Once you receive your visa, you are required to register it at the International Police (Policia Internacional) and apply for a Chilean Identification Card (Cédula de Identidad). If already had a visa when you came to Chile, you must do this within 30 days of arrival.

At the International Police, you must present your passport, and 800 pesos (approximately US$1.30), and three 3X2 cm. photographs bearing your name and passport number. You can ask for I.D. card size photos ("fotos de tamaño carnet") at any photography shop.

The International Police will issue you a registration card, which you must bring with one I.D. card sized photo to the Civil Registry (Registro Civil) to receive your Chilean Identification Card. This will cost you 1,060 pesos (approximately US$1.75). Your Chilean Identification Card will henceforth be your official form of identification, which means you must always have it on your person while in Chile.

Addresses

Policía Internacional (International Police)
General Borgoño 1052
Independencia
(2) 737-1292
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Metro Station Cal y Canto

Registro Civil Santiago Centro (Civil Registry)
Huerfanos 1570
Santiago Centro
(2) 698-2546
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Metro Station Santa Ana

The student visa (visa de estudiante) allows you to study at a school or university in Chile. You must enroll yourself in a school before you apply for the visa. Apply for the student visa at the Foreign Legalization Service (Deparamento de Extranjería). To obtain the visa, present two photocopies of your passport, two 3 x 2 cm. photographs with your name and passport number, your proof of enrollment and proof of income or savings.

The visa is valid for one year and can be renewed if you present current enrollment at the end of one year. The visa prohibits you from working in Chile, but you can apply for a work permit at the Foreign Legalization Service.

The cost of the student visa varies by nationality. The visa is free for U.S. citizens, British citizens must pay US$50 and Canadians pay US$85.

After you receive your visa, remember to apply for your Chilean Identification Card (See Registering Your Visa).

Addresses

Departmento de Extranjería (Foreign Legalization Service)
Teatinos 950
Santiago Centro
(2) 674-4000
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Metro Station Cal y Canto

Permanent residency (residencia permanente) allows you to live in Chile indefinitely and pursue any legal activity. You may only apply for legal residency after you have held temporary residency for one year or a student or subject-to-contract visa for two consecutive years. You will are required to apply for permanent residency if you have been a temporary resident for two years.

Permanent residence does not expire until you leave the country for more than a year. If you leave the country for a year or longer, your visa expires automatically unless you arrange ahead of time with the Foreign Legalization Service (Departamento de Extranjería).

Apply at the Foreign Legalization Service. It takes between six and 12 months for the Foreign Legalization Service to process your application, but as you wait you can work under the terms of temporary residence. Permanent residency costs 7,800 pesos (approximately US$12.50).

If your current visa is a subject-to-contract via, you must present a copy of the employment contract, a letter from your employer stating that the contract is in force and your last three salary slips.

After you receive your visa, remember to apply for your Chilean Identification Card (See Registering Your Visa).

Addresses

Departmento de Extranjería (Foreign Legalization Service)
Teatinos 950
Santiago Centro
(2) 674-4000
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Metro Station Cal y Canto

The Temporary Residence Visa (Visa de Residencia Temporaria) is the most flexible visa, but it is more difficult to obtain. This visa does not require a contract with a single employer, so it will not expire if the holder loses his job. It is the most convenient visa for freelance and self-employed visitors to Chile. It is also useful for employees of foreign companies working in Chile.

The Temporary Residence Visa is valid for one year and can be renewed only once. After the second year, the holder has to apply for permanent residence if he wants to stay in Chile. It takes about two months to obtain. The cost of the temporary residence visa varies by nationality. Citizens of the United Kingdom pay US$350 and Canadians pay US$102. It is free for U.S. citizens.

To obtain the visa, present 2 photocopies of your passport, 2 photocopies of you Tourist Card and two 3 x 2 cm photographs with your name and passport number to the Foreign Legalization Service (Departamento of Extranjería).

