From Patagonia to the Andes and Chilean Coast Range mountains, Chile regularly draws tourists and international workers alike. If your company is planning to open an office in Chile, companies will have to find talented employees in the country or relocate some from other countries. However, all employees from another country must have a work permit in Chile to function legally.
Types of work visas in Chile
After obtaining a job offer or work contract in Chile, all international 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.
International individuals wanting to reside and work in Chile must now obtain a Temporary Residence Visa. This new visa can be granted for up to 2 years and can be renewed indefinitely in 2-year increments. Available visa subcategories include:
- Permit for foreigners engaged in lawful remunerated activities: This visa subcategory for international individuals performing remunerated activities in Chile requires a local work contract, job offer (a formal work contract is still required to be submitted to the Servicio Nacional de Migraciones within 45 days of entering Chile), or services contract (if they are self-employed) for application. Unlike the previous Work Contract Visa, this visa is no longer tied to the validity of a work contract, and holders can change employers without issues.
- Permits for investors, managers, directors, or specialized personnel: Individuals investing the minimum requirement in a project can apply for this visa subcategory. This visa requires the submission of a criminal record certificate and a sponsorship letter from the government’s international investment promotion agency, InvestChile.
- Permits for seasonal workers: This subcategory is for temporary international workers for a period up to 6 months in a calendar year.
- Permits for international executives or directors who regularly travel to Chile for business activities: This multiple entry visa allows international executives and directors with business interests or investments in Chile, to regularly enter the country, provided that their time in the country does not exceed more than 6 months in each calendar year.
It is also important to note that under the new work permit, international workers cannot be employed and paid by a home company. Under the new law, international 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 part of the MERCOSUR agreement. This means that nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay can apply for a MERCOSUR residence visa, which is typically valid for 2 years and is renewable. The perk of this type of residence visa is that it does not require a local entity to be the sponsor.
Requirements to obtain Chile work visas
Employees need several documents to get a working visa in Chile, including:
- Copies of a passport that’s valid for at least 12 months from the application.
- Proof of legal status in their country of residence.
- 1 colored passport-size picture taken in a studio with a plain white or off-white background.
- Copies of their flight itinerary and reservation.
- Proof of hotel reservation or accommodation.
- Bank statements from the past 3 months.
- A local work contract, job offer, or services contract with a duration longer than 3 months.
- A letter of invitation, if applicable.
- A letter explaining all the reasons they’re traveling.
Since Chile uses an online visa application service, all documents should be attached in PDF format.
Application process
Since Chile digitized the application process, all applications for temporary residency must be submitted through the website of the National Migration Service (under the Ministry of the Interior) as an “Application for Temporary Residency for Foreigners outside Chile.” After submitting the online application, the applicant 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 consulate or collect their visa in another country. However, the typical application process includes the following steps:
- Starting the online Chile visa application
- Answering all questions
- Attaching electronic copies of all the required documents
- Waiting for the visa to be processed
- Showing up at the consulate or embassy
- Paying the visa fee once the application is approved
- Obtaining the visa
Other important considerations
Visa fees vary 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 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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At this moment, G-P does not offer support processing work visas or permits in this particular location.