How To Move To Chile

Jump to: Quick Facts · Practical Info · Why Move Here? · Why NOT Move Here · Visas & Finding Work · Residency & Citizenship · Starting a Business · Links & Resources

Interested in moving to Chile? Here’s what you need to know:

Chile: Quick Facts

• Chile stretches over ~292,000 sq. miles (756,000 sq. km), and has a population of ~19.6 million people.
• Chile is an extremely narrow country (geographically), and is part of the volcanic zone known as the Pacific Ring of Fire. There are over 1,300 volcanoes found along the country’s mountain ranges.
• More than one-third of the world’s copper is produced in Chile. It is also the number one exporter of salmon.
• For some reason, there have been more UFOs “observed” in the skies of Chile than in any other country in the world.
• Many tours to the mysterious Polynesian Easter Island and Antarctica set out from Chile.
• Chile is the home of the driest desert on earth – the Atacama Desert. It sees less than 0.05 mm of rain each year.

Practical Information

• Currency: Chilean Peso (CLP).
• Spoken languages: Spanish is the official language. Native languages such as Mapudungun and Quechua are spoken only by a limited few.
• Major religions: Around 63% of Chileans belong to the Catholic church, while 15% identify themselves as Protestant or Evangelical Christians.
• Largest cities: Santiago is the largest city in Chile, with a population of nearly 6 million. Concepción and Valparaíso are the next largest cities, each with just under 1 million residents.

Why move to Chile

• Chile is the first (and as of September 2014, the only) South American member of the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development). The OECD is an organization comprised mainly of countries with high-income economies that are leaders in economic development and world trade.
• Some organizations have praised Chile as having the most advanced medical care in Latin America. There is a good public healthcare system (available to expats), though you can opt for private insurance if you want. The medical facilities tend to be surprisingly modern, and the medical staff is very well educated. The country also has a good reputation in practicing successful preventative medicine.
• Chile has become one of the easiest places in the world to start a business, which has made it incredibly popular with expanding corporations and entrepreneurs.
• Chile has been hailed as the least corrupt country in South America. This, coupled with its economic stability and low crime rate have classified it as one of the most “advanced” developing countries in the world.

Reasons not to move to Chile

Note: these are common expat complaints, and may not apply to you.

• High-priced food items can make groceries one of the biggest expenses.
• One of the greatest dangers expats face when living in Chile is the high frequency of earthquakes. Though most instances are small, there is a real threat for damage from larger quakes.
• Many of the bigger cities suffer from constant vandalism in the form of graffiti and petty thefts.
• Driving in Chile can be a scary experience for expats from Western countries. It’s not uncommon to see people running stop lights, weaving between lanes, and making illegal turns.

Getting a Visa and Finding Work

Here are some of the more common visas issued to foreigners coming to Chile:

• Tourist visa:
  Individuals traveling to Chile for tourism purposes will be issued a tourist card (Tarjeta de Turismo) upon their arrival. They are permitted to stay in the country for up to 90 days, and must surrender their tourist card upon departure. Citizens of certain countries (e.g. Australia, Canada, Mexico, U.S.A) entering Chile through the Santiago airport will have to pay a fee for their tourist card. You should check with the closest Chilean Embassy to find out which countries do not have a reciprocal visa agreement with Chile, in case you are required to apply for a visa before your trip.
• Temporary residency visa:
  You can apply for temporary residency (Residencia temporal) under several categories. The most common categories are the family category, the retiree and pensioner category, the student category, the investor category ($500,000 USD or equivalent) and the category for foreigners working for a Chilean employer. All these permits must be applied for from abroad, except for the permit based on family ties to Chileans or permanent residents.
• If you wish to work in Chile, your future employer must sign the work contract or a work offer at a Chilean notary, whereas you must countersign it at the corresponding embassy in your country. This visa is typically issued for two years (this duration can depend on various circumstances).

Since the introduction of the new Immigration law in February 2022, quite a lot of paperwork, depending on the chosen category, is necessary for an application, so many people choose to employ the services of a reputable immigration lawyer.

Permanent Residency and Citizenship

Becoming a permanent resident:

• The permanent residency (Residencia Definitiva) can be applied for before the expiration of your temporary residency (see above) and is intended for those who wish to settle permanently in Chile.
• A minimum presence in the country under a temporary residence permit is required. In case you stay out of the country for longer periods, you must first prolong your temporary residency before being able to apply for permanent residency according to the requirements stated by the current law.
• The permanent residency is only revoked if you leave Chile for more than two years and do not ask for an extension at the corresponding consulate. This extension can be issued once for another two years.
• The documents you must submit when applying for permanent residency depend on the category on which your application is based.

Becoming a citizen:

• Chilean citizenship is granted based on several prerequisites defined in the Chilean constitution.
• Without having any family ties to Chileans, you are eligible to apply for citizenship after five years of residency in the country, counted from the beginning of your temporary residency.
• Once you become a Chilean citizen, you will be issued a Chilean passport.
• The required documentation depends on which activity you are performing in the country. It may take quite some time until your application for citizenship is processed and approved.

Starting a Business in Chile

Over the past few years Chile has tried to attract entrepreneurs and investors from around the globe. A number of changes in policy have made starting a business in Chile attractive to foreigners.

Immigration via business investment: The new immigration law provides a special category for investors and related staff. The required investment amount is $500,000 USD or equivalent. Depending on your situation, it may make sense to first apply for a visa under a different category and then open up a business without having the pressure to meet the stringent investor visa requirements.

Take the First Step

Interested in moving to Chile? One of the best ways to get started is to chat with someone who is up to date on the most recent Immigration requirements and changes.

Click here to book a 90 minute call with ImmigrationChile, a team of consultants with many years of experience. They’ll quickly answer any questions you may have about moving to Chile — and the best approach based on your personal situation. You can chat to them in English, Spanish, French, or German.

Links & Resources

• Ministry of Migration – official government website (Spanish and English languages available)
• ImmigrationChile – detailed information on residency, citizenship, buying Real Estate in Chile, and more.

How to Move: The Book!

I’m putting together a practical, step-by-step guide on how to move abroad – and I need your help! In return, you’ll get a FREE copy of the book. Please see this page for details!

↑ Back to Top

SEE ALSO:

• Brazil Immigration Guide
• Argentina Immigration Guide
• Colombia Immigration Guide
• Ecuador Immigration Guide
• Uruguay Immigration Guide