The Chile Tourist Visa, Explained
Are you planning to spend some time in Chile. You may be wondering if you need a visa to come to Chile? Let's look at which countries have a visa agreement with Chile. We also detail the maximum duration of the tourist visa, its cost, and how to renew it.
What is a tourist visa in Chile?
A tourist visa in Chile is a type of visa that allows foreigners to enter Chile for purposes such as:
- recreation/tourism
- sports
- business management
- family visits
The tourist visa only allows you to stay in the country for 90 days (most of the time. For citizens of some countries, Chile issues tourist visas with a shorter duration). This visa is mainly used for tourism. Yet, a foreigner with a short-term mission may use it, together with a work permit as a tourist, to conduct his mission and legally work in Chile for less than three months.
It is also applicable to individuals who work as crew members in international passenger and cargo transport, individuals from countries with which Chile has an international agreement allowing reciprocal entry, and foreign inhabitants of border areas defined by a bilateral agreement between their home country and Chile.
Note
The tourist visa applications are sent to the consulates through the online platform of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The process differs from the one for the other categories of visas (temporary, permanent), which the immigration service of the Ministry of Interior handles.
Do I need a visa for Chile? Who needs to apply for a tourist visa in Chile?
It depends on your situation:
- if you are a citizen of a "visa-free" country, you do not need to apply for a tourist visa. You will be given a visa at the border on arrival.
- if you are a citizen of a country where you need to request a tourist visa in advance, see below the application process. Please note that, except in some specific cases, you can not apply for a temporary visa in Chile. Therefore, if your long-term goal is to relocate permanently to Chile, we recommend that you apply directly for a temporary visa.
Is the Chile tourist visa right for me?
If you plan to stay less than 90 to 180 days in Chile, a tourist visa is the right choice. If you plan to relocate for a more extended period, you should consider a temporary visa.
Required documents for a tourist visa in Chile
The required documents for the tourist visa are:
- 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 should present a national identity document from your country of origin or a consular certificate (legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile), which proves your identity and nationality.
- Background check / Criminal records certificate of your country of origin, apostilled or legalized, and translated if necessary (for those over 18 years old).
- Proof of residence in case of residing in a country other than that of your nationality.
- Proof of own income (last three pay slips or bank statements).
- Hotel/accommodation reservation OR invitation letter signed before a Chilean Notary, contact number of the inviting party. The invitation can be made by Chileans, foreigners with valid migratory status, and companies. It must detail the reasons, length of stay, and travel conditions of the guest.
Chile tourist visa fees and related costs
The tourist visa fees are variable and depend on the citizenship of the visa applicant and whether the application is for a single-entry visa or a multiple-entry visa. More details about the Chile tourist visa fees.
Tourist visa application process in Chile
The tourist visa application process is managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, contrary to the rest of the visas in Chile:
- Go on the online platform of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Click on the "Visa" link.
- Start to fill in the first page. Make sure you fill the form from top to bottom, as the values of some fields depend on your previous entry. You have to indicate the consulate corresponding to your country of residence.
- Once you validate the first page, you should receive an email that confirms that you have started the visa process.
- Fill in the information required and upload the documents.
- You receive a confirmation by email that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received your application.
- Wait for the reply from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They may ask you to come to the consulate for an interview during the process.
- Download your visa online once it is validated.
- Enter Chile with your tourist visa and enjoy!
Work permit as a tourist application process
The Chilean immigration service grants the work permits as a tourist:
- Go on the immigration service platform.
- Click on the section Solicitud autorización de trabajo para Permanencia Transitoria.
- Create an account if you do not already have one. There will be a link at the bottom of the page.
- Fill in the information required and upload the documents.
- You will receive a confirmation by email that the immigration service has received your application.
- Wait for the reply from the immigration service.
- Enter Chile with your tourist visa and your work permit.
Warning
If your country does not have a visa-free agreement with Chile, the work permit as a tourist is not sufficient, and you must also apply for a tourist visa.
Info
The work permit as a tourist is only intended for short work missions and is not a path to relocating long-term in Chile. In particular, this permit will not allow you to get a Chilean ID card, so it is somewhat limited.
