The Chile Tourist Visa, Explained

Planning a trip to Chile? This page explains who needs a tourist visa, how long you can stay and extend your permanencia transitoria, the narrow cases where you can work as a tourist, and what happens if you overstay. It also covers a 2026 update on how a tourist stay affects a child's nationality if born in Chile.

Jérémie Le Pévédic
updated: 04/08/2026

What is a tourist visa in Chile?

Permanencia Transitoria (Spanish for "transitory stay") is the legal category that includes Chile's tourist visa [1]. It is a short-stay permit for foreigners entering Chile without the intention to settle, for purposes such as recreation/tourism, sports, business management, or family visits.

The tourist subcategory allows you to stay in the country for up to 90 calendar days, extendable once. Citizens of some countries are granted a shorter initial duration. See Duration and extension below. The same permanencia transitoria legal category also covers a few other subcategories not detailed on this page: crew members of international passenger/cargo transport, individuals covered by a bilateral or treaty-based reciprocity agreement, and residents of designated border areas [2].

Note

Tourist visa applications that require a consular visa are processed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through its own online platform. This differs from the process for the other categories of Chilean visas (temporary, permanent), which the immigration service (SERMIG) of the Ministry of Interior handles.

Who needs a tourist visa for Chile?

It depends on your nationality:

  • If you are a citizen of a country with a visa-exemption / reciprocity arrangement with Chile, you do not need to apply for a tourist visa in advance. You are granted permanencia transitoria at the border on arrival [1].
  • If you are a citizen of a country without such an arrangement, you must obtain a consular tourist visa before traveling, following the application process described below [2].

The tourist visa fee table lists every nationality that must apply for a visa in advance, together with the fee and permitted duration. If your nationality is not on that list, it has a visa-exemption arrangement with Chile.

Warning

Except in specific cases, you cannot switch from a tourist permit to a temporary-residence visa from inside Chile. If your goal is to relocate to Chile for an extended period, apply directly for a temporary visa instead of entering as a tourist.

Is the Chile tourist visa right for me?

If you plan to stay 90 days or less in Chile (up to 180 days counting the single extension), a tourist visa is the right choice. If you plan to relocate for a longer period, consider a temporary visa instead.

Duration and extension

A tourist visa (permanencia transitoria) is granted for up to 90 calendar days [2]. It can be extended once, for up to 90 additional calendar days, through SERMIG's digital portal [2]. You must request the extension before the original permit, as recorded on your Tarjeta Única Migratoria (TUM), expires, and you must show continued proof of subsistence means. There is no second ordinary extension: a further extension is granted only in exceptional, proven force-majeure circumstances that prevent you from leaving Chile on time, and it is limited strictly to the time needed to depart and exempt from fees [2].

Your permitted stay can never exceed your passport's remaining validity. If your passport expires before your visa would otherwise end, your stay is shortened to match [2].

Nationality of children born in Chile during a tourist stay

Warning

Effective April 2026, a child born in Chile while both parents hold a permanencia transitoria (tourist/transitory-stay) permit does not acquire Chilean nationality at birth.

Chile generally grants nationality to anyone born on its territory (jus soli), but Article 10 N°1 of the Constitution carves out an exception for children of "foreign transients" (extranjeros transeúntes) [3]. Ley 21.325 art. 47 now supplies a statutory definition of extranjero transeúnte: a person in Chile on a permanencia transitoria permit, without intention to establish residence [1]. This replaces the prior regime under the repealed DL 1.094/1975, where the term had no statutory definition and was left to case-by-case judicial interpretation [4]. Circular DN N°014/2026, issued by Chile's Civil Registry (Servicio de Registro Civil e Identificación) and effective 12 April 2026, operationalizes this exception.

