The Chilean visa process is relatively straightforward and you can obtain a visa for Chile to suit various purposes of your stay. For instance, to obtain a residency visa and work permit, all you need is a work contract from just about any local company, and you are entitled to what is called a “sujeta a contrato” visa. After the second year of continuous employment, you are entitled to permanent residency and three years later, you can apply for naturalization and a Chilean passport (as long as you meet minimum time-in-country requirements). The red tape involved in the immigration process is minimal and it is not entirely necessary to hire a lawyer, however, some local guidance and assistance does ease the process somewhat as the system is often slow in which to register the visas.
Types of Visa:
- Tourist Visa – The most common and recommended way is for foreigners to enter the country under a tourist visa, and then apply for a change of status to other forms of visa for Chile. It is not recommended that foreigners apply at their consulate in their home country before coming for other types of residency visas for Chile.
- Temporary Residency Visa This is the first type of visa issued when applying for any sort of permanent visa for Chile. A temporary residency visa is most commonly granted after applying and being granted a visa under the retirement and periodic income visa, work visa, professional visa, family member, or through an investor visa application in Chile. All people, regardless of the reasons for applying, must first be a temporary resident before they qualify for permanent residency in Chile. Depending on the type of visa, you will need to be a temporary resident in Chile for one to two years, and you must be physically in the country at least 180 days within a one-year period to qualify to become a permanent resident. Most Common Types of Temporary Residency Visas:
