Obtaining Chilean citizenship and passport


Receiving process

In order to obtain Chilean citizenship, you must first obtain a residence permit in this country, which allows you to stay in the territory of the state legally.

You can obtain a residence permit in Chile on the basis of documents such as:

  1. An employment contract with an employer who is a citizen of the Chilean Republic.
  2. Rentier visas.Visa to Chile for Russians
  3. Student visa.

A residence permit is issued for a period of one year with the right of extension. You can apply for a residence permit only after 90 days of continuous stay in Chile.

The receipt period is 30 working days, and documents are processed within twenty-one days.

The exception is members of sea and air crews. The main documents for obtaining a residence permit are:

  1. International passport.
  2. A document confirming the fact of birth.
  3. Marriage certificate.

Also, if a person has children, they may be required to provide their birth certificates. The Immigration Service must provide a document confirming the purpose of stay in the country.

The second stage in obtaining citizenship status is obtaining permanent residence. An application for its receipt can be submitted after 180 days of stay in the country. Permanent residence in Chile is issued directly at the country's embassy. A similar document is issued for a period of 20 years.

Permanent residence in Chile

The period for reviewing documents ranges from 7 to 90 days. The peculiarity is that even after submitting documents for registration of permanent residence, a person may be absent from the territory of the state.

It is important to remember that in order to retain the right to permanent residence, a person must enter the country at least once every 360 days. Even if a person permanently resides in another country and has permanent residence in Chile, he does not lose it.

The main condition is to visit the country at least for a minimum period of time once a year. It is also not allowed for a person to be absent from Chile for more than 12 months.

If, however, a situation with a delay occurs, it is necessary to inform the consulate in the country of actual residence. In this case, embassy officials will extend the mandatory period of absence without depriving the right to permanent residence.

The basis for obtaining citizenship in Chile is the presence of a residence permit and permanent residence. You can apply for citizenship after five years of receiving a residence permit.

If a person has legally resided in the territory of the Republic of Chile for 7 years (the first 4 years without leaving its borders), he can apply for the status of a citizen of this state.

Mandatory certificates for obtaining citizenship in 2021 are the following:

  1. Certificate of reliability (no criminal record) of a person.
  2. A document certifying a person’s decent financial position. Sample bank statement

Moreover, a certificate of income can serve not only as a bank statement confirming the availability of funds. It is important for this country to provide a document that demonstrates the availability of any financial resources. This could be a document on dividends, a certificate of having your own business that generates income. For pensioners, a statement of accrual of pension payments is quite suitable.

Also, if a person rents out real estate, you can submit a certificate certifying this fact.

After a person submits documents to the embassy, ​​he must wait about seven months. After being assigned the status of a citizen of Chile, a person is issued a passport of a citizen of the Republic of Chile.

Stages of obtaining Chilean citizenship

  1. To obtain residence permit status, you need a foreign passport with a validity period of more than 15 months, a birth certificate, marriage certificates and, if available, birth certificates of children. The period for obtaining a residence permit is about 3 months.
  2. Obtaining permanent residence is conditional on having a residence permit and living in the country for 9 months.
  3. Having lived continuously in Chile with permanent residence status for four years, you can obtain the right to citizenship.

Thus, you can become a citizen of this country five years after submitting documents for a residence permit. In general, obtaining Chilean citizenship is much easier than other Latin American countries, since it does not require any selection or waiting.

Conditions for obtaining citizenship

To obtain Chilean citizenship, a foreigner must meet the following requirements:

  1. Be an adult (over 18 years old). If a foreigner between 14 and 18 years of age wishes to obtain a Chilean passport, he must provide a notarized authorization from legal guardians and/or a parental death certificate.
  2. Have a valid permanent residence permit.
  3. Have no problems with the law in Russia and Chile.
  4. Confirm financial solvency. The minimum income for 1 person is 400-450 USD per month.
  5. Have resided permanently in Chile for more than 5 years.

Important. The experience of compatriots shows: before obtaining Chilean citizenship, you have to live in the country for 5 years from the moment you receive permanent residence (Permanencia definitiva), and not a long-term visa.

In addition, the applicant prepares certificates of contributions to pension and medical funds and a tax return for the year.

How to obtain Chilean citizenship: procedure, documents and other features

According to statistics from the Department of Migration, about 5,000 people acquire Chilean citizenship every year. As a rule, Cubans and Argentines, as well as residents of other Latin American countries, strive to obtain it.

At the same time, Russians and Ukrainians often appear among newly minted Chileans.

Chile attracts with its climate, quality of life, social security, opportunity to work, do business, study and raise children in a safe society with a high level of civil liberties.

Benefits of Chilean Citizenship

The times when Chile and the Chileans were popular in the USSR and were in the zone of media interest are gone. This country, sandwiched in a narrow strip between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean, is rarely remembered. And in vain. Chile in South America is one of the leading countries and a leader in per capita income, civil liberties and opportunities for living, studying and doing business.

