Chile is one of the most developed and economically stable countries in Latin America. At the same time, immigration laws here are quite mild compared to the United States and European countries. Therefore, there will always be quite a lot of foreigners who want to go to Chile and become holders of residence permits and permanent residence permits. What is required to immigrate to Chile?
Advantages of having a Chilean residence permit
The advantages of having a Chilean residence permit are:
- the possibility of obtaining permanent residence and Chilean citizenship in the future;
- the right to education in local educational institutions;
- possibility of purchasing real estate;
- legal employment;
- free medical care;
- no requirements for the period of actual stay in Chile;
- the ability to apply to local banks for loans for various purposes;
- the possibility of moving the entire family of the residence permit holder to Chile.
Video: benefits of living in Chile
Obtaining permanent residence in Chile
After obtaining a residence permit, it is necessary to address issues of confirming the compliance of the position held with the declared position when submitting documents for a residence permit. Also, it is necessary to confirm the absence of a criminal record in the country, a certificate of residence for 185 days in Chile (not necessarily continuous residence).
The period for reviewing documents for permanent residence is from 7 to 90 days, the document is valid for 20 years, and the certificate is unlimited. The absence of a resident from the country for more than 12 months is not allowed.
Residence permit categories
Residence permits are divided into two categories - temporary and permanent. Temporary ones are issued for a period of 1–2 years with the possibility of subsequent extension. Permanent ones do not need to be renewed; they give their owners the rights of permanent residents.
A temporary residence permit or Residencia temporaria is a type of document issued to foreigners that allows them to reside in Chile. Based on the grounds for issuance, there are the following categories:
- workers (for carrying out labor activities);
- student (for training);
- short-term (for other categories of immigrants).
A residence permit allows you to live and work in Chile
Process of obtaining a residence permit
Issues related to citizenship and immigration are dealt with by the Department of Foreigners and Migration of Chile - Extranjería. All applications for residence permits are considered here. You can issue a document only during your stay in Chile; this is not possible at the country’s diplomatic missions abroad.
Foreigners living within the capital region send documents for review by mail (address: Clasificador No. 8, Correo Central, Santiago). The application is registered in the Extranjeria database within a 45-day period, after which the applicant is notified accordingly. Residents of other regions of Chile submit documents at one of the Extrakhrenia branches (addresses of branches - follow the link), the application appears in the database on the day of its submission. All documentation is sent to Santiago.
The status of application processing is tracked on the official website of the Department using the code that is issued when receiving documents. While waiting for a decision to issue a residence permit, the applicant can enter, leave and move around the country. Typically, the waiting period is 4–6 months. After the case is reviewed, applicants are sent a notification letter with further instructions.
Price
For obtaining a residence permit, citizens of the Russian Federation are charged a fee of 90 US dollars (USD). For native Chilean citizens and born children of foreigners who were passing through Chile, it is 15 USD. Payment is made in Chilean pesos according to the USD exchange rate on the last day of the previous month.
The fee must be paid only after the application is approved. A receipt is generated in your personal account on the Extrancheria website and instructions for paying it are given.
Applications for a residence permit are considered by the Department of Foreigners and Migration of Chile - Extranjeria
Persons who are entitled to obtain a residence permit
The right to obtain a work residence permit is available to persons planning to carry out work activities, and students of Chilean schools and universities have the right to obtain a student residence permit.
Applicants for short-term residence permits are:
- pregnant women;
- businessmen;
- highly qualified specialists with specialized education;
- investors;
- foreigners married to Chileans;
- persons receiving regular passive income;
- those in need of treatment;
- persons who previously held a residence permit;
- pensioners;
- born children of foreigners passing through Chile;
- relatives of Chilean citizens;
- relatives of foreigners with a Chilean residence permit;
- members of religious organizations.
General conditions for obtaining a residence permit and a list of basic documents
To apply in the capital region, you will need the following documents:
- one copy of the completed application;
- a copy of the pages of the international passport with a photograph, personal data, entry stamp;
- a copy of the migration card (issued to foreigners upon entry into the country);
- one color photograph 3 x 2 cm, on the reverse side of which the full name and passport number of the applicant are indicated.
The application is sent by mail. The form can be downloaded from the following links:
- for a worker residence permit,
- for a student residence permit,
- for a short-term residence permit.
