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How To Get Residency in Chile: A Comprehensive Guide
Capital: Santiago
Population: 19,629,588 (2023, 63rd)
Ethic Group: 64% European，30% Mixed
Area: 756,101.96 km2 (37th)
Offical Language: Spanish
Currency: Chilean Peso (as of Aug 8th, 2025, 1 CLP = 0.0010 USD)
GDP per Captial (PPP): $33,574 (2024, 64th)
Human Development Index: 0.878 (2023, 45th)
Country Profile:
Chile is located on the western side of the South American continent, making it one of the longest and narrowest countries in the world.
Economically, Chile is in a period of rapid development. The World Bank classifies it as a high-income economy and one of the most prosperous countries in South America. The World Bank predicts Chile’s economy will grow by 23.9% between 2023 and 2028.
However, wealth inequality remains one of the most pressing issues the country faces.
Visa & Immigration System:
Chile offers foreigners up to 15 different long-term residency visa options. The most common and widely applicable ones include Family Reunification Visa, Work Visa, Investor Visa, Business Visa, Retirement Visa, and Rentista Visa.
The Chile Investor Visa requires a significant investment of over $500,000 or owning more than 10% of a local company’s shares.
For many, the Rentista (non-profit) and Retirement visas are more appealing.
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The Chilean Rentista Visa requires proof of a stable monthly income of at least $1,500.
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The Chilean Retirement Visa can be obtained in two ways: by proving a monthly retirement income of over $1,500 or by showing a personal net worth of over $125,000.
The retirement visa is valid for one year and is renewable annually. The main applicant must be at least 55 years old.
For both the Rentista and Retirement visas, the required monthly income for the main applicant increases by approximately $600 for each dependent included in the application.
Visa Validity:
Excluding seasonal work visas, all Chilean temporary residence permits have a validity of up to two years and can be renewed under the same conditions once expired.
Dependents:
When applying for a Chilean visa, the main applicant’s spouse, parents, children under 18, and children between 18 and 24 who are still in school can all be included as dependents to live in Chile.
Permanent Residency & Citizenship
Generally, foreigners can apply for permanent residency after living in Chile for two years. However, those on certain long-term visas—such as family reunification, investor, and Rentista visas—may be eligible to apply after just one year of legal residency, provided they have lived in the country for at least half of that time.
When reviewing your permanent residency application, Chilean authorities will check if you still meet the conditions of your previous visa. For example, they’ll verify if you still have the passive income for a Rentista visa, the required net assets for a retirement visa, or that your company is still operating for an investor visa.
Chilean permanent residency is a lifelong visa, but it can be revoked if you leave the country for more than two consecutive years. A common way to maintain your status while abroad is to apply for a residency extension at the nearest Chilean consulate before the two-year period ends.
After living legally in Chile for five years, foreign nationals are eligible to apply for Chilean citizenship.
Passport Power:
Chile recognizes dual nationality and its passport ranks 14th in the world. Passport holders can travel freely (visa-free or visa-on-arrival) to 176 countries and regions worldwide (as of Aug 8th, 2025).
Chile and South Korea are the only countries whose passports allow visa-free access to both the United States and Russia. Additionally, Chile is the only Latin American country whose passport grants visa-free access to the United States.
In 2024, Chile, South Korea, Brunei, and Israel were the only four countries whose passports granted visa-free access to all G8 member nations.
Additionally, most Latin American citizens, including those from Chile, can apply for Spanish citizenship after living in Spain for just two years.
Chile is part of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR).As shown in the figure below, citizens of the member countries of this agreement can freely work and live in any other member country. After two years, if one can provide proof of financial means to support oneself and family, they can directly obtain a permanent residence visa in the country of residence. Having Chilean citizenship is very convenient for living in South America.
Useful Links:
Chilean Visa Online Platform：https://tramites.minrel.gov.cl/
SERMIG: https://serviciomigraciones.cl/en/citizenship/
Invest Chile: https://www.investchile.gob.cl/
Home > South America > Chile > How To Get Residency in Chile: A Comprehensive Guide