With a Chilean passport you can travel around the world. Most countries allow Chileans to enter without a visa or through simplified procedures. A visa will only be required in some countries in Africa and Asia.

An internal document from Chile is sufficient to enter most Latin American countries.

And it's not just about travel. Having become a citizen of Chile, an immigrant receives social protection of the state and all rights and freedoms according to the constitution. He can participate in political life, elect his representatives to government bodies or stand for election.

In this case, you can keep your Russian passport. Chile allows dual citizenship.

Video: who should go to Chile

How to obtain citizenship: step by step

Citizenship can be acquired by birth or after living in the country using temporary immigration documents.

Birthright

The easiest way to obtain citizenship is by birth in Chile. The rule covers almost everyone, with the exception of those born to transit passengers, employees of foreign diplomatic missions and crew members of ships and aircraft.

Protecting the interests of the child, the authorities in 2015 clarified the concept of transit passengers (extranjeros transeúntes). If one of the parents has obtained permanent residence or is a holder of a long-term visa, or has at least applied for a long-term visa, and his documents are being reviewed, this is enough for the child to receive Chilean citizenship. A year will pass, and the parents will have the right to permanent residence.

Almost any child born in Chile is entitled to citizenship

In cases where the migration status of the parents does not allow newborns to become Chilean citizens immediately after birth, this opportunity becomes available to young people upon reaching 21 years of age. They are given 12 months to make a decision and submit documents.

You can be born abroad, but from Chilean parents. Unfortunately, almost all Chilean political emigrants left Russia and Ukraine, and there are not so many students and business travelers.

The opportunity is there, but only a few can take advantage. The option of “citizenship by blood” offers little chance. It is for those who are descendant relatives.

These are the grandchildren and in some cases great-grandchildren of Chileans. There are, however, few of them either.

Naturalization

Everyone else will have to go through naturalization, which will require five years of legal residence in Chile, possibly:

  • with an issued residence permit through which permanent residence is obtained;
  • for permanent residence permit holders.

In both cases, you must enter Chile and submit an application. The distant country is open to Russians and Ukrainians for visa-free travel for 3 months in any six-month period. There is enough time to visit, get acquainted, evaluate your options for immigration and begin the preparatory process.

Marriage with Chilean citizens and family reunification, when children or parents go to relatives who have undergone the naturalization procedure and obtained citizenship, gives the right to permanent residence with further acquisition of citizenship.

All issues related to registration of residence are handled by the Department of Migration (El Departamento de Extranjería y Migración), a division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Public Security (El Ministerio del Interior y Seguridad Pública).

To acquire Chilean citizenship, you must live in the country for 5 years under permanent residence.

Decor

An immigrant with permanent residence who has lived in Chile for more than 5 years, counted from the date printed on the first resident visa, can begin the naturalization process upon reaching 18 years of age. Minors 14–18 years old also have the right to apply for citizenship with the written consent of their legal representatives.

Two main conditions:

  • confirm legal income exceeding the minimum wage;
  • not have problems with the law, that is, not be accused or convicted of a crime for which a punishment of more than 2 months is provided.

Legal income does not only mean salary or business profits. But bank guarantees, transfers from abroad or a guarantee from another person who undertakes to bear all the applicant’s expenses are also accepted. The guarantee is certified by a notary.

Minors under 14 years of age born outside of Chile apply for a residence permit or permanent residence permit. They have the right to citizenship from the age of 14 with the consent of their parents. From the age of 18, having reached adulthood, they can apply independently.

They accept documents for citizenship and issue passports and ID cards at the Migration Department of the Chilean Ministry of Internal Affairs

Required documents

To apply for citizenship, apply to the territorial office of the Migration Department and submit the following documents:

  • application form;
  • a certificate of good conduct (obtained from the police);
  • certificate of travel abroad in the last year (obtained from the police);
  • a photocopy of both sides of the ID;
  • a photocopy of the permanent residence certificate with a police certificate confirming the validity of the certificate;
  • a photocopy of the main pages of the international passport, including pages with visas and stamps;
  • 1 color photo 2 x 3 cm (indicate your first and last name and ID number on the back side);
  • a free-form application in the form of a personal letter requesting citizenship.

Personal writing is a tradition in Chilean office work. It is short in content. The applicant introduces himself, compliments the country, its government and expresses his desire to become a Chilean citizen.

The official language of Chile is Spanish, but they will accept documents without requiring translation if they are in English, French, Portuguese, Italian.

Documents in Russian or Ukrainian must be translated into Spanish by a certified agency.

Diplomas and civil registration certificates require an apostille in addition to translation.

Translation and apostille are allowed both in the authorized bodies of the Russian Federation and Ukraine, and in the territory of Chile. The latter is preferable because it takes less time and costs less.

