Visas for Chile

Chile Tourist Visa or Tourist Card –  This is your standard issued tourist card or tourist visa issued at the airport on arrival. Certain countries are required to apply for a visa in advance for Chile, but citizens of most countries can simply arrive at the airport and be issued a 90 day tourist visa. This is the first type of visa that almost all foreigners will enter Chile with, even if you plan to later request residency under some other category. We do not recommend that foreigners apply at their consulate in their home country before coming for other types of residency visas for Chile. The recommended procedure of the Chilean immigration department is for foreigners to enter the country under a tourist visa, and then apply for a change of status to other forms of Chilean visas.  

Temporary Residency Visa – This your first type of visa issued when applying for any more permanent visa. There is some confusion as to exactly the different types of temporary residency visa on the internet. They mostly refer to the reason for obtaining or requesting a temporary residency visa, rather than there is some sort difference between the status it conveys.

A temporary residency visa is the most commonly granted through either Retirement and Periodic income visa application for residency or through an Investor Visa application in Chile. We highly recommend that people in almost every circumstance, including investors, avoid the investor visa application in Chile.

Permanent Residency Visa – This is your ultimate goal for residency applications, and regardless of the application type requires at least 180 days of temporary residency in Chile within a one year period. A permanent residency visa generally last for five years, and is renewable indefinitely. After five years permanent residents have the option to apply for Chilean Citizenship or Dual Citizenship without the need to renounce their current citizenship.

Other types of Visas and Residency in Chile

There are two other catagories of Visas for Chile:

Chile Work Visa or Work Permit --- With an offer of a job in Chile or work contract, foreigners may request a work visa. This is generally tied to your contract and job, and you must file for change if you should loose your job. If you request apply for temporary residency under one of the other process, you may also request a work permit with a separate application, while your temporary visa application is being processed. People with temporary residency may work in Chile.

Chile Student Visas --- These are simply that. A temporary residency visa granted to students that have been accepted to a Chilean University or other educational institute in Chile. Work permits must normally be requested separately.

Please see our related articles on specific visas for more information on each type of visa for Chile.