Frequently Asked Questions about the tourist visa in Chile
Note
Most of the questions below apply to citizens of countries subject to a visa application before coming to Chile. Citizens of countries that have a visa-free agreement with Chile may find some of the questions irrelevant.
Tourist Visa Basics
Yes. There are distinct subcategories of tourist visas in Chile. They include:
- Individuals entering for tourism, sports, or similar purposes.
- Crew members of passenger or cargo transport.
- Individuals covered by current international treaties.
- Foreign citizens of border areas.
- Official residents who are ending their mission.
The standard duration of a tourist visa in Chile is 90 days. Citizens of some countries receive tourist visas with a shorter duration.
First, verify if your citizenship requires you to apply for a tourist visa in advance. Chile has visa-free agreements with lots of countries. If you are a citizen of a country subject to visa, we recommend applying at least 3 months in advance.
To apply for a tourist visa, the applicant must be outside Chile and send the documentation abovementioned. You basically must demonstrate that you have financial resources to pay for your stay in Chile, and no intention to relocate permanently in Chile.
It depends. Citizens of countries with a visa-free agreement with Chile are not subject to limitations. If your country does not have an agreement with Chile, you may have applied either for a single-entry visa or a multiple-entry visa, which the visa will mention.
It depends on your citizenship. Some countries are only allowed single-entry tourist visas.
Tourist visa requirements
Yes, if you come for tourism. If you come with an invitation for a short business trip, this is not required.
No.
It depends. You need to show that you won't have issues to live in Chile during your stay. It can be by showing that you have funds (bank account statement, for example). If you are invited to an event, you can also show a supporting letter from the company/institution inviting you, indicating that they take care of your expenses during the stay.
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 any invitation letter. If you are invited for an event or business in Chile, an invitation letter is recommended for a tourist visa in Chile, as it will justify the reason for your visa application.
Yes.
Yes. There is a minimum passport validity requirement to apply for a tourist visa in Chile. The passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of application.
Tourist visa application process
No. All visa applications are channeled through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and there is no fast-track process.
Upon submitting your application, you will 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.
Yes. You must to attend an in-person interview for the tourist visa application in Chile. The Chilean Consulate in your place of residence will contact you to schedule an appointment where you need to present the original version 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.
If the Ministry of Foreign Affairs denies your tourist application, you can file an appeal within five days. An alternative is to resubmit an application, taking into consideration the reason for rejection.
Yes. If your visa application is rejected, you can appeal the decision. You can request a reconsideration of the decision, to be submitted within five days. You must also attach documents or information that support your argument.
No. Each family member applies on its own for a tourist visa. You can indicate that the applications are grouped so that they review them together.
Yes. Tourist visas are issued electronically.
Your stay as a tourist
No. You can only work on a tourist visa in Chile if you apply for a work permit as a tourist.
No. There are no geographical restrictions related to the tourist visa in Chile. Of course, some areas or properties have restricted access due to their nature (military, private), but apart from these, there are no particular restrictions.
Yes. Many countries have visa-free agreements with Chile, allowing their citizens to be granted a 90-day tourist visa upon arrival in Chile. Look at the list above.
Yes. Children and elderly applicants are subject to the same tourist visa requirements.
No.
You should ideally leave before the visa expires. If you leave Chile after your tourist visa expires, you may face a fine.
No. Chile does not know your immigration status in other countries. Therefore, a previous visa rejection in another country won't affect your application for a tourist visa in Chile.
No. As long as you do not need to leave the international zone of the airport, you are not entering the country, and therefore, no transit visa is needed.
No. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs defines the tourist visa requirements. They are the same and depend on the category of tourist visa you apply to.
Visa renewal / Residency
No. If you have applied for a single-entry visa at the consulate, you cannot transform it into a multiple-entry visa.
Yes. You can extend your tourist visa while in Chile. The application for an extension should be made through the immigration service online platform.
Yes. There are fees for extending a tourist visa in Chile. The cost for extending a permanencia transitoria (the name of the tourist visa) is USD 100 per adult. Children below 18 do not pay.
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