The Chile Mercosur Visa, Explained

This guide covers Chile's temporary residence permit for people covered by an international agreement. It is most often searched for as the "Mercosur visa," since nationals of the Mercosur states are its largest applicant group. We explain eligibility, required documents, fees, and how this pathway relates to Chile's separate Working Holiday program.

What is the Mercosur visa (international agreement residence) in Chile?

Residencia Temporal - Personas Acogidas a Acuerdos Internacionales (Spanish for "Temporary Residence for Persons Covered by International Agreements") is a temporary residence permit for nationals or residents of a state that has an international agreement in force with Chile, where that agreement requires Chile to grant residence to that state's nationals. ^[1] The specific requirements, effects, and application location are set entirely by the applicable treaty. Decreto 177 does not itself enumerate them. ^[1]

This page is published under the "Mercosur" title and URL because the treaty most people search for under this category is the residence agreement between the Mercosur states parties, Bolivia, and Chile. ^[2] The same SERMIG portal subcategory is also where Chile processes its Working Holiday program and the temporary-entry chapters of some free-trade agreements. See the dedicated Working Holiday visa page if that is your pathway. ^[3][4]

Who can apply for this visa? Is it right for me?

You may apply if you are a national or resident, as applicable, of a state with an international agreement currently in force with Chile that requires Chile to grant you temporary residence. ^[1] In practice, the largest group of applicants under this category are Mercosur nationals applying under Chile's residence agreement with the Mercosur states parties and Bolivia. ^[2] The same category also covers Working Holiday participants and some free-trade-agreement business entrants. ^[3]

Who does not qualify for this visa?

If you are not a national or resident of a state that currently has an international agreement with Chile requiring temporary residence to be granted to you, you do not qualify for this permit. ^[1] Even where an agreement exists, some treaties set additional conditions of their own. For example, Working Holiday has program-specific eligibility windows. If you do not meet your specific treaty's conditions, you do not qualify either. If no treaty covers your situation, consider the work visa, the rentista visa, or another temporary residence category that fits you. ^[3][5]

Chile Mercosur / international-agreement visa eligibility

The requirements to apply for this permit in Chile are:

• being a national or resident, as applicable, of a state that has an international agreement in force with Chile under which Chile must grant you temporary residence.
• meeting the specific conditions the applicable treaty sets. These vary by agreement and are not defined in Decreto 177 itself.
• a passport with at least one year of validity at the date of application.
• a criminal background certificate (or equivalent), issued by the competent authority of your country of origin, or of any country where you have resided during the last 5 years, for applicants 18 or older.
• documents showing your economic sufficiency for the stay.
• not being subject to Ley 21.325's mandatory entry prohibitions. See details on the Chile temporary visa page.

^[1][3][6]

Required documents to apply for this visa

Documents required for all temporary visas

No document checklist is mapped for this visa yet — check the official source.

• Copy of your passport identification page, valid for at least one year at the date of application.
• Criminal background certificate (or equivalent) from your country of origin, apostilled or legalized, for applicants aged 18 or older.
• Criminal background certificate from your country of residence, apostilled or legalized, if you have resided in a country other than your country of origin during the last 5 years.
• A recent color photograph on a white background, full face, neutral expression, no glasses or headwear.

Specific documents for this visa

• Documents showing your economic sufficiency for your stay in Chile.
• Any additional document that the specific international agreement applicable to you requires.
• If applying as a dependent, documents establishing the family relationship described in article 74, numbers 1 and 2, of Ley 21.325.

^[1][3]

Duration and renewal

This permit is granted for up to 24 months per period, unless the specific treaty that applies to you sets a different term. ^[1] To renew it, you must file the renewal application between 90 and 10 days before your current permit expires. ^[6] See the visa renewal page for the general renewal process.

Chile Mercosur / international-agreement visa fees and related costs

This is a category of temporary visa. For this reason, the associated visa fees vary based on the applicant's citizenship. ^[7]

Mercosur / international-agreement visa complete application process

This permit must be filed from abroad through the SERMIG Digital Procedures Portal. ^[1][3] For the general steps, see the temporary visa application process. ^[8]

Path to permanent residency and citizenship

1. International Agreement Temporary Residence (Residencia Temporal — Personas Acogidas a Acuerdos Internacionales — includes Working Holiday and bilateral/Mercosur agreement pathways), granted for up to 24 months per period, renewable; specific terms determined by the applicable treaty
   from 24 months^[1]
2. Permanent residence (Residencia Definitiva) eligibility: 24 months of continuous eligible temporary residence
   from 24 months^[6][9]
3. 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^[10]

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

Holding this permit leads to permanent residency and, eventually, citizenship:

1. Temporary residence: granted for up to 24 months per period, renewable. The specific terms are set by the applicable treaty. ^[1]
2. Permanent residency (Residencia Definitiva): you become eligible after 24 months of continuous, eligible temporary residence held under this permit. ^[9]
3. Naturalization (Carta de Nacionalización): available after 5 years of continuous residence, counted from your Temporary Residence Electronic Stamp date, once you hold permanent residency and are 18 or older. ^[6][10]

Frequently Asked Questions about the Mercosur / international-agreement visa in Chile

References

1. [1]
   Decreto 177 — Subcategorías Migratorias de Residencia Temporal (Spanish) [law text]
2. [2]
   Acuerdo de Residencia para Nacionales de los Estados Partes del MERCOSUR, Bolivia y Chile (Spanish)
3. [3]
   SERMIG — Residencia Temporal, Subcategoría: Acuerdos Internacionales (Mercosur, etc.) (Spanish)
4. [4]
   SERMIG — Subcategorías de Residencia Temporal (Spanish)
5. [5]
   SERMIG — Acuerdos Internacionales (Spanish)
6. [6]
   Ley 21.325 — Ley de Migración y Extranjería (Spanish) [law text]
7. [7]
   SERMIG — Aranceles Migratorios (fee schedule) (Spanish)
8. [8]
   SERMIG — Etapas de la Residencia Temporal (Spanish)
9. [9]
   Decreto 296 — Reglamento de la Ley 21.325 (Spanish) [law text]
10. [10]
    DS 5.142/1960 — Ley sobre Nacionalización de Extranjeros (Spanish) [law text]
11. [11]
    SERMIG Centro de Ayuda — Paso a Paso: Permiso para Personas Acogidas a Acuerdos Internacionales (Spanish)
12. [12]
    SERMIG — Residencia Temporal: Calidad de Dependiente (Spanish)
13. [13]
    SERMIG — Residencia Temporal: Cambio de Subcategoría o Calidad (Spanish)
14. [14]
    SERMIG — Prórroga de Residencia Temporal (Spanish)