Countries › Chile › Guide › 8. Immigration › Visas, work permits and residence in Chile: visitor stays, temporary residence for staff and investors, permanent residence and employer duties

Visas, work permits and residence in Chile: visitor stays, temporary residence for staff and investors, permanent residence and employer duties

Last verified: 2026-10-26 · Status: Changing

Foreigners enter Chile as visitors for up to 90 days without the right to work, and anyone who will work or settle must obtain temporary residence from abroad through SERMIG under Ley Nº 21.325 and Decreto Nº 177 of 2022. Staff need a contract of at least 3 months or a formal job offer, investors need US$500,000 or more and an InvestChile letter, and executives who only visit can use a 2 year multiple entry business permit capped at 6 months a year. After 24 months of temporary residence most holders can apply for permanent residence (CLP 142,726). Employers face fines of up to 200 UTM per unauthorised foreign worker and must respect the 85 percent Chilean worker rule.

USD figures use the Central Bank exchange rate of CLP 986.58 per US dollar published in the Diario Oficial of 23 October 2026 (Ley Nº 18.840 art. 44), except the transitory stay extension, which SERMIG converts at CLP 969.70 for October 2026. UTM amounts use the SII value of CLP 72,151 and UTA amounts CLP 865,812 for October 2026. Conversions are for orientation only.

Key facts

Maximum transitory stay (visitor) per entry, before extension	90 daysLey Nº 21.325 art. 48, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
One time extension of the transitory stay	90 daysDecreto Nº 296 of 2021 art. 75, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Fee for extending the transitory stay	100 USDLey Nº 21.325 art. 48; SERMIG fee page, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Maximum validity of a temporary residence permit (renewable for 2 years at a time)	2 yearsLey Nº 21.325 art. 72; Decreto Exento Nº 4.236 art. 3, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Minimum length of the employment contract for the paid activities permit	3 monthsDecreto Nº 177 of 2022 art. 17, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Days after entry to file the contract under a job offer permit	45 daysDecreto Nº 177 of 2022 art. 18, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Minimum investment for the investor temporary residence	500000 USDDecreto Nº 177 of 2022 art. 62, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Minimum foreign investor voting stake for staff of a Chilean company to qualify	10 %Decreto Nº 177 of 2022 art. 62, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Maximum stay per calendar year on the multiple entry business permit	6 monthsDecreto Exento Nº 4.236 art. 8; Decreto Nº 177 art. 65, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Minimum time as temporary resident before applying for permanent residence (general rule)	24 monthsLey Nº 21.325 art. 79, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Minimum reduced period for permanent residence (investment, family ties and other grounds)	12 monthsDecreto Nº 296 of 2021 art. 66, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Permanent residence fee, foreigners in general	142726 CLPLey Nº 21.325 art. 40; SERMIG fee page, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Permanent residence fee in US dollars at CLP 986.58 per US dollar (23 October 2026)	144.67 USDLey Nº 21.325 art. 40; SERMIG fee page, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Continuous absence after which permanent residence lapses	2 yearsLey Nº 21.325 art. 83, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Days to request the cédula de identidad after the residence permit takes effect	30 daysLey Nº 21.325 art. 43, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Maximum fine per unauthorised foreign worker, large company	200 UTMLey Nº 21.325 art. 117, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Maximum fine per unauthorised foreign worker, micro company	20 UTMLey Nº 21.325 art. 117, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Minimum share of Chilean workers per employer	85 %Código del Trabajo art. 19, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Employers with this many workers or fewer are exempt from the 85 percent rule	25 workersCódigo del Trabajo art. 19, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Days in Chile within any 12 months that make an individual tax resident (more than)	183 daysCódigo Tributario art. 8 Nº 8, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Years from entry during which a foreigner resident in Chile is taxed only on Chilean source income	3 yearsLey sobre Impuesto a la Renta art. 3, as of 2026-10-26 · in force

