Chile is the southernmost country in the world with the longest and narrowest territory of any power on the planet. But its features are not limited to this. The Republic of Chile owns the famous, mysterious, one of the most remote inhabited islands from land - Easter Island. Its attraction is the huge ten-meter stone statues on the shore, which are more than 500 years old.
From July to October is the best time for a ski holiday in Chile, while in European countries it is not the season. People also come here to relax on the long clean beaches of the Pacific coast, visit the driest Atacama desert in the world, see the historical statue of the Andean Christ, enjoy the country’s natural attractions and landscapes of incredible beauty.
Rules for visa-free entry
Under the “motto” of a tourist, one can freely enter Chile for various purposes and this will not contradict the legislation of the country. Thus, those citizens who:
- go to visit relatives, friends, acquaintances;
- received an invitation from a local company or organization and are sent to the country to participate in negotiations, conferences, and various events;
- wish to undergo treatment in Chilean medical institutions;
- are sent for short-term training;
- religious purposes.
Santiago, Chile
What documents are needed?
Despite the right to visa-free entry, at the border checkpoint employees will still request a minimum package of documents:
- a foreign passport, the validity of which is equal to or greater than the planned period of stay in the country;
- documentary evidence of the availability of housing for the duration of the trip (rental agreement for an apartment, house, hotel room);
- purchased return tickets indicating a date that does not exceed the permitted period of stay in the Republic of Chile;
- bank account statement, cash or bank cards with the availability of amounts proving the traveler’s ability to provide his accommodation during his visit to the country;
- tourist card is an analogue of the migration card familiar to tourists.
The presence of an insurance policy is not required by law. Meanwhile, few travelers would risk going to a foreign country without health insurance. Indeed, in this case, obtaining timely assistance, if necessary, may be difficult due to lack of knowledge of the language and the inability to quickly determine the location of the nearest clinic. In addition, you will have to pay the cost of treatment yourself in full.
Things are different if you conclude an agreement with an insurance company in advance. Then the representative of the assistance company will take on all the worries about solving health problems, if, unfortunately, such arise, and the company will pay for the treatment.
With the help of a special service, Cherehapa makes a choice of the most suitable company for obtaining health insurance before traveling abroad.
Tourist (migration) card
The forms are issued on the plane, at the airport, or the border checkpoint employee independently enters the data into a special electronic form and issues the visitor a printed migration card. The latter option is possible if the airport has implemented electronic registration of visitors.
When filling out the document yourself, data entry is carried out only in English or Spanish.
A tourist card is a documented right to stay in the country for 90 days, to move freely around the territory, so its damage or loss is unacceptable.
However, if this does happen, you need to restore the lost document. To do this, you should contact the nearest police station or get a paper at the Santiago airport.
Valparaiso, Chile
Documents for children
In order for a minor citizen to be freely allowed across the Chilean border, a number of conditions must be met:
- the child has a personal passport if his age is over 14 years;
- the data must be entered in the parents’ passports (for children under 14 years of age);
- availability of a notarized permission for the child to leave from both parents if he is traveling accompanied by a third party (relative, coach, teacher, lecturer, educator, etc.) and from one parent when the father or mother remains in their homeland.
Attention! The child must leave the country with two parents, if the entry was also with the entire family.
If the mother or father is detained in the country or one of the parents leaves prematurely and the child remains, in this case the minor will not be allowed to cross the border upon departure. Therefore, when planning your movements, obtain the necessary permission for the child to leave in advance from a Chilean notary.
Rules for extending visa-free stay
The three-month vacation can be extended for the same period. To do this, you need to take a few simple steps and take into account the established rules:
- Contact the Foreigners and Migration Department of the Ministry of the Interior in the capital Santiago. If a visiting citizen lives in another city - to local authorities;
- Bring a foreign passport, a copy of it and a tourist card, which was issued upon entering the country;
- Submit your application no later than 30 days before the end of the 90-day visa-free stay period;
- Justify the reason for the need to extend the period of residence in the state;
- Please note that if the submitted application is approved, the number of days spent in the country in excess of the norm will be taken into account when calculating the allowed days during a visit to Chile in the next six months.
The final decision on whether to satisfy the submitted petition depends entirely on representatives of the Chilean authorized bodies.
What documents are needed
Although Russian citizens have visa-free entry into Chile, they need to collect a package of documents. Without them, entry into the country will be impossible.
Documents required to cross the Chilean border:
- International passport. It is important that its validity period is equal to or exceeds the planned period of stay in the country.
- Confirmation of the availability of accommodation for the duration of the trip (hotel reservation, invitation).
- Return air tickets with a specified departure date.
- Proof of financial independence: bank statements, cash, traveler's checks.
- Tourist card (analogous to a migration card).
