The Chile Retirement Visa, Explained
Are you retired? Or soon to be retired in your origin country? Are you planning to move abroad, possibly to Chile? Can you come with the amount of your pension? Let's review the conditions and requirements to obtain a retirement visa to move to Chile.
What is a retirement visa in Chile?
The Chilean retirement visa is suitable for foreigners receiving a pension in their country of origin who wish to relocate to Chile to enjoy their retirement. It is usually issued with a 2-year duration, can be renewed, and allows you to qualify for permanent residency.
Who can apply for a retirement visa in Chile? Is the retirement visa right for me?
Foreigners who can apply for a retirement visa in Chile are individuals who are retired and have a regular income or pension that allows them to live in Chile without the need to work.
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Who does not qualify for a retirement visa?
The retirement visa is only for foreigners who receive a pension. If you have a recurring income but not a pension, check out the rentista visa best suited to your situation.
There is no officially published minimum amount of pension per person. Yet, below 1000 USD for the principal applicant, plus 500 USD extra for each family member, it is more challenging to get accepted.
Chile Retirement Visa eligibility
The requirements to apply for a retirement visa in Chile are:
- being beneficiary of a retirement pension in your country of origin/residence, which covers your basic needs.
- 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 retirement visa
Documents required for all temporary visas
- Copy of your passport (only the page with your photo).
- Background check of your country of origin, apostilled or legalized.
- Background check 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
- Last three monthly retirement or liquidations of pension, apostilled or legalized. Or a certificate from the consulate of the country of origin certifying the applicant's retirement income, in local currency or its equivalent in US dollars, legalized.
- Certificate indicating that the applicant is a retired person receiving a retirement pension, apostilled or legalized. It must specify the duration of the pension and the amount in local currency or its equivalent in US dollars.
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 Retirement visa fees and related costs
The retirement visa is one of the temporary visas in Chile. The temporary visa fees are variable and depend on the citizenship of the visa applicant. More information about the Chile visa fees.
Retirement visa complete application process
The work visa is one of the types of temporary visas available in Chile. See the application process for the temporary visa for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions about the retirement visa in Chile
Retirement visa application process
You must apply for a retirement visa outside Chile. This visa type is only available from abroad.
The retirement 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.
Retirement visa conditions
Yes. You can bring dependents or family members to Chile under your retirement 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 retirement visas for two years. Sometimes, they may issue it for a shorter period (no less than a year).
Yes. You can travel in and out of Chile without any restrictions on a retirement visa. When your visa expires, and you wait for the visa renewal, you will still be able to travel in and out of Chile by showing your expired visa and the certificate of Temporary / Permanent Residence in process.
No. There is no cap on retirement visas in Chile.
No. These courses are not required as part of the retirement visa application process in Chile. There is no exam either.
Yes. There is no limitation in Chile on the retirement visa. You can work or start a business without any problem.
No. You may already receive a pension from a private pension fund, which starts earlier than the official retirement age in your country. You can use this pension to apply, even if you have yet to receive the public one.
No. There is no minimum or maximum age requirement defined in the law. For example, military veterans usually retire much younger than the rest of the population and could qualify.
No. Having a pre-existing medical condition will not affect your visa application, as Chile is not requesting a medical certificate. Remember that private healthcare costs in Chile can be expensive compared to your origin country. Having a medical condition may raise the premium of your health insurance or prohibit you from obtaining one.
Financial requirements for the retirement visa
You must be receiving a stable pension regularly. Most pensions are paid monthly, but note that this is not a requirement. The immigration service asks for the last three pension payment slips, so if you are not yet retired, you must wait for that pension to start to qualify for a retirement visa.
There is no official published minimum amount. The law says that you must be able to live in Chile. Considering that the cost of living in Chile is higher than most other Latin American countries, we recommend 1000 USD per month for the principal applicant and 500 USD extra for each family member. You may obtain a retirement visa with a lower amount, but Chile might not suit you if you struggle to live.
It depends. If you are retired from the military due to a disability, the pension should qualify. Other pensions may not. You should contact our local immigration specialist to investigate your situation.
Yes. These pension funds are eligible for the retirement visa in Chile.
No. The retirement visa specifically requires a pension. For other situations, your best option is the rentista visa.
If your pension had a fixed duration, you would need to demonstrate another source of income to renew your visa or apply for permanent residency.
Visa renewal / Permanent residency
Yes. There is no limitation in changing visa type. Remember, though, that the retirement visa allows you to work in Chile. Therefore, except if you lose your pension, there is no need to change your visa type.
Yes. It is possible to renew a retirement visa in Chile when it expires. You must request the renewal ninety days before the expiration of this period. This extension will be valid for two years.
Yes, for permanent residency. You can apply for permanent residency in Chile after living on a retirement visa for 24 months. You must have stayed in Chile for at least 22 out of the 24 months to qualify for permanent residency directly. Otherwise, you shall renew your retirement visa, and then apply for permanent residency.
No for citizenship. You must first be a permanent resident to apply for citizenship.
References
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