The Chile Family Visa, Explained

Both. The family reunification visa is the only Chilean temporary visa that you can apply for, either outside Chile or after arriving in Chile as a tourist. The application process is the same, through the national immigration service portal. There is a slight difference in the documents to provide. See the required documents section above.

Not necessarily. Family members can apply separately. Yet, we recommend applying all together. A grouped application simplifies the rest of the process, as all family members can go to the civil register once to get all their Chilean ID cards.

The family reunification visa is a category of temporary visa. You can find the average application time on this page, section "Reply Time".

No. The Chile immigration service does not provide an option to expedite the visa process.

Yes. You can bring the following family members to Chile under your family visa: spouse, parents, children under 18 years old, children with disabilities, unmarried children under 24 years old who are studying, and minors under your care or guardianship. To clarify, this means that you can reunite with a family member in Chile but also include other or your family members together in the application. One example would be reuniting with your spouse in Chile and including together with your application a child from a previous union.

Your spouse (Marriage of civil union, including same-sex partner); your father or mother; your children under 18 years old; your children with a disability; your unmarried children under 24 years old who are studying; and minors under your care or guardianship.

No. You cannot include extended family members like cousins or grandparents under the family visa. The family visa only extends to the members mentioned above. Other family members, even brothers/sisters, cannot use this visa.

Step-children or children from previous marriages are treated similarly to biological children in the visa application process in Chile. They can be included in the family reunification visa application if they are under 18 years old, have a disability, or are unmarried and under 24 years old and studying.

Yes, for elderly parents, as they have a direct link with you. Unfortunately, No, for grandparents under the family visa, as they have no direct link (2nd degree). Yet, they may qualify for a medical visa.

When a child turns 18 while on a family visa in Chile, their visa status may change. They can remain on the family visa until they are 24 years old as long as they study at an educational institution recognized by the state. As they turn 18, they are also allowed to work.

The immigration service can grant family reunification visas for a maximum of two years and no less than one year. They usually tend to issue 2-year visas.

Yes. You can travel in and out of Chile without any restrictions on a family visa.

No. There is no cap on the number of family visas issued each year by Chile.

No. There are no language or cultural courses required as part of the family visa application process in Chile. If you don't know Spanish, starting to familiarize yourself with it might be a good idea to speed up your integration into the country, but this is optional.

No. The family reunification visa aims at allowing families to reunite, a fundamental human right. For this reason, there is no requirement to demonstrate financial support. This exemption only applies to the family visa when there is a relation with a Chilean/Permanent Resident. Temporary visa holders can bring family members, but they must demonstrate financial capabilities to support them.

Proof of financial support is optional for the family reunification visa. For family members of a temporary visa holder, see the temporary visa page.

Yes. If you have a temporary residence visa for family reunification, you can work/study in Chile, subject to the limitations set by the Labor Code regarding the employment of minors. Furthermore, children over 18 but under 24 can study at an educational institution recognized by Chile while remaining on a family visa.

There are no specific age restrictions for parents or children below 18. Children over 18 but under 24 qualify for the family visa only if they study at an institution recognized by Chile.

No. There is no medical certificate to provide or medical examination to undergo.

It depends. Birth requires filing another application for the newborn child but will not affect the rest of the visas.

A marriage / civil union is not going to affect any existing visas. But, it may give foreigners the option to apply for a temporary visa as dependiente or for a family visa if they have a relationship with a Chilean citizen or a family member who holds a permanent residency.

Finally, divorce and death are most likely to affect a visa. Please note, though, that once granted, the immigration service is not revoking the visa due to a family event. Yet, it will be more challenging to renew the visa, and you may need to change your visa category.

Yes. Chile recognizes same-sex relationships. A same-sex partner can apply for a family visa if both partners have contracted a civil union, either in Chile or abroad.

No. Common-law partnerships or long-term cohabiting relationships do not qualify for family visa applications in Chile, even if the couple has children.

Yes. Please note that leaving Chile with children below 18 requires a notarized certificate of the other parent.

Foreign citizens who have acquired permanent residency can sponsor family members. There is no minimum stay in Chile as a permanent resident. If you are still a temporary resident, or if your permanent residency application is in progress, you can still sponsor your family members. But you need to prove that you can support them financially. See the temporary visa page for more information.

Yes. Family members can switch to another visa type, such as a student or work visa, while in Chile if they meet the requirements corresponding to the visa category they are applying for and comply with the set deadlines. Dependents are also allowed to engage in paid activities, except for minors (see the Labor Code for exemption to this rule).

Yes. It is possible to renew a family visa in Chile when it expires. You must request the renewal of a residence permit at most ninety days and at least ten days before the expiration of the current residence permit.

Yes. You can apply for permanent residency in Chile after living on a family visa. Specifically, you can apply for permanent residency if you can prove two years of continuous residence in the country, starting from when you obtained the Temporary Residence that led to the Definitive Residence you currently hold.

No for citizenship. You must first be a permanent resident.