The tourist card is issued on the plane. You can fill it out there (in English or Spanish). The card gives the official right to stay on the territory of Chile.
A child over 14 years of age will need a foreign passport. Until this age, it must be included in the parent’s passport.
When traveling with one parent, you will need written, certified permission from the other to leave the country. If a minor is flying accompanied by third parties, permission from both parents will be required. We also suggest that you familiarize yourself with the flight of a child without parents in Russia and abroad.
If a child entered the territory of Chile with two parents, then he must leave with both of them.
An insurance policy is not required. But it is worth remembering that if the need arises, you will have to pay for medical care yourself.
When do you need to apply for a visa to Chile?
You need to apply for a visa to Chile in two cases:
- when it is known in advance that the stay in the country will last longer than 3 months;
- when the visit is related to employment or other activities that involve obtaining financial profit.
There are two ways to obtain a visa:
- contact the Embassy of Chile in the Russian Federation;
- request a temporary resident visa from the Chilean Foreign Ministry after arriving in the country.
Chileans issue visas for long-term residence even to those citizens who are already on the territory of the state under the right of visa-free entry.
Medical insurance
Despite the fact that neither medical insurance nor a visa to Chile for Russians in 2021 are considered mandatory under the laws of the host country, Russian legislation obliges all travelers to have an insurance policy with minimal medical coverage. services worth 30 thousand rubles.
And for those wishing to apply for a long-term visa, this will be an additional trump card confirming the citizen’s solvency.
To obtain health insurance in Chile, we recommend using the service cherehapa.ru
You can find out prices for travel insurance for Chile for 2 people using the form below:
https://youtu.be/KOXxxWLD4VI
Visa categories
The diplomatic mission issues various types of entry permits, the content of which is determined by the stated purpose of the trip:
- Work Visa. Required for citizens who plan to perform certain work in the state, in accordance with a concluded contract with a local employing company;
- Educational. Needed by citizens enrolled in educational institutions in Chile to receive an education;
- To reunite with family. Issued to Russians who wish to reunite with family members who have Chilean citizenship or a residence permit;
- Religious visa. Necessary for clergy to perform professional activities (lectures, events, service).
Visas for temporary residence
With such a visa, foreigners can stay in Chile from six months to 2 years. But the basis for requesting such a document may be:
- family reunification;
- long-term employment (there must be an employment contract drawn up in accordance with the law);
- long-term study at a higher institution.
To obtain a residence permit you need to collect the following documents:
- a form containing information about the contact person;
- foreign passport with a photocopy of it. It must be valid for at least six months at the time of the applicant’s return;
- a copy of the internal passport indicating registration;
- 1 photo 3x4 or 4x6;
- To reunite a family, you need an invitation from relatives and confirmation of your relationship;
- an employment contract with signatures and seals - original, notarized and legalized by the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs - for those traveling for the purpose of employment;
- invitation from an educational institution - for students;
- health certificate;
- confirmation of the absence of obstacles to crossing the borders of the homeland, issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the place of residence;
- visa fee (in the amount of 65 dollars for future students, 165 dollars for other categories of citizens).
Each applicant must apply for a residence permit and obtain a visa only in person. Each application is reviewed within four weeks. All foreigners have the opportunity to obtain a residence permit in Chile by investing a certain amount in the country’s economy. After nine months of living in Chile, a foreigner can obtain permanent residence status, and after four years - obtain citizenship.
Those who are planning to cross the border of the Chilean Republic have a question: do they need a visa to Chile? It is necessary to apply for it only for citizens of countries with which this state does not have a visa-free regime.
A visa to Chile for Russians and Ukrainians is not needed if you are going on a tourist trip and will not stay in the country for more than 30 days during one trip. But Belarusians will have to apply for it in 2021.
But it is worth remembering that the visa-free regime is only relevant for tourist and guest trips.
If the purpose of your trip to Chile is work or study, you will have to apply for a visa in any case, regardless of citizenship.
It is important to remember that you can stay in Chile for no more than thirty days per visit to the country, and no more than 90 days in total in six months.
How much does a visa cost?
The cost of the consular fee for a long-term visa of any type (except for study) is $165, study – $65.
For the service of extending a visa-free stay, Chileans charge a fixed amount of $100 (payment is made in Chilean pesos at the rate established at the time of payment).
Santiago, Chile
Types of visas and required documents to obtain them
You can come to Chile without an entry permit only for 3 months every six months and for several purposes:
- tourism;
- trips to relatives and friends;
- transit travel through Chilean territory;
- private invitations from organizations to various events.
To do this, a few documents are enough:
- A foreign passport with an expiration date of six months from the date of entry.
- Return air ticket or connecting flight to another country.
- Financial guarantees (bank cards, cash).
Migration card
All foreigners, when passing through passport control, are issued a migration card (filled out in English or Spanish). Three years ago, a new procedure for processing migration cards was introduced - electronic issuance.
