Moving to Chile from the US: which visa or residence route fits

Chile runs its immigration system through the Servicio Nacional de Migraciones (SERMIG), under Law 21.325 on Migration and Foreigners. For a US citizen, there are three layers to understand: the visitor stay you get on arrival, temporary residence (Residencia Temporal) with its many subcategories, and definitive residence (Residencia Definitiva), which is Chile's version of permanent residence. This guide walks through each one using SERMIG's own pages, and flags the single rule that trips up most people: in most cases you must apply for temporary residence from outside Chile.

Arriving as a visitor: Permanencia Transitoria

SERMIG calls the visitor status Permanencia Transitoria. It covers people who enter for tourism, business or similar reasons without the intention of settling. According to SERMIG, it allows a stay of up to 90 days, which can be extended once for up to 90 more days. The stay cannot run past the validity of your passport, and visitors must be able to show they have enough money to support themselves during the stay.

SERMIG states that no prior authorization or visa is required to enter and stay under Permanencia Transitoria, with the exception of nationals of certain countries listed by the Chilean consular service. The extension is handled by SERMIG and, per its page, costs USD 100 (paid in the equivalent in Chilean pesos), with minors exempt. Your authorized stay is recorded on the Tarjeta Única Migratoria (TUM) that the Policía de Investigaciones (PDI) issues at entry.

Two limits matter for anyone planning a move:

• Visitors cannot do paid work. SERMIG allows exceptional work authorizations only for specific, sporadic activities such as performers, athletes, lecturers and expert technical advisers.
• Visitors generally cannot apply for residence from inside Chile. SERMIG's FAQ says temporary residence applications must be made from abroad, except in cases set by law.

The key rule: apply from abroad

SERMIG lists the exceptions that allow a person already in Chile on a visitor stay to apply for residence:

• People with family ties to Chilean citizens or to definitive residents.
• People applying as dependents of a temporary resident.
• People covered by a humanitarian reason.
• Stays consistent with the objectives of the National Migration Policy.
• Other cases approved by the Undersecretary of the Interior by resolution.

If none of these apply to you, plan to file your temporary residence application before you travel. The application is not made at a consulate counter. SERMIG says temporary residence applications go through its online Portal de Trámites Digitales. When the application is made from abroad, the fees are paid through the Tesorería General de la República (TGR) payment portal before the application is submitted.

Once SERMIG grants the residence, you receive an email notification and download an electronic stamp (Estampado Electrónico). SERMIG states that a holder granted residence from abroad has 90 calendar days after downloading the stamp to enter Chile, and the residence period starts on the date of entry.

Temporary residence: the subcategories

SERMIG defines Residencia Temporal as the permit for foreigners who intend to settle in Chile for a limited time, valid for up to 2 years (seasonal workers are the exception). SERMIG lists these subcategories:

1. Family reunification.
2. People carrying out lawful paid activities.
3. Students at recognized institutions.
4. Seasonal workers.
5. People in the custody of the Gendarmería.
6. People in Chile by court order.
7. Humanitarian reasons.
8. People covered by international agreements.
9. Religious workers of recognized faiths.
10. People in medical treatment.
11. Retirees or people living on income (jubilados o rentistas).
12. Former holders of definitive residence.
13. Investors and related staff.
14. Multiple-entry business management.
15. International reciprocity (Mercosur).

For most Americans, the realistic routes are the paid-activity subcategory (you have a job or lawful paid activity in Chile), the retiree or rentista subcategory (you have a pension or steady passive income), family reunification (you have a Chilean spouse, civil partner, parent or child, or a family member with residence), study, and the investor subcategory. The Mercosur reciprocity route is for nationals of Mercosur states and associated countries, so a US passport does not qualify for it.

### Retirees and rentistas

This is the subcategory many US retirees look at. On the definitive residence page, SERMIG lists the evidence it expects from this profile later on: for a retiree, proof of pension payments received for retirement, disability or other causes, with foreign documents legalized or apostilled; for a rentista, the Chilean tax file (carpeta tributaria) from the Servicio de Impuestos Internos (SII) and, where relevant, deeds, title certificates and leases for rented property. Check the subcategory page on SERMIG before you file, since the specific documents for each subcategory are listed there and not on the general page.

### Paid work

The lawful paid activities subcategory covers people working in Chile. While an application for residence is in process, SERMIG grants a certificate of residence in process (certificado de residencia en trámite). SERMIG says this certificate allows the holder to carry out paid activities and to travel in and out of the country while the application is pending.

### Family reunification

Family ties to a Chilean or a definitive resident are one of the few grounds that allow an application from inside Chile. This route also shortens the wait for definitive residence later (see below).