Timing and cost

In a number of regions, it is allowed to submit documents by mail and track their progress online, as well as resolve the issue on its merits. The review period is 1 year. The cost of the fee is 10,400 pesos, and for those who applied for permanent residence through family reunification (spouses, children and parents of Chilean citizens) - 2,100 pesos.

If the answer is positive, the applicant will receive a passport at the same branch of the Migration Department.

Chile issues biometric passports to its citizens, with which they can travel to different countries of the world without completing additional documents

It should be noted that administratively Chile is divided into 15 regions, one of which is the capital. Each region has its own characteristics, including the registration of citizenship. The difference is not significant, but when choosing a place of residence, you need to clarify regional nuances in advance.

Possibility of dual citizenship for citizens of Russia and Ukraine

A Russian who has obtained Chilean citizenship has two options:

  1. Refuse Russian citizenship, since there is no agreement on mutual recognition of citizenship between the Russian Federation and Chile.
  2. Taking advantage of the fact that Chile recognizes dual citizenship, retain Russian citizenship. It should be remembered that for the Russian Federation he remains a Russian citizen with all the rights and responsibilities of a Russian citizen.

The second option seems more attractive, but human relationships are so diverse that situations of legal or property conflict between one and another citizenship cannot be ruled out.

Ukrainian legislation does not provide for dual citizenship. A Ukrainian who has received a Chilean passport will formally remain a Ukrainian citizen until he is excluded from Ukrainian citizenship by presidential decree. Having a passport of a foreign country is one of the conditions under which citizenship can be deprived.

Video: Russians in Santiago

It is difficult to find another state like Chile, where the enviable wealth of the population and modern living arrangements are combined with liberal immigration legislation.

Visa-free entry for three months and the ease of obtaining a residence permit open up opportunities for naturalization within 5 years.

It is not surprising that many Russians and Ukrainians are interested in Chile as a country of possible relocation.

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How to obtain Chilean citizenship?

In search of new opportunities for themselves and their family, many decide to obtain citizenship of another country. If we consider Latin America, then Chile is the ideal option, since having a passport provides visa-free entry into more than 130 countries, including the USA.

At the same time, having Chilean citizenship allows you not only to receive education there, but also to conduct business, buy real estate, etc. Many continue to live in Chile, as they get used to the local climate and flavor, start families, and find well-paid jobs.

How to obtain Chilean citizenship.

Chilean citizenship

Details CG Immigration to Chile December 01, 2017

The Chilean passport is the only passport of Latin American countries that gives the right to visa-free entry into the USA, Canada, and the countries of the European Union: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Holland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, England , Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Japan and others (155 countries in total) - see the full list. In addition, an agreement was signed with the APEC countries (APEC - Japan, Australia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Thailand, Singapore and Russia.) on long-term (1 year) visa-free visits to member countries and the right to conduct commercial activities in these countries for Chilean citizens. Since the beginning of 2014, Chilean citizens can visit the United States visa-free.

When obtaining Chilean citizenship, Chilean legislation allows you not to renounce your current citizenship, thereby retaining the right to retain yours and receive a second, Chilean, passport. In addition, since 2005 it has been possible to obtain Chilean citizenship through an accelerated program.

The standard process for obtaining Chilean citizenship by residence takes five years and consists of:

  1. Obtaining a residence permit for a period of 1 year (residence permit), according to any of the immigration programs indicated on the website.
  2. If you have a residence permit in Chile, in order to subsequently obtain permanent residence, you must live in the country for at least 180 days (in total); otherwise, you will retain a residence permit without the right to permanent residence. The only legal way to avoid the 180-day residence requirement is to provide documents confirming that the applicant is a member of sea or air crews.
  3. After 1 year with a residence permit in Chile, upon fulfilling the details required by the state, the status of Permanent Residence (PR) in Chile is requested. The permanent residence status does not have any time limits; the permanent residence certificate itself is issued for 20 years. To maintain permanent residence status, it is enough to enter Chile at least once a year for a minimum period. The period of stay outside Chile can be more than 1 year continuously and can be extended at the Chilean consulate if the reasons for the delay are justified.
  4. After five years from the date of receipt of the first residence permit and if there is permanent residence status in Chile (and in the absence of violations, including visa regulations), the applicant has the right to obtain Chilean citizenship.

Obtaining Chilean citizenship through an accelerated program

There is also an accelerated process for obtaining Chilean citizenship, which consists of a program developed by the Chilean government for the descendants of Chilean citizens, with citizenship based on ethnic roots.

This program allows descendants of Chileans born abroad to obtain Chilean citizenship. In case of loss/absence of documents confirming relationship, we can restore them ourselves.

In most countries with laws on the restoration of citizenship, there is an intermediate stage of restoration, which requires living for a year or more in the country with permanent residence status, but in Chile this intermediate stage is absent.

