toshiko
Chile

Every Chile visa route, explained

Chile has a route for every purpose — short visits (visa-free for ~96 nationalities, or a prior-authorisation/tourist visa applied for online via the official Sistema de Atención Consular), plus temporary-residence routes for work, study, family and Working Holiday agreements. The visit route with a verified guide links straight to it; the rest link to the official consulado.gob.cl / Servicio Nacional de Migraciones pages.

The routes

Visit & tourism

Transitory stay — visa-free or prior authorisation (tourist visa)

Short visits for tourism, business, health, study or family — up to 90 days as a Permanencia Transitoria holder, extendable once by 90 days inside Chile. Around 95 nationalities enter visa-free; the rest apply online for a prior authorisation / visa via the official consular platform (SAC) and receive it electronically by email.

  • Tourists, short-term business visitors and family visitors
Up to 90 days (extendable by 90 days via the National Migration Service)

22 verified step-by-step guides →

Study

Temporary residence — study

Residence permits for study at a Chilean educational institution. Since 12 February 2022 you cannot switch from tourism to study inside Chile — obtain the right permit before travelling.

  • Students admitted to a Chilean school or university

official page →

Work & business

Temporary residence — work

Residence permits for foreigners taking up remunerated activities in Chile. Transitory-stay visitors may not work — a work-purpose residence permit (or a work authorisation in the legal exceptions) is required.

  • Employees and professionals with a job in Chile

official page →

Family & residence

Temporary residence — family reunification

Residence permits to join a family member residing in Chile, under the family subcategories of the temporary-residence regime of the National Migration Service.

  • Family members of residents of Chile

official page →

Other routes

Temporary residence permit

For foreigners settling in Chile for a limited time (up to two years) — granted by the National Migration Service (Servicio Nacional de Migraciones), with subcategories for work, study, family and international agreements.

  • Anyone staying in Chile beyond a short visit
Up to two years

official page →

Working Holiday programme

Work-and-vacation residence permits under bilateral agreements signed by Chile with selected countries — applied for through the National Migration Service.

  • Young citizens of Working Holiday partner countries

official page →

Verified step-by-step guides

Grounded on official sources — documents, fees, timeline, every fact dated and linked.

Tourist visa (prior authorisation) (22)

