Chile is a country with numerous unusual characteristics, including one of the world’s longest coasts, the weirdest Spanish dialect, the biggest swimming pools, the driest spot on Earth, a top wine producer, and Easter Island.
Traveling through Chile, from Tierra del Fuego in the south to San Pedro de Atacama in the north, can take a lot of time. You’ll adore it utterly. This amazing nation, which boasts some of the most breathtaking scenery you will ever see, a rich cultural past that extends back thousands of years, and not to mention an exceptional assortment of wines has so much for you to discover! You really ought to spend your next vacation in Chile.
Unless you are a visa-exempt national, you will need a Chile visa to travel to Chile. The Chilean government has made the process of obtaining a Chile visa easy and smooth, allowing you to apply online from your own home. The type of Chilean visa you have to apply for depends on the reason you are traveling.
This page will guide you through everything you need to know about applying for a visa to the beautiful cities in Chile. So, relax and enjoy this ride!
When Do You Need a Chile Visa?
For visits of up to 90 days, some nationals are permitted to enter Chile with nothing more than their passport (and occasionally just an ID card). They will be given a Tourist Card by the immigration officials upon arrival, but those nationals are not required to apply for a visa to Chile in advance of their trip.
Any other nationals who are not Chile visa-exempt must first obtain a visa in order to enter Chile.
Types of Chile visa
The most common types of Chile visas are:
- Chile Tourist Visa issued to foreign nationals for the purpose of tourism for stays of 30-90 days.
- Chile Student Visa is issued to foreign nationals who want to pursue their studies in Chile. You must be enrolled/accepted in a Chilean educational institution before you travel.
- Chile Work visa, issued to foreign nationals who have found employment in Chile. You need to have an already existing work contract with a Chilean company or a foreign company that operates in Chile.
- Chile Temporary Residence Visa, issued to foreign nationals who have family ties in Chile, want to invest or are considered of advantage to the Chilean economy. It is issued for a maximum duration of 1 year.
- Chile Working Holiday Visa issued to young nationals of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand who want to partake in the Working Holiday Programme.
- Chile Retirement and Periodic Income Visa is a visa type that requires any type of periodic income, including pension.
Chile Visa Requirements
When applying for a Chilean visa, you must have several supporting documents, such as:
- Copies of your passport pages, including personal information, issue/expiry date, and any previous visas.
- Your passport must be valid for at least six more months.
- Proof of legal status in your country of residence, if applicable (eg. if you are a Permanent Resident in a country other than your country of origin, include a copy of your PR card).
- One digital passport-size picture:
- It must be taken in a studio (professionally taken)
- It must have a plain white or off-white background
- It must be colored
- It must show you clearly and with a neutral facial expression
- It must be 4.5 x 4.5 cm (2 inches x 2 inches) in size
- You must not wear hats or headgear which cover your hair/hairline or face.
- You must wear plain, day-to-day clothes.
- You must remove your glasses.
- Flight itinerary and reservation.
- Hotel reservation/proof of accommodation.
- Bank statements from the past three months.
- A letter explaining the reasons you are traveling.
- Letter of invitation (if applicable)
On the website for the Chile visa application service, you must upload the supporting documentation in PDF format. The documents must have the appropriate names. For instance, if your flight reservation is an attachment, name the file “YourLastNameFlightReservation”.
Additionally, when you visit the closest Chilean consulate to get your visa, you must have the originals of every document you uploaded.
Please take note that this is not a complete list of prerequisites. When you submit your online application, you will receive a checklist. In addition, depending on whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, additional paperwork can be needed.
Chile Visa Requirements for Minors Under 18 Years of Age
The following documentation is required for minors traveling to Chile for both their visa application and their arrival:
- Birth certificate.
- A notarized written authorization to travel from the parent/s or legal guardian/s if the child is traveling alone or with someone other than the parent.
- Notarized permission from the other parent or legal guardian, if the child is traveling with only one parent/guardian.
The child must also hold a permission form that has been signed by both parents or depart the country with the same adult they entered with.
When Do You Apply for a Chile visa?
You must apply for a Chile visa at least 30 days before you intend to travel. The Chilean authorities will not accept applications that are submitted within 30 days of traveling and they do not have a rushed application process option.
Chile Visa Application
The process for applying for a visa in Chile has been digitalized, but in some circumstances, you may also be able to do it in person at a Chilean Consulate. To learn more, get in touch with them. Foreigners must also apply in person if they want a diplomatic or official visa.
