Chile Goes Digital: SUBTEL's New QR-Code Rules for Short-Range Devices July 2026

Chile has reworked how most wireless devices reach its market. On May 22, 2025, the Undersecretariat of Telecommunications (SUBTEL) published Exempt Resolution No. 737, which amends the long-standing Resolution 1985 of 2017, and the new rules took effect on February 22, 2026.

The headline change is a shift away from certificates. For most non-medical short-range devices (SRDs) — think Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, RFID, and IoT products — the old requirement to obtain a formal SUBTEL type-approval certificate has been replaced by a self-declaration model. Instead of a certificate, the manufacturer or importer issues a Declaration of Conformity supported by a test report, and affixes a QR code to the product packaging. The QR code must be at least 1 cm x 1 cm, borderless, high-contrast, and easily scannable.

That QR code has to link to a dedicated, Spanish-language webpage for the specific model, displaying the manufacturer, the Chilean importer or representative, the technical specifications, the Declaration of Conformity, and a reference to the test reports. The page must stay live for as long as the product is sold in Chile.

There's good news for manufacturers who already hold approvals elsewhere: SUBTEL recognizes internationally accepted test reports, including FCC and EU/CE reports from accredited laboratories, so existing test data can often be reused rather than repeated.

A few important qualifications. Medical-use SRDs — such as MICS implant systems and medical data-acquisition equipment in the 430–440 MHz band — still require formal SUBTEL certification before sale. Foreign manufacturers still need a local Chilean representative to hold documentation and serve as SUBTEL's point of contact. And the new rules apply to both new and previously certified products, so even devices already approved under the old framework need the QR code and webpage added. SUBTEL retains authority to inspect at any time, and non-compliant products can be blocked from import or sale.

CSIA helps manufacturers navigate changes like this in more than 150 countries, including local representative service where it's required. To plan your Chilean market entry under the new rules, contact CSIA at 503-489-8006 or quotes@csiassoc.com for a free quote