In addition, the official period for obtaining citizenship on this basis takes 6 months. In addition, citizenship based on kinship allows you to obtain Spanish citizenship within just 2 years.

More information about obtaining Chilean citizenship:

  • In Chile: +56 9 90739505
  • Contact us - Contacts

Chilean passport in our publications

World Passport Rankings 2021

Changes in Chilean migration legislation in 2021

List of visa-free countries for Chilean citizens

Cancellation of US visas for Chilean citizens

Immigration programs in Chile

Read more about the process of obtaining a residence permit and permanent residence in Chile

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Chilean citizenship for Russians

Almost any Russian can apply for Chilean citizenship if he has no problems with the law or with documents.

The entire process of obtaining temporary and permanent residence permits takes place in the capital of Chile, Santiago, at the State Department for Foreigners.

If you wish, you can contact one of the departments of this department located in another Chilean city, but they are not available everywhere.

What are the immigration methods?

There are four recognized methods for immigration to Chile:

  1. Rentier visa.
  2. Family reunification or marriage.
  3. Investing in the country's economy or opening your own business in Chile.
  4. Visa for pensioners.

What documents do you need to collect?

The peculiarity of immigration is that the application can be sent by mail, but it is better to do it yourself to avoid possible delays in delivery or loss of documents.

Each immigration method has its own list of required documents, for example, when marrying a Chilean you need:

  • completed citizenship application form;
  • international passport;
  • tourist map;
  • three photographs;
  • marriage certificate.

Existing types of visas

This state is more attractive for young highly qualified specialists. They are first issued a temporary residence permit with the right to work, and after a year a permanent one.

All stages of obtaining citizenship can be completed easily and quickly, since the state is interested in workers and does its best to attract them to the country.

There are other reasons for immigration:

Features of registration of a residence permit

A temporary residence permit (TRP) gives a foreigner resident status, allowing him to work and live in the country, as well as bring close family members with him. The cost of such a visa is 170 dollars, and if for work, then 125.

Since you can spend 90 days in the country without a visa, during this time you can prepare the conditions and documents for moving and obtaining a residence permit. There are several different options for this status depending on the purpose of your stay in the country.

For students, this type of visa is listed in a separate category on the migration service website. The applicant must have documents confirming admission to the educational institution and confirmation of the source of income for the duration of his studies. The cost of a visa is 90 dollars.

There are five types of residence permits for students:

  • a visa received for the first time gives the right to change universities, but you cannot work with it;
  • extension of a visa;
  • changing from one type of visa to another;
  • work permit while studying at a university;
  • a permit giving the right to work and go to school.

Family reunification only applies to close family members of persons residing in Chile (parents, spouses and children).

You cannot work on it, but you can obtain a work permit separately upon arrival, and this will give you the opportunity to save 50% on its registration. A visa can also be obtained by a former resident who left the country for a period of 1 to 5 years.

Who else can get a visa:

Where to contact

An application for citizenship is submitted by applying to one of the branches of the Extranheria. Can be found in the regions: Santiago, Atacama, Antofagasta, Coquimbo, O'Higgins.

Pre-registration is available on the official website upon presentation of information about the applicant, namely:

  • number of a valid residence permit;
  • FULL NAME;
  • indication of the country that issued the residence permit;
  • email addresses.

A letter confirming the reservation of a visit to the Extranjeria must be printed and presented to a Department employee. Otherwise, documents are submitted on a first-come, first-served basis.

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Costs and deadlines

On a general basis, the application is considered within 7–9 months. The period is reduced to six months if citizenship is issued to ethnic migrants. When submitting documents, foreigners are charged a fee of 18,968 Chilean pesos. Applicants receiving citizenship by right of origin are exempt from paying the fee. Money is accepted in national currency at one of the Extranjeria branches. The completed passport is issued here. There is no need to pre-register.

The applicant is notified of the status assignment by email.

Duration and cost

The review period using the standard form takes up to 9 months. If the applicant has Chilean roots, he will receive citizenship in 6 months.

To begin consideration of the application, you must pay a fee in the amount of 18,968 Chilean pesos (about 1,800 rubles). Payment is accepted at the Migration Department; you can pay when submitting documents.

If the application is approved, the candidate is asked to go to the migration department and receive a document. No registration is necessary and there are no formal ceremonies. The applicant will learn that the passport is ready by email.

General procedure

Obtaining Chilean citizenship on the standard basis of naturalization takes five years and occurs in several stages:

  • Issuance of a residence permit for one year under any of the existing programs (the most suitable ones can be selected by studying the reviews on the forum).
  • After 180 days (in general) of residence in Chile, permanent residence is issued. If this condition is not met, the status does not change and the applicant is deprived of the right to permanent residence. The status is not limited by time; the document is issued for 20 years. To preserve it, it is enough to cross the Chilean border once a year and stay there for a while. The permissible stay outside the country can be increased through the consulate if compelling reasons are justified.
  • After 5 years from the date of issuance of the first residence permit and with a current permanent residence status in Chile, the applicant has the right to obtain citizenship. Provided that he did not violate the law, including the visa regime.