Through the website of the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you can submit an online visa application for Chile. You must go to the closest Chilean Consulate after submitting your online application to get the visa on your passport. You will be advised of the place to submit your passport (i.e., the Consulate in charge of handling your application*) during the initial stage of the online application.
Your Chilean visa may occasionally need to be picked up in another nation. Check to see whether they accept passport submissions by mail/courier. If they do, make sure to mail it by a trusted and secure method.
The Chile visa application process is as follows:
- Start the online Chile visa application.
- Answer all the questions.
- Attach electronic copies of all the required documents.
- Wait for the visa to be processed.
- Show up at the consulate/embassy.
- Pay the Chile visa fee. You only have to pay a fee if your visa application is approved.
- Get your Chile visa.
Start the online application
Once you access the Chile online visa application website, you can select the language you want to complete your application in. Next, you will see several buttons. To start your application, select “Visa Application” and you will be redirected to your online application form.
Answer the questions
First, you have to register by giving your nationality and age, the details of your trip, and the type of passport you have. Once you complete this section, you will receive a Verification Code which you can use to go back to your application later.
Next, it’s the identification information section, which asks for your name, gender, country of birth, etc.
In the third section, you have to answer details about your family, such as your parents’ names, nationalities, and address/es
In the “General Description” passage, you must answer details about your physical appearance (eyes, hair, skin, height) and your educational and professional background.
Then, you must select the answer regarding the activity you will take up in Chile from a dropdown box and answer the required questions.
Attach the copies of documents
Finally, you will be redirected to the “Attach Documents” section, where you must unload the electronic files of the required documents.
After you complete each section, you can press “Save and Continue” to proceed to the following section. You can also go back and exit the application to complete it later. This is useful because, in the interim, you can obtain the required documents and upload them.
Wait for the visa to be processed
The Chile visa application is processed in about 15 to 20 working days. However, you should also take into account the date when your appointment at the Chilean consulate will be set.
This is why it is advisable to apply for a Chile visa between 30 and 60 days before you intend to travel to Chile.
Show up at the consulate/embassy
If your visa is approved, you visit the Chilean Consulate handling your application and submit your passport and originals of all the required documents.
Chile Visa Fees
Chile does not have a clear norm for visa costs. Depending on your country and the type of visa you are seeking, the fees might range from $50 to $150. (a single entry visa is cheaper than a multiple entry visa, for example).
You will receive information about the cost after you submit your online application.
The Chilean government does not demand that you pay for the visa in advance, though. After receiving your visa, you only need to pay the Chile visa cost at the Chilean Consulate. The employees of the Chilean Consulate will stamp your passport with your visa. Within 90 days, you can use it to travel to Chile.
How Long is a Chile Visa Valid For?
A Chile tourist visa is issued for a period of up to 90 days, based on the decision of the Chilean authorities.
Can I Extend a Chile visa?
If you wish to remain in Chile past the expiry of your visa, you can apply for a visa extension at the Departamento de Extranjería del Ministerio del Interior (Department of Immigration of the Ministry of Interior Affairs) in Santiago.
Visa extensions are issued at the discretion of the Chilean authorities on a case-to-case basis.
How to enter Chile if you Don’t Need a Visa?
Foreign nationals who do not require a visa for Chile can receive a Tourist Card (Tarjeta de Turismo) once they have arrived in Chile.
The Tarjeta de Turismo, which is printed on A5 paper, will be given to you by the Chilean immigration officials at the airport or point of entry. This document must be kept with you at all times because you will need to present it to immigration officials when you leave the country.
Read also
What Happens if I Overstay in Chile?
Regardless of whether you need a visa to enter Chile or not, you will get a tourist card when you get there that will tell you how long you can stay there. Although it can be issued for less time, a tourist card is valid for up to 90 days.
You will be fined if you stay past the allotted period. You must pay it before leaving for the airport since you cannot leave the country until you have done so.
The Departamento de Extranjera (Department of Foreigners) in Chile is where you can pay the fine. Arriving at the airport without paying the fine will result in your passport is taken away and you being sent home by immigration officials. This time, it is an entirely longer and more complicated process to pay the fine and get the passport back.
I believe this page has fed you richly on how to go about applying for a Chile visa. You can start right away with planning your first or next trip to Chile today!
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