The migration police officer fills out the necessary fields on the computer and, after printing, gives the tourist a completed document.
The card must be kept for the entire duration of your stay. If lost, it can be restored free of charge at the local migration police office.
A visa-free visit to Chile can be extended once for another three months by paying a fee of 100 US dollars in the Chilean currency - pesos. For this we provide:
- foreign passport with a photocopy;
- migration card and its photocopy.
You must apply for an extension one month before the expiration date of your legal stay in the republic.
Entry by visa
A visa to Chile for Russians in 2021 is issued if the purposes of the visit to the country do not fall under the rules of free entry. For any trip, Belarusians receive a visa document.
Types of visas issued by the Chilean diplomatic mission:
- working;
- transit;
- student;
- tourist.
General list of documents provided:
- Foreign passport plus a photocopy of the page on which personal data is indicated. It must remain relevant for 90 days from the date of intended departure from Chile.
- General passport with photocopies of all completed pages.
- One recent color or b/w photo. Size – 30x40 mm or 40x60 mm.
- Application form. It is filled out in Russian, with the exception of the first and last names, which are written as in a foreign passport.
- A letter of invitation from a citizen or resident of Chile indicating his personal data plus a copy of his identity card. If you plan to stay in a hotel or rent an apartment, you will need proof of your reservation or rental.
- The fee for sending documents for processing is 10 US dollars in cash.
- Financial guarantees (certificate from the employer indicating the salary amount, bank account statements).
Working
If a Russian citizen is sent to Chile for work, he issues a work entry permit and provides additional documents:
- The application form provides details of the contact person and telephone numbers.
- An employment agreement drawn up according to the laws of Chile and legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Transit
Russians and Ukrainians do not need a transit visa document. Citizens of Belarus receive it.
Provided papers:
- International passport.
- Air tickets for a connecting flight.
- If visas are required to enter third countries, you need to make copies of them.
Student
For a study visa the following must be additionally presented:
- Two photos in which the lower right corner should be missing. Size – 40x40 mm.
- Invitation letter from a Chilean educational institution.
- Medical certificate.
- A certificate from the Ministry of Internal Affairs stating that there are no legal indications that prevent leaving Russia.
Long and short term visas
Visas for stay in Chile can be short-term or long-term. The first are transit and tourist entry permits. They are issued in 1 or 2 days. Duration of action – 30 days. In this case, the consular fee is charged:
- for single entry – 50 US dollars;
- with three times – 70.
If desired, a tourist visa document can be extended twice on the territory of the republic.
Long-term visas include student and work visas. The processing time is 20 days, excluding weekends and holidays. The duration of action is from six months to a year.
Price:
- working – 170 US dollars;
- student - 90.
All long-term entry permits can be extended for a similar period.
Documents for a visa to Chile
During your visit to the Embassy, you need to prepare and bring the following documents to obtain a visa:
- Completed application form. There is an electronic application form on the Embassy website;
- Original and copy of foreign passport;
- A copy of your national passport (the registration page must be provided);
- Photograph. Requirements for the photo: size 3x4 cm, high-quality photographic paper, light background, no smile on the face, closed mouth, open eyes, no glasses or hats;
- Written invitation from the receiving party.
After receiving all the documents, the authorized employee of the Embassy sends information via telex to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Chilean Republic. When a response to the sent request is received, the final stage of consideration of the visa application occurs - the issuance of a visa or refusal. The cost of the telex request is paid by the applicant ($10 cash).
Additional documents for different types of visas
A long-term stay or temporary resident visa is issued for 6-24 months. In addition to the basic package of papers, you must provide:
- for work - the original employment contract certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile;
- for family reunification - documents confirming kinship and a written invitation;
- for studies - the original invitation from the educational institution.
And also for all types of visas:
- doctor's report on health status;
- a certificate from the local police station confirming that there are no legal obstacles to traveling to a foreign country.
You can first check the possibility of traveling abroad and the absence of debts on the website nevylet.rf.
Features of receipt for Russian citizens
A long-term visa to Chile for Russians is issued at the consulate of this republic in Moscow at the address: Denezhny Lane, 7, office 1. To obtain a visa at the consulate you must provide:
- original and copy of a foreign passport, which is valid for at least 6 months from the date of planned entry;
- one photo 3 X 4;
- a copy of the internal passport pages with personal information and registration;
- a form issued at the consulate, filled out in Russian;
- proof of financial solvency for the duration of the trip;
- a certificate of payment for the request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile, which is equal to $10 per person.
It is not necessary to take out medical insurance, but taking into account the surrounding flora and fauna, it is better to do so. Documents will be processed at least 7 working days. Papers can be submitted to the consulate in person, but this can also be done by relatives or representatives of the person leaving.