Chile
Chile Mercosur residence
First stay: 2 yrs
Mercosur reciprocity residence (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Mercosur residence is a long-stay route for Chile. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- First stay
- 2 yrs
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Only for passports from 5 countries
What you'll need
Who can apply1
- The applicant is a national of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay or Uruguay.
What you must show1
- The fee depends on the applicant's nationality and is listed in the migration fee schedule; Bolivian nationals pay no application fee.
Documents3
- A passport valid for at least 1 year; Bolivian nationals may use a valid national ID card instead.
- A criminal record certificate from the home country or the country lived in during the last 5 years, issued within 60 days (adults).
- A recent colour photo with white background, uploaded as JPG or PNG; foreign documents must be apostilled or legalised.
Steps1
- The application must be made from abroad on the Digital Procedures Portal of the National Migration Service.
After you arrive1
- The permit can be extended on proof that the activities which justified it continue.
What happens at day 183
How Chile decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
2 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
- More than 183 days in any period of 12 consecutive monthsPresence in Chile, continuous or not, of more than 183 days makes the person resident from the 184th day.
- Foreign-source income
First 3 years Chilean-source
A foreigner who establishes domicile or residence in Chile is taxed only on Chilean-source income for the first three years counted from entry into Chile; the Regional Director may extend that period in qualified cases, and afterwards worldwide income is taxed.
- Special regime
Three years on Chilean-source income only · Tax relief
A foreigner who sets up domicile or residence in Chile pays tax only on Chilean-source income during the first three years from entry; after that, worldwide income is taxed unless the Regional Director grants an extension in qualified cases.
All tax rules for Chile Tax records checked
What you need to arrange
- Certified translation
A recent colour photo with white background, uploaded as JPG or PNG
- Police certificate and civil documents
A criminal record certificate from the home country or the country lived in during the last 5 years, issued within 60 days (adults)
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay can get a temporary residence of up to 2 years in Chile under the Mercosur residence agreement, applied for from abroad. 1 2
Requirements
- The applicant is a national of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay or Uruguay. 1 2
- The fee depends on the applicant's nationality and is listed in the migration fee schedule; Bolivian nationals pay no application fee. 1
- A passport valid for at least 1 year; Bolivian nationals may use a valid national ID card instead. 1
- A criminal record certificate from the home country or the country lived in during the last 5 years, issued within 60 days (adults). 1
- A recent colour photo with white background, uploaded as JPG or PNG; foreign documents must be apostilled or legalised. 1
- The application must be made from abroad on the Digital Procedures Portal of the National Migration Service. 1
- The permit can be extended on proof that the activities which justified it continue. 1
Stay
- Temporary residence of up to 2 years; extension possible on request.
- Initial permitted stay: 24 months.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Open to: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay.
Work
Holders may carry out lawful paid activities in Chile.
Family
Family members who meet article 74 numbers 1 and 2 of Law 21.325 can receive a temporary residence as dependants.
Official sources
- Mercosur: Visa de residencia por reciprocidad internacional · Servicio Nacional de Migraciones, Chile · checked 2026-10-10
- Acuerdos internacionales · Servicio Nacional de Migraciones, Chile · checked 2026-10-10
Mercosur residence and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercosur residence | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Visa-free stay Mexico | – | 6 mo | No |
| Andean free movement Colombia | – | 2 yr | Yes |
| Free movement by treaty Brazil | – | – | – |
| Mercosur residence Argentina | – | 2 yr, renewable | Yes |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Mercosur residence?
Temporary residence of up to 2 years; extension possible on request.
Can I work on the Mercosur residence?
Holders may carry out lawful paid activities in