There is one legal way to avoid the mandatory six-month residence before obtaining permanent residence. Provide documents confirming that the applicant is a member of maritime or air crews.

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Benefits of Chilean Citizenship

The times when Chile and the Chileans were popular in the USSR and were in the zone of media interest are gone. This country, sandwiched in a narrow strip between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean, is rarely remembered. And in vain. Chile in South America is one of the leading countries and a leader in per capita income, civil liberties and opportunities for living, studying and doing business.

With a Chilean passport you can travel around the world. Most countries allow Chileans to enter without a visa or through simplified procedures. A visa will only be required in some countries in Africa and Asia.

An internal document from Chile is sufficient to enter most Latin American countries.

And it's not just about travel. Having become a citizen of Chile, an immigrant receives social protection of the state and all rights and freedoms according to the constitution. He can participate in political life, elect his representatives to government bodies or stand for election.

In this case, you can keep your Russian passport. Chile allows dual citizenship.

In Chile, all three waves interact successfully with each other. The first wave of emigrants is represented by a society called the “Cemetery Society”. The title may be gloomy, but it is justified. When the first wave of emigrants arrived here, they built a Russian church and created their own association. There is also a Russian cemetery in Santiago, which is managed by this association. That’s why they call themselves the “Cemetery Society.” It must be said that in this cemetery there are burials of very interesting people, about whom many documents have been collected. And these documents will soon be presented in Russia as a historical monument.

Marina Vasilievna Ryabova - head of the Coordination Council of Russian compatriots in Chile

Video: who should go to Chile

Procedure for obtaining citizenship

The visa-free regime between Russia and Chile makes the immigration process easier : if the stay is less than 90 days, the Russian only needs a foreign passport. Documents for a long-term visa are submitted upon arrival to the local office of the Department of Foreigners and Migration, with the exception of a work visa.

Applying for a long-term visa

The type of long-term residence permit depends on the category of the applicant , it can be:

  • work visa (Residencia sujeta a contrato);
  • student visa (Visa de residencia para estudiantes);
  • temporary (Residencia temporaria).

A long-stay visa gives the right to work and live in the country for at least 1 year . Conventionally, it is equated to a residence permit in Chile.

Basic set of documents for submission to the Migration Department:

  • statement;
  • passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation;
  • international passport;
  • tourist migration card - a form that is filled out at the checkpoint when entering Chile;
  • 2 photographs 3x2 cm;
  • medical insurance for 10,000 USD;
  • a certificate of health and the applicant’s absence of dangerous infectious diseases. Plus, before arriving in Chile, the immigrant provides a document containing information about all necessary vaccinations;
  • a document confirming the presence of a permanent place of residence, valid at the time of processing the application;
  • document confirming financial solvency: salary certificate, account statement, etc.;
  • certificate of absence of problems with the law in Russia;
  • document confirming receipt of secondary or higher education;
  • an application to assume the costs of maintaining the applicant’s dependent relatives, as well as a certificate of marriage and birth of children.

Reference. Persons specified in the foreigner's application are recognized as “dependent applicants” and do not receive a work permit.

For employees:

  • employment contract;
  • confirmed diploma;
  • employment history;
  • reviews from previous employers.

For students:

  • certificate of enrollment;
  • confirmation of receipt of the scholarship indicating its amount;
  • permission from parents of minor children to study abroad.

For spouses and relatives of Chileans:

  • proof of relationship: birth or marriage certificate;
  • certificate of financial solvency of the receiving party;
  • Chilean passport (or his permanent residence permit and identity card).

For pensioners and rentiers:

  • pensioner's ID;
  • a certificate of payments received into the account over the last 3 months;
  • documents confirming regular receipt of income above 600 USD per person per month.

For businessmen who own a company in Chile:

  • constituent documents of the enterprise;
  • certificate of registration with the tax authorities and VAT payments for the last 3 months;
  • statement of registration with health and social insurance authorities;
  • documents for the purchase or lease of company property;
  • list of employees and accrued salaries;
  • general or preliminary balance sheet of the enterprise;
  • permission to carry out economic activities;
  • a certificate confirming the availability of sufficient funds in the account to support the business.

For businessmen planning to open a company in Chile:

  • business plan;
  • certificate of availability of at least 10,000 USD in the account.

Before sending, documents are translated into Spanish and notarized . The current status of the application is checked by the check number, if the documents were sent by mail, or the number issued by the local branch of the Department. The whole process takes up to 4 months. The decision is published on the official website, the applicant is sent a letter to his home address or via SMS to the number specified in the application form.