In practice:

  • If a child is born in Chile while the parents' permanencia transitoria (including any extension) is still valid, the child does not acquire Chilean nationality [1][3]. The child is registered as hijo de extranjero transeúnte (child of a foreign transient).
  • Civil officers determine this objectively, from the passport entry stamp or the Tarjeta Única Migratoria (TUM), and must **not** assess the parents' subjective intent to stay. That determination belongs exclusively to SERMIG.
  • If the officer cannot confirm the parents' migration status at all, the default registration is still *hijo de extranjero transeúnte*. Doubt does not resolve in favor of Chilean nationality.
  • Parents who disagree can request a formal status determination from SERMIG under Ley 21.325 art. 157 N°9 [1]. If SERMIG rules in their favor, the birth certificate can be rectified administratively, without going to court.
  • A person registered this way is not permanently barred from Chilean nationality. They can later file for the separate "option of nationality" (opción de nacionalidad) within one year of turning 18 [5]. See our citizenship page for how that route works.
Note

This section is general information, not a case-specific nationality determination. Only SERMIG and the Civil Registry can decide an individual case. If you are planning to have a child in Chile and your migration status is not straightforwardly a temporary or permanent residence permit, confirm your situation with SERMIG or a licensed attorney before relying on any assumption about your child's nationality.

Required documents for a tourist visa in Chile

The required documents for a consular tourist visa are [2]:

  • An identity photo 5x5cm (digital) – white background.
  • A scanned copy of your passport (only the page with your photo). If you do not have a passport, you may present a national identity document from your country of origin or a consular certificate (legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile) proving your identity and nationality.
  • A background check / criminal records certificate from your country of origin, apostilled or legalized and translated if necessary (applicants over 18 only). A consulate may also require this for applicants seeking a consular visa.
  • Proof of residence, if you reside in a country other than your country of nationality.
  • Proof of subsistence means for your stay (recent pay slips or bank statements, for example), and a return or onward travel ticket.
  • Hotel/accommodation reservation, or an invitation letter signed before a Chilean notary with the inviting party's contact details. The invitation can be made by Chilean citizens, foreigners with valid migratory status, or companies, and must detail the reasons, length of stay, and travel conditions of the guest.

The tourist visa fee is variable and depends on the citizenship of the applicant and whether the application is for a single-entry or multiple-entry visa [6]. More details about the Chile tourist visa fees.

Tourist visa application process in Chile

For nationalities that need a consular visa, the process is managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, unlike the rest of Chile's visas [7]:

  1. Go to the online platform of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  2. Click on the "Visa" link.
  3. Fill in the first page from top to bottom, as later fields depend on earlier answers. Indicate the consulate corresponding to your place of residence.
  4. Once you validate the first page, you receive an email confirming that you have started the visa process.
  5. Fill in the remaining information and upload the required documents.
  6. You receive a confirmation by email that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received your application.
  7. Wait for a reply. You may be asked to come to the consulate for an interview during the process.
  8. Download your visa online once it is granted.
  9. Enter Chile with your tourist visa.

Working as a tourist

Permanencia Transitoria holders are generally prohibited from paid work in Chile. The only exception is a narrow SERMIG authorization for specific, sporadic paid activities: public performances, sports events, conferences/lectures, and expert or technical consulting (as well as certain activities for border-zone residents under a bilateral agreement). This authorization does not turn a tourist visa into a general work permit. It is limited to the specific activity and dates approved [1][2].

Warning

If your nationality does not have a visa-exemption/reciprocity arrangement with Chile, holding a work authorization is not enough by itself. You must also hold (or obtain) a valid tourist visa.

Info

A SERMIG work authorization for tourists is intended only for short, sporadic missions. It does not lead to a Chilean ID card and is not a path to relocating long-term in Chile. For ongoing employment, see the temporary work visa instead.

How to apply for SERMIG work authorization as a tourist

  1. Log in to SERMIG's digital portal using ClaveÚnica or a registered account.
  2. Submit the application at least one business day before the work is due to begin, during business hours (Mon–Thu 08:00–17:00, Fri 08:00–16:00, Chile time). You can apply before or after entering Chile.
  3. Provide a valid ID document (passport, Cédula, or DNI), your permanencia transitoria visa or prior authorization (if applicable), a valid Tarjeta Única Migratoria (TUM), and a notarized letter or contract identifying both parties, the functions, the location, and the work dates, with a clause confirming work will only start once authorization is granted.
  4. Pay the applicable fee (subject to possible reductions).
  5. Wait for SERMIG's reply before starting the activity.

