A Chile tourist visa allows you to stay in Chile for a short-term period for purposes such as:
- Tourism
- Sport
- Medical treatment
- Business
- Family/social visit
- Religious
- Any other purpose where you do not intend to set up residence or immigrate to Chile or undertake a paid activity.
However, not everyone has to apply for a Chile visa for short-term travelling purposes. This article will detail the requirements, application process, and other relevant information related to Chile tourist visa.
Who needs a Chile tourist visa?
Whether you need a Chile visa or not depends on your nationality. Several foreign nationals, such as citizens of EU member states or the US, can travel to Chile without a visa, granted that their stay does not exceed 90 days. Others need to obtain a Chile visa prior to travelling.
If you are a visa-exempt national, you can travel to Chile without a visa. When you arrive, the immigration officers will issue you with a Tourist Card (Tarjeta de Turismo) which states the days you are allowed to stay.
The Tarjeta de Turismo is on A5 paper format and you must not lose it because you have to present it to the immigration officers when you depart the country.
What are the Requirements for a Chile Tourist Visa?
When you submit a Chile visa application, you must have several supporting documents, such as:
- Scanned copies of relevant pages on your passport (personal information, issue/expiry date, any previous visas etc.) Your passport has to be valid for at least another six months.
- Copy of your flight itinerary.
- Proof of accommodation, such as hotel booking, for the entire duration of your stay.
- Proof of sufficient funds: Bank statements from the past three months.
- Passport-size picture of yourself which follows the following specifications:
- Dimensions: 4.5 x 4.5 cm (2 inches x 2 inches)
- Colored
- Professionally taken in a studio
- Taken in front of a plain white or off-white background
- You must be wearing everyday clothes
- You cannot wear glasses or any hats/headgear which cover your hair/hairline or face.
- You must face the camera and have a neutral facial expression
- Must be in JPEG format
- Letter of invitation, if applicable, containing the full name and address of inviting person/institution.
- A letter explaining the reasons you are travelling.
Keep in mind:
All documents have to be in PDF format, expect the picture which must be JPEG.
You must name each document accordingly (eg. YourLastNameBankStatements.pdf)
This is not a complete list of requirements. The Chilean authorities can ask for additional documents during the application process.
Make sure to include all the documents that are required on the online application. If any are missing, your visa application may be denied.
How to Apply for a Chile Tourist Visa?
If you are a Chile visa-required national, you must apply for a Chile tourist visa online before obtaining it from a Chilean consulate.
Chile tourist visa online application
You must apply through this website. The application process goes as follows:
- Select the “Visa Application” option on the website’s main page. You will be redirected to the Chile visa online application form.
- Fill in the information required regarding your nationality, age, passport type, and details of your trip. You will receive a Verification Code which you can use to pause your application and go back to it later.
- Answer the questions in all the subsequent sections. Select “Save and continue” after you complete one section to move forward to the following one.
- Finally, in the last section, you must upload electronic copies of all the required documents.
- Submit the application and wait to hear from the Chilean consulate handling your visa application.
All Chile visa applications have to be submitted online, except for applications for diplomatic or official visas, which must be submitted in person.
Obtaining the visa from a Chile consulate
If your visa is approved, you must obtain it from the Chile consulate that’s in charge of handling your application. You will be informed of the location where you can obtain your visa as you are applying online.
The relevant Chilean consulate will contact you to set up an appointment once your visa is processed and approved.
On the date of your appointment, you must have your passport with you as well as the originals of all the required documents. The visa officials will review your documents and affix the visa on your passport. You have 90 days to travel to Chile.
Sometimes, there’s not a Chilean consulate in your country, in which case you may have to travel to another country to obtain your Chile visa.
Additionally, when you appear at the Chilean consulate, you have to pay the Chile visa fee.
How Long Does it Take to Process a Chile Tourist Visa?
The Chile tourist visa application is processed in about 20 days. After that, you should take into account the date when your appointment at the Chilean consulate will be set for.
This is why you must apply for a visa at least 30 days before you intend to travel to Chile.
How Much is the Chile Tourist Visa Fee?
There is no standard set of fees for a Chile tourist visa. The visa fee you have to pay depends on your nationality, and can range from $50 to $150.
After you complete the Chile visa online application, the exact amount that you have to pay will be shown on the screen.
However, as opposed to other countries, there is no non-refundable visa processing fee when it comes to Chile. You only have to pay the Chile visa fee is your visa application is approved. You must pay it at the Chilean consulate when you submit your passport and original documents.
What is the Duration of a Chile Tourist Visa?
A Chile tourist visa can be issued for a maximum of 90 days. However, it can be for less. The duration that your Chile visa is issued for is up to the Chile authorities to decide.
Can you Extend a Chile Tourist Visa?
Yes you can. You can extend your Chile tourist visa by applying for a tourism extension at the Departamento de Extranjería del Ministerio del Interior (Department of Immigration of the Ministry of Interior Affairs) in your region.
To apply, you must have photocopies of your passport’s relevant pages (personal information, issue/expiry date, the pages holding your Chile visa stamp), your original passport, and a photocopy of your Tourism Card.
You must apply for an extension before your current visa expires but no earlier than 30 days.
If your application is approved, your Chile tourist visa will be extended for an additional 90 days. The cost of the Chile visa extension procedure is $100.
Can I Work With a Chile Tourist Visa?
The Chile tourist visa does not allow you to work or take up any sort of paid activity.
However, in certain cases, the Chile Ministry of Interior may issue authorization to work to certain foreign nationals who need to work during their stay in Chile, regardless of whether they are paid in Chile or abroad.
For this type of work authorization, you would have to pay 150% of the fee that the Chile work visa (Visa Subject to Contract) would be for your nationality.
The granting of work authorization with a Chile tourist visa is decided on a case-to-case basis.