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Last updated on 22/06/2026
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What is Permanent Residency (Residencia Definitiva) in Chile?
Chile Permanent residency, officially known as "Residencia Definitiva," is a permit granted by Chile's National Migration Service that allows foreign nationals to reside indefinitely in Chile and engage in any lawful activity. Unlike temporary residency, permanent residency doesn't need to be renewed and provides nearly all the rights of Chilean citizens, except voting and holding certain government positions.
How to get residency in Chile: the two-step path
Chile's residency requirements follow a fixed sequence, and you cannot apply for permanent residency directly from abroad:
- Obtain a temporary resident visa in one of the 16 categories (work, rentista/retirement, investor, family, Mercosur...)
- After 24 months of temporary residence (12 months for expedited cases), apply for Residencia Definitiva from within Chile.
This page covers step 2. If you are still choosing your initial pathway, start with the temporary visas overview or our residency section.
Key Benefits of Chilean Permanent Residency
Permanent residency gives you nearly all the rights of a Chilean national. On the professional and economic side, you have unrestricted work authorization in any legal profession or business, the right to establish and run companies, access to credit, mortgages, and investment opportunities, and equal treatment in employment and professional licensing. You gain full access to Chile's healthcare system (FONASA or a private ISAPRE), public education at every level, social security and pension contributions, and family reunification rights for your spouse and children.
You also move freely: unlimited entry and exit from Chile, no restriction on where you live in the country, the right to extended travel of up to two years with extension options, and a pathway to Chilean citizenship after five years of total residence. See our citizenship guide for the full process.
Important: While permanent residency is valid for life, it can be revoked if you stay outside Chile for more than 2 years continuously without requesting an extension at the nearest consulate. Plan your international travel accordingly. Many foreigners lost their permanent residency during the covid-19 pandemic, as they were not able to travel and did not request a consular extension.
Eligibility Requirements for Permanent Residency
Standard Requirements (24-month residence)
The standard pathway requires that you hold a valid Residencia Temporal and complete 24 months of residence in Chile, without exceeding 60 days of total absence during that first temporary visa, and that you apply within the 90 days before your temporary residency expires. Alongside the residence condition, you need a clean criminal record (no serious convictions, though minor issues are still accepted), demonstrated financial stability and means of support, compliance with your Chilean tax obligations throughout the residency period, and no pending legal proceedings or immigration violations.
Expedited Route (12-month residence)
This route does not let you apply sooner or speed up the decision. What it changes is the amount of residence you must show: certain applicants qualify with 12 months of residence instead of the standard 24 (that is, 12 of the first 24 months). You still apply at the end of your first temporary visa, within the usual 90-day window before it expires, and processing then takes the same time as a standard case.
The reduced requirement is open to a few groups. On family grounds: the spouse of a Chilean citizen or permanent resident (married two or more years), a parent or child of a Chilean citizen, or a sibling of a Chilean citizen (second degree of consanguinity). On economic or professional grounds: those making a significant investment in Chilean projects or businesses, people with outstanding contributions to science, technology, the arts, or culture, holders of specialized skills in high-demand sectors, and retirees with guaranteed pension income. And by official status: representatives of foreign governments or international organizations, refugees with special humanitarian considerations, and religious workers in an official capacity.
Required Documentation
The required documents depend on the type of temporary visa you currently hold. In most cases, the permanent residency application requires the same types of documents that were requested during your initial temporary visa application. The documents must be up-to-date. You cannot re-use the same documents as during your visa application a few years prior.
All foreign documents must be apostilled (for Hague Convention countries) or legalized (for non-Hague countries) through your country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs or designated authority, which typically takes two to eight weeks depending on the country and the document. Any document not in Spanish or English must be translated, and because the translation itself must also be apostilled or legalized, use a certified translator and keep the original-language document with each translation. The documents must also be current: criminal record certificates are valid for two months from their issue date unless the certificate says otherwise, and financial documents must be recent, within three months of your application.
Chile Permanent Residency Application Process
Step 1: Preparation
Obtain your ClaveÚnica if you do not have one yet:
- Visit any Civil Registry office with your Chilean ID and passport
- Register for ClaveÚnica digital identity system
- Receive temporary activation code
- Activate account online and set permanent password
Collect the required documents:
- Start 3-4 months before your temporary residency expires
- Request apostilled documents from home country (4-8 weeks)
- Arrange certified translations (2-4 weeks)
Step 2: Permanent Residency Application Submission
- Access the digital platform of the Chilean immigration service
- Log in with your Chilean ID card number (RUN) and ClaveÚnica
- Select "Residencia Definitiva" application
- Complete personal information verification
- Submit all required documentation in PDF format
- Verify the information and validate your application
The permanent residency fees are not due when filing the application. You will receive an email to pay them after the immigration service has completed the first document review.