To extend an existing work authorization, the same documents are required (updated), plus a copy of the current authorization and a notarized document confirming the activity continues.

Warning

Working without SERMIG authorization is a migration infraction: fines of 0.5 to 5 UTM (Unidad Tributaria Mensual) apply, and repeat unauthorized work can lead to expulsion proceedings [1].

What happens if you overstay

Overstaying your permanencia transitoria (past the original 90 days or the extended period) is a migration infraction with escalating consequences:

  • Up to 180 days overstayed: a fine of 0.5 to 10 UTM (Unidad Tributaria Mensual, a monthly-indexed accounting unit set by Chile's tax authority, used across Ley 21.325 fines) [1].
  • More than 180 days overstayed: a fine of 1 to 10 UTM [1].
  • Self-declaring the infraction before being caught, through SERMIG's online "Declaración de Infracción" portal, reduces the fine by 50%. Paying within 5 business days of the sanctioning decision adds a further 25% reduction [2].
  • An expired permanencia transitoria is also a listed ground for expulsion, at SERMIG's discretion, weighing factors such as the length and circumstances of the overstay [1].

If SERMIG orders your expulsion, you have the right to appeal to the Court of Appeals of your domicile within 10 calendar days, with the appeal suspending execution and free legal aid available through the Corporación de Asistencia Judicial [1]. Voluntary departure within the deadline given in a departure order halves any resulting entry-ban period [2].

If you want to stay in Chile longer than a tourist visa allows, request the single 90-day extension before your current permit expires (see Duration and extension). If you qualify for one of the exceptions to the general rule against switching categories from inside Chile, apply for a temporary visa instead of letting your permit lapse [2].

Frequently Asked Questions about the tourist visa in Chile

Note

Most of the questions below apply to citizens of countries that must apply for a visa before coming to Chile. Citizens of countries with a visa-exemption/reciprocity arrangement with Chile may find some of the questions irrelevant.

Tourist Visa Basics

Yes. Permanencia Transitoria (the legal category that includes the tourist visa) covers several subcategories: 1. Tourism, sports, or similar short-stay purposes. 2. Crew members of passenger or cargo transport. 3. Individuals covered by international treaties or reciprocity agreements. 4. Foreign residents of border areas under a bilateral agreement. 5. Former official residents whose recognized mission in Chile has ended. This page focuses on the tourism subcategory.[1][8][9]

The permanencia transitoria (tourist visa) is granted for up to 90 calendar days. It can be extended once for up to 90 additional days. See Duration and extension below. Some nationalities receive an initial permit shorter than 90 days. The tourist visa fee table shows the exact duration granted to nationalities that must apply for a visa in advance.[2]

First, check whether your nationality needs a tourist visa at all. See who needs a tourist visa for Chile. If it does, apply as early as you can. Processing times are set by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and vary case by case, so no fixed timeframe applies.[10]

To apply for a tourist visa, you must be outside Chile at the time of application and provide the required documentation. You must demonstrate lawful means of subsistence for your planned stay and a return or onward travel ticket, and you must not fall under one of Ley 21.325's entry-prohibition grounds.[1][2]

It depends. Citizens of countries with a visa-exemption/reciprocity arrangement with Chile are not subject to entry limitations. If your country does not have such an arrangement, your consular visa will specify whether it is single-entry or multiple-entry.[1][9]

It depends on your citizenship. Some nationalities are only offered single-entry tourist visas by the consulate.[9]

Tourist visa requirements

Yes, if you come for tourism. If you come on an invitation for a short business trip, this is not required in the same way. See the invitation-letter question below.[2]

No. Chilean immigration regulation does not make travel or health insurance a requirement to obtain a tourist visa.[9]

Yes. You need to show lawful means of subsistence for your stay, capped at the average daily expenditure amount the Service sets annually based on Tourism Undersecretariat data. This can be shown with a bank account statement, for example. If you are invited to an event, a supporting letter from the inviting company or institution confirming they cover your expenses during the stay can also be used.[2]

