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11/08/2025
Chile's religious visa provides a specialized pathway for foreign religious workers, missionaries, clergy, and other faith-based personnel to establish temporary residence while carrying out religious activities. This visa category recognizes the important role of international religious communities in Chile's diverse spiritual landscape.
Important: The religious visa requires approval from Chile's National Religious Affairs Office (ONAR) first, then Chile Immigration Service (SERMIG). Make sure to contact ONAR first and start the process enough in advance.
What is a Chile Religious Visa?
Chile's religious visa is a temporary residence permit designed specifically for foreign individuals who need to remain in Chile to perform activities directly related to practicing their religious faith. This visa category acknowledges the international nature of religious work and provides legal residence status for qualified religious personnel.
Key Features
- Specialized Purpose: Exclusively for religious activities and worship-related duties
- Organizational Sponsorship: Requires support from a legally constituted Chilean religious entity
- Family Inclusion: Dependents can apply for accompanying residence permits
- Renewable Status: Extensions possible with continued religious work
Eligibility Requirements
Primary Applicant Requirements
Religious Affiliation: You must be officially affiliated with a religious organization that is legally constituted and registered in Chile. This includes:
- Churches and congregations
- Religious orders and monasteries
- Missionary organizations
- Interfaith religious institutions
Religious Role: Your activities in Chile must be directly related to religious practice, including:
- Serving as clergy or religious leaders
- Missionary and evangelical work
- Religious teaching and education
- Religious counseling and pastoral care
- Religious ceremony and ritual leadership
Organizational Guarantee: Your sponsoring religious entity must:
- Be legally registered with either:
- Chile's Civil Registry (private religious institutions)
- Chile Ministry of Justice (public religious institutions formed under law 19.638)
- Commit to supporting your residence needs and provide financial guarantees for your stay (unless your sending institution takes care of your financial support)
- Define your specific religious activities
Religious Organization Requirements
Legal Status: The sponsoring organization must be:
- Legally constituted in Chile through Civil Registry / Ministry of Justice registration
- In good standing with Chilean authorities
- Approved by Chile's National Religious Affairs Office
Financial Capacity: Organizations must demonstrate:
- Ability to support the religious worker financially
- Commitment to covering living expenses during stay
- Financial stability and ongoing operations in Chile
Required Documentation
Personal Documents
- Valid Passport: Minimum 6 months validity remaining
- Criminal Background Check: From your country of residence, apostilled
- Recent Color Photograph: Meeting the immigration service's requirements
Religious Organization Documents
- Legal Entity Certification: From Chilean Civil Registry proving legal constitution
- Leadership Directory: Complete list of organization's governing body
- Institutional Certificate: Detailed document specifying:
- Your identification and role
- Description of religious activities in Chile
- Duration of planned activities
- Commitment to cover living expenses
Family Documentation (if applicable)
- Marriage Certificate: Apostilled, for accompanying spouse
- Children's Birth Certificates: Apostilled, for dependent children
Application Process
Step 1: Religious Organization Preparation (1-2 months)
Before you can apply, your Chilean religious organization must:
- Verify Legal Status: Ensure current registration of the religious organization with the Civil Registry or the Ministry of Justice
- Prepare Documentation: Gather all required organizational certificates
- Obtain Religious Affairs Approval: Secure favorable report from National Religious Affairs Office
Step 2: Document Preparation (4-6 weeks)
Personal Documentation:
- Obtain/Renew your passport to have at least 12 months validity at the time of application
- Obtain apostilled criminal background check from home country
- Gather and apostille personal certificates (birth, marriage, etc.) if you relocate with family members.
Translation Requirements:
- All foreign documents must be professionally translated if they are not in English or Spanish
- Use certified translators familiar with Chilean requirements
- Maintain original and translated versions of all documents
Step 3: Online Application Submission (1-2 weeks)
- Create Account: Register on the digital platform of the Chilean immigration service.
