The Chile Rentista Visa, Explained
Do you have a recurring income? Are you looking to relocate to Chile and spend some time here to discover the country and invest or create a business? The rentista visa might allow you to do that. Let's review what are the best uses of this visa.
What is a rentista visa in Chile?
The rentista visa is a category of temporary visas that allows foreigners with recurring passive income to relocate to Chile. Interested applicants must generate their passive from real estate rentals or financial assets.
Note
Income generated by working remotely for a foreign company while living in Chile does not qualify for the rentista visa. There is no remote worker / digital visa. Check out our page about options for digital nomads.
Who can apply for a rentista visa in Chile? Is the rentista visa right for me?
The rentista visa in Chile can be applied for by foreigners who are retirees or have a regular income (rentistas). This visa suits individuals with an income from real estate, investments, or other similar sources. They must not need to work to support themselves while in Chile. The rentista visa allows you to relocate and stay legally in Chile. It is an excellent option if you can prove that you receive an income regularly, ideally (but not necessarily) every month.
Warning
The income must come from real estate or financial assets. If you are a digital nomad or remote worker and want to work for a company abroad while living in Chile, the rentista visa is not for you. If the income comes from your work, it does not qualify for this visa category. There is no remote worker visa in Chile. Look at our Digital Nomad / Remote Workers in Chile page for options.
Receive this article by email
Need more time to read this article in detail? Enter your email below and receive a PDF copy of this article directly in your inbox.
Who does not qualify for a rentista visa?
Remember that only recurring passive income derived from real estate or financial assets qualify for the rentista visa. If you receive a pension, you should choose the retirement visa. If your income is generated by freelancing or remote working, there is, unfortunately, no remote worker visa in Chile.
Furthermore, there is no officially published minimum monthly income per person. Yet, below 1000 USD for the principal applicant, plus 500 USD extra for each family member, it is more challenging to get approved, and we recommend you choose another visa.
Chile rentista visa eligibility
The requirements to apply for a rentista visa in Chile are:
- having a recurring income generated either by:
- real estate properties that are rented. The location can be anywhere, not only in Chile.
- financial investments that pay dividends.
- having a passport valid for at least one year at the date of the application.
- not having been convicted for a crime in Chile or abroad. See details on the Chile temporary visa page.
Required documents to apply for a rentista visa
Documents required for all visas
- Copy of your passport or identification document (only the page with your photo).
- Criminal record certificate, background check, or equivalent document of your country of origin, apostilled or legalized.
- Criminal record certificate, background check, or equivalent document of your country of residence, apostilled or legalized, if you have been residing in the last five years in a country different from your country of origin.
Specific documents for this visa
To obtain a rentista visa in Chile, you need the following documents:
If you own real estate:
- Certificate proving that the applicant owns the real estate property.
- Acts or contracts celebrated concerning the real estate property, duly apostilled or legalized. The obligation to pay a determined sum of money regularly in favor of the visa applicant must be present.
- Documents that justify the income from rent of the declared real estate property.
If you own financial assets:
- Certificate proving that the applicant owns the financial assets. It must be emitted by the organism that holds the assets, such as a bank, broker, or financial management company.
- Documents proving the income from the declared financial assets.
Note
Documents issued abroad must be apostilled or legalized adequately by the Chilean consulate in the country of origin and by the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as stipulated in articles 345/345 bis of the Civil Procedure Code.
Chile Rentista visa fees and related costs
The Chile rentista visa is part of the temporary visas in Chile. The visa fees vary based on the applicant's citizenship. More information on the Chile visa fees section.
Rentista visa complete application process
The rentista/rentier visa is one type of temporary visa in Chile. For this reason, you have to file a temporary visa application.
Frequently Asked Questions about the rentista visa in Chile
Rentista visa application process
Yes. Although the immigration law does not formally define subcategories, there are two distinct profiles of foreigners who qualify for this visa: the owners of real estate properties that are rented, and the owners of financial assets. Each profile requires a distinct set of documents.
You actually must apply for a rentista visa outside Chile. This process is only available from abroad. However, if you entered the country as a tourist, you cannot apply for a residence permit.
The rentista visa is a category of temporary visa. You can find the current application time on this page, section "Reply Time".
No. The Chile immigration service does not provide an option to expedite the visa process.
Rentista visa conditions
Yes. You can bring dependents or family members to Chile under your rentista visa. The family members that you can include are your spouse or equivalent, children under 18 years old, children with disabilities, unmarried children under 24 years old who are (or will be) studying in Chile, and minors under your personal care or guardianship. Additional documents are needed to establish family links. See the temporary visa application page for more information.
The Chile immigration service usually grants rentista visas for two years. Sometimes, they may issue it for a shorter period (no less than a year).
Yes. There are no restrictions on this visa.
No. There is no cap on rentista visas issued. The limiting factor is whether you meet the minimum requirements to qualify for the visa.
No. The rentista visa application does not require Spanish / Chilean culture courses or exams.
Visa renewal / Permanent residency
Yes. You can apply to change your visa status while residing in Chile on a rentista visa. However, you must meet the requirements for the specific visa subcategory you are applying for. As the rentista visa allows you to work and qualify for permanent residency, there is no interest in changing the visa category, however.
Yes. It is possible to renew a rentista visa in Chile when it expires.
Yes. You can apply for permanent residency in Chile after living on a rentista visa. The necessary residency period to apply for permanent residency is 24 months.
No for citizenship. You must first become a permanent resident.
References
These articles may interest you: