Last updated on 08/09/2026
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What is a work visa in Chile?
Chile's work visa is a temporary residence permit based on a signed contract with a Chilean employer. It fits applicants who already have an employer willing to provide the contract and company documents, meet the salary floor, and wait for approval before the employee starts work in Chile.
The work visa is one of the 16 temporary residence categories in the law 21.325. See our residency section for the full overview of Chilean residence permits.
Current processing takes 6-8 months. The contract must provide at least CLP 500,000 monthly, and the employer must submit its registration and tax documents with the application.
Working in Chile: the job market for foreigners
A few things to know before you start job hunting:
- The average professional salary ranges from 1,500-4,000 USD monthly, depending on industry and seniority. The minimum wage is around CLP 500,000 (roughly 515 USD). See our average salary in Chile guide for detailed figures.
- In-demand skills: tech/IT, engineering (especially mining and renewable energy), finance, and bilingual roles (English-Spanish) are where foreigners have the most leverage. Jobs in Chile for Americans and other native English speakers concentrate in these sectors, plus teaching and multinational corporate roles.
- The hiring reality: Chilean companies rarely plan 6-8 months ahead for a hire. You need to bring something a local candidate cannot: language skills, niche expertise, or international experience. Otherwise, they will hire someone who already has a visa.
- Spanish matters: not legally required, but practically essential. Even in tech roles, daily work life runs in Spanish.
Labor laws in Chile: what foreign employees should know
Once you hold a work permit in Chile, you have the same labor rights as Chilean employees. The basics of Chilean labor law:
- Working week: the legal limit is being progressively reduced from 45 to 40 hours (Ley 21.561, full transition by 2028).
- Vacation: 15 working days of paid vacation per year after one year of service.
- Contributions: your employer withholds roughly 7% of gross salary for health insurance (Fonasa or an Isapre) and around 10% for the pension system (AFP).
- Severance: indefinite contracts terminated for business reasons trigger severance of one month per year of service (capped at 11 years).
- Foreign-worker quota: companies with more than 25 employees must keep at least 85% Chilean staff, with exemptions for technical specialists.
Need a Chilean work visa?
The service includes:
- The visa category checked for your job
- The application file prepared
- Application filed and followed
What are the different types of work visas in Chile?
The right permit depends on who employs you, how long you will be in Chile, and whether you will live in the country.
Subject-to-Contract Visa
The "subject-to-contract" visa is Chile's primary work visa. This visa allows you and your family to live and work in Chile for up to 2 years, with renewable terms.
It is built around a signed employment contract with a Chilean-registered company and is granted for one to two years initially, renewable for equal periods. Your spouse and unmarried children under 24 can accompany you, and since 2022 changing jobs no longer requires immigration notification.
The contract itself has to spell out a few specifics, such as:
- a minimum salary of at least CLP 500,000 a month
- a detailed job description with the required qualifications
- the contract term (typically one to two years)
Foreign workers commonly target technology and IT (software development, cybersecurity, data analysis), engineering (mining, renewable energy, civil engineering), healthcare (doctors, specialists, medical researchers), finance (banking, investment, fintech), and education (university professors, researchers, and skilled teachers). These sectors do not waive the visa requirements, and healthcare roles require degree revalidation, which can take time.
2 critical points: 1) You must apply abroad and sign your contract at a consulate, while the company signs in Chile. 2) You cannot work in Chile until your visa is approved. Plan for 6-8 months processing time.
Investor visa
If you come to Chile to work for a Chilean entity, while remaining an employee of a foreign company, you may need an investor visa instead.
Multiple-entries permit for business purposes
This permit is for foreigners who need to come to Chile for business but only stay up to six months per calendar year. It may fit if you supervise several countries in the region for your company and need to visit Chile regularly without living here. It is more flexible to obtain than the work visa, but its six-month annual limit does not fit a long-term stay.
Work permit as a tourist
If you need to start working before your visa is approved, you can get a tourist work permit: valid for 90 days, with a reply in 7-10 days, but it costs 150% of the standard work visa fee. See the tourist visa page for details.
Remote workers and digital nomads
Chile does not have a dedicated digital nomad visa. If you work remotely for a foreign employer, you do not need a Chilean work permit while on tourist status, but long stays require a residence permit. See our digital nomad guide for Chile for the visa options that fit remote work.
What if I want to come and seek work in Chile?
In this situation, the "subject-to-contract" visa does not apply unless your profile is so strong that the company is ready to sign a contract and wait 3 to 6 months for you to receive your work permit.
Until 2018, you could apply for a visa with a recruitment offer. However, foreigners abused this possibility (issuance of fake recruitment offers), and the immigration service removed it in April 2018.
This option was re-instated in 2022, but:
- applying with a work offer only gives you a 90-day visa, and you must submit a work contract before reaching the 45-day limit
- a strict control of the Chilean company will be performed, to avoid fake offers and fake companies.
So we only recommend you apply with a job offer when you find a company willing to hire you. If not, the only option available is to apply for a temporary visa. There are more than fifteen temporary visas, which are detailed here.
Complete Work Visa Application Process
Secure Employment (if not relocating with a company)
Expat.cl does not provide employment search service in Chile. If you want assistance to define the best strategy based on your profile, you can book a consultation.
While you can come explore the market as a tourist:
- You won't be able to switch visa category if you find a job here
- The work visa application process can take 6-8 months. Unless you have a very specialized profile, Chilean companies tend to prefer candidates immediately available (Chilean citizens or foreigners already holding temporary/permanent residency). You may want to get residency through another category, and then start searching for a job. You would be in a better position, not at a disadvantage vs. other candidates.
