From Patagonia to the Andes and Chilean Coast Range mountains, Chile regularly draws tourists and foreign nationals alike. If your company is planning to open an office in Chile, you'll need to...
Read MoreFrom Patagonia to the Andes and Chilean Coast Range mountains, Chile regularly draws tourists and foreign nationals alike. If your company is planning to open an office in Chile, you'll need to find talented employees in the country or relocate some of your current workers. However, all employees from a foreign country must have a work permit in Chile to function legally.
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From Patagonia to the Andes and Chilean Coast Range mountains, Chile regularly draws tourists and foreign nationals alike. If your company is planning to open an office in Chile, you’ll need to find talented employees in the country or relocate some of your current workers. However, all employees from a foreign country must have a work permit in Chile to function legally.
After obtaining a job offer or work contract in Chile, all foreign employees should request a work visa.
In order to modernize their immigration system, Chile approved a new immigration law in 2020 that was later published in April 2021 and updated in 2022. Under the new law, Chile’s visa categories have been restructured, with previous residence and work permit categories phased out and a new Temporary Residence Visa category with 16 subcategories introduced.
Foreign nationals wanting to reside and work in Chile must now obtain a Temporary Residence Visa. This new visa can be granted for up to two years and can be renewed indefinitely in two-year increments. Available visa subcategories include:
It is also important to note that under the new work permit, foreign workers cannot be employed and paid by a home company. Under the new law, foreign workers must be employed and paid by a company in Chile, and have a local work contract, job offer, or services contract that reflects that.
Chile is expected to release additional clarifications and guidelines on the new visa categories and associated regulations.
Employees need several documents to get a working visa in Chile, including:
Since Chile uses an online visa application service, all documents should be attached in PDF format. They also need certain names based on document type. For example, the flight reservation should be called “YourLastNameFlightReservation.” It’s also a good idea to keep all original documents and bring them to the nearest Chile consulate while obtaining a visa.
Since Chile digitized the application process, anyone looking to get a work permit in the country can apply through the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. After submitting the online application, the individual should visit the closest Chile Consulate to get the visa stamped on their passport.
In some cases, applicants may be allowed to apply in person at a Chilean Consulate or collect their visa in another country. However, the typical application process includes the following steps:
Visa fees range from $50 to $150 depending on the employee’s nationality and the type of visa they’re applying for. Applicants won’t know how much the visa costs until they submit their online application, but they won’t have to pay the fee upfront. They’ll pay once they pick up their Chile work visa at the Chilean Consulate. During that time, officials will fasten the visa to the employee’s passport, and they can use it to travel to the country within 90 days.
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