It depends. If you come as a tourist with flight tickets, accommodation, and proof that you can pay for your stay, you do not need an invitation letter. If you are invited for an event or business in Chile, an invitation letter is recommended, as it helps justify the reason for your visa application.[2]

Yes. Decreto 296 requires transitory-stay visa applicants to show a return or onward travel ticket.[2]

Not a fixed minimum, but your passport must outlast your stay. Chilean regulation limits the validity of your permanencia transitoria to your passport's expiration date. If your passport expires during your planned stay, your permitted stay is shortened accordingly. Many travelers still carry a passport valid for six months beyond their trip as a general precaution common in international travel, but Chilean law does not itself set that six-month figure for tourists.[2]

Tourist visa application process

No. Tourist visa applications requiring a consular visa are channeled through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and there is no fast-track process.[7]

Upon submitting your application, you receive an email notification with a tracking code. You can track the application on the online platform of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs using your passport number and this tracking code.[11]

Yes, if a consular visa is required for your nationality. The Chilean Consulate in your place of residence will contact you to schedule an appointment where you present the original versions of the requested documents. If there is no consulate in your country of origin, you may need to travel to another country to attend the interview.[9]

If a Chilean consulate denies your tourist visa application, you must be notified in writing of the grounds for the denial. You can appeal from abroad through the consulate within 15 days of the notification, under the administrative-appeal procedures of Ley 19.880. An alternative is to reapply, addressing the stated reason for rejection.[1]

Yes. Chilean law requires written notice of the grounds for any entry-visa denial, and you can appeal from abroad through the Chilean consulate within 15 days of notification, under Ley 19.880's administrative-appeal procedures.[1]

No. Each family member applies on their own for a tourist visa. You can indicate that the applications are grouped so that the consulate reviews them together.[9]

Yes. Tourist / transitory-stay permits are issued electronically as an Estampado Electrónico (electronic stamp).[12]

Your stay as a tourist

Generally, no. Permanencia Transitoria (tourist visa) holders are prohibited from paid work in Chile. The only exception is a narrow SERMIG authorization for specific, sporadic paid activities requested in advance, such as public performances, sports, conferences, or expert/technical consulting. See Working as a tourist below for the eligible activities and how to apply. This is different from Chile's temporary work visa, which you need for ongoing employment under a Chilean contract.[1][2]

No. There are no geographical restrictions tied to the tourist visa itself. Some areas or properties (military, private) have restricted access due to their nature, but apart from that, there are no particular restrictions.[9]

Yes. Chile has visa-exemption / reciprocity arrangements with many countries, letting their citizens enter directly as tourists without applying for a visa in advance. Citizens of countries without such an arrangement must obtain a consular tourist visa before traveling. The tourist visa fee table lists every nationality that must apply in advance, together with the fee and permitted stay for a single-entry or multiple-entry visa. If your nationality is not on that list, you can travel to Chile as a tourist without a visa.[1][2]

Yes. Children and elderly applicants are subject to the same tourist visa requirements as any other applicant.[9]

No. Chilean immigration regulation does not condition the tourist visa on vaccination records.[9]

You should leave before your permanencia transitoria (including any extension) expires, as shown on your Tarjeta Única Migratoria (TUM). If you stay past that date without regularizing your status, you risk fines. These range from 0.5 to 10 UTM (Unidad Tributaria Mensual, a monthly-indexed accounting unit) for an overstay of up to 180 days, rising to 1 to 10 UTM for longer overstays, and you risk expulsion proceedings. See What happens if you overstay below.[1][2]

No. Chile does not have visibility into your immigration status in other countries. A previous visa rejection elsewhere does not by itself affect your tourist visa application for Chile.[9]

No. As long as you do not leave the international zone of the airport, you are not entering Chilean territory, and no transit visa is needed.[9]

No. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sets the tourist visa requirements, and they are the same everywhere, depending only on the category of tourist visa you apply for.[13]

