Temporary Residence Visa in Chile
The permit that turns a 90-day tourist stay into a legal life in Chile — chosen, assembled and filed for you.
What this involves
The temporary residence permit is the entry point to living legally in Chile. It is granted for a defined period, it can be renewed, and — critically — it is the permit that later converts into permanent residency. Under Law 21.325 the category is chosen at the moment of application and cannot be swapped freely afterwards, so the decision made on day one shapes everything that follows.
Most rejections we are asked to fix are not substantive. They are documents issued in the wrong format, missing apostilles, translations that are not certified, or criminal record certificates that expired while the file sat in the queue. We assemble the file to the standard the Servicio Nacional de Migraciones actually applies, not the one the website summarizes.
What we handle
Category assessment
We look at your income source, your family situation and your plans for the next three years, then tell you which subcategory gives you work rights and the shortest path to permanent residency.
Document assembly
Birth and marriage certificates, criminal record certificates, proof of income or contract, health insurance — each with the apostille and certified translation Chile requires.
Online filing
The application is submitted electronically and we track it through every status change, responding to requests for additional documents before they become rejections.
Registration on approval
Once granted, the visa must be stamped, registered with the Policía de Investigaciones and converted into a Chilean ID card. We schedule and guide those steps.
Renewal planning
We diarize the expiry and tell you when to start the renewal or the permanent-residency application — whichever serves you better.
How we run this for a client abroad
Assessment first
You send the documents you have. We tell you what applies, what it costs and how long it takes — before you commit to anything.
Power of attorney
Granted at a Chilean consulate or apostilled where you live. It lets us act for you in Chile without you travelling.
We file, you get updates
Our attorneys handle the filings and appearances in Chile. You get plain-English updates at every stage.
Temporary Residence Visa — common questions
What English-speaking clients ask us most about this specific service.
Can I apply from the United States or do I need to be in Chile?
Does a temporary residence visa let me work?
How long is it valid and can I renew it?
What happens if my application is rejected?
Talk to a Chilean lawyer about your temporary residence visa
Get an initial assessment in English — confidential, with no obligation.
Book your consultation now →