Moving to Chile 2026: Residence, Costs and First Steps
The step that shapes a move to Chile is taken before you leave home: choosing the Temporary Residence subcategory you apply under. Chile's National Migration Service (SERMIG) requires that application to be made online from abroad, and a visitor's 90 days cannot normally be converted into residence once you are in the country. This guide covers the visitor rules, the residence routes, what Americans in particular need to know, the first steps after arrival and the path to permanent residence, as published by the Chilean authorities and read on 14 October 2026.
Quick answer
Visitors receive a Transitory Stay of up to 90 days, which can be extended once by up to 90 days for USD 100. US citizens need no visa to enter as visitors. To live in Chile you need Temporary Residence, valid for up to 2 years and applied for from abroad. After it is granted you have 120 working days to download the electronic stamp, 90 days to enter Chile and 30 days to request your Chilean identity card. Definitive Residence generally needs 24 months as a temporary resident.
The three permits
| Permit | Who it is for | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Transitory Stay (Permanencia Transitoria) | People entering for tourism, business or similar reasons, with no intention of residing | Up to 90 days, extendable once by up to 90 days |
| Temporary Residence (Residencia Temporal) | Foreigners who intend to reside in Chile for a limited period | Up to 2 years, except for seasonal workers |
| Definitive Residence (Residencia Definitiva) | Holders of Temporary Residence, to reside indefinitely and carry out any lawful activity | Indefinite |
Moving to Chile as an American
- Entering: the foreign ministry's consular site shows that citizens of the United States of America do not require a visa for a Transitory Stay, with a maximum stay of 90 days.
- On arrival the validity of your stay is recorded on the Tarjeta Única Migratoria that the investigations police (PDI) hands you at the border. You must be able to show sufficient financial means for your stay.
- No work: holders of a Transitory Stay cannot carry out remunerated activities.
- No switching: SERMIG states that people with a transitory permit cannot apply for residence permits during their stay, and that Temporary Residence must be applied for from abroad, except in the cases the law provides.
- Fees: Temporary Residence fees depend on nationality. The table SERMIG links shows US$ 190 for the contract-based work residence and US$ 205 in the temporary visa column for US citizens.
The order that follows from these rules is: choose the subcategory, apply online from abroad, wait for the electronic stamp, and then travel.
Which residence route fits you
SERMIG lists these subcategories of Temporary Residence, among others:
| Subcategory | Main condition |
|---|---|
| Lawful remunerated activities | An employment contract with an employer in Chile, a formal job offer, or a contract for services lasting more than 90 days |
| Family reunification | Set out on SERMIG's subcategory page |
| Students | Study at a state-recognised establishment |
| Retired persons | A retirement pension, obtained under the rules of your country of residence, that covers at least your basic needs during your stay |
| Rentiers | Constant income from real estate or financial assets, received regularly and covering at least your basic needs |
| Investors and related personnel | Set out on SERMIG's subcategory page |
| International reciprocity (Mercosur) | Citizenship of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay or Uruguay |
- Retirees submit a retirement certificate stating the amount and duration, and proof of the latest pension payment, both legalised or apostilled.
- The benchmark for “basic needs” is set by indicators estimated by the Ministry of Social Development and Family. The SERMIG page gives no amount.
- Work route: the detail is in our Chile work visa guide.
What every application needs
- Passport: from abroad, a valid passport is required for all nationalities. It must be valid for at least one year from the application date.
- Criminal record certificate from your country of origin or the country where you have resided during the last five years, for applicants aged 18 or older. It must be no more than 60 days old.
- Recent photograph in colour with a white background.
- Translations: documents in a language other than Spanish and English need an authorised translation.
- Apostille: documents issued abroad must be apostilled or duly legalised.
- Freshness: private documents within 30 days of issue, public documents within 60 days.
From approval to arrival: the deadlines
- Pay the fee. An application from abroad is not sent to SERMIG until the payment is made.
- Answer any request. If SERMIG signals a refusal, you have 10 working days to respond with documents.
- Download the electronic stamp (Estampado Electrónico) within 120 working days of the date the residence was granted.