- Upload Documents: Submit all required documentation in PDF format
- Submit Application: Final review and submission
- Visa Fees: Complete visa applicaton by paying the visa fee. The visa fees vary based on your citizenship
Step 4: Processing and Review (6-8 months)
The Chile Immigration service processes visa application and documentation. You may be required to submit additional documentation, or visit the nearest consulate to show the original version of some of the documents you submitted. Respond quickly to any document requests if some documents are missing. You usually have 60 days to reply. Failure to reply on time may lead to termination of your visa application.
Step 5: Visa Approval and Entry (2-4 weeks)
Upon Approval:
- Download the visa online from the Chile immigration platform within 120 days of approval.
- Enter Chile within 90 days of downloading your visa
Step 6: Arrival and Civil Registry (First 30 days)
The last step is obtaining your Chilean ID card. You must go to an appointment at the Civil Registry. Book within 30 days to avoid penalties. Your card will be ready 1-2 months later.
You can only book an appointment at the Civil Register after arriving in Chile and activating your visa.
Renewal and Extension Process
To be able to renew your religious visa in Chile, you must be able to demonstrate:
- Continued Religious Work: Ongoing activities with same or affiliated organization
- Organizational Support: Maintained sponsorship and financial guarantee
Make sure to plan 4-5 months in advance the document collection process, in order to apply for extension 60-90 days before expiration.
Path to Permanent Residency
While on a religious visa, you may be eligible for permanent residency after:
- Minimum Period: At least 2 years of continuous temporary residence
- Continued Activities: Ongoing religious work with organizational support
- Integration: Demonstrated ties to Chilean religious and broader community
- Clean Record: No violations of visa conditions or Chilean law
Consider consulting with immigration specialists about transitioning from a religious temporay visa to permanent residency, as requirements may vary based on specific circumstances and religious activities.
Alternative Visa Options
If the religious visa doesn't fit your situation, consider:
- Work Visa: For employment with Chilean religious or secular organizations
- Retirement/Rentista Visa: For religious workers with passive income
- Temporary Residence Visas: Other specialized temporary residence categories
For personalized guidance on your religious visa application, consider booking a consultation. We have been assisting various religious institutions (both public and private) with their immigration procedures and will be happy to answer your questions.
Frequently asked questions about the Chilean religious visa
Eligibility and Religious Requirements
Foreign individuals belonging to a legally constituted religious entity in Chile. You must be officially affiliated with a religious organization that is legally recognized and registered in Chile. The organization must sponsor your application and guarantee your stay.
Activities directly related to practicing your religious faith or cult. This includes serving as clergy, missionaries, or other religious workers. The activities must be clearly defined and sponsored by your religious organization.
Yes, your sponsoring religious entity must be legally constituted in Chile. Foreign religious organizations must have a legal presence in Chile through registration with the Civil Registry. International organizations need a Chilean branch or affiliate.
Work activities are restricted to religious functions only. You cannot engage in commercial or secular employment outside your religious duties. The visa specifically authorizes religious activities as defined in your application.
Application Process and Documentation
No, you must apply from outside Chile. All religious visa applications must be submitted through the immigration platform before entering Chile. You cannot change from tourist status to religious visa while in the country.
Your religious institution must provide several key documents: Certificate detailing your identification and activities in Chile, commitment to cover your living expenses, legal entity certification from Civil Registry, organization's leadership directory, and a favorable report from Chile's National Religious Affairs Office.
Processing typically takes 6-8 months due to the requirement for approval from both immigration services and the National Religious Affairs Office. The religious affairs review adds additional processing time compared to other visa types.
A mandatory evaluation from Chile's religious authority. This government office must provide a favorable report confirming your religious organization's legitimacy and your role. This adds a unique layer of verification specific to religious visas.
Family and Duration Considerations
Yes, dependents may qualify for similar temporary residence permits. Your spouse and unmarried children under 24 can apply for dependent visas. Your religious organization may need to extend their financial guarantee to cover family members.
The visa grants temporary residence status, typically for 2 years. Extensions are possible with continued religious work.
Yes, religious visa can be extended by the Chile immigration service as long as you continue your religious activities and maintain sponsorship from your religious organization. You must reapply before your current permit expires. You can also apply for permanent residency if you qualify.
Your visa will remain valid. However, you won't be able to renew it or apply for permanent residency. You will need to find another religious institution that supports you, or switch visa category.
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