Moving to Chile from the USA

Chile moved its entire immigration process online through the Servicio Nacional de Migraciones. Files are slow but predictable.

• Choose your subcategory: work contract, professional/technical qualification, investor, or family

  Must

  Chile ended the old 'temporary residency for other purposes' catch-all — there is no general digital nomad or passive-income visa, so most Americans qualify on a degree/profession or an employment contract.

• Apply from outside Chile through the SERMIG online platform

  Must

  Since 2021 you generally cannot switch from tourist status to residency in-country.

• Apostille your documents — Chile joined the Hague Convention in 2016

  Must

  No consular legalisation needed; a US State Department apostille is sufficient.

• Plan for permanent residency after 2 years of temporary residency

• Budget 6–12 months for the file to resolve

  SERMIG backlogs are the single biggest complaint from applicants.

• Apostilled FBI background check plus a certificado de antecedentes for any country you lived in 12+ months

  Must

• Apostilled degree and, for regulated professions, a title recognised by the Universidad de Chile

  Must

• Apostilled birth and marriage certificates for dependants

  Must

• Official Spanish translations for every apostilled document

• Pet paperwork: USDA-endorsed certificate plus SAG import authorisation

  Chile is strict on agricultural biosecurity — declare all animal and plant products on arrival.

• Get a RUT (tax/ID number) at the Registro Civil once your visa is stamped

  Must

  The RUT is your identity in Chile — banks, contracts, phone plans, even supermarket loyalty cards use it.

• Create a ClaveÚnica

  Must

  The government's single digital identity; you need it for tax, health, and almost every public service.

• Open a CuentaRUT at BancoEstado

  Must

  Available to anyone with a RUT, with no minimum income — the standard first account for newcomers.

• Understand the 3-year foreign income exemption

  New residents pay Chilean tax only on Chilean-source income for their first three years, extendable by request. This is a genuine advantage worth structuring around.

• Note the US–Chile tax treaty entered into force in 2024

  It reduces withholding and clarifies double-taxation relief — a meaningful improvement over the rest of the region.

• Rent short-term in Providencia, Ñuñoa, or Las Condes before committing

• Search Portalinmobiliario, Yapo, and TocToc

• Expect one month's deposit plus proof of income at 3x rent

  Must

  Foreigners without a Chilean credit history are often asked for an aval (guarantor) or several months upfront.

• Check heating and insulation, especially in the south

  Santiago winters are cold indoors; Valdivia and Puerto Varas are colder and damp. Ask what the calefacción runs on.

• Expect CLP 600,000–1,000,000/mo (USD 650–1,100) for a 2BR in Providencia

• Choose between FONASA (public) and an isapre (private)

  Must

  Both take roughly 7% of income; FONASA accepts everyone, isapres price on age and health and can decline you.

• Enrol in FONASA as soon as you have a RUT

  Foreign residents can affiliate; Tramo A–D determines your copays.

• Keep international coverage until your affiliation is active

  Must

• Note the leading private hospitals: Clínica Alemana, Clínica Las Condes, Clínica Santa María

• Budget for dental separately — largely private and not covered by either system

• Stamp your visa at the PDI (Policía de Investigaciones) within 30 days of arrival

  Must

• Register at the Registro Civil for your RUT and cédula de identidad

  Must

• Get a SIM from Entel, Movistar, or WOM (RUT needed for postpaid)

• Buy a Bip! card for the Santiago metro and buses

• Exchange your US licence at the municipal Dirección de Tránsito

  Requires a medical exam and, in many comunas, a written test. Do it within your first year.

• Register with the US Embassy in Santiago (STEP) and download the SENAPRED earthquake alerts app