You will also have to defend your reason for being in Chile. If you are representing a foreign company in Chile, you must present a certificate from your employer stating your purposes in Chile and certificates from any Chilean companies that contracted your company to perform a service. If you are going to be self-employed or work freelance, you must provide a detailed description of the work you intend to perform as well as present letters from three clients stating that they intend to employ you.

Your dependents are also permitted to stay in the country under the terms of the Temporary Residence Visa. To obtain a visa for your spouse you must present a marriage certificate and for your children include birth certificates. Dependents may not work unless they obtain a separate visa.

After you receive your visa, remember to apply for your Chilean Identification Card (See Registering Your Visa).

Addresses

Montt, Iruarrizaga y Cía, Ltda
Law firm that publishes "Working Visas and Authorizations for Foreigners in Chile."
Avenida Los Conquistadores 1700, 11th floor
Providencia
233-8266
Fax: 231-5495
Metro Station Manuel Montt
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Departmento de Extranjería (Foreign Legalization Service)
Teatinos 950
Santiago Centro
(2) 674-4000
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Metro Station Cal y Canto

The Subject to Contract Visa (Visa Sujeta a Contrato) is the most common work visa. Most Chilean employers hire foreigners under contract. You must present a notarized copy of this contract to the Foreign Legalization Service (Departamento de Extrajería), along with 2 photocopies of your passport, 2 photocopies of you Tourist Card and two 3 x 2 cm photographs with your name and passport number. The cost of the visa varies according to nationality. British citizens pay US$74 and Canadians pay US$102, while for U.S. citizens the visa is free.

The employment contract must include a monthly base pay of at least 100,000 pesos (approximately US$160), a clause stating that you will not start working until the visa or a Special Work Card is issued, a clause stating that the employer will pay your return ticket when the contract ends and an agreement for the withholding of taxes.

A Subject to Contract Visa is valid for two years, but only as long as you hold a binding employment contract. When the work contract terminates, you have a 30 days before you are required to leave the country or to find new employment. In order to change employers, you must present a letter from your previous employer stating that the contract is invalid, a letter stating your reasons for changing employers and a new employment contract. If the job lasts longer than two years, the visa is renewable.

The Subject to Contract Visa application takes about two months to process, but you can apply for a Special Work Card to work in the mean time.

Your dependents are also permitted to stay in the country under the terms of the Subject to Contract Visa. Along with the photographs and passport and Tourist Card copies, to obtain a visa for your spouse you must present a marriage certificate and for your children include birth certificates. Dependents may not work unless they obtain a separate visa.

After you receive your visa, remember to apply for your Chilean Identification Card (See Registering Your Visa).

Addresses

Departmento de Extranjería (Foreign Legalization Service)
Teatinos 950
Santiago Centro
(2) 674-4000
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Metro Station Cal y Canto

Montt, Iruarrizaga y Cía, Ltda
Law firm that publishes "Working Visas and Authorizations for Foreigners in Chile."
Avenida Los Conquistadores 1700, 11th floor
Providencia
233-8266
Fax: 231-5495
Metro Station Manuel Montt
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

If you plan to work in Chile for a short period of time, you can apply for the Special Work Card (Tarjeta Especial de Trabajo). The Special Work Card permits foreigners to work while they are in Chile on a Tourist Card. It also serves as a temporary work visa if you apply for the Subject to Contract Visa. If you are only going to use this visa with the tourist card, you are required to have a 500,000 peso monthly salary (approximately US$800).

To receive the Special Work Card, you must have an employment contract stating base pay and the duration of employment. Present a notarized copy of this contract with your Tourist Card and a photocopy of your passport to the Foreign Naturalization Service (Departamento de Extranjería). The Foreign Naturalization Service issues the Special Work Card immediately, but beware of extremely long lines. The fee for the Special Work Card varies depending on nationality. It costs half the price of the Subject to Contract Visa if you simultaneously apply for that visa. The card can be renewed as many times as necessary while the Tourist Card is valid.

Departmento de Extranjería (Foreign Legalization Service)
Teatinos 950
Santiago Centro
(2) 674-4000
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Metro Station Cal y Canto