The rule

1. Chile's immigration regime is Ley Nº 21.325 on Migration and Aliens, which replaced Decreto Ley Nº 1.094 of 1975, and its regulation, Decreto Nº 296 of the Interior Ministry. The Servicio Nacional de Migraciones (SERMIG) grants, extends and revokes transitory stay, temporary residence and permanent residence permits. A visitor enters on a transitory stay permit (permanencia transitoria) of up to 90 days, and the Subsecretaría del Interior may shorten that period for public order reasons. The stay can be extended once, by up to 90 more days, for a fee. A visitor must be able to show lawful means of support, up to an amount SERMIG sets by resolution.
Cost to do it: Extension of the transitory stay: US$100 paid in pesos, whatever the nationality; minors are exempt. SERMIG converts it at CLP 969.70 per US dollar for October 2026, which gives CLP 96,970.
Example: A second 90 day stay costs CLP 96,970 at SERMIG's October 2026 conversion rate. / US$100.Ley Nº 21.325, Ley de Migración y Extranjería; Decreto Nº 296 of 2021, Ministerio del Interior y Seguridad Pública (Reglamento), Ley Nº 21.325 art. 47 and art. 48; Reglamento art. 42, art. 74 and art. 75, 2021-04-20 official text · verified 2026-10-26

2. Visitors may not do paid work. As an exception, SERMIG can authorise a visitor to carry out specific and sporadic paid activities, for income earned in Chile or abroad, such as performers, athletes, speakers, advisers and technical experts. The authorisation cannot last longer than the transitory stay itself. It carries a fee that can be paid before or after entry, and the law lists free cases such as trade fairs, international sports events and accredited journalists. Paid work without authorisation is fined half a UTM to 5 UTM, and repeat offences are grounds for expulsion.
Cost to do it: The work authorisation for a visitor costs 150 percent of the temporary residence fee for paid activities for the applicant's nationality (SERMIG fee page). The fine for unauthorised paid work is 0.5 to 5 UTM: CLP 36,076 to CLP 360,755 at the October 2026 UTM of CLP 72,151.
Example: A visitor caught working without authorisation can be fined up to CLP 360,755. / About US$37 to US$366.Ley Nº 21.325; Decreto Nº 296 of 2021 (Reglamento), Ley Nº 21.325 art. 50, art. 51, art. 109 and art. 127 Nº 5; Reglamento art. 78 and art. 79, 2021-04-20 official text · verified 2026-10-26

3. A visitor already in Chile cannot switch to a residence permit, except in the cases allowed by art. 69 of the law. Temporary residence must be applied for from abroad on SERMIG's online platform. The exceptions that can be filed inside Chile are family reunification, humanitarian grounds, stays consistent with the National Migration Policy and other cases qualified by resolution of the Subsecretaría del Interior. Changes of subcategory, renewals and changes from dependant to holder status are also filed inside Chile. Once the permit is issued abroad, the holder has 90 calendar days to enter Chile, and the permit's validity runs from the date of entry.
Cost to do it: Fees for applications filed from abroad are paid through the Tesorería General de la República portal before the file reaches SERMIG. The fee depends on nationality under the reciprocity principle of art. 40 of the law.Ley Nº 21.325; Decreto Nº 177 of 2022, Ministerio del Interior y Seguridad Pública, subcategories of temporary residence, Ley Nº 21.325 art. 58, art. 69 and art. 72; Decreto Nº 177 art. 4, 2022-05-14 official text · verified 2026-10-26

