The Chile Working Holiday Visa, Explained
Embark on an adventure of a lifetime with Chile's Working Holiday visa, a unique opportunity that combines work and travel in the heart of South America. This visa not only allows you to explore the rich culture and breathtaking landscapes of Chile, but also to gain international work experience. However, there are certain limitations and prerequisites to be aware of. This guide will walk you through the eligibility criteria, necessary documentation, costs involved, and the step-by-step application process, while also addressing some common questions about this exciting opportunity.
What is a working holiday visa in Chile?
The Working Holidays visa in Chile is a type of visa under the category of "International Treaties" that allows foreigners to live and work in Chile for a limited time. This visa is part of the Interinstitutional Agreement of the Pacific Alliance for a Holiday and Work Program, which includes Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru. The visa application must be made through the Digital Procedures Portal of the SERMIG, meeting the requirements set according to the country with the agreement. The visa application is only available from abroad.
The visa holder does not require prior authorization or visa to enter and stay in Chile. However, in some cases, nationals of certain countries may be required to obtain prior authorization or visa from a Chilean consulate abroad. Visa holders in the country cannot apply for a residence permit unless they are in one of the situations specified in the law.
Those who wish to apply for this visa must present a work contract with a natural or legal person, with domicile or branch in Chile and active start of activity before the Internal Tax Service, when the activity requires it. The duration of the contract cannot be less than three months. The contract must be signed by the employer before a Chilean public notary, while the foreign worker must sign it before the Consulate that is competent according to the Consular Regulation.
Who can apply for a working holiday visa in Chile? Is the working holiday visa right for me?
Foreigners who can apply for a working holiday visa in Chile are citizens of the following countries, which have a working holiday visa agreement with Chile:
| Country | Quota | Age Range | Family allowed | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 3400 | 18-30 | No | Chilean consulates in Australia |
| Austria | No | 18-30 | -- | Chilean consulate in Austria |
| Canada | No | 18-30 | No | any Chilean consulate |
| Czechia | No | 18-30 | No | Chilean consulate in Czechia |
| Denmark | No | 18-30 | No | Chilean consulate in Denmark |
| France | No | 18-30 | No | Chilean consulate in France |
| Germany | No | 18-30 | No | any Chilean consulate |
| Hungary | No | 18-35 | No | Chilean consulate in Hungary |
| Ireland | No | 18-30 | No | Chilean consulate in Ireland |
| Japan | No | 18-30 | No | Chilean consulate in Japan |
| Luxembourg | No | 18-31 | No | any Chilean consulate |
| New Zeland | 200 | 18-30 | No | Chilean consulate in New Zeland |
| Poland | No | 18-30 | No | Chilean consulate in Poland |
| Portugal | No | 18-30 | No | any Chilean consulate |
| Sweden | No | 18-30 | No | Chilean consulate in Sweden |
| Switzerland1 | 50 | 18-35 | No | Chilean consulate in Switzerland |
1 This is an internship program, up to 18 months, pretty restrictive.
There is also a specific agreement between members of the Pacific Alliance for a working holiday program with a strict quota.
| Country | Quota | Age Range | Family allowed | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colombia | 300 | 18-30 | No | Nearest Chilean consulate |
| Mexico | 300 | 18-30 | No | Nearest Chilean consulate |
| Peru | 300 | 18-30 | No | Nearest Chilean consulate |
Tip
If there is no quota available, or if they have family members, citizens of Colombia and Peru can also have a look at the mercosur visa. It is slower to obtain but requires fewer documents.
Apart from being a citizen of one of these countries, you must not have already lived in Chile under a working holiday visa, and meet the criteria.
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Who does not qualify for a working holiday visa?
Individuals who cannot apply for a working holiday visa in Chile include:
- citizen of countries who do not have an agreement with Chile,
- foreigners who want to come to Chile to work full-time (not allowed) or relocate long-term (the visa can not be renewed),
- foreigners who are not in the allowed age range,
- foreigners who can not demonstrate the financial resources to live in Chile.
How to apply for a working holiday visa in Chile?