When registering in other regions, you will need copies of your international passport, migration card and photograph in duplicate. There is no need to fill out an application, since when submitting documents in person, it is filled out by an Extranjeria employee.
In the provinces of Chile, applications for registration and renewal of residence permits are submitted at the offices of the Extranjeria
Details
The procedure for obtaining a residence permit for Russians
Russian citizens do not need a visa to visit Chile. The visa-free regime allows you to stay in Chile for no more than 3 months. For a longer stay, it is necessary to register it in accordance with the chosen immigration program, and later - a residence permit.
Required Documentation
The list of documents that need to be prepared to obtain temporary resident status in Chile depends on the resettlement program.
In addition, the authorities of the Republic may ask to provide an employment contract with the employer, birth certificates of children and marriage, confirmation of kinship with Chilean citizens, and the rest.
The basic package of documentation for obtaining a residence permit includes:
- international passport;
— copies of pages and the original of the civil passport;
— 4 photos in color, the size of a passport;
- health insurance policy - at least ten thousand dollars;
— documentation confirming the ownership or rental of a home in Chile;
— a certificate from a banking institution about the movement of funds across accounts for the last 3 months;
— reference confirmation of no criminal record in your home country;
- if necessary, a document confirming compliance with legal stay in Chile;
- receipts for payment of state duty.
All documentation for obtaining a residence permit is submitted translated into Spanish and certified by a notary. This must only be done in an accredited agency or with a translator with a valid license. There are no age restrictions for accepting nationals in Chile.
Where to apply for a residence permit
In Chile, a residence permit is issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The appeal can be left at the nearest police station where the migration department operates. The period for consideration and decision-making is no more than thirty days in the absence of various obstacles, such as a lack of mandatory documentation or various data.
Important! Submission of documents must be carried out in advance - before the end of the period of validity of the visa or officially permitted visa-free stay in the state.
Obtaining permanent resident status in Chile
The migration method affects the ability to quickly obtain permanent residence - after one, two or three years of living in the country under a residence permit. Obtaining a visa is a simple procedure that requires passing a test of knowledge of Spanish and the main rules and legal framework of society in Chile. Spanish is the official language of Chile.
The list is identical to that submitted when requesting a residence permit, but with some additions:
— confirmation from the Chilean police that there are no problems with the laws of the state;
— a certificate confirming that there is no debt to pay the tax base to the budget of the Republic;
— the original of the leased housing agreement or the title to it;
- certificates of family composition.
Features for different categories of immigrants
You can learn more about the requirements for document packages using the following links:
- https://www.extranjeria.gob.cl/tipos-de-residencia-temporaria/#capitulo5,
- https://www.extranjeria.gob.cl/tipos-de-residencia-de-estudiante/#capitulo4,
- https://www.extranjeria.gob.cl/tipos-de-residencia-de-estudiante/#capitulo1.
Additional documents may also be requested from applicants.
Labor emigration to Chile
A work residence permit is issued to carry out work activities in a specific organization. If the contract with the employer is terminated, this entails the cancellation of the residence permit. The document holder has 1 more calendar month to find a new job and apply for a new residence permit. The only additional documents required are an employment contract.
For highly qualified specialists you will need:
- a copy of the diploma of education, legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Chile;
- letter from an organization regarding a job offer.
Education
A student residence permit is required for studying in Chile and does not give the right to employment. But if the student intends to work, it is necessary to separately request a work permit. Additional documents you must submit:
- certificate from the educational institution confirming enrollment;
- documents confirming economic solvency or a source of income of at least 350 US dollars or a certificate of scholarship.
Holders of student residence permits can work only if they obtain a work permit
Moving to family
For relatives and spouses of Chilean citizens, you will additionally need a birth certificate of a Chilean relative or a marriage registration certificate.
If the relative is not Chilean but has a valid permanent residence permit, you will need:
- documents confirming the fact of relationship;
- copy of permanent residence permit;
- a copy of the ID card;
- certificate from the International Police about the validity of the residence permit.
When obtaining a residence permit for a child whose parents are foreigners, you must provide a birth certificate. When applying for a minor, documents are filled out and signed by their legal representatives - parents or guardians.
For pregnant women, an additional copy and original of the registration certificate from the antenatal clinic are required.
Participants of religious organizations must attach documents indicating their affiliation with a particular denomination legalized in Chile.
