Chile Rentista Visa | A Comprehensive Guide

What is Passive Income Visa?

Passive Income Visa refers to a visa system where applicants can obtain long-term residency in a destination country based on a certain amount of income/savings without the need to invest or work.

Generally speaking, passive income visa programs in various countries have the following characteristics:

1. Strict limitations on the source of income: The applicant’s income needs to be completely passive, such as interest from savings, financial trusts, pensions, or at least non-wage income like investment returns, dividends, and distributions.

2. Visa holders cannot utilize local resources: In theory, you can only consume in the destination country and cannot seek employment locally. You also need to purchase your own health insurance and cannot use free welfare resources such as medical services.

3. Potential for eventual immigration: Almost all countries with passive income visa programs allow participants to apply for permanent residency or citizenship after legally residing there for a certain period.

If you are interested in a passive income visa, you can read another guide on the website: “Global Passive Income Visas | An Incomplete Guide”.

Chile Rentista Visa: An Overview

Chile’s Rentista visa is for foreigners who receive a stable, passive monthly income of over $1,500 from sources like financial assets (deposits, stocks, bonds, dividends) or real estate (rental income). For each additional dependent, the required monthly income increases by $600.

There are three important points to note about the income requirement:

1. The income must be passive, meaning it cannot come from any kind of employment.

2. While the Chilean government doesn’t have an official minimum, $1,500 is the widely accepted standard. In practice, a few applicants with a monthly income of between $1,000 and $1,500 have also been approved.

3. Holders of this visa are not permitted to work in Chile.

Application Process:

Many of Chile’s long-term residency visas can be applied for online from abroad. The application process generally involves these steps:

Step 1: Online Application

First, you’ll need to go to the official Chilean visa application website. The site is available in both Spanish and English.

1. Navigate to https://tramites.minrel.gov.cl.

2. Choose “Retired foreigners or leasers,” then click “Apply for Residencia Temporary.”

3. Register and fill out your basic personal details like age, phone number, nationality, and where you live.

4. Upload digital copies of all the required documents.

This system will perform an initial review of your application, which usually takes about 30 business days. If it’s approved, you’ll be notified and instructed to schedule an in-person appointment at a Chilean consulate.

Here’s a list of the documents you’ll need to prepare:

• Identification: A passport valid for at least six months for each applicant, a recent passport-sized photo for each person, and documents like marriage or birth certificates to prove the relationship between family members.

• Police Clearance: Every applicant over 18 must provide a police clearance certificate issued within the last 60 days, covering the previous five years of residence.

• Proof of Income: You must prove that your income is enough to support everyone in your family. The main applicant must also provide a written promise to financially support any minor family members.

• Application Forms: The main applicant will need to complete the Rentista visa application form, and everyone must sign a legally binding personal information form.

• Health Check: All applicants must submit a medical certificate issued within 60 days of the application date.

You can find the most up-to-date document list by checking here.

Step 2: In-Person Interview

Once your online application is approved, you’ll need to visit the Chilean consulate. Bring your passport and all the original paper copies of your documents for your interview and to get your visa.

Step 3: Arriving in Chile

After you receive your visa and land in Chile, you have 30 business days to complete a couple of important tasks:

1. Register with the Chilean police to receive your PDI (Policía de Investigaciones de Chile) card.

2. Visit the Ministry of the Interior to get your Chilean ID.