Moving to Chile: our experience getting residency in a year

In this article, we’ll share our personal experience on why we chose Chile and how to legalize our stay there in just 12 months.

Why we chose Chile

Until a certain point, Chile seemed distant and unfamiliar to us. Everything changed in 2019 when, expecting the birth of our child, we began researching countries where we could safely and advantageously give birth. It turned out that a child born in Chile automatically receives citizenship — and with it, a passport that grants visa-free entry to 161 countries, including the USA, Canada, the EU, the UK, and Japan. This became a key argument.

A second advantage was that many foreigners do not require a visa to enter Chile. We also looked at statistics on safety, the level of medicine, and corruption — Chile consistently ranks among the top in Latin America in these indicators. Therefore, we flew there for the birth, completed all the documents for our son, and then returned to Russia.

When our second child arrived, we began to consider a full-fledged move to a country with a milder climate. In 2022, we applied for temporary residence online, successfully completed the process, and in January 2023, we moved to reside there permanently.

Advantages of Chile for living and emigration

Climate 

Chile is an extensive country with numerous climatic zones. Here, you can find comfortable conditions to suit every taste. We chose Santiago, the capital, where we live in the Lo Barnechea district — it has warm winters, mild summers, and developed infrastructure. Another option popular with migrants is Viña del Mar on the coast.

Ease of legalization 

One of Chile’s most significant advantages is the possibility of obtaining temporary residence before moving. This allows you to avoid typical situations where a residency permit is not approved, forcing you to urgently leave the country. In Chile, you complete everything remotely and enter as a resident.

Temporary residence dduration – 2 Years

There are several types of visas, but two common and straightforward options are most frequently used:

• Rentista Visa (for passive income earners) – for those who have a stable passive income from real estate, investments, or business (minimum $1,000 per month).
• Relative of a Chilean Citizen Visa – if, for example, you had a child born in Chile.

The document package is submitted through an online platform, and the processing time is, on average, 9–12 months.

How to Obtain Permanent Residence

After 12 months of residing in Chile with temporary residence, you can apply for permanent residence if you have obtained a Rentista Visa or a Relative of a Chilean Citizen Visa. For other visa categories, you need to have resided in Chile for 22 out of the previous 24 months.

Permanent residence requires proof of income — this can be either foreign passive income or income from employment, self-employment, or a business in Chile. With permanent residence, you gain access to all opportunities: healthcare, education, employment, starting a business, bank accounts, and more.

By the Way: With the local identity card (cédula), you can travel to MERCOSUR countries (almost all of South America except Venezuela) without a passport.

Also, as a resident of Chile, you can apply for visas to the USA and the EU directly from Chile — and the probability of approval is much higher.

Standard of Living and Prospects

Chile is a leader in Latin America in terms of healthcare, safety, salaries, and the business environment. It is a modern country with a clear economic policy, where it is easy to develop a business, find employment, or live with children.

If you are looking for a country to move to, we advise you to pay attention to Chile. A comfortable climate, a predictable immigration system, opportunities to legalize the entire family, and a high standard of living make this country an excellent choice.