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PERMANENT RESIDENCE

Permanent Residence in Chile allows a foreigner who previously had temporary residence to reside in Chile indefinitely and engage in any legal activity in the country. Permanent residence cannot be obtained without first having temporary residence in Chile.
Additionally, to apply for permanent residence, the foreigner must have completed a certain period of stay in the country during the temporary residence period, along with the necessary requirements that vary according to the type of temporary visa the applicant had.
To apply for Permanent Residence, temporary residents must have resided in the country in that capacity for at least 24 months. According to Article 79 of Law 21.325 on Migration and Foreigners and Article 66 of its Regulations, the necessary residence period to apply for

 

Permanent Residence can be 12 months under the following personal circumstances of the foreigner:

  • Family ties with nationals or permanent residents.

  • Official missions carried out in Chile.

  • Availability of income or pensions.

  • Investments made and/or companies demonstrating effective operation in Chile.

  • Contribution to the social, cultural, artistic, scientific, and/or sports field.

  • Other cases provided for in International Agreements ratified by Chile and in force.


Depending on the time of absence from the country, a specific number of months of residence is required to apply for Permanent Residence. The application for permanent residence must generally be submitted within the 90 days before the expiration of the current temporary visa. If the granted temporary residence period is exceeded, a new application cannot be submitted without paying a fine, a process in which we can also assist our clients. To maintain this benefit, the resident cannot be absent from the country for a continuous period exceeding two years. If this basic requirement cannot be met, an extension must be requested through the nearest Chilean consulate within sixty days before the expiration of this period. This extension will be granted only once and will be valid for two years. If the extension
is exceeded and the individual does not travel to Chile, permanent residence is automatically revoked.

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