilean government officials through the Lobby Law. Alternatively, the U.S. Commercial Service in Chile may assist with this outreach through one of our paid services. 

For more information regarding the Lobby Law, or other questions regarding doing business in Chile please contact office.Santiago@trade.gov