General documents for temporary residence

SERMIG lists the general documents every temporary residence applicant uploads, on top of the subcategory-specific ones:

• A scan of the passport identification page. For applications made from abroad, a valid passport is required, and it must be valid for at least one year from the application date.
• A criminal record certificate from your country of origin or the country where you lived in the last five years, for applicants over 18. It must have been issued no more than 60 days before.
• A recent color photo on a white background, uploaded as JPG or PNG.

SERMIG requires that every document issued abroad be apostilled or legalized, that documents in a language other than Spanish or English come with an official translation, and that all documents be uploaded as PDF. Documents from private entities must be attached within 30 days of issue, and those from public bodies within 60 days unless the document states a different validity. SERMIG also warns that it may ask for documents to be current at the time it reviews the file, so keep them updated.

Renewals and changes

Temporary residence subcategories can be extended for successive two-year periods, according to SERMIG. Extension requests must be filed no more than 90 and no less than 10 days before the current permit expires. If you change subcategory, convert from dependent to principal holder or file an extension, the certificate of residence in process keeps your status regular and allows travel, even if the old permit expires during processing.

Definitive residence

Residencia Definitiva lets a foreigner live in Chile indefinitely and carry out any lawful activity. It is only open to people who already hold temporary residence in a subcategory that allows it, and SERMIG says you must apply no more than 90 days before your current permit expires. Applications go through the same online portal, using ClaveÚnica or a portal account.

### How long you need to wait

For temporary residence applications filed after May 14, 2022, SERMIG requires at least 24 months as a temporary resident. Absences extend that period:

• Up to 2 months away: 24 months required.
• More than 2 and up to 6 months away: 30 months.
• More than 6 and up to 12 months away: 36 months.
• More than 12 months away: 48 months.

Under article 79 of Law 21.325, SERMIG can reduce the minimum to 12 months based on circumstances including family ties to Chileans or definitive residents, availability of income or pensions, investments or businesses with real operations in Chile, and contributions in social, cultural, artistic, scientific or sporting fields. It can also require longer than 24 months for reasons such as insufficient means of support, lack of work stability, long absences, or migration, labor, tax or other legal violations.

### Documents and fees

The general documents are an apostilled criminal record certificate, your passport page, your Chilean identity card for foreigners (for adults), the electronic stamp of your temporary residence, and a photo. You then add documents for your profile: employed, self-employed, rentista, retiree, business owner or dependent. SERMIG states the fee is set according to the ingreso mínimo no remuneracional and published on its page of migration fees; spouses of Chileans and minors are exempt.

After the grant, SERMIG says you must book an appointment at the Registro Civil within 30 days of the notification to get your identity card.

### Losing definitive residence

Definitive residence is tacitly revoked after more than two continuous years outside Chile, unless you apply to the relevant Chilean consulate for an extension within the last 60 days before the two years run out. That extension is granted only once and lasts two years.

Practical setup after you arrive

Two Chilean identifiers come up in almost every later step:

• Cédula de identidad and RUN. The SII states that it does not issue a RUT for work purposes to people without residence. Workers obtain a foreigner identity card at the Registro Civil with their authorized permit, and the SII registers them under the same number.
• ClaveÚnica. ChileAtiende describes ClaveÚnica as the digital identity for online government services. You need to be 14 or older with a valid identity card, and you request it by videoconference with the Registro Civil or at an office. A foreigner with an expired card and a pending migration process with SERMIG can also request it. You then use it to log in to the SERMIG portal and track your applications.

Quick decision guide

• Staying under 90 days, or 180 with the extension, and not working: Permanencia Transitoria, no visa needed for US citizens.
• Moving for a job: the paid activities temporary residence, applied for online from outside Chile.
• Retiring on a pension or living on passive income: the retiree or rentista temporary residence, applied for from outside Chile.
• Married to a Chilean or a definitive resident: family reunification, which can be filed from inside Chile.
• Already a temporary resident for about two years: definitive residence, filed within 90 days of your permit's expiry.

Common questions

Do US citizens need a visa to visit Chile? SERMIG states that no prior authorization or visa is needed to enter under Permanencia Transitoria, except for nationals of certain listed countries. The stay is up to 90 days, extendable once for up to 90 more days.

Can I enter Chile as a tourist and then apply for residence? Generally no. SERMIG says temporary residence must be requested from abroad, except for people with family ties to Chileans or definitive residents, dependents of temporary residents, humanitarian cases and a few other exceptions.

How long is Chilean temporary residence valid? Up to 2 years, extendable for successive two-year periods. Extensions must be filed between 90 and 10 days before the permit expires.

When can I apply for definitive residence in Chile? After at least 24 months as a temporary resident for applications filed after May 14, 2022, longer if you spent more than 2 months abroad. SERMIG can reduce this to 12 months in cases such as family ties, pensions or investments.

Can I work while my residence application is pending? Yes. SERMIG issues a certificate of residence in process that allows the holder to carry out paid activities and to travel in and out of Chile while the application is pending.