Required documents to apply for a working holiday visa
Documents required for all visas
Specific documents for this visa
To apply for a working holiday visa in Chile, you need to submit the following documents:
- A scanned image of your passport identification page or identity document.
- A certificate of criminal records from your country of origin, apostilled or properly legalized and translated, if applicable (mandatory for those over 18 years old).
- A scanned image of your Identity Card on both sides (mandatory for those over 18 years old).
- Electronic stamp of Temporary Residence Permit or scanned image of visa stamped in passport or Residence Title.
If you are married and the marriage took place outside of Chile, you need to present a marriage certificate obtained in the country of origin from the institution designated to issue this certification. 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.
You will also need to submit the duration of the requested permit.
You must attach all the requested documentation, ensuring that the documents are valid and legible: identification document, Temporary Stay card, and work contract or letter from the company where you will be working.
If the documents are issued in any language other than Spanish and English, they must be accompanied by the respective translation, which must be authorized by the competent body.
Any document issued abroad or by the respective consular representation in Chile must be apostilled or properly legalized, as stipulated in articles N°345 and 345 bis of the Civil Procedure Code.
Documents issued by private entities must be presented within 30 days from the date of issue. Those issued by public institutions and organizations must be within 60 days from the date of issue, unless a different validity period is stated in the document itself.
Chile working holiday visa fees and related costs
Working holiday visa complete application process
Yes. The working holiday visa in Chile does have a specific application process. Contrary to all other categories of temporary residency, working holiday visa applications must be filed at a consulate, not through the online platform.
Frequently Asked Questions about the working holiday visa in Chile
Working holiday visa application
No. There are no distinct subcategories of working holiday visas in Chile. Yet, remember that the requirements may differ based on your country of origin. Make sure that you meet the requirements of the working holiday program between Chile and your country of origin.
You must apply for a working holiday visa outside Chile, before coming to Chile. This visa category is not available once you arrive in Chile as a tourist.
Yes. There is an age limit to apply for a working holiday visa in Argentina. The age limit depends on your citizenship. See the Age Range column in the table above.
No. You do not need to have a job offer in Chile before applying for the visa.
No. There are no restrictions regarding sectors or industries in which you can work. Yet, remember that the working holiday visa has limitations regarding work, and you can not hold a permanent work position. This may limit your work options.
To prove financial support during your stay in Chile, you can show bank account statements, money transfers, or a notarized supporting letter from a family member indicating they take care of your expenses.
No. The working holiday visa has limitations regarding working. If you plan to create a business and stay for amore extended period, you shall switch to another visa category.
The working holiday visa is a category of temporary visas. You can find the average application time on this page, section "Reply Time".
No.
Working holiday visa conditions
No. The working holiday visa does not allow to bring dependents. If you want to come with your spouse/partner, you can eventually apply separately for the same visa, but no grouped application is available. In particular, if you have children, they won't qualify for a visa as family members.
The duration of a working holiday visa in Chile is usually up to twelve months. Some countries may have different limits in their agreement.
Yes. There are no travel restrictions with the working holiday visa in Chile.
The frequency of travel in and out of Chile during the visa's validity is not limited.
There is no total cap, but some countries have a cap for their citizens. Look at the table above on the page.
No. There are no language or cultural courses required as part of the working holiday visa application in Chile.
Visa Duration and Extensions
No. You cannot extend the duration of a working holiday. However, you can change your visa category, if you qualify for another one, such as a work visa, if you find work during your stay.
No. It is not possible to renew a working holiday visa in Chile.
Visa renewal / Permanent residency
Yes. You must ensure you qualify and have the required documents for the new visa.
Yes. You can apply for a working holiday visa if you had another visa previously, except if it was already a working holiday visa.
You cannot reapply for a working holiday in Chile if you already had one in Chile. Yet, if you had a working holiday in another country, there is no limitation, and you can apply immediately in Chile.
No. The working holiday visa is limited to 12 months. To qualify for permanent residency in Chile, you need at least 24 months of stay in Chile. If you plan to stay for a long time in Chile, you should first change the category of your temporary visa, so that you can stay longer than 12 months, then apply for permanent residency later.
References
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