Chile scored better than 6.0% growth last year, while much of the World struggled to break even. For many international investors that makes Chile a prime destination for investing both in the Chilean market and using Chile to reach other markets in South America. The first issue that investors will face in setting up a company in Chile will be the problem of determining who will be the legal representative of the company in Chile. This is not the same as an attorney that represents you, although the legal representative of the company may be an attorney. We would like to provide a brief explanation of what a legal representative is in Chile, what they do, and why foreign investors in Chile should be careful to place proper restrictions on the legal representative of their company in Chile.  

A notary public in Chile has much more power and responsibility than notaries in other countries. They are also far more regulated as a consequence. A close analogy would be something similar to a clerk of court in the United States, but with much more authority. They are public ministers of faith, and are charged with verifying not only signatures but the structure of official legal documents to a certain extent. Notaries fulfill a broad range of duties in Chile, the most important is to act as a independent third-party representing the general public interest in a transactions and keeping public records of those transactions.

One of the best visa options for almost everyone considering moving to Chile including investors in Chile is not an “investor visa”, but what is called a “retirement and periodic income” visa.

It allows you to work, live, start a business, and basically do everything you might wish to do in Chile without connecting your immigration status in Chile to the success or failure of your business in Chile.  Of all visas offered by any country in Latin America, South America, and perhaps the World this is one of the easiest for the Expat, investors, or families to obtain. We provide a brief overview of the issues involved with foreigners in Chile obtaining this type of visa and what you need to qualify.