From the moment the application is approved, the immigrant has 30 days to register his status with the International Police and receive a certificate of registration of a long-term visa. At the police station, the foreigner’s personal information, photograph and fingerprints are entered into a database. The immigrant then goes to the Passport Office to obtain an Identity Card.

To extend a visa you will need:

  • certificate of registration of the first visa;
  • identification;
  • certificate of no criminal record in Chile.

The fee is 90 USD for citizens of the Russian Federation; for residents of other countries, the fee is indicated on the website. The state fee is paid after the application is approved.

Registration of a permanent residence permit

Before applying for permanent residence in Chile, you need to live in the country for some time, depending on the type of long-term visa : 2 years for workers and students and 1 year for other categories of immigrants.

Basic requirements for applicants at this stage:

  • no criminal record or arrears in payments in Russia and Chile;
  • passing an exam on knowledge of the state language, history, culture and traditions of Chile;
  • if the applicant rents real estate, the lease agreement must be concluded for a period of at least six months.

The list of documents is similar to the previous stage, with the following additions:

  • certificates of no criminal record in Russia and Chile;
  • documents confirming the fact of permanent residence in the country (not necessary for dependent persons), the minimum period of stay in the republic is 185 days a year;
  • ID card and visa registration certificate;
  • a covering letter indicating the reason for obtaining permanent residence in Chile;
  • certificate of family composition;
  • tax return for the last year;
  • for employees: confirmation of the relevance of the concluded employment contract and a certificate of contributions to pension and medical funds;
  • for students: a diploma or certificate of education, a work contract for at least 1 year for former students or a certificate of admission to a university for schoolchildren.

The fee is 64.5 thousand pesos (6,400 rubles). The review period is up to 1 year . Once the application is approved, the immigrant receives a Certificate of Permanent Residence and registers it at the police station, receiving a new identity card.

The new status is awarded indefinitely, the permanent residence card must be replaced every 5 years . Resident status is automatically revoked if its holder has been absent from Chile for more than 1 year without prior notification and indication of the reason (for example, studying abroad under an exchange program).

Registration of citizenship

Before obtaining Chilean citizenship , a Russian citizen will have to live in this republic for 5 years . Despite the vague wording “...5 years or more of permanent residence in the country...”, the countdown of the required period begins from the moment of obtaining permanent residence (Permanencia definitiva), as indicated in refusals to grant citizenship.

Exams for proficiency in Spanish and knowledge of history and social studies of Chile will be more difficult at this stage. The package of papers attached to the application is similar to the stage of obtaining permanent residence. All certificates of payment of taxes and fees must cover the period of 1 year before submitting the application.

The procedure repeats all previous steps. The period for reviewing documents is 1 year , and the amount of fees does not exceed 600 USD.

A completed passport is obtained from the local office of the Department of Foreigners and Migration .

How to obtain Chilean citizenship

There are several ways to obtain Chilean citizenship; one of the most common is the naturalization of foreigners. If we are talking about naturalization, then after living in the country for at least five years as a permanent resident, you can apply for Chilean citizenship. Of course, the permanent residence holder can continue to live in Chile as a full permanent resident. But being a citizen has certain advantages, one of which is the right to obtain a Chilean passport. However, of course, you are not required to obtain citizenship. It is known that some countries do not allow their citizens to have dual citizenship, therefore, for example, a German or Japanese will not be able to obtain Chilean citizenship as a second one, he will have to renounce his previous one. A permanent residence holder in Chile can do, for the most part, the same things as a Chilean citizen, but still with some restrictions related to the right to be elected to certain political positions, serve in the police, etc.

After 5 years of residence in Chile, a permanent residence permit holder can:

  1. Register to vote in the Chilean elections. It is not necessary to apply for Chilean citizenship to participate in elections. Once you have lived in the country for 5 years, you will be automatically registered to vote.
  2. Apply for citizenship and receive a passport. For the most part, your daily life won't change much after receiving your Chilean passport. Foreigners permanently residing in Chile are taxed the same as Chilean citizens. However, you may be able to obtain some tax advantages.

According to the latest version of the legislation, Chile allows dual citizenship.

Benefits of a Chilean passport

One of the benefits of being a Chilean citizen is that you can apply for a second passport. Chilean passport holders can travel visa-free to over 149 countries, including all Schengen countries, the UK, the US, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand. Visas to Australia and India can be obtained in a simplified manner via the Internet. The Chilean passport's ranking in terms of visa-free international access is number 18 in the world.

Another advantage of Chilean citizenship over permanent residence is that permanent residence can be lost under certain conditions if you leave the country for a period exceeding two years, but you will not lose citizenship, since it is a connection with the state for the rest of your life. The permanent residence card must be renewed periodically. Chilean citizens do not have such a problem; they can live in other countries for as long as they like without losing their citizenship.