Step 2: Civil Registry
Once your permanent residency is approved, you have 30 days to book an appointment with the Civil Registry to request an updated Chilean ID card. Your RUN number will remain the same. Bring your passport, permanent residency certificate, and current Chilean ID card. The new card arrives in 1-2 months.
Maintaining Permanent Residency
The Permanent Residency is, as its name indicates, permanent.
There is one main caveat, though:
You cannot be more than 2 years outside Chile, except if you apply for an extra 2-year extension. In this case, you can be up to 4 years outside Chile. Only one extension is allowed.
Extension must be requested at a consulate before reaching the 2-year out-of-Chile limit. Ideally, you want to request the extension at least 60 days before reaching the 2-year limit.
After that period, your permanent residency will be automatically revoked if you do not return to Chile, even briefly (one day is enough).
Once you enter Chile, the 2-year clock restarts. And you are also granted right to another 2-year extension.
In practice, you can maintain your permanent residency indefinitely by returning to Chile at least once every 4 years (2 years + one 2-year extension requested at a consulate). Even a one-day visit resets the clock.
Identity Card Renewal
The Chilean ID card for permanent residents has a 5-year validity. This is a fixed duration defined by decree by the Ministry of Justice.
The validity of the permanent residency and the validity of your Chilean ID card as a permanent resident are not related. You can:
- have an expired Chilean ID card and still have a valid Permanent Residency
- have a still valid Chilean ID card, but have an expired Permanent Residency.
Make sure to follow the abovementioned guidelines to maintain your permanent residency validity, and do not rely on the expiration date of your Chilean ID card.
Chilean ID cards for Permanent Residency must be renewed in person in Chile. They cannot be renewed at consulates abroad. Should you need to plan a trip to renew it, contact us 3-4 months in advance, as you need to obtain some documents and book an appointment, which require advance planning.
Frequently asked questions about permanent residency in Chile
Application Requirements and Process
Residencia Definitiva is a permit granted by Chile immigration service to foreigners who hold valid Residencia Temporal, allowing them to reside indefinitely and engage in any lawful activity in Chile. It's valid for life unless revoked or unless living outside of Chile for more than 2 to 4 years.
Generally 24 months of residence with a valid Residencia Temporal. However, this can be reduced to 12 months if you qualify for expedited pathways through family relationships, significant investments, or outstanding contributions to Chile.
Limited absences are allowed, but you cannot be outside Chile for more than 60 days total if you want to directly qualify for Permanent Residency after your 24-month first temporary visa. Extended absences may delay your eligibility and require extending your temporary residency.
You must apply within 90 days before your Residencia Temporal expires. Start preparing documents well in advance as some require apostille/legalization from your home country, which can take several weeks.
In practice, total processing frequently stretches to 12-18 months due to application backlogs at the immigration service, and actual times vary with its workload and cannot be guaranteed. While your application is pending, you receive a certificate that keeps your status legal, so you can keep living and working in Chile normally.
Unlike temporary residency, the government fee for permanent residency is fixed and does not depend on your nationality (see costs here). You do not pay when filing: the immigration service emails you a payment request after the first document review.
No. Only time under a valid temporary residence permit counts toward the 24-month requirement. Tourist stays, even long ones, do not accumulate.
Requirements
Yes, ClaveÚnica is required for applying to Permanent Residency. You can obtain it at any Civil Registry office. This digital key is required for all government services in Chile. You will need it to file the application, but also obtain some of the required documents.
Documents must be apostilled or legalized through your country's proper authorities, then translated by a certified translator in Chile if not in Spanish. Start this process early as it can take 4-8 weeks depending on your country.
After Obtaining Permanent Residency
Book an appointment at a Civil Registry office within 30 days to request a new Chilean identity card. Bring your valid passport and permanent residency certificate. The new ID will show your permanent resident status and is valid for 5 years.
Maximum 2 years continuously without losing your status. You can request one 2-year extension at a Chilean consulate (applied at least 60 days before the 2-year limit), allowing up to 4 years total outside Chile.
Full work authorization in any legal activity, unrestricted travel in/out of Chile, access to credit and mortgages, healthcare and education systems, ability to invest like a Chilean national, and pathway to citizenship after 5 total years of residence.
Special Situations
Yes, students can apply if they have completed their professional or secondary education, resided 2+ years with a student visa, and demonstrate economic support through bank deposits, employment, or family support letters.
Marriage to a Chilean doesn't automatically grant permanent residency, but you may qualify under the reduced residence requirement (12 months of residence instead of 24) if you can prove the genuine relationship and have been married for at least 2 years. This lowers the residence you must show, not the moment you apply: you still file at the end of your first temporary visa.
Yes, dependent family members can apply for permanent residency independently, even if the primary applicant leaves Chile. They must demonstrate their own income through work contracts, business activities, or other legal means.
You can request a duplicate online through the immigration service portal using your ClaveÚnica.
