The Chile Temporary Residency Visa, Explained

Yes. You can apply for a temporary residency visa before coming to Chile. This is actually the most recommended option, and very often the only available option. The application can be made through the online platform of the Chilean immigration service. The consulates of Chile are no longer involved in the temporary visa applcations.

It depends. There are limited categories of temporary visas that you can apply for after arriving in Chile as a tourist: humanitarian visas such as the pregnancy visa, and the family visa. Applications for all other categories of temporary visas must be done before relocating.

No. There is no interview at a consulate, as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the consulates are no longer involved in the visa application process. Yet, you may need to go to a consulate to sign a contract or legalize some documents.

It depends. For most of the categories, there is no cap on the total number of certain visas. Some category, such as the working holiday visa may have cap for certain countries.

The visa is received electronically. The documentation for visa application must be sent via the online platform of the immigration service. Once the visa is approved, you will receive an electronic stamp via email. This stamp contains details such as your date of birth, nationality, and the date and number of the resolution that granted the visa. You can download this electronic stamp by following the instructions sent to your email.

You no longer have to pickup the visa at a consulate. Once you have been granted a temporary residency visa, it will be available online, for you to download. You can download your electronic visa within a period of 120 business days from the date it was granted. Once downloaded, you have 90 consecutive days to enter Chile. Therefore, if you plan to delay your entry, do not download the visa too early or you loose the benefit of the first 120 days. The validity period of the residency visa will be counted from your entry into the country.

You do not stamp the visa on the passport anymore, you just download an electronic file. Once you have downloaded your visa, you have 90 consecutive days to enter Chile from the date it was downloaded. The validity of this visa will be calculated from the date of entry into the country.

No. All the process is online. The immigration service may request physical copies of some documents during the process. You will have to send them by postal mail to their office. Yet, when the visa is approved, there is no documents to show.

There is no need to send someone to pickup the visa anymore, as the process is online. If you need to legalize documents at a consulate, you can send someone on your behalf though.

No. The spouse or partner and children of an individual applying for a visa in Chile do not receive the same visa. They can apply as family members (dependientes), together with the principal applicant. They get visas as dependientes, which have the same duration as the main visa, and also allow them to study/work. Therefore, even if not exactly the same visa, the conditions are very similar.

Yes. A partner/spouse is allowed to work in Chile. The law states that dependents are allowed to engage in paid activities, with the exception of minors who are governed by Chilean laws in accordance with the Labor Code.

Yes. There is an age limit for children to apply together with their parents for a visa in Chile. The law allows for children under the age of 18 to apply for a visa together with their parents. Additionally, children between the ages of 18 and 24 who are (or will be) studying in Chile can also apply for a visa. The law also allows for children with disabilities to apply, regardless of their age.

The standard fee for a temporary visa varies based on the citizenship of the visa applicant, and the category of visas. See the page about visa fees in Chile for more information.

Yes. There is a flat fee of USD 15 for the partner/spouse of the main visa holder. Contrary to the fee for the main visa holder, the fee for the partner/spouse does not vary based on the citizenship.

It depends. There is no fee for children below 18. For children above 18 relocating as family members, the fee is USD 15.

You can find the average application time on this page, section "Reply Time", to get an idea of how soon you should send your application.

The online platform of the immigration service has a tracking system, but it only gives you the main step where you visa application currently is. As each step duration can vary quite a lot, it does not give you a very good estimate of how long you still have to wait unfortunately.

You will be notified via email. Once your application begins the analysis process, you will receive an email notification. After your application is accepted, you will automatically receive an email indicating the number and date of the resolution that grants you the visa. The response to your application, including any certificates or official documents, will be sent digitally via email in PDF format with an advanced electronic signature. If your application is incomplete or contains erroneous documentation, you will also be notified by email, and will be given 60 days to provide the missing information or documents.

You can login on the online platform of the immmigration service. There will be an option to update your contact details (Address and Phone Number). The email can not be modified.

No. There is no easy option to cancel a visa application. Yet, you can just let it expires, but either not replying to additional document requests, or not entering Chile with your visa during the allowed period.

No. There is no formal process to cancel your visa if you decide to leave Chile permanently. However, your visa will be expired after a while (usually two years after your first entry with this visa). Not filing a renewal will translate in automatic expiration of your temporary residency visa.

No. No vaccinations or health checks are required for temporary visas. The only exclusion is the working holiday visa that sometimes requires a health certificate.

Yes. Once the visa is approved, you must enter Chile with this visa to activate it if you applied outside Chile. If your application was sent within Chile, the resolution date is the start date of your visa. Once the visa is activated, you must apply for an appointment at the civil register, to apply for the Chilean ID card. This is an important step. Not doing it may prohibit you to apply for a visa renewal, and may even result in your visa been revoked by the immigration service.

Yes. There is an appeal process if your application for a visa is denied. The first step is an administrative appeal, which must be filed within five days of obtaining the rejection notification. The second step is to file a Recurso de Proteccion, which is a court appeal. This second step requires a lawyer. Please note that the immigration service usually issue a pre-rejection notification, and gives you 10 days to reply and provide supporting documents.

No. Owning property in Chile does not directly increase your chances of getting a visa approved. However, owning property could potentially be part of demonstrating financial stability or investment in the country. It may for example allow you to qualify for a rentista visa if the property is rented.