4. Temporary residence is for foreigners who intend to settle in Chile for a limited time. Decreto Nº 177 sets 16 subcategories: family reunification, paid activities, students, seasonal workers, job search opportunities, persons in Gendarmería custody, persons ordered to stay by Chilean courts, humanitarian grounds, international agreements, religious workers, medical treatment, retirees and rentistas, former permanent residents, investors and related staff, multiple entry business, and refugees and asylees. Permits run for up to 2 years and can be renewed for 2 more years at a time, except that seasonal worker permits run for up to 5 years with a cap of 6 months' stay a year. Temporary residents may do paid work. Every subcategory except seasonal workers, Gendarmería custody, court orders and medical treatment counts toward permanent residence.
Cost to do it: Fee by nationality from the table of Resolución Exenta Nº 129194 of 3 July 2020, which SERMIG links as its fee table by nationality. The table is in US dollars and paid in pesos. It still uses the old visa names: temporaria, sujeta a contrato and estudiante.
Example: A US national pays, under the 2020 table, US$205, US$190 or US$160 depending on the visa column: about CLP 202,249, CLP 187,450 or CLP 157,853 at CLP 986.58. / US$205 (temporaria), US$190 (sujeta a contrato) or US$160 (estudiante) for a US national; US$250 for each column for an Argentine national.Ley Nº 21.325; Decreto Nº 177 of 2022; Decreto Exento Nº 4.236 of 2022, Ministerio del Interior y Seguridad Pública, Ley Nº 21.325 art. 68, art. 70, art. 72 and art. 73; Decreto Nº 177 art. 10; Decreto Exento Nº 4.236 art. 3 to 5, 2022-05-14 official text · verified 2026-10-26

5. The work permit for employees is the paid activities subcategory. The applicant needs a written employment contract with a person or company that has a domicile or branch in Chile and, where required, a registered start of activities with the SII. The contract must last at least 3 months, and its purpose must match the employer's declared business. The employer signs before a Chilean notary and the worker before the competent Chilean consulate. Alternatively, a formal job offer, notarised and accepted in writing at a consulate, earns a 90 day permit. The worker then has 45 calendar days from entry to file the notarised contract and the proof of its electronic registration; otherwise the permit is cancelled and the worker is ordered to leave. Once the full permit is held, losing the job or changing employer is not by itself grounds for revocation, and no notice to SERMIG is needed. A renewal requires a current job and proof of paid work for at least 60 percent of the permit period. The employer's SII tax file (carpeta tributaria), or proof of its solvency, must be attached.
Cost to do it: Notary fees in Chile and consular formalities abroad, plus the residence fee by nationality. After a job offer permit of 90 days, the first renewal runs for 1 year, and later renewals for up to 2 years.
Example: A Santiago SpA hiring a foreign engineer signs a contract of at least 3 months before a notary. The engineer signs at the consulate and files from abroad. / For a US national the 2020 table lists US$190 in the sujeta a contrato column, plus notary and apostille costs.Decreto Nº 177 of 2022; Decreto Exento Nº 4.236 of 2022, Decreto Nº 177 art. 17 to 22; Decreto Exento Nº 4.236 art. 4, 2022-05-14 official text · verified 2026-10-26

6. Self employed professionals who are not investors need a civil or commercial services contract with a Chilean citizen or a permanent resident. The services must last more than 90 calendar days, and the contract must be perfected before the competent Chilean consulate. Without it, SERMIG will not issue the certificate that the application is in progress. Shorter assignments fall under the transitory stay rules instead.
Cost to do it: Consular formalities plus the residence fee by nationality. A renewal requires SII certificates showing the activity for at least 60 percent of the permit period.Decreto Nº 177 of 2022, Art. 20 and art. 21 letter b), 2022-05-14 official text · verified 2026-10-26

7. The investor permit is for foreign individuals, legal representatives and senior managers of foreign companies who seek to invest US$500,000 or more in Chile in the production of goods or services. It also covers senior managers and specialist technical staff hired by a Chilean company whose capital is controlled, directly or indirectly, by a foreign investor holding at least 10 percent of the voting rights. The application is filed from abroad with a sponsorship letter from InvestChile and a document describing the purpose and amount of the investment and the applicant's role. A renewal requires evidence of progress in carrying out the investment, the company's SII tax file, the municipal licence receipt where applicable and proof of the contract and income.
Cost to do it: Investment threshold of US$500,000 or more, plus the residence fee by nationality. SERMIG does not list a fee for the InvestChile letter.
Example: The US$500,000 threshold is about CLP 493,290,000 at CLP 986.58 per US dollar. / US$500,000 or more for the investor; for staff of a company that is at least 10 percent foreign owned, no minimum amount applies.Decreto Nº 177 of 2022, Art. 10 letter n), art. 62, art. 63 and art. 64, 2022-05-14 official text · verified 2026-10-26