A few job platforms to start with:
- LinkedIn: Most effective platform for professional networking
- Indeed Chile: Comprehensive job listings across industries
- Company Websites: Direct applications to multinational corporations
Interview Process: Most Chilean companies conduct 2-3 interview rounds, often including video calls if you're applying from abroad. Prepare for questions about:
- Your motivation for moving to Chile
- Spanish language proficiency (basic level acceptable for most tech/specialized roles, but anything managerial would likely require Spanish)
- Salary expectations (research market rates)
- Start date flexibility (account for visa processing time)
Document Preparation (4-8 weeks)
Required Documents Checklist:
- Valid passport (minimum 12 months of remaining validity)
- Criminal background check from country of residence (apostilled)
- Criminal background check from any country where you've lived 2+ years in the last 5 years
Document Processing Tips: Start apostille process early - it can take 4-6 weeks in some countries. Use certified translation services familiar with Chilean requirements. Keep multiple certified copies of all documents.
Application, processing, and arrival
The online application, payment, processing, visa activation, and Civil Registry steps follow the standard Chilean visa process. See our complete visa process guide for the detailed walkthrough.
The work visa requires your employer to submit company documents (proof of registration with tax authorities, last tax folder) alongside your application. The visa fee depends on your nationality and can vary greatly.
Common Challenges and Solutions
They are two main challenges to have in mind:
- The work visa application process takes 6-8 months. So you should focus on positions where, as a foreigner, you have a clear advantage compared to Chilean workers (either language skills, technical expertise). Indeed, Chilean companies do not necessarily plan 6 months in advance to hire. They will likely prefer a Chilean employee (or a foreigner who already has a visa) instead of having to wait for 6 months for a foreigner to get a visa.
So apply immediately after securing job offer. Maintain regular communication with employer about timeline expectations. Consider:
- temporary remote work arrangements if possible.
- work as a tourist, with a work permit as a tourist. This solution can be a good bridge. It is fast but expensive (150% of the cost of the work visa, every 3 months)
- The Language Barrier. While not necessarily required, basic Spanish significantly improves job prospects and daily life. If you do not have any Spanish knowledge, consider online Spanish classes before starting your job search.
It's the sequence that trips people up
The requirements are public. The order, timing, and the right category are where DIY applications stall. That's exactly what we handle.
- The right category for your case
- Order and timing handled for you
- Where DIY stalls, we don't
Frequently asked questions about the Chilean work visa
Visa Requirements and Eligibility
How easy is it to get a work visa in Chile?
Approval itself is straightforward if you have a signed contract: there is no quota, lottery, or points system, and the salary only needs to meet Chile's minimum wage. The real difficulties are practical: finding a Chilean employer willing to wait 6-8 months for visa processing, and assembling apostilled, translated documents correctly. Most rejections come from paperwork errors, not eligibility.
What is the minimum salary requirement for a Chile work visa?
The salary must meet or exceed Chile's minimum wage of CLP 500,000 monthly. For context, the average salary in Chile is approximately CLP 1,870,000 monthly, but that figure is not a visa requirement.
Can I apply for a work visa without a job offer?
No, you need a signed employment contract or confirmed job offer before applying. The "subject-to-contract" visa requires a formal employment agreement with a Chilean company. There's a limited 90-day work offer option, but you must secure a contract within 45 days, so we do not recommend this option.
Do I need my qualifications recognized in Chile?
Formal recognition isn't always required for visa approval, but may be needed for certain professions. Your educational degrees must be apostilled and translated. For regulated professions (medicine, law, engineering), you may need professional validation from Chilean authorities to be hired. Consider starting this process.
Can my family accompany me on a work visa?
Yes, your spouse and unmarried children under 24 can apply for dependent visas. You must demonstrate sufficient income to support them (typically an additional 500 USD monthly per dependent). Your spouse can work without separate authorization.
Can a US citizen work in Chile?
Yes, but a US passport alone does not authorize employment. Americans enter Chile visa-free for 90 days as tourists, which covers business meetings but not working for a Chilean company. To take a job, you need a work visa based on a signed contract with a Chilean employer, applied for online from abroad, with processing currently at 6-8 months. See our guide to Chile visa requirements for US citizens.
Application Process and Timeline
How long does it take to get a Chile work visa?
Processing typically takes 6-8 months due to current backlogs from the 2022 immigration law changes. Emergency processing may be available for certain cases but takes at least 3-4 months. Apply as early as possible after securing your job offer.
Can I start working while my visa is being processed?
No, you cannot work in Chile until your visa is approved. Some companies may allow you to work remotely from your home country during processing. If you need to come earlier, working with a work permit as a tourist could be an option.
Employment and Legal Obligations
Can I change jobs with a work visa in Chile?
Yes, since the 2022 immigration law, you can change employers without losing your visa status. You no longer need to notify immigration when changing jobs, but your new employment must still meet visa requirements. Consider switching of visa category if you no longer meet the visa requirements, to avoid issues when renewing the visa or applying for permanent residency.
What happens to my visa if I lose my job in Chile?
Nothing. Your visa remains valid even if you lose your job. You have time to find new employment, but you cannot work until you have a new contract. If unemployed for extended periods, you may face difficulties renewing your visa or applying for permanent residency.
Are there any restrictions on the type of work I can do?
No. There are no specific restrictions. As long as the work is legal.
Path to Permanent Residency
When can I apply for permanent residency with a work visa?
After 2 years of temporary residency, provided you meet income requirements and haven't been absent from Chile for more than 2 months in total. Otherwise, you will have to first renew your work visa for an extra two years before applying for permanent residency. The permanent residency process takes approximately 18 months due to current backlogs.
Can I apply for Chilean citizenship with a work visa?
Yes, but you must first get permanent residency.