Nationality of children born in Chile during a tourist stay

No. Article 10 N°1 of the Constitution excludes children of 'foreign transients' (extranjeros transeúntes) from Chilean birthright citizenship. Since April 2026, Ley 21.325 art. 47 legally defines an extranjero transeúnte as anyone on a permanencia transitoria permit, which includes the tourist subcategory. Circular DN N°014/2026 from Chile's Civil Registry (Servicio de Registro Civil e Identificación) applies this definition: a child born in Chile while both parents hold a permanencia transitoria (tourist / transitory-stay) permit does not acquire Chilean nationality automatically. The child is instead registered as hijo de extranjero transeúnte (child of a foreign transient). Civil officers verify this from the passport entry stamp or the Tarjeta Única Migratoria (TUM), not from any assessment of the parents' intentions.[1][3]

The default still excludes Chilean nationality. Under Circular DN N°014/2026's 'situación especial' rule, if the Oficial Civil cannot determine whether the parents held a tourist/transitory permit or another migration status at the time of birth, the child is registered as hijo de extranjero transeúnte by default. Doubt does not resolve in favor of Chilean nationality. Parents who disagree with this classification can request a formal status determination from SERMIG under Ley 21.325 art. 157 N°9. If SERMIG rules in their favor, the birth certificate can be rectified administratively, without court proceedings.[1]

Yes, through the separate 'option of nationality' (opción de nacionalidad) procedure, but not automatically. A person born in Chile and registered as the child of a transient foreigner may apply to SERMIG for Chilean nationality by filing a declaration within one year of turning 18. This is a distinct, later process from birthright citizenship, and it depends on meeting the requirements of Decreto Supremo 5.142/1960 art. 10. See our citizenship page for how naturalization and nationality options work in Chile.[5]

Visa renewal / Residency

No. If you applied for a single-entry visa at the consulate, you cannot transform it into a multiple-entry visa while in Chile.[9]

Yes, once. Any permanencia transitoria holder, regardless of the nationality-based length of the original permit, can request a single extension of up to 90 additional calendar days through SERMIG's digital portal, before the original permit (as recorded on your TUM) expires. You need to show continued proof of subsistence means and pay the extension fee. A second, exceptional extension is only granted for proven force-majeure circumstances preventing you from leaving Chile on time, and it is limited to the time strictly necessary to depart.[2]

Yes. Extending a permanencia transitoria (tourist visa) carries a fee that does not depend on your nationality, unlike the initial visa fee. Minors do not pay. See the Chile visa fees page for the current amount.[6]

Note

This page is a private, independent information service and is provided for general information only. It is not legal advice. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized by SERMIG (Servicio Nacional de Migraciones) or the Government of Chile. Official applications must be filed directly at serviciomigraciones.cl. For legal representation in a Chilean immigration or nationality matter, consult a licensed attorney in Chile. This page does not replace professional legal advice.

References

  1. [1]
    Ley 21.325 — Ley de Migración y Extranjería (Spanish) [law text]
  2. [2]
    Decreto 296 — Reglamento de la Ley 21.325 (Spanish) [law text]
  3. [3]
    Constitución Política de la República de Chile, texto refundido, coordinado y sistematizado (Spanish)
  4. [4]
    DL 1.094/1975 — Ley de Extranjería, derogada (Spanish)
  5. [5]
    DS 5.142/1960 — Ley sobre Nacionalización de Extranjeros (Spanish) [law text]
  6. [6]
    SERMIG — Aranceles Migratorios (fee schedule) (Spanish)
  7. [7]
    SERMIG Centro de Ayuda — ¿La Permanencia Transitoria Incluye el Ex Visado de Turismo? (Spanish)
  8. [8]
    SERMIG — Subcategorías de Permanencia Transitoria (Spanish)
  9. [9]
    SERMIG — Permanencia Transitoria, Subcategoría: Turistas (tourist) (Spanish)
  10. [10]
    SERMIG Centro de Ayuda — Preguntas Frecuentes: Residencia Temporal (Spanish)
  11. [11]
    SERMIG Centro de Ayuda — Cómo Revisar que mi Trámite fue Enviado al Servicio Nacional de Migraciones (Spanish)
  12. [12]
    SERMIG Centro de Ayuda — Preguntas Frecuentes: Estampado Electrónico (EE) (Spanish)
  13. [13]
    SERMIG Centro de Ayuda — Preguntas Frecuentes: Permanencia Transitoria (Spanish)
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