To obtain a residence permit for a pensioner, the applicant will need a certificate of pension payments for the last 3 months of their Russian consulate, where the income is confirmed in national currency or US dollars, and the rentier - documents confirming the periodic receipt of funds.
Pensioners from the Russian Federation can obtain a short-term residence permit
How to move to Chile for businessmen and investors
Investors will require additional documents:
- a detailed description of the enterprise organization project;
- documentation on the availability of capital investments (customs and bank documents).
For business owners of operating enterprises:
- documentation of the availability of capital investments;
- constituent documentation of the legal entity;
- a certificate from the Internal Tax Service on the economic activities of the enterprise;
- confirmation of payment for municipal patents;
- documentation for real estate used by the organization (purchase agreement, lease agreement);
- purchase and sale invoices;
- the latest general balance sheet signed by the chief accountant;
- certificates of VAT payment for 3 months;
- a list of persons working at the enterprise, with certificates of accruals to the Pension Fund;
- confirmation from authorities to carry out economic activities.
Other grounds for short-term residence permits
Short-term residence permits do not provide for employment, so if necessary, its holder issues a work permit. Documents confirming the economic viability of the applicant must always be provided for this type of residence permit.
Additionally for persons who have lost their temporary resident status:
- a copy of the previous Chilean temporary visa,
- certificate of travel abroad from the date of expiration of the visa until the current moment from the International Police.
For persons planning to undergo treatment:
- a copy and original of a certificate from a medical institution about the nature of the treatment and its duration.
Visa Bulletin
Business in Chile is a topic that seriously interests our modern compatriots. Naturally, there are very serious reasons for such interest.
Business immigration from our compatriots is increasing every year because, not least of all, this country is considered the most economically developed in South America. According to many positive ratings, it occupies a leading position - low level of corruption, ease of doing business, and so on. Compared to Argentina, which is Chile's neighbor and which suffers from permanent crisis situations, in this country, as a rule, everything turns out to be in order. Here: • there are enough jobs, • decent salaries are paid. There is no everyday corruption, no matter how impossible this may be considered - especially in comparison with Russian commerce. Any bribe here can be punishable by a long prison term.
Population and natural wealth
Special mention should be made of the friendliness of the local population. There is no xenophobia; the Chilean mentality is characterized by a complete acceptance of people from other countries at all levels of communication. Perhaps entrepreneurs will be interested in such a national trait of the Chileans as selflessness. Of course, it should be noted that this country is filled with sheer beauty and wealth - what is there! Santiago, being the capital of the country, is surrounded by mountains. In addition, the city is almost filled with green parks. If we talk about possible disadvantages, the most obvious of them is the distance from European territories. This directly affects the price of air travel. For example, a ticket from St. Petersburg costs about 1.5 thousand dollars.
Features and procedure for extending a residence permit
If the residence permit expires, the document can be extended. You can view the renewal rules by following this link. Worker residence permits can be extended for up to 2 years an unlimited number of times during the validity period of the contract with the employer, and student residence permits can be extended for a period of no more than a year during the period of study. Temporary ones are extended only once for a year.
The list of required documents is identical to that provided when submitting the application for the first time. But instead of a migration card, you must provide a copy of your identity card, as well as a certificate of no criminal record from the Civil Registry Service (for persons over 18 years of age).
The period for consideration of the case takes the same amount of time as the application for the initial issuance of a residence permit. There is no strict time frame for submitting an application, but it must be done before its expiration date. If the documents have already been submitted, then the applicant retains the rights that he was entitled to under the previous residence permit.
Reviews from Russians about life in Chile
Spanish is not required everywhere (there are companies that speak English, German, French), but for life it will be needed at the everyday level at least... I work with tourists, I have found myself in this completely and completely and really love my job.
annalarus
https://forum.awd.ru/viewtopic.php?f=1357&t=239205
Chile has a problem with thieves and crime, just like the rest of the world. I used to live in the center of Santiago and I was also warned that I should only wear my backpack on the front, not to talk on the phone on the street, and so on. But after six months, nothing bad has happened, all you need is vigilance and caution. In Moscow, if you leave a bicycle on the street, won’t it be stolen? In general, you need basic attentiveness, without which it is impossible to live in any city.
rusoenchile
https://forum.awd.ru/viewtopic.php?f=1357&t=239205&start=40
