From Visa to Chilean Citizenship: How Long Does It Take?

From visa to Chilean citizenship: how long does it take?

Jérémie Le Pévédic
updated: 16/07/2026

Work Visa

Paid Work Temporary Residence (Residencia Temporal — Actividades Lícitas Remuneradas), granted for up to 24 months per period, renewable
from 24 months
Source: Decreto 177, Ministerio del Interior y Seguridad Pública, 2022, Artículos 17-22; Ley 21.325, Artículos 68-77
Standard permanent residence (Residencia Definitiva) eligibility: 24 months of continuous eligible temporary residence
from 24 months
Source: Decreto 296/2021, Art. 65; Ley 21.325, Artículos 78-83 (Art. 79)
Naturalization eligibility (Carta de Nacionalización): 5 years of continuous residence, counted from the Temporary Residence Electronic Stamp date, as a Residencia Definitiva holder aged 18+
from 60 months
Source: DS 5.142/1960, Art. 2 (inciso 1)

Statutory minimums — actual processing adds time on top. Details on the visa page.

Investor Visa

Investor Temporary Residence (Residencia Temporal — Inversionistas y Personal Relacionado), granted for up to 24 months per period, renewable
from 24 months
Source: Decreto 177, Ministerio del Interior y Seguridad Pública, 2022, Artículos 62-64; Resolución InvestChile (idNorma 1180009)
Permanent residence (Residencia Definitiva) eligibility: 24 months standard, discretionarily reducible to 12 months on investment grounds
12–24 months
Source: Decreto 296/2021, Art. 65 (24-month standard) and Art. 66 (Director's discretion to reduce to a minimum of 12 months for, among other grounds, investments); Ley 21.325, Artículos 78-83 (Art. 79)
Naturalization eligibility (Carta de Nacionalización): 5 years of continuous residence, counted from the Temporary Residence Electronic Stamp date, as a Residencia Definitiva holder aged 18+
from 60 months
Source: DS 5.142/1960, Art. 2 (inciso 1)

Statutory minimums — actual processing adds time on top. Details on the visa page.

Retirement Visa

Retiree Temporary Residence (Residencia Temporal — Extranjeros Jubilados), granted for up to 24 months per period, renewable
from 24 months
Source: Decreto 177, Ministerio del Interior y Seguridad Pública, 2022, Artículos 53-56
Permanent residence (Residencia Definitiva) eligibility: 24 months standard, discretionarily reducible to 12 months on pension grounds
12–24 months
Source: Decreto 296/2021, Art. 65 (24-month standard) and Art. 66 (Director's discretion to reduce to a minimum of 12 months for, among other grounds, pensions); Ley 21.325, Artículos 78-83 (Art. 79)
Naturalization eligibility (Carta de Nacionalización): 5 years of continuous residence, counted from the Temporary Residence Electronic Stamp date, as a Residencia Definitiva holder aged 18+
from 60 months
Source: DS 5.142/1960, Art. 2 (inciso 1)

Statutory minimums — actual processing adds time on top. Details on the visa page.

Note

This page is informational only and is not legal advice. The durations shown are statutory minimums — actual processing adds time on top, and eligibility is always decided by the immigration authority. Visalpha is an independent information service and is not affiliated with the Servicio Nacional de Migraciones (SERMIG). For advice on your situation, consult an attorney licensed in Chile.

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