8. Executives who must visit Chile regularly for business or investments that companies hold in the country can obtain a multiple entry business permit. It is valid for 2 years and can be renewed for 2 years at a time, but total time in Chile may not exceed 6 months in each calendar year. It is applied for from abroad with a criminal record certificate and documents showing the contract with the company and the income linked to the business trips.
Cost to do it: Residence fee by nationality, plus apostille or legalisation of the supporting documents.Decreto Nº 177 of 2022; Decreto Exento Nº 4.236 of 2022, Decreto Nº 177 art. 65 and art. 66; Decreto Exento Nº 4.236 art. 8, 2022-12-27 official text · verified 2026-10-26

9. A temporary resident's spouse or cohabitant can apply as a dependant, and so can children under 18, children with a disability, and children aged 18 to 23 who study at a recognised institution. The holder must show stable income or economic activity to support them. Dependants may do paid work, subject to the Labour Code rules for minors. A dependant's permit cannot outlast the holder's permit.
Cost to do it: Under the 2020 table, dependants pay a flat US$15 and minors are exempt from residence fees.
Example: About CLP 14,799 per dependant at CLP 986.58 per US dollar. / US$15 per adult dependant; children under 18 pay nothing.Ley Nº 21.325; Decreto Nº 177 of 2022; Decreto Exento Nº 4.236 of 2022, Ley Nº 21.325 art. 74; Decreto Nº 177 art. 72, art. 74 and art. 75; Decreto Exento Nº 4.236 art. 11, 2021-04-20 official text · verified 2026-10-26

10. Applicants inside Chile who have filed a complete application for a permit that allows work, for a change of subcategory or for a renewal receive a residence in process certificate. The certificate keeps them in regular status if their permit expires while the file is pending, allows occasional travel, and allows paid work while the application is pending. Renewals must be filed no more than 90 and no less than 10 days before the current permit expires. Within 30 days after the permit takes effect, residents must request a cédula de identidad from the Registro Civil. Temporary residents must report any change of address to SERMIG within 30 calendar days.
Cost to do it: Failing to report a change of address carries a written warning or a fine of up to 2 UTM, CLP 144,302 at the October 2026 UTM. Overstaying a permit by up to 180 days is fined 0.5 to 10 UTM, and by more than 180 days 1 to 10 UTM.
Example: Overstaying by 200 days can cost up to CLP 721,510. / About US$731 at most for an overstay; up to about US$146 for an unreported change of address.Ley Nº 21.325; Decreto Nº 296 of 2021 (Reglamento); Decreto Nº 177 of 2022, Ley Nº 21.325 art. 43, art. 46, art. 73, art. 107, art. 108 and art. 119; Reglamento art. 70; Decreto Nº 177 art. 77 to 79, 2022-02-12 official text · verified 2026-10-26

11. Permanent residence (residencia definitiva) lets the holder settle indefinitely in Chile and carry out any lawful activity. It is only open to holders of a temporary residence subcategory that allows it, after at least 24 months as a temporary resident. The regulation stretches this to 30 to 48 months for insufficient means, months without income, absences of more than 2 months, or migration and other legal infractions. The SERMIG director may cut it to no less than 12 months on certain grounds. These include investments or companies with effective operation in Chile, proven by at least two annual tax years of operation or 18 months of continuous investment, and family ties with Chileans. The change must be requested within the renewal window, 90 to 10 days before the temporary permit expires. Permanent residence lapses automatically after more than 2 continuous years abroad, unless the holder obtains a one time 2 year extension from a Chilean consulate before that period ends.
Cost to do it: Permanent residence fee of CLP 142,726 for foreigners in general. Foreigners with a Chilean spouse and minors are exempt (SERMIG fee page, updated 1 October 2026).
Example: CLP 142,726 per adult applicant. / About US$145 at CLP 986.58 per US dollar.Ley Nº 21.325; Decreto Nº 296 of 2021 (Reglamento), Ley Nº 21.325 art. 78, art. 79 and art. 83; Reglamento art. 62, art. 65, art. 66 and art. 69, 2022-02-12 official text · verified 2026-10-26

