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!
19 replies on “How To Move To Chile”
Thank you for the info. regarding becoming a citizen of Chile. I would like to know more about housing and purchasing a home there. Could real estate listings be sent to me to view large estate homes and prices. Thank you.
Hi Roberta, your best bet is to get in touch with a good realtor over there (who has worked with expats). All I know is this website for browsing real estate in Chile (No affiliation): https://www.portalinmobiliario.com/
How long does it take to get an answer from the Chilean Embassy after submitting an application for temporary residency with the new law? I thought the temporary residency was good for 2 years under the new law, and could leave the country no more than 6 months total in order to apply for the permanent one?!?!?
Hi Lucie, unfortunately I’m not aware of the average response time for the Chilean Embassy. Have you tried emailing/calling them separately to get an estimate and clarify more details?
Hi Nick,
We are Immigration Consultants just specialized in assisting people moving to Chile. Within 2022 we have uploaded a lot of applications for our clients in different categories. Up to now, they all received their visa in less than 4 months. However, none of them had to upload other documents after the initial uploading. I hope this helps.
Thanks, Monika!
Dear Monika,
Thanks for the info.
Can you share your contact details. I am interested in moving to Chile.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Dear Muhammad Tariq,
Please contact me via my private email address:
mbroecking@immigrationchile.com
Looking forward to your message
Dr Monika Broecking
Hello!
My fiance has a house and lives in Chile and I want to move down there to be with him and marry him. What steps do I need to take to be able to stay down there with him?
Hi Myra! Please reach out to our preferred Chile immigration partners at info@immigrationchile.com 🙂
Hola,
What is the required amount of month funds needed to apply for a pensioner visa? How strong are Chile’s connection to the WEF and the WHO?
Hi there, there is no official monthly minimum. Typically $1-1.5K USD/month is enough for a single applicant (more if adding dependents).
2nd question sounds like an interesting research project for someone 🙂
I had surgery and health care costs are low and the care is exceillent.
Hello, I would love to move to Chile from Nigeria, am an o’level holder who is currently attending an open university that can be attended from anywhere, read I have to look for an employer before I can get a work visa, Pls how do I connect with one as I will really love to move out of my country in urgency. Thank you and I will be waiting for your replies.
Hi, thank you for stopping by. I recommend first finishing your degree, getting some work experience, then maybe apply to Chilean companies in a few years’ time.
How long would it take for me to move from the USA to Chile? I would like to learn Spanish when I move there.
It depends on what visa class you’re planning to enter on. Are you looking for employment there while living in the USA?
Hi Nick,
How much of physical presence is required for following processes?
1. From Temporary Residence to Permanent Residence
2.From Permanent Residence to Citizenship
What will be time/years required to complete all process from temporary Residence to citizenship if I apply today?
Hi Nihar,
As best as I know:
– In order to apply for Residencia Definitiva (Permanent Residence), temporary residents need to have resided in Chile for at least 24 months.
– To apply for citizenship, 3 years with Residencia Definitiva (if you did 2 years as PR, so 5 years total).
– Physical presence: at least 183 days/year
– I’m not an immigration lawyer, please see the links at the end of the article for a trusted firm you can work with and get 100% up to date answers for
It’s a long road to Chilean citizenship, and they have been trying to crack down on “passport shoppers” in recent years.