Chile Immigration:
Visas, residency, and citizenship

The Chile immigration service grants the first temporary residency visa for a maximum period of two years, which is most of the time the duration you get. However, for the subcategory of seasonal workers, the visa can be valid for up to five years. Some categories of visas, such as humanitarian visas, have shorter duration based on your situation.

No. Chile does not explicitly require proficiency in Spanish to obtain a residency visa.

Yes. No. Chile does not require an interview with immigration officers / at the consulate to obtain a residency visa. In some cases, you may have to go to the consulate to sign a contract or to legalize some documents, but there is no formal interview.

Yes. Chile does allow family members to relocate. They can either relocate with you under the same temporary residency visa. Or, if you are a Chilean citizen or a permanent residency holder, apply for a family reunification visa.

No. Chile does not require a minimum duration of stay during the period of the residency visa. Yet, you must enter Chile to activate your visa and then apply for a Chilean ID card, which are required steps. Then, how long you stay is up to you. Yet, if you want to apply for permanent residency, there is a minimum required stay of 22 months out of the 24 months. If you are outside Chile for more than two months, you must first renew your temporary residency. Then, you will be able to apply for permanent residency.

Yes. Chile does allow residency by investment through the investor visa. Foreign investors and related personnel can apply for a temporary visa as investors facilitated by InvestChile. This Chilean investment agency sponsors foreign investors and assists in realizing their investment projects. The immigration service grants residency for a maximum of two years, with the possibility of extension. The minimum required investment is 500,000 USD.

Yes. You do not need to be present all the time during the duration of your visa (see question above), but you need to come to Chile to activate your visa and apply in person for an ID card.

The minimum duration in Chile to apply for permanent residency is 24 months.

The minimum duration of residence in Chile to apply for citizenship is five years. The count starts from the issuing date of the last temporary visa granted to you before you obtain permanent residency. Foreigners with Chilean family members may apply after two years. Please note that there is a plan to increase this duration to 7 and 3 years, respectively, according to the Chile immigration policy.

No. Chile does not allow citizenship by investment. While Chile does have programs to facilitate foreign investment and offers temporary residence to investors and highly qualified individuals, these do not directly lead to citizenship.

Yes. Chile does allow citizenship by descent. The law states that if you can prove that at least one of your parents or grandparents was born in Chile and maintained their Chilean nationality at the time of your birth, you can apply for Chilean citizenship.

Yes. Chile does grant citizenship to those born on its soil. The law states that children born in Chile to foreign parents who 1) are in the country serving their government or 2) are transient foreigners can opt for Chilean nationality. However, this does not automatically apply to children of foreign parents residing in Chile as tourists or crew members at the time of the child's birth.

Yes. Chile allows citizenship by marriage, but only after a specific time. Foreigners can apply for Chilean citizenship if they meet all of these three criteria: 1) they have been married / in civil union with a Chilean citizen for at least two years, 2) the marriage / civil union has been registered in Chile if celebrated abroad 3) they are a permanent resident and can prove two years of continuous residence in the country.

Yes. Chile does allow dual citizenship. An individual obtaining Chilean citizenship does not have to renounce their original nationality.

Yes. Chile allows foreigners to buy real estate. There might be some limitations, particularly for purchases near the border, as well as for citizens of neighboring countries.