🇧🇩 Bangladesh → ChileTourist visa (prior authorisation)
Bangladeshi citizens need a prior authorisation (tourist visa) to enter Chile as transitory-stay visitors — apply online via the official Sistema de Atención Consular (SAC); if approved you pay the fee within 30 days and receive the visa by email, for a stay of up to 90 days.
🇧🇩 Bangladesh (in United States) → ChileTourist visa (prior authorisation)
Bangladeshi citizens living in the United States need a prior authorisation (tourist visa) to enter Chile as transitory-stay visitors — apply online via the official Sistema de Atención Consular (SAC); if approved you pay the fee within 30 days and receive the visa by email, for a stay of up to 90 days. Living in the US changes nothing about the visa: you apply online via SAC, and your file is handled by the Chilean consulate with jurisdiction over your US state of residence.
🇨🇦 Canada → ChileVisit (visa exemption)
Canadian citizens can visit Chile without a visa — you enter as a transitory-stay (Permanencia Transitoria) visitor for up to 90 days, per the official visa table of the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs; carry a valid passport and be ready to show lawful means of subsistence.
🇨🇦 Canada (in United States) → ChileVisit (visa exemption)
Canadian citizens living in the United States can visit Chile without a visa — you enter as a transitory-stay (Permanencia Transitoria) visitor for up to 90 days, per the official visa table of the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs; carry a valid passport and be ready to show lawful means of subsistence. Living in the US changes nothing — there is no visa to obtain and no Chilean consulate to visit from the United States; the transitory-stay permit is granted on entry regardless of where you live.
🇨🇳 China → ChileTourist visa (prior authorisation)
Chinese citizens need a prior authorisation (tourist visa) to enter Chile as transitory-stay visitors — apply online via the official Sistema de Atención Consular (SAC); if approved you pay the fee within 30 days and receive the visa by email, for a stay of up to 90 days. The visa is free of charge (US$ 0) for Chinese ordinary passports, and holders of a qualifying US or Canadian visa or a Green Card are exempt.
🇨🇳 China (in United States) → ChileVisit (visa-free with US residence)
Chinese citizens who hold a non-C US visa or Green Card, valid 6+ months, may enter Chile visa-free for up to 90 days — no Chile visa needed. The published Chilean waiver exempts Chinese nationals carrying a visa issued by Canada or the United States (all types except a C/transit visa) or a Green Card, valid for at least 6 more months, from the tourist visa; you enter as a transitory-stay visitor and receive your stay on arrival.
🇨🇺 Cuba → ChileTourist visa (prior authorisation)
Cuban citizens need a prior authorisation (tourist visa) to enter Chile as transitory-stay visitors — apply online via the official Sistema de Atención Consular (SAC); if approved you pay the fee within 30 days and receive the visa by email, for a stay of up to 30 days. Cubans with permanent residence in a Pacific Alliance country are exempt.
🇨🇺 Cuba (in United States) → ChileTourist visa (prior authorisation)
Cuban citizens living in the United States need a prior authorisation (tourist visa) to enter Chile as transitory-stay visitors — apply online via the official Sistema de Atención Consular (SAC); if approved you pay the fee within 30 days and receive the visa by email, for a stay of up to 30 days. Cubans with permanent residence in a Pacific Alliance country are exempt. Living in the US changes nothing about the visa: you apply online via SAC, and your file is handled by the Chilean consulate with jurisdiction over your US state of residence.
🇪🇬 Egypt → ChileTourist visa (prior authorisation)
Egyptian citizens need a prior authorisation (tourist visa) to enter Chile as transitory-stay visitors — apply online via the official Sistema de Atención Consular (SAC); if approved you pay the fee within 30 days and receive the visa by email, for a stay of up to 30 days.
🇪🇬 Egypt (in United States) → ChileTourist visa (prior authorisation)
Egyptian citizens living in the United States need a prior authorisation (tourist visa) to enter Chile as transitory-stay visitors — apply online via the official Sistema de Atención Consular (SAC); if approved you pay the fee within 30 days and receive the visa by email, for a stay of up to 30 days. Living in the US changes nothing about the visa: you apply online via SAC, and your file is handled by the Chilean consulate with jurisdiction over your US state of residence.
🇮🇳 India → ChileTourist visa (prior authorisation)
Indian citizens need a prior authorisation (tourist visa) to enter Chile as transitory-stay visitors — apply online via the official Sistema de Atención Consular (SAC); if approved you pay the fee within 30 days and receive the visa by email, for a stay of up to 90 days. Holders of a qualifying US visa or Green Card are exempt.
🇮🇳 India (in United States) → ChileVisit (visa-free with US residence)
Indian citizens who hold a non-C US visa or Green Card, valid 6+ months, may enter Chile visa-free for up to 90 days — no Chile visa needed. The published Chilean waiver exempts Indian nationals carrying a visa issued by the United States (except a C visa), valid for at least 6 more months, or a Green Card, from the tourist visa; you enter as a transitory-stay visitor and receive your stay on arrival.
🇳🇬 Nigeria → ChileTourist visa (prior authorisation)
Nigerian citizens need a prior authorisation (tourist visa) to enter Chile as transitory-stay visitors — apply online via the official Sistema de Atención Consular (SAC); if approved you pay the fee within 30 days and receive the visa by email, for a stay of up to 30 days (single entry) or 60 days (multiple entry).
🇳🇬 Nigeria (in United States) → ChileTourist visa (prior authorisation)
Nigerian citizens living in the United States need a prior authorisation (tourist visa) to enter Chile as transitory-stay visitors — apply online via the official Sistema de Atención Consular (SAC); if approved you pay the fee within 30 days and receive the visa by email, for a stay of up to 30 days (single entry) or 60 days (multiple entry). Living in the US changes nothing about the visa: you apply online via SAC, and your file is handled by the Chilean consulate with jurisdiction over your US state of residence.
🇵🇰 Pakistan → ChileTourist visa (prior authorisation)
Pakistani citizens need a prior authorisation (tourist visa) to enter Chile as transitory-stay visitors — apply online via the official Sistema de Atención Consular (SAC); if approved you pay the fee within 30 days and receive the visa by email, for a stay of up to 30 days (single entry) or 90 days (multiple entry).
🇵🇰 Pakistan (in United States) → ChileTourist visa (prior authorisation)
Pakistani citizens living in the United States need a prior authorisation (tourist visa) to enter Chile as transitory-stay visitors — apply online via the official Sistema de Atención Consular (SAC); if approved you pay the fee within 30 days and receive the visa by email, for a stay of up to 30 days (single entry) or 90 days (multiple entry). Living in the US changes nothing about the visa: you apply online via SAC, and your file is handled by the Chilean consulate with jurisdiction over your US state of residence.
🇵🇭 Philippines → ChileTourist visa (prior authorisation)
Filipino citizens need a prior authorisation (tourist visa) to enter Chile as transitory-stay visitors — apply online via the official Sistema de Atención Consular (SAC); if approved you pay the fee within 30 days and receive the visa by email, for a stay of up to 60 days (single entry) or 90 days (multiple entry).
🇵🇭 Philippines (in United States) → ChileTourist visa (prior authorisation)
Filipino citizens living in the United States need a prior authorisation (tourist visa) to enter Chile as transitory-stay visitors — apply online via the official Sistema de Atención Consular (SAC); if approved you pay the fee within 30 days and receive the visa by email, for a stay of up to 60 days (single entry) or 90 days (multiple entry). Living in the US changes nothing about the visa: you apply online via SAC, and your file is handled by the Chilean consulate with jurisdiction over your US state of residence.
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka → ChileTourist visa (prior authorisation)
Sri Lankan citizens need a prior authorisation (tourist visa) to enter Chile as transitory-stay visitors — apply online via the official Sistema de Atención Consular (SAC); if approved you pay the fee within 30 days and receive the visa by email, for a stay of up to 90 days.
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka (in United States) → ChileTourist visa (prior authorisation)
Sri Lankan citizens living in the United States need a prior authorisation (tourist visa) to enter Chile as transitory-stay visitors — apply online via the official Sistema de Atención Consular (SAC); if approved you pay the fee within 30 days and receive the visa by email, for a stay of up to 90 days. Living in the US changes nothing about the visa: you apply online via SAC, and your file is handled by the Chilean consulate with jurisdiction over your US state of residence.
🇻🇳 Vietnam (in United States) → ChileVisit (visa exemption)
Vietnamese citizens living in the United States can visit Chile without a visa — you enter as a transitory-stay (Permanencia Transitoria) visitor for up to 90 days, per the official visa table of the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs; carry a valid passport and be ready to show lawful means of subsistence. Living in the US changes nothing — there is no visa to obtain and no Chilean consulate to visit from the United States; the transitory-stay permit is granted on entry regardless of where you live.
🇻🇳 Vietnam → ChileVisit (visa exemption)
Vietnamese citizens can visit Chile without a visa — you enter as a transitory-stay (Permanencia Transitoria) visitor for up to 90 days, per the official visa table of the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs; carry a valid passport and be ready to show lawful means of subsistence.