Chile Visa & Residency Application Service

We determine the correct residence permit, prepare and file your application, and follow it with the Chilean immigration service until your ID card is issued.

Jérémie Le Pévédic

Last updated on 08/09/2026

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Rated Excellent (4.8/5)

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What the Chilean visa process involves

Chile has around a dozen residence categories. An application can require 15 to 20 documents, including translations and apostilles. These documents must be collected and filed in the correct order, and some expire while you wait for others.

We determine the visa category, prepare the checklist, review the documents, file the application, and follow it with the immigration service. This reduces avoidable delays caused by missing, expired, or incorrectly prepared documents. A sequencing mistake can add 2-4 months.

This service is for you if

✓

You are moving to Chile to work, retire, invest, or join family, alone or with your partner and children

✓

You are an HR team relocating an employee to Chile and need support with the immigration process

✓

You want the requirements checked before the application is filed

✓

Your schedule requires you to immediately be legally allowed to work in Chile

What we handle for you

We confirm the permit, prepare the documents, file the application, and follow it until your Chilean ID card is issued.

Document collection

We start with a consultation to determine which visa category fits your situation.

✓A document checklist for your visa category
✓A document timeline, so you collect everything in the right order and nothing expires before filing
✓All required certificates and letters, with clear instructions on how to sign them
✓Introductions to experienced international partners if you need help gathering documents in your home country

Visa application & interview

Before you spend time and money on legalizations and apostilles, we make sure every document is correct.

✓Full document review, so there are no costly mistakes or repeated embassy visits
✓We handle the entire application and payment process with the immigration service
✓If an interview or consulate visit is required, we prepare you with clear guidelines

Application follow-up

We track the application and respond when the immigration service requests more information.

✓Automated tracking: we always know exactly where your case stands
✓Immediate notice whenever the immigration service requests something, so your process keeps moving
✓Your visa delivered to you once ready, with no consulate or government office visits

Visa registration & Chilean ID card

After the visa is issued, we help with activation, Civil Registry registration, and the Chilean ID card.

✓Visa activation checked after you arrive, so renewals go smoothly later
✓Civil registry appointment booked for you, so you skip the long waiting lines
✓All registration documents prepared correctly the first time
✓ID card pickup and delivery to your home or office if you cannot collect it yourself

Your visa timeline

Typical durations observed with current processing times. Every case is different.

Document collection

1-3 months

Quick for solo applicants from countries with efficient administration and no translations required, but slower for families or from countries not part of the apostille convention.

Visa application

6-10 months

Since the 2022 immigration law and the reorganization of the immigration service, visa issuance is slower than it used to be. Process is slowly improving.

Chilean ID card

1-2 months

The civil register takes 1-2 months to issue the card. You can start working as soon as your visa is issued. The card is not required to work.

150+

visas approved

98%

approval rate, all visa types

50+

nationalities assisted

2016

guiding expats to Chile since

Our guarantee

In the (rare) case the immigration service rejects a visa application, we reapply at no additional service fee, or take the case to court at our expense.

The guarantee covers our service fees, while government fees and third-party costs are excluded. It requires that documents and information are provided on time and that immigration service appointments are attended.

We have worked with citizens of 50+ countries

We have handled applications involving documents from more than 50 countries and can explain how they are issued and apostilled.

Europe

Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Monaco, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom

Asia & Middle East

China, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates

Americas

Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, USA, Venezuela

Africa

Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan

Oceania

Australia

Included for all our clients

You receive a digital copy of the Chile Handbook for Foreigners and its bonuses. It covers housing, healthcare, banking, schools, work, and taxes in Chile.

24 chapters

One chapter per topic for easy access.

265 pages

Everything you need to know to start moving to Chile.

1 checklist

One step at a time, to avoid stress and wasted time.

What our clients say

Reviews from clients we have assisted since 2016.

Matthew Murrey

Mar 30, 2024

Working with expat.cl was very easy. Jeremie is very knowledgeable and was able to help me get my residency paperwork submitted quickly. He also walked me through the process for extending my tourist visa.

Date of experience: Mar 30, 2024

Jonathan

Jan 28, 2024

Jérémie is very knowledgeable and goes above and beyond to provide a personalized service. He guided me through the entire residency process and was there to answer questions and give helpful advice every step of the way. I would highly recommend expat.cl to anyone coming to Chile for residence or business. It is really a one stop shop, that makes what can otherwise be bureaucratic and time consuming processes simple and fast.

Date of experience: Jan 28, 2024

Eric Passariello

Jul 12, 2024

Jeremie at expat.cl was professional, courteous and diligent in assisting me with my Chile visa. Through unexpected policy and requirements changes he remained steadfast and communicative throughout the visa process. I wouldn't hesitate to utilize his services again.

Date of experience: Jul 12, 2024

Michael Wardrope

Feb 14, 2024

Expat.cl did a great job doing the processing work for our visas. Jérémie explained everything from beginning to end and accurately set expectations about what to expect at each stage. He was also very responsive to questions. We were very happy with their service and would recommend him to anyone thinking about re-location.

Date of experience: Feb 14, 2024

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Need more time to plan?

Two options to help you plan:

The Chile Handbook for Foreigners
A 1-hour consultation for USD 127
The consultation fee credited toward a later service

Book a 1-hour consultation

Any questions?

Find answers here...

The process

How long does the visa process typically take?

The duration varies significantly based on the visa type. Investor visas get reviewed in 1 to 3 months. Work visas take between 6-8 months, while retirement visas take between 6-12 months. These are average durations, and processing times depend on the immigration service's workload and of your specific profile.

How quickly can you start my application?

Immediately. When you agree to start the service, we send you a memo with the required documents within 24 hours. If needed, we put you in touch with providers in your origin country to help you gather the documents. We file your visa application as soon as we have all the documents. The document collection phase usually takes 1 to 3 months, mainly depending on the administration in your home country.

Do I need to go to the consulate during the process?

The visa is issued electronically, so you won't need to go to the consulate to get it. However, you may need to go to the consulate to sign your work contract or a letter of support if you relocate with family members and, in some cases, to show some documents.

Can I travel while my visa is being processed?

Yes. Note that while your application is in progress, you are still treated as a tourist for entry purposes, so you can leave and re-enter Chile. The exact rules depend on your nationality.

Working with us

How do we communicate during the process?

We usually do an onboarding call at the start. We then mostly communicate by email, which is easier across time zones. Written answers also stay available, so you can rely on our detailed replies even weeks later.

What happens if my visa application is rejected?

When filed with expat.cl, this is unlikely. The reason is that there are many steps before an application is rejected, hence many opportunities to fix an application. The immigration service first requests additional documents, then sends a pre-rejection notice, and only then rejects the application. If this occurs, we assist with the administrative appeal against the decision, and our guarantee applies: we reapply at no additional service fee.

Can I start working before receiving my Chilean ID card?

If you apply for a family reunification visa from inside Chile, you receive a certificate allowing you to work after 1 to 3 months. If you apply for a visa from outside Chile, you can work as soon as you enter Chile with your visa, even before receiving your Chilean ID card.

Can my family members work in Chile?

Yes. Adult family members who apply together with you are allowed to work in Chile once they get their certificate/visa. Same criteria as the previous question.

Ready to get started?

Fill out our short form, and we will get back to you within 24 hours with the right permit path and a clear plan.

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Need help with your Chilean visa?

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