12. Employers that hire foreigners without a permit allowing them to work are fined per foreign worker, in UTM, by company size under art. 505 bis of the Labour Code. Micro companies pay 1 to 20 UTM, small companies 10 to 40, medium companies 30 to 100 and large companies 60 to 200. Repeat offences within 2 years carry the maximum fine. The employer remains liable for all labour and social security obligations. A foreign worker who reports the employer to SERMIG, the Dirección del Trabajo or the courts is not fined for working without authorisation.
Cost to do it: At the October 2026 UTM of CLP 72,151 per foreign worker: micro CLP 72,151 to CLP 1,443,020; small CLP 721,510 to CLP 2,886,040; medium CLP 2,164,530 to CLP 7,215,100; large CLP 4,329,060 to CLP 14,430,200.
Example: A large company with three unauthorised foreign hires risks up to CLP 43,290,600. / Up to about US$14,626 per worker, or about US$43,880 for three, for a large company.Ley Nº 21.325, Art. 117 and art. 123, 2021-04-20 official text · verified 2026-10-26

13. At least 85 percent of the workers serving the same employer must be Chilean, unless the employer has no more than 25 workers. The proportion is counted on the total workforce in Chile, not branch by branch. Specialist technical staff are excluded from the count. Foreigners whose spouse, civil partner or children are Chilean, or who are widowed by a Chilean spouse, count as Chilean, and so do foreigners resident in Chile for more than 5 years.
Cost to do it: No fee; plan the headcount mix before hiring foreign staff in companies with more than 25 workers.DFL Nº 1 of 2002, Ministerio del Trabajo, Código del Trabajo, Art. 19 and art. 20, 2003-01-16 official text · verified 2026-10-26

14. Companies that hire foreign technical staff, and that staff, are exempt from Chilean pension contributions under those contracts if two conditions are met. The worker must be affiliated with a social security system abroad that covers at least sickness, disability, old age and death. The employment contract must also state the worker's wish to keep that affiliation. The exemption does not cover work accident and occupational disease insurance under Ley Nº 16.744. Payments abroad to keep the foreign affiliation are not income in Chile, up to the cap of art. 20 of DL Nº 3.500. Workers who meet the requirements may ask for a refund of contributions paid into a Chilean pension fund (AFP). Claiming the exemption without meeting the requirements is fined up to 5 UTA, doubled for repeat offences within 2 years.
Cost to do it: Can save the employee's pension contribution on the contract. The fine for undue use is up to 5 UTA, CLP 4,329,060 at the October 2026 UTA of CLP 865,812.
Example: Undue use of the exemption risks a fine of up to CLP 4,329,060. / About US$4,388.Ley Nº 18.156, as amended by Ley Nº 18.726, Art. 1, art. 2, art. 3 and art. 7, 1982-08-25 official text · verified 2026-10-26

15. For tax purposes a resident is anyone who stays in Chile, continuously or not, for more than 183 days in total within any 12 month period. Residents pay income tax on worldwide income. A foreigner who takes up domicile or residence in Chile, however, is taxed only on Chilean source income during the first 3 years from entry, and the SII Regional Director may extend this period in qualified cases. Immigration status and tax residence are separate tests.
Cost to do it: No fee. Plan the date of arrival, because the 3 year window runs from entry.DL Nº 830 of 1974, Código Tributario, as amended by Ley Nº 21.210; DL Nº 824 of 1974, Ley sobre Impuesto a la Renta, Código Tributario art. 8 Nº 8; Ley sobre Impuesto a la Renta art. 3, 2020-02-24 official text · verified 2026-10-26

16. Nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay can obtain temporary residence of up to 2 years under the international reciprocity subcategory of the law, which reflects the Mercosur residence arrangements. It is applied for from abroad only, with a passport, a criminal record certificate and a photo, and it allows paid work. Argentine nationals who want a simpler route than a work contract should start here; Argentine rules on the other side are covered in the Argentine guide.
Cost to do it: Fee by nationality; the 2020 table lists US$250 for Argentine nationals, about CLP 246,645 at CLP 986.58.
Example: About CLP 246,645 for an Argentine national under the 2020 table. / US$250.Ley Nº 21.325, Art. 70 Nº 13; Decreto Nº 177 art. 46, 2021-04-20 official text · verified 2026-10-26

