Temporary residence for foreigners who want to carry out remunerated activities with dependence on an employer in Chile.
Eligibility: 1Documents: 3Process & costs: 2Report facts: 5
South America · Immigration
Chile
Chile sits in South America. Its immigration system runs 17 distinct routes — led by humanitarian protection, work and residence-based status, each set out in official law. All 17 cite an official government source, shown on the route with the date we last read it. Who actually qualifies depends on your full profile.
2 further routes are recorded for Chile but not shown here — their details are still under review.
- Immigration routes
- 17across 12 route categories, each set out in official law
- Source-cited routes
- 17 of 17cite an official government source, with the date we last read it
- Largest category
- Humanitarian protection3 of the 17 routes — see them under Humanitarian protection below
- Region
- South America
- Capital
- Santiago
- Population
- 19,859,921
- Official language
- Spanish
- Currency
- CLP
- Time zone
- 2 zones
Source-cited pathways
Immigration routes
All 17 routes, grouped by purpose — 17 of 17 cite an official government source directly.
Work
2 routes
Temporary residence for specific seasonal work for limited, single or interannual periods in Chile.
Eligibility: 1Documents: 3Process & costs: 2Report facts: 4
Investment
1 route
Temporary residence for foreign investors, legal representatives or senior management staff of a foreign company seeking to invest in Chile.
Investment from USD 500,000
Eligibility: 2Documents: 3Process & costs: 2Report facts: 4
Business & self-employment
1 route
Temporary residence for foreigners who must regularly enter Chile for executive or management activities related to business or investments.
Eligibility: 1Documents: 3Process & costs: 1Report facts: 6
Study
1 route
Temporary residence for foreigners interested in studying in educational establishments recognized by the Chilean State.
Eligibility: 2Documents: 3Process & costs: 4Report facts: 5
Family
1 route
Temporary residence subcategory for applicants who prove a family link with a Chilean national or a foreigner holding permanent residence.
Eligibility: 2Documents: 3Process & costs: 3Report facts: 3
Independent means
1 route
Temporary residence for foreigners with retirement pension or constant income from real estate or financial assets.
Eligibility: 1Documents: 3Process & costs: 2Report facts: 5
Residence-based status
2 routes
Permanent residence for holders of temporary residence whose migration subcategory permits it.
Official government source: serviciomigraciones.cl · checked 2026-07-25
Temporary residence for foreigners who previously held permanent residence and had it revoked.
Free movement
2 routes
Temporary residence for nationals or residents, as applicable, of States covered by international agreements in force with Chile.
Eligibility: 1Documents: 4Process & costs: 2Report facts: 2
Temporary residence granted under the Agreement of the Mercosur States Parties, Bolivia and Chile.
Eligibility: 1Documents: 4Process & costs: 2Report facts: 2
Cultural, religious & volunteer
1 route
Temporary residence for foreigners belonging to a legally constituted religious entity in Chile and needing residence for worship activities.
Eligibility: 1Documents: 2Process & costs: 2Report facts: 6
Short stay & visit
1 route
Short stay permission for foreigners entering Chile for tourism, business or other limited purposes without intent to reside or settle.
Official government source: serviciomigraciones.cl · checked 2026-07-29
Humanitarian protection
3 routes
Special temporary residence permit for foreign women over 18 who are in Chile under transitory stay or temporary residence and have a medical certificate showing pregnancy.
Free temporary residence permit for children and adolescents in Chile, granted regardless of their own migration status or that of the parent/caregiver.
Temporary residence subcategory for foreigners affected by violence, vulnerability or other humanitarian reasons.
Medical treatment
1 route
Temporary residence for foreigners under medical treatments that must be started or continued in Chile.
Official sources
- Chile National Migration ServiceGovernment
See which Chile routes you actually qualify for.
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