- Enter Chile within 90 consecutive days of downloading it. The permit's validity is counted from your entry.
- Request your identity card. Within 30 consecutive days of activating the stamp, ask for an appointment at the Civil Registry (Registro Civil) for your Chilean identity card. Not doing so is a migration infraction that can be fined.
SERMIG publishes no processing time for the decision itself on the pages we read.
Staying on: extension and permanent residence
- Extension: an extension of Temporary Residence is applied for in Chile, on the same portal, and you must show with current documents that you still meet the conditions under which the permit was granted.
- Definitive Residence: temporary residents whose applications were made after 14 May 2022 must have lived in Chile in that status for at least 24 months.
- Shorter: the minimum can be reduced to 12 months in view of circumstances such as family ties with Chileans or permanent residents, available income or pensions, or investments in Chile.
- Longer if you travel: absences change the requirement, as the table below shows.
- Fee: $142.726 Chilean pesos for foreigners in general. A foreigner with a Chilean spouse and anyone under 18 is exempt.
- Keeping it: Definitive Residence is tacitly revoked after more than two continuous years outside Chile, unless you request an extension at a Chilean consulate.
| Months of absence from Chile | Minimum residence required |
|---|---|
| Up to 2 months | 24 months |
| More than 2 and up to 6 months | 30 months |
| More than 6 and up to 12 months | 36 months |
| More than 12 months | 48 months |
Prices
Chile's National Statistics Institute (INE) reports a monthly change of 0,4% in the Consumer Price Index for September 2026. For a move budget, see our cost of moving to Chile.
Chile or Argentina?
A fair comparison is rule against rule. On the Chilean side the fixed points are these: residence is applied for from abroad, the fee is set by nationality, and permanent residence generally follows after 24 months as a temporary resident. Chile also grants Temporary Residence on the principle of international reciprocity to citizens of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. We set out the Argentine rules in our moving to Argentina guide, so that you can put the two side by side.
Frequently asked questions
Can a US citizen move to Chile?
Yes, with Temporary Residence applied for from abroad under one of SERMIG's subcategories, such as remunerated activities, family reunification, study or retirement. US citizens need no visa to enter as visitors for up to 90 days, but a visitor cannot work or normally switch to residence inside Chile.
How long can I stay in Chile as a tourist?
Up to 90 days on a Transitory Stay, which can be extended once by up to 90 days. The extension costs USD 100 regardless of nationality.
Can I apply for residence after arriving in Chile as a tourist?
Generally no. SERMIG states that applications for Temporary Residence must be made from abroad. The exceptions it lists include family ties with Chileans or permanent residents and humanitarian reasons.
How long is Temporary Residence in Chile valid?
Up to 2 years, except for the seasonal worker subcategory. It can be extended from inside Chile if you still meet the conditions.
Can I retire to Chile?
There is a Temporary Residence subcategory for retired persons and rentiers. You need a pension or constant income that covers at least your basic needs during your stay, and you apply from abroad.
When can I get permanent residence in Chile?
Generally after at least 24 months as a temporary resident, for applications made after 14 May 2022. The period can be reduced to 12 months in some circumstances and rises with long absences.
What must I do right after arriving in Chile with a residence permit?
Within 30 consecutive days of activating your electronic stamp, request an appointment at the Civil Registry for your Chilean identity card.
Official sources
- Servicio Nacional de Migraciones — Residencia Temporal permit (English)
- Servicio Nacional de Migraciones — Permanencia Transitoria (Spanish)
- Servicio Nacional de Migraciones — Stages of an application made abroad (Spanish)
- Servicio Nacional de Migraciones — Retired persons and rentiers (Spanish)
- Servicio Nacional de Migraciones — Extension of Temporary Residence (Spanish)
- Servicio Nacional de Migraciones — Residencia Definitiva (Spanish)
- Servicio Nacional de Migraciones — Migration fees (Spanish)
- Consulado.gob.cl (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) — Visas to enter Chile (Spanish)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas — Consumer Price Index (Spanish)
All fees, deadlines and rules verified against the official sources above on 14 October 2026. Translations from Spanish are ours. Information, not legal advice.