Route	Who it is for	Key requirement	Validity	Counts toward permanent residence	Rule
Transitory stay (visitor)	Business meetings, due diligence, short visits	No paid work without SERMIG authorisation	Up to 90 days, one 90 day extension	No	Ley Nº 21.325 art. 48 and art. 50
Paid activities, employee	Staff hired by a Chilean employer	Contract of 3 months or more, or a formal job offer	Up to 2 years, renewable by 2 years	Yes	Decreto Nº 177 art. 17 to 19
Paid activities, self employed	Consultants and professionals	Services contract for more than 90 days with a Chilean or permanent resident	Up to 2 years, renewable by 2 years	Yes	Decreto Nº 177 art. 20
Investors and related staff	Investors, managers and specialists of companies at least 10 percent foreign controlled	US$500,000 or more and an InvestChile letter, or a job at a qualifying company	Up to 2 years, renewable by 2 years	Yes	Decreto Nº 177 art. 62 to 64
Multiple entry business	Executives visiting regularly	Contract and income linked to the business	2 years, renewable by 2 years; at most 6 months a year in Chile	Yes	Decreto Nº 177 art. 65; Decreto Exento Nº 4.236 art. 8
Retirees and rentistas	Pensioners and people with regular property or financial income	Income covering at least basic needs	Up to 2 years, renewable by 2 years	Yes	Decreto Nº 177 art. 53 to 59
International reciprocity (Mercosur)	Nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay	Passport and criminal record certificate	Up to 2 years	Not stated on the SERMIG page for this route	Ley Nº 21.325 art. 70 Nº 13

Main routes for foreign investors, executives and staff (Decreto Nº 177 of 2022 and Decreto Exento Nº 4.236 of 2022)

Nationality	Temporaria US$	Sujeta a contrato US$	Estudiante US$
Argentina	250	250	250
Brazil	100	100	100
United States	205	190	160
Canada	265	265	175
United Kingdom	2,620	1,160	870
Germany	85	85	85
France	115	115	115
Spain	0	0	0
China	42	42	42
Japan	55	55	55
Mexico	286	411	36
Colombia	282	282	77
Peru	80	80	80
Uruguay	65	65	65
Australia	225	2,890	445

Temporary residence fees in US dollars for selected nationalities, from Resolución Exenta Nº 129194 of 3 July 2020, the table SERMIG links as its fee table by nationality (old visa names). Paid in pesos; CLP at 986.58 per US dollar.

Bill	Subject	Status	Source
Boletín Nº 16.836-06	Amends Ley Nº 21.325 to improve the administrative expulsion procedure	Mixed committee report approved by the Chamber of Deputies on 19 October 2026 and the Senate on 20 October 2026; bill sent to the Executive; not yet published as a law	https://tramitacion.senado.cl/wspublico/tramitacion.php?boletin=16836
Boletín Nº 16.072-06	Amends Ley Nº 21.325 and other laws on the matters indicated	Second constitutional stage in the Senate, second report of the Government committee	https://tramitacion.senado.cl/wspublico/tramitacion.php?boletin=16072

Migration reform tracker (Senate of Chile, status checked 26 October 2026)

