Chile — Residency: Required Documents

Why this matters

Missing or incorrectly certified documents are one of the most common reasons Chilean residency applications are delayed or rejected. Understanding the document list in advance helps an applicant plan apostilles, translations, and timelines before relocating.

Key facts

• Passport must have at least 6 months validity remaining.
• Criminal record certificate must be apostilled and valid 90 days, from the home country and any country lived in more than 5 years.
• Apostille and certified translation add USD 200 to 800; photos in JPEG and documents in PDF within SERMIG limits.
• Rentista or Jubilado benchmarks are USD 1,000 to 1,500 per month in passive income (USD 500 to 600 more per dependent); these are informal SERMIG benchmarks, not codified.
• Total processing is 6 to 12 months; the visa fee ranges from USD 0 to 2,700 by nationality.

Steps

1. Identify the correct visa/permit category — Determine which type of temporary or permanent residence you qualify for, as document requirements differ by category (work contract, family ties, investment, retirement, etc.).
2. Gather core civil-status documents — Collect your valid passport, birth certificate, and if applicable, marriage certificate. Documents issued outside Chile typically need to be apostilled or legally authenticated in the country of origin.
3. Obtain police clearance certificate(s) — Request a criminal record / police clearance certificate from your country of origin and from any other country where you have recently resided, within the timeframe specified by current Chilean rules.
4. Translate documents into Spanish — Have all non-Spanish documents officially translated by a sworn (certified) translator recognized in Chile or accepted by the relevant consulate.
5. Prepare supporting category-specific documents — Examples include a work contract or job offer letter, proof of family relationship, proof of investment or income, or retirement income documentation, depending on the visa type.
6. Submit the application — File the documents at a Chilean consulate abroad, or, if you are already legally in Chile, at the Departamento de Extranjería y Migración, and pay the applicable fees.

Required documents

• Passport (6+ months)
• Apostilled criminal record (90 days)
• Apostille and translation
• Proof of income
• Dependents' marriage/birth certificates