There are also certain import tax incentives for Chileans returning home, such as the ability to import a used car after being away from the country for 2 years.

Another benefit of becoming a Chilean citizen is access to certain rights under the wide range of free trade agreements Chile has with other countries. For example, Chileans can travel to most South American countries with their national identification card (without a passport).

Naturalization – the usual procedure

How long will it take to obtain Chilean citizenship? If you obtain citizenship through naturalization, it will take at least 6 years

  1. Obtaining a residence permit takes from 2 to 5 months
  2. Obtaining permanent residence after 5 years from the date of provision of the initial residence permit
  3. Apply for citizenship immediately after receiving permanent residence and wait up to 1 year for a decision.

Chilean Citizenship – Fast Track Procedure

Descendants of Chileans who have left the country and who have lost or were not granted Chilean citizenship and who live abroad may apply for reinstatement of citizenship. Such applications are processed in record time - three months, after which the applicant receives a Chilean birth certificate, ID card and passport of a citizen of Chile. When submitting an application through the Chilean consulate in Moscow, you can safely add up to six months to these deadlines.

Considering that during the military dictatorship of Pinochet, according to various estimates, about two hundred thousand people left Chile, repatriation to Chile today is quite a widespread phenomenon. Please inquire further about the cost and timing of obtaining Chilean citizenship through our company.

Questions and answers:

Question: If I obtain Chilean citizenship, how will my tax status in Russia change? What taxes do residents of Chile pay? I’m not planning to move to Chile; I need a passport for visa-free travel around the world. Answer: Tax residency in Chile arises in the following two cases: if a person spent 6 months + 1 day in a calendar year in a row in Chile; if a person has accumulated 6 months of residence in Chile in 2 years. Tax residence entails the need to declare worldwide income and pay taxes on it in Chile, but less part of the taxes paid in other countries, if there are double tax treaties. There is such an agreement with Russia. The income tax rate in Chile is progressive from 0 to 40%. But residents who moved to Chile can take advantage of the tax holiday for 3 years, and then extend it for another 3 years. Under the tax holiday, Chilean source income will be taxed, but foreign (worldwide income) will not be taxed. After 6 years of residence in Chile, the tax holiday cannot be extended, and the resident switches to paying tax on worldwide income. Since you are not planning to move to Chile, the above can only be of theoretical interest. Tax non-residents of Chile (that is, Chilean citizens living in other countries pay tax only if the income originates in Chile and only on it; they are not subject to worldwide income). If you do not have income in Chile, but live in, for example, Russia, then you do not owe Chile anything.

Call us at +7 (962) 937-2673 in Moscow and +7 (812) 920-36-52 in St. Petersburg, sign up for a consultation, write us a letter

How to obtain Chilean citizenship.

List of required documents

Having fulfilled the above conditions, you can apply for Chilean citizenship. To apply for Chilean citizenship, you need to contact the migration department at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Chile - Extraheria.

In some regions of the country - Santiago, Antofagasta, Atacama, O'Higgins, Coquimbo - you can make an appointment through the website. To register you need to enter:

  • First name, last name;
  • e-mail;
  • Residence permit number.

The appointed time of the visit will need to be presented in the form of a letter to an employee of the Migration Department so that he can solve your problem and save you from standing in line to submit documents. All certificates and papers are submitted in Spanish

  • Statement.
  • Certificate from the police confirming no criminal record.
  • Certificate from the police about crossing the border.
  • Identification.
  • Permanent residence certificate certified by the police.
  • International passport of the Russian Federation.
  • Photo 20x30 mm.
  • An application in the form of a letter for citizenship, written in free form, with a brief statement of the reasons that prompted the applicant to become a citizen of Chile.

Documents, certificates, diplomas must be translated into Spanish, having the translation certified by specialized organizations.

International passport of the Russian Federation.

Reasons for immigration

There are no educational requirements for persons wishing to emigrate from Russia or other countries. It is not necessary to know Spanish, which is required for living in other countries in Latin America.

There are four immigration options:

  1. rentier visa;
  2. marriage or family reunification;
  3. opening a business in Chile or investing in the country’s economy;
  4. visa for pensioners.

It is possible to obtain Chilean citizenship by birth on the territory of the state, while the nationality of the parents is not taken into account.

The exception is temporary foreigners or children of diplomats from other countries. A passport can be obtained by birth if the child is born abroad and one of his parents has Chilean citizenship. There is an option for naturalization, but you must fulfill a number of requirements: live in Chile for at least five years, support yourself and have no criminal record.