Worked example

A US company sets up a Chilean SpA and wants to send a US national as country manager and to hire a US engineer. The manager visits first on a transitory stay to sign the incorporation documents. Business management is one of the purposes of a transitory stay listed in the law (Ley Nº 21.325 art. 53 Nº 1), but any paid activity in Chile would need SERMIG authorisation (art. 50).
Because the SpA is 100 percent owned by a foreign investor, the manager and the engineer can both apply from the United States under the investors and related staff subcategory, with an InvestChile letter (Decreto Nº 177 art. 62 and 63). An alternative is the paid activities subcategory with a notarised contract of at least 3 months (art. 17). The 2020 fee table lists US$205 in the temporaria column and US$190 in the sujeta a contrato column for US nationals, about CLP 202,249 and CLP 187,450.
Once the permits are downloaded, each has 90 days to enter Chile (Ley Nº 21.325 art. 72). Each must ask for a cédula de identidad within 30 days after the permit takes effect (art. 43). The SpA has fewer than 26 workers, so the 85 percent Chilean worker rule does not apply yet (Código del Trabajo art. 19).
If the engineer stays affiliated with a foreign social security system that covers at least sickness, disability, old age and death, and the contract says so, the SpA and the engineer can rely on Ley Nº 18.156 to skip Chilean pension contributions. Work accident insurance under Ley Nº 16.744 is still paid.
For tax, both become Chilean residents once they spend more than 183 days in Chile within 12 months. For their first 3 years from entry they are taxed only on Chilean source income (Ley sobre Impuesto a la Renta art. 3).
After 24 months of temporary residence, with income and short absences, each can apply for permanent residence, 90 to 10 days before the permit expires. The fee is CLP 142,726, about US$145 (Reglamento art. 62 and 65).

Step by step

Before travel: decide the route (visitor, employee, self employed, investor or business multiple entry) using the table above. Check the fee for each person's nationality on SERMIG's fee page.
Documents: passport valid for at least 1 year; criminal record certificates from the country of origin and from every country of residence in the last 5 years; apostille or legalisation; and an official translation for documents not in Spanish or English (Decreto Nº 177 art. 6, 7 and 11). Public documents must be no older than 60 days and private ones no older than 30 days when filed (art. 8).
Employer side: the SpA or branch needs its RUT and start of activities with the SII, signs the contract before a Chilean notary, and supplies its carpeta tributaria (Decreto Nº 177 art. 17 and 22).
Investor route: request the InvestChile sponsorship letter with a description of the investment, its amount and the applicant's role (Decreto Nº 177 art. 63).
Filing: apply online from abroad through SERMIG's Portal de Trámites Digitales and pay through the Tesorería General de la República portal; the file is sent to SERMIG only after payment. SERMIG may ask for documents or a consular visit, and a rejection notice leaves 10 business days to respond (Decreto Nº 177 art. 2).
After approval: download the electronic stamp, enter Chile within 90 days, request the cédula within 30 days, register the employment contract electronically under Código del Trabajo art. 9 bis, and report any change of address within 30 days.
Calendar: put the renewal window, 90 to 10 days before expiry, in the diary. Plan permanent residence from month 24, earlier where a reduction to as little as 12 months applies.
See /calendar/ for Chilean deadlines and /dashboard/ for the exchange rate used to convert US dollar fees.

Common traps

Coming in as a visitor and then trying to switch: a visitor cannot apply for temporary residence from inside Chile except in the cases of art. 69 of Ley Nº 21.325. Most work and investor permits must be filed from abroad.
Starting work on a visitor stay: paid work without authorisation is fined 0.5 to 5 UTM for the worker. The employer is fined per worker, up to 200 UTM for a large company, and repeat offences can lead to expulsion.
The job offer permit lasts only 90 days. Missing the 45 day deadline to file the notarised and registered contract cancels it and triggers an order to leave (Decreto Nº 177 art. 18).
Renewal of a work permit requires paid work for at least 60 percent of the permit period, so long gaps between jobs can block a renewal (Decreto Nº 177 art. 21).
Investor permits are renewed only on proof of progress in carrying out the committed investment (Decreto Nº 177 art. 64), so an investment that stalls after the first visa puts the renewal at risk.
The multiple entry business permit caps time in Chile at 6 months per calendar year, and staying longer or taking a local job requires a different permit.
Long absences count against you: absences of more than 2 months push the qualifying period for permanent residence to 30 to 48 months. Permanent residence lapses after more than 2 continuous years abroad unless extended at a consulate in time.
Fees depend on nationality, and SERMIG's published table still uses the 2020 visa names. Confirm the amount on the payment screen before filing.
The 85 percent Chilean worker rule bites once a company has more than 25 workers. Plan foreign hiring as headcount grows and document who qualifies as specialist technical staff (Código del Trabajo art. 19 and 20).
Tax residence follows days, not visas: more than 183 days in any 12 months makes a person tax resident whatever their immigration status.

Sources

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