Immigration & Residency

Immigration Lawyer in Chile

Visas, residency and Chilean citizenship handled end-to-end by Chilean attorneys — prepared, filed and tracked for you while you stay where you are.

Book your consultation → What we handle

Chilean-licensed attorneys Updates in English Handled remotely

Overview

Moving to Chile without guessing at the paperwork

Chile's immigration system was rebuilt under Law 21.325, and the practical consequence is that the visa category you choose at the start decides how fast you get residency — and whether you can work, invoice or bring your family while you wait. Applications are filed with the Servicio Nacional de Migraciones, almost entirely online, and a single mismatched document can send a file back to the end of the queue.

We assess your situation before anything is filed, tell you which category actually fits, assemble the file with the apostilles and translations Chile requires, and follow it through to the decision. You deal with one English-speaking team, not a chain of agencies.

What we handle

Immigration Law services in Chile

Each matter below is handled by Chilean-licensed attorneys and reported to you in English. If your situation is not listed, ask — it usually still fits one of these.

Temporary Residence Visa

The gateway permit for anyone planning to live in Chile for more than 90 days — work contract, professional services, retirement income, investment, study or family ties. We pick the subcategory that matches your real plans and file it correctly the first time.

Permanent Residency

After holding a temporary permit, you can apply for permanent residency and stop renewing paperwork. We calculate your eligibility dates, track the days you spent outside Chile, and prepare the application before your current visa lapses.

Chilean Citizenship & Dual Citizenship

Naturalization after permanent residency, or citizenship by descent if you have a Chilean parent or grandparent. Chile allows dual nationality, so US citizens keep their passport. We handle the file, the exam requirements and the registry work.

Investor & Business Visas

If you are putting capital into a Chilean company or buying property with a commercial purpose, the investor route can be faster and stronger than an employment visa. We structure the company and the visa together so they support each other.

Family Reunification Visas

Bring a spouse, partner, children or parents to Chile, or regularize the status of family members already here. We document the relationship to Chilean standards, including foreign marriage and birth certificates.

Overstays & Regularization

Expired tourist stay, lapsed visa or a pending sanction. There are legal paths out of an irregular status, but they narrow with time. We assess exposure honestly and file the remedy that still applies to your case.

From anywhere

How this works if you are not in Chile

Case assessment

You send us the documents you have. We tell you what applies, what it costs and what the realistic timeline is — before you commit to anything.

Power of attorney

Granted at a Chilean consulate or apostilled where you live. That single document lets us act for you in Chile without you traveling.

We act, you get updates

Filings and hearings are handled by our attorneys in Chile. You receive plain-English updates at every stage, not legal Spanish you have to decode.

FAQ

Immigration Law in Chile — common questions

The questions English-speaking clients ask us most about this area.

Do US citizens need a visa to enter Chile?

No — US citizens can enter Chile as tourists for up to 90 days without a visa. That permit does not allow you to work, and it cannot simply be converted into residency. If your plan is to live, work, retire, study or invest in Chile, you need a temporary residence visa, and it is far cheaper to plan that before you travel than to fix it afterwards.

How long does it take to get residency in Chile?

Processing times vary by category and by how complete the file is when it reaches the National Migration Service. Straightforward cases are typically resolved in a matter of months; incomplete files can take considerably longer because each request for additional documents restarts the review. We tell you the realistic range for your specific category before you commit.

Do I have to be in Chile to apply?

For most categories, no. Applications are filed electronically, and a power of attorney granted at a Chilean consulate or apostilled in your country lets us act for you. Some steps — fingerprinting, collecting the physical ID card — require your presence in Chile, and we schedule those in a single trip whenever possible.

Can I work in Chile while my visa is pending?

It depends on the category and the stage of your application. Some permits authorize work from the moment the application is admitted; others do not, and working without authorization can jeopardize the whole file. We confirm exactly what you may and may not do while you wait.

Will Chilean residency affect my US taxes or citizenship?

Chilean residency does not affect your US citizenship, and Chile permits dual nationality. Tax residency is a separate question from immigration status and depends on how much time you spend in Chile and where your income arises. We coordinate with your tax advisor so the immigration route you choose does not create an avoidable tax problem.

Need an immigration lawyer in Chile you can actually talk to?

Get an initial assessment in English — confidential, with no obligation.

Book your consultation now →

WhatsApp+56 9 5217 5304

Emailhola@oklegal.cl

HoursMon–Sat 09:00–20:00