The advantages include:

Questions and answers

I have such a question, I have a USSR passport, there is a stamp of Kazakhstan citizenship in Russia, I have been living for 18 years, my mother is a citizen of Russia, my son and daughter also received Russian citizenship in 2016 and in 2021, by a court decision, my son is currently serving in the Russian army, I also filed a lawsuit to establish fact of residence in Russia since 2000, the court granted the claim; the court decision will enter into legal force on April 27, 2018. Can I be denied citizenship because of the stamp of Kazakhstan citizenship in my passport?
Expert:

Obtaining Russian citizenship by citizens of Kazakhstan is possible on the basis of an international agreement. the applicant must meet at least one of the following three requirements: previously be a citizen of the Byelorussian SSR, Kazakh SSR, Kyrgyz SSR or RSFSR and, at the same time, a citizen of the former USSR, and also be a native of Russia;

previously held citizenship of the Byelorussian SSR, Kazakh SSR, Kyrgyz SSR or RSFSR and at the same time citizenship of the former USSR, as well as resided on the territory of Russia until December 21, 1991 (until December 5, 1936, the territories of the republics of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan belonged to the territory of the RSFSR);

have at least one close relative permanently residing in Russia and being a Russian citizen.

At the same time: by “permanently residing in Russia” a close relative in this case means a close relative who is a citizen of Russia and has registration at the place of residence (permanent registration) in the country according to an internal passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation or a birth certificate (in the second case - for Russian citizens under 14 years of age);

“close relatives” in this case mean the following categories of relatives - the applicant’s spouse (the length of marriage does not matter), one of his parents or adoptive parents, a child, including an adopted one, as well as siblings, brothers, grandfathers or grandmother, grandson or granddaughter of the applicant.

my boyfriend is from Cuba, we live in China. How can he obtain Russian citizenship to obtain a visa to China and other countries under Russian laws?

Expert:

The general procedure for obtaining citizenship provides that a foreign

the citizen has lived on the territory of the Russian Federation continuously since the date of receipt of the permit

residence for 5 years. But there is a simplified procedure without compliance

this condition. Foreign citizens can obtain citizenship in

simplified procedure if:

a) have at least one parent who has

citizenship of the Russian Federation and living on the territory of the Russian Federation

Federations;

b) had USSR citizenship, lived and live in

states that were part of the USSR, did not receive citizenship of these states

and remain stateless as a result;

And also if foreign citizens:

a) were born on the territory of the RSFSR and had citizenship of the former USSR;

b) have been married to a citizen of the Russian Federation for at least three years;

c) are disabled and have a capable son or daughter,

who have reached the age of eighteen and are citizens of the Russian Federation

Federations;

d) have a child who is a citizen of the Russian Federation - in

case if the other parent of this child, who is a citizen of the Russian Federation

Federation, died or was recognized by a court decision that entered into legal force

missing, incompetent or limited in capacity,

deprived of parental rights or limited in parental rights;

e) have a son or daughter who has reached the age of eighteen and is

citizens of the Russian Federation and a court decision that has entered into legal force,

recognized as incompetent or limited in legal capacity - if

another parent of the specified citizens of the Russian Federation, who is a citizen

Russian Federation, died or by a court decision that entered into legal force,

declared missing, incompetent or limited in capacity

legal capacity, deprived of parental rights or limited parental rights;

e) received after July 1

2002 vocational education in basic professional

educational programs that have state accreditation, in

educational or scientific organizations of the Russian Federation on its territory

and carry out labor activities in the Russian Federation in the aggregate not

less than three years before the date of application for admission to Russian citizenship

Federations;

g) are individual entrepreneurs and

carry out business activities in the Russian Federation for at least

three years preceding the year of application for admission to

citizenship of the Russian Federation, and during this period their annual revenue from

sales of goods (works, services) as a result of implementation

entrepreneurial activity in accordance with those established by the Government of the Russian Federation

Federation types of economic activity is at least 10 million rubles;

h) are investors whose

share of contribution in the authorized (share) capital of a Russian legal entity,

operating on the territory of the Russian Federation within the established

The Government of the Russian Federation of types of economic activity is at least 10 percent. At the same time the size

authorized (share) capital of such a legal entity and the size of its net

assets must be at least 100 million rubles each or the amount

taxes paid by such a legal entity to the budget system of the Russian

Federation and mandatory insurance payments must be at least 6

million rubles per year for at least three years from

day of investment;

i) carry out at least three years before the date

applying for citizenship of the Russian Federation by labor

activities in the Russian Federation by profession (specialty, position),

included in the list of professions (specialties, positions)

foreign citizens - qualified specialists who have the right to admission to

citizenship of the Russian Federation in a simplified manner.

j) simplified acquisition of citizenship for persons recognized by a special commission as native speakers of the Russian language (this opportunity exists for persons permanently residing in the territory of the Russian Federation or whose relatives in a direct ascending line live or have lived in the territory of the Russian Federation).

Thus, if your

the case falls under at least one of the above grounds, then you have

the right to a simplified acquisition of Russian citizenship, you need to contact the migration office

service at your place of residence.

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