Immigration to Chile

The difficulty of moving

A fairly simple country for emigration

Quality of life/price ratio

Inexpensive, safe life, high-quality products, but there are cultural peculiarities

Comfortable climate

Pronounced seasons with a variety of climatic types - from humid subtropics to alpine tundra

Chile Visa Programs

Chile: Rentier resident visa

Immigration to Chile

A handy compilation of practical information

Polina

Imigrata Immigration Specialist

Visas to Chile:
For citizens of the Russian Federation, a visa is not needed, you can stay in the country only with a foreign passport for up to 90 days.

Transit conditions:
Transit is allowed for a period of no more than 24 hours. If the passenger does not leave the transit area, a PCR test or PLF is not required.

Tickets:
Air communication with the Russian Federation has not been restored. You can only get into the country with transfers.

Epidemiological situation:

Need a certificate of vaccination "Sputnik-V" (other vaccine); or a negative PCR test.

The vaccination certificate must be uploaded to the website in advance — its verification can take up to 30 days. Two days before departure and after the Certificate is approved, you need to fill out a questionnaire and pass a PCR test. If there is no vaccination certificate, be ready for a 5-day quarantine upon arrival.

The best cities to live in Chile

The top 5 best cities to live in Chile include:
Santiago is the capital and largest city of the country, very conducive to walking. A radiant valley surrounded by mountains with colorful areas, historical architecture and festivals;
Arica is a city of eternal spring and a port on the border with Chile. Sandy beaches on the Pacific Ocean, many museums and historical buildings, the sun, delicious food and even your own casino;
Antofagasta is a popular tourist city that entered Chile a little over a century ago, so here you can still feel and see the spirit of Bolivia. Not far from the city is the famous Atacama Desert with its spectacular valleys, but the city itself is incredibly picturesque;
La Serena is an oasis city founded in 1544 in the middle of the desert by the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia at the confluence of the Elka River with the Pacific Ocean. There are many small houses located along South American streets, beaches, mountains, there is an interesting archaeological museum and an astronomical observatory;
Valparaiso is one of the most ancient and romantic cities in Chile with magnificent historical architecture, a seaport built on hills that gradually descend to the ocean. The best museums in the country are located here: art history, art and the sea, and the city itself is included in the UNESCO list of historical heritage monuments.

Pros and cons of moving to Chile

Advantages of living in Chile:

The most economically developed country in Latin America;
Very high human development index - 42nd place in the world;
Diverse climate with lots of sunny days a year;
An ideal place for surfing - the country is washed by two oceans at once: the Pacific and the Atlantic;
Low level of crime and corruption;
A fairly simple process of obtaining a residence permit and permanent residence;
Low price of housing;
Amazing wine and well-developed winemaking infrastructure.

Cons of living in Chile:

Expensive and paid medicine - like many other specialists, there are frankly not enough good doctors in Chile;
Not everyone speaks English, so knowledge of Spanish becomes almost mandatory;
The standard of living is lower than in European countries, but the cost of living is also cheaper;
From time to time, earthquakes occur in the region, as the country is located at the junction of lithospheric plates;
Chilean society is still divided by classes defining social groups, which seems incomprehensible to people from the northern hemisphere and manifests itself in a serious social stratification into poor and rich (14th place in the world according to the Gini Index).

Economy of Chile

The 6th economy of Latin America in terms of GDP, belonging to high-income countries. One of the most dynamically developing countries in Latin America with a progressive scale of taxation.

Chile has two free economic zones: Iquique and Punta Arenas.

The main industries of the country:

mining and manufacturing industry;
timber processing;
agricultural industry;
fishing;
light industry;
cement production.

Country's currency: Chilean peso.

Housing in Chile

Renting a home in Chile is not a problem, but it is worth bearing in mind that:

Landlords almost always demand to pay rent for 3-5 months in advance;
To conclude a lease agreement, proof of the tenant's solvency (an account statement or a certificate from work will be suitable);
Local laws are always on the side of the tenant, so it is almost impossible to evict the resident officially without his desire - only by court and in the presence of serious claims.

The cost of renting an apartment:
As in any other country, it depends on the location - the more prestigious the area, the more expensive the rent. The average monthly cost of a two-room apartment in the country is about 500 thousand Chilean pesos, which is equivalent to about 650 US dollars.

The cost of utilities:
It is important to clarify whether they include utilities in the rent.
The average cost of utilities for an apartment of 85 sq.m is $ 95-100.
TV + Internet will cost another $ 30-40.

Where to look for housing:

Medicine in Chile

Expensive and paid, but not bad when compared with other Latin American countries. It is mandatory to purchase an insurance policy that covers up to 80% of the costs of medical services.

The pharmacy business is quite developed, most pharmacies work around the clock. The vast majority of medicines are sold by prescription.

Education in Chile

Preschool education - from 3 months to 6 years, is not mandatory;
Basic - starts at 6 years old and lasts 8;
Average - from 15 to 18 years. It is divided into scientific and humanitarian, vocational and artistic;
Higher education is optional and paid for everyone: universities, professional institutes and technical training centers.

There are 16 public and 43 private universities in Chile, admission to which is carried out according to the unified PSU admission system with mandatory qualifying exams in mathematics and language. Admission to individual programs may also require an exam in natural sciences or history.

A bachelor's degree at the most prestigious university in Chile, the main university in Santiago, where about 37 thousand students study, costs around $ 5,000, a master's degree - $ 7000.

Chile Cuisine

Chilean national cuisine is very diverse, although it does not belong to too refined, but upon arrival in Chile you definitely need to try these dishes:

Empanada is a traditional pie stuffed with meat, onions, olives, boiled eggs, cheese and vegetables (sometimes shellfish is added to the filling).

Pastel de Choclo is an original and very satisfying corn pie - sweet, spicy and incredibly delicious! Alas, you can enjoy it only in the summer months, when the chekal - "corn" ripens in Chile.

Umita is another interesting dish made of corn flour wrapped in cob leaves.

Curanto is a dish of baked potatoes, chicken, meat and sausages, which is cooked in a clay pit lined with hot stones.

Caldo de Pata is a delicious and very budget soup of vegetables and goose legs, which is best prepared in the place "La Vega Chica" in Santiago.

Primeta is Chilean black pudding, which is served with mashed potatoes, rice or French fries.

Sopipilla - fried pumpkin tortillas with pebre or mustard are ideal for a snack and are quite inexpensive.

Chili Desserts

Many Chilean desserts are known far beyond the borders of the country, but it is best to try them, of course, in Chile.

Turron de vin is a traditional Spanish nougat dessert with nuts, which was brought to the country by the conquistadors. Over time, the original recipe was changed and now red wine is also used in the Chilean version.

Motecon huesillos is an original dessert made of dried peaches, sugar, cinnamon and wheat husks. It sounds strange, but it tastes divine, especially in the hot season!

Alfajores - buttery sandwich cookies covered with powdered sugar, glazed sugar, chocolate or grated coconut.

A thousand-leaf cake (de neil Hodges Cake) is a delicious puff pastry cake with a manager and walnuts, so light and layered that it seems to consist of thousands of layers.

Leche Asada - melted milk with egg, vanilla and sugar, which you definitely need to try!