Expat Community > Chile

liewald
Joined 2012
Posts: 100

HOW TO RELOCATE TO CHILE

5 years ago

The New Immigration LAW has not been approved yet, the situation is the same as it has been since 1984 to 2015.
The new law should be passed mid-2019 and in effect before the end of the year (we think), the following is only valid until then.

This is intended for people that have already been investigating about moving to Chile.

If you relocate to live in Chile you should apply for a residency Visa, either Temporary (TR, which has 12 categories) or Subject to Contract SC if you don't qualify for TR
The most simple process description I can think is:
1 Travel to Chile, having an outbound ticket, not necessarily a round trip.
1.1 Find a Job if you need one and sign a contract
1.2 Ask for Work Authorization as a tourist, renew every 30 days
1.3 If needed ask for "RUT Provisorio" at SII or AFP
2 Apply for a Visa and ask for a work Permit with the contract from 1.1
2.1 Wait 3 to 4 months to get the work permit, valid for 4 months
2.2 Renew work permit
3 after 6 to 8 months get your Visa stamped in Passport
3.1 Go to PDI to register Visa
3.2 Go to Civil Registry to ask for Chilean ID Card (RUN/RUT)
4 after one month get your RUT Card
4.1 keep your address updated to PDI
4.2 start collecting your proof of being legal documents and prepare to apply for Permanent Resident Status (Permanencia Definitiva)
4.3 if you did 1.3, make sure to update all systems
5 90 days before the expiration date of your Visa you can apply for PR
5.1 this is 9 months after getting TR Visa or
5.2 21 months after getting SC Visa
6 For citizenship wait 5 years after your first visa.

The most common categories for TR Visa are:
- Religious (45% of US migrants in Chile)
- Pension/Retired
- Professional (needs work offer or contract)
- Entrepreneur
- Investor/Rentier (needs proof of wealth or passive income)
- Chilean family/cohabitant
- Permanent resident family/cohabitant

Hope it helps,

Best
Walt

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