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27/07/2019, updated 11/08/2025
On February 12th, 2022, a new immigration law came into force in Chile. On May 14th, 2022, the immigration service updated the categories of temporary visas. Several minor adjustments were made to the visa application rules at the end of 2022, but the processes are now consolidated. We have updated all the pages of this section to reflect the changes. However, should you have doubts, we recommend you book a consultation to review your situation more in-depth.
Last review date: August 2025
Please note that, following the 2022 immigration law, you can NO LONGER come to Chile as a tourist and apply for a visa after arriving unless you are applying for a family-reunification visa or a pregnant women visa. Previously, this was not the case, and you may still find sites saying the contrary. So be careful: this could cause trouble if you do not start your visa application in advance.
Are you planning to relocate soon to Chile? Do you need help understanding what the best visa is for you? What are the steps to get a visa in Chile?
We have summarized in this section the most helpful information for you to complete this process on your own. We also offer a visa support service in Chile if you need assistance.
Start Your Chile Immigration Journey Here
If you plan to immigrate to Chile, follow this recommended reading order:
Step 1: Understand the Process
Read our complete visa process guide to understand timelines, administrative steps, and what to expect.
Step 2: Choose Your Visa Type
Explore all types of temporary visas for Chile with detailed requirements and documents for each category.
Step 3: Get Specific Guidance
Read the detailed guide for your chosen visa type.
We wrote detailed articles about the types of visas most often used by foreigners who relocate to Chile:
- the work visa for Chile,
- the investor visa in Chile,
- the retirement and rentista visa in Chile, for retirees or foreigners with passive recurring income.
If you are a digital nomad, there is no digital nomad visa for you. Have a look at the digital nomad and remote work options in Chile.
We also provide comprehensive guides for specialized visa categories:
- Family reunification visa for Chile for family members of Chilean citizens and residents
- Religious visa for Chile for religious workers, missionaries, and clergy
- MERCOSUR visa for Chile for citizens of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay
- Medical treatment visa for Chile for patients seeking healthcare in Chile
- Pregnant women visa for Chile: a sub-category of the humanitarian visas for expectant mothers
After a few years, you may qualify for permanent residency in Chile and then for Chilean citizenship.
If you come as a tourist, you will most of the time not need to apply for a visa in advance, but check our tourist visa page to see if your country is on the list of countries requiring a tourist visa.
Have specific questions? Our visa FAQ hub organizes all frequently asked questions by topic, with quick answers to common concerns and direct links to detailed information.
A few other valuable articles about immigration in Chile
- RUT and RUN: two ID numbers you need to know if you plan to migrate to Chile
- Costs of visas in Chile: the visa fee to pay to the Chilean immigration service for a tourist visa, a temporary visa, or a permanent residency.
- Chile immigration law: all the laws and policies that rule immigration in Chile
Visa processing time: How long does it take to get a visa in Chile?
Please note that due to the number of immigrants willing to relocate to Chile, the visa processing time of the Chilean immigration service has significantly increased. Therefore, you must plan at least 6-8 months in advance. Furthermore, you can no longer apply for a temporary residency visa in Chile after arriving as a tourist unless you meet specific criteria, such as a direct family link with a Chilean citizen or a permanent resident (parent, child, partner) or if you are pregnant. For all other categories, you must apply before coming, from abroad.
For permanent residency, the waiting time is approximately 18 months, and for citizenship, the waiting time is about 2.5 years. This is due to the backlog of the Covid crisis (yes, still in 2025...), the high immigration rate in the last few years, and the re-organization of the immigration service following the 2022 immigration law.
Need some help to immigrate to Chile?
If you want a specialist to take care of your Chilean visa process, we are happy to help. Please send us a detailed explanation of your situation using this form. If you prefer to do it yourself but have a few questions, you can book a consultation.
Do you want to go more in detail?
I wrote the Chile Handbook for Foreigners for anyone and everyone looking to move permanently and enjoy life in Chile. It's a 265-page book that goes over all aspects of relocating to Chile. Here is what you get:
✅ Practical tips based on 7-year relocation experience
✅ To-do lists to help you start
✅ Last updated in 2025
