Chile Visa Renewal Process

One year has passed, and you like Chile? Do you want to extend your stay a bit longer? Let's have a look at how to renew your residency visa in Chile? This article guides you through the necessary steps: requirements, document collection, application process. Don't wait the last minute or it might be too late!

Who Can Renew a Temporary Residency in Chile?

Foreigners who hold a Temporary Residency Permit in Chile can apply for a renewal under certain conditions. They must be able to prove they have family ties with Chileans or permanent residents, or their stay aligns with the objectives of the National Migration and Foreign Policy. Other cases can be qualified by the Undersecretary of the Interior through a resolution, after a report from the Service.

Temporary Residency has six subcategories:

1. Former holders of Permanent Residency: This applies to foreigners who have previously held Permanent Residency, which has been revoked.

2. Investors and related personnel: This applies to foreign individuals, legal representatives, or those who perform high-level functions in a foreign company, looking to invest in Chile.

3. People who manage multi-entry business: This applies to foreigners who need to regularly enter the country to perform executive or managerial tasks related to business or investments.

4. Principle of international reciprocity: This applies to foreign individuals who are granted Temporary Residency under the Agreement of the Mercosur State Parties.

5. Family reunification: This applies to foreigners who have family members living in Chile.

6. Foreigners who develop lawful remunerated activities: This applies to foreigners who are working in Chile.

7. Students from recognized establishments: This applies to foreigners who are studying in Chile.

8. Seasonal workers: This applies to foreigners who are in Chile for seasonal work.

9. Foreigners subject to the custody of the Chilean Gendarmerie: This applies to foreigners who are under the custody of the Chilean law enforcement.

10. Foreigners who are in Chile by court order: This applies to foreigners who are in Chile due to a court order.

11. Humanitarian reasons: This applies to foreigners who are in Chile for humanitarian reasons.

12. People covered by international agreements: This applies to foreigners who are in Chile under international agreements.

13. Religious people of recognized cults: This applies to foreigners who are in Chile for religious purposes.

14. Foreigners who are under medical treatment: This applies to foreigners who are in Chile for medical treatment.

15. Retired foreigners and annuitants: This applies to foreigners who are retired or receive an annuity.

A change in the subcategory of Temporary Residency is possible, as long as the person meets the requirements corresponding to the subcategory they are applying for and within the set deadlines.

Who can not renew a Temporary Residency in Chile?

Holders of Temporary Residence Permits who are in the country cannot apply for a residence permit, except those who can prove family ties with Chileans or with permanent residents, those whose stay is in line with the objectives of the National Migration and Foreign Policy, and in other cases properly qualified by the Undersecretary of the Interior through resolution, after a report from the Service.

The Temporary Residence has 6 Subcategories:

1. Former holders of Permanent Residence: For foreigners who have been holders of Permanent Residence at some point, and who have had it revoked.

2. Investors and related personnel: For foreign individuals, legal representatives or those who perform high-level functions in a foreign company, who seek to invest in Chile.

3. People who manage multiple entry businesses: For foreigners who must regularly enter the country to perform executive or managerial tasks related to business or investments.

4. Principle of international reciprocity: For foreign individuals who are granted Temporary Residence by virtue of the Agreement of the Mercosur State Parties.

5. Foreigners whose residence in Chile is justified for humanitarian reasons.

6. Foreigners covered by international agreements ratified by Chile and in force, which grant temporary residence.

7. Religious of officially recognized cults.

Also, it is possible to change the subcategory of Temporary Residence, as long as the person meets the requirements corresponding to the subcategory to which they are applying and the set deadlines.

How to Renew your Temporary Residency in Chile?

Required documents to renew a Temporary Residency

To renew a long-term residency visa in Chile, the following documents are required:

1. Scanned image of passport identification page or identity document.
2. Apostilled or properly legalized and translated certificate of background from country of origin (mandatory for those over 18 years old).
3. Scanned image of Identity Card on both sides (Mandatory for those over 18 years old).
4. Electronic stamp of Temporary Residence Permit or scanned image of visa stamped in passport or Residence Title.
5. If married outside of Chile, present a marriage certificate obtained in the country of origin. The document must be apostilled or properly legalized by the Chilean Consulate in the country of origin and by the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
6. If asked to prove economic support, this can be done through documents such as a current work contract, AFP and Health payments, fee receipts, tax payments, bank transfers, money sent from abroad, among others.
7. Documents proving income from rent.
8. For property owners with financial assets, a passport or identification document, a criminal record certificate or equivalent document issued by the competent authority of their country of origin or where they have resided in the last five years (for adults), a certificate issued by the competent body that accounts for the applicant's ownership of the financial assets, properly legalized or apostilled, as appropriate. This will not be necessary for assets that rent in Chile.
9. Documents proving the income obtained, which are a direct consequence of these financial assets.
10. Passport identification page containing: number, date of issuance and expiration of it, in addition to the page with the stamp of the last entry to Chile. If entering with another identification document, attach an image of said document (Identity Card, DNI, etc.)
11. You must attach a file with the image of your identity document on both sides.
12. Image of the current and legible Crew Card.

What are the fees to renew the Temporary Residency in Chile

The cost for renewing a Temporary Residence visa varies depending on the nationality of the applicant. The cost for renewing a Permanent Residence visa for a general foreigner is $118,604 CLP. However, if the foreigner is married to a Chilean citizen or is under 18 years old, the renewal is exempt from payment."

Yes. There are fees for renewing a visa in Chile. The cost for extending a Temporary Stay visa is USD 100. The cost for renewing a Temporary Residence visa varies depending on the nationality of the applicant. The cost for renewing a Permanent Residence visa for a general foreigner is $118,604 CLP. However, if the foreigner is married to a Chilean citizen or is under 18 years old, the renewal is exempt from payment.

Temporary visa renewal process in Chile

1. Log in to tramites.serviciomigraciones.cl and select “Ratificación de Residencia Temporal Otorgada”. If you do not have a Claveúnica, you can create an account with the National Migration Service.
2. Declare your personal information and attach a copy of your passport.
3. Complete the form with your contact information. Make sure to enter an email address that you use, as you will be notified through this medium.
4. Select the type of visa you wish to renew.
5. If you are a permanent resident and can prove two years of continuous residence in the country (counting from when you obtained the Temporary Residence stamp that led to the Permanent Residence you currently hold), and that according to Law N° 21.325 of Migration and Foreign Affairs, you have one of the following links with the Republic of Chile: spouse of a Chilean, relative of Chileans by blood up to the second degree inclusive or if you are adopted by Chileans, child whose father or mother, having been Chilean, lost Chilean nationality prior to your birth.
6. If you are an adult without a link to a Chilean and have at least five years of residence in Chile, select this option and attach all your contact information (remember to enter an email address that you use, as you will be notified through this medium).
7. Indicate the activity you perform in Chile: profession or trade, name of the institution (optional), attach a document that proves the activity you perform in Chile. If you have a property in Chile, select the corresponding option.
8. If you have a passport: attach the scanned image of the passport identification page, indicate the passport identification number.
9. Apply for Permanent Residence through tramites.serviciomigraciones.cl, by logging in with ClaveÚnica or creating an account with the National Migration Service and selecting the option “Solicitud de Residencia Definitiva”. Complete the form and attach the requested data.
10. If you leave the country, you can lose your Permanent Residence once granted if you are out of the country for a continuous period of more than two years, unless you request an extension from the respective Chilean consulate. This request must be made sixty days before the expiration of this period. This extension will be granted only once and will be valid for two years. %%VRP_RENEWAL_PROCESS_FEE%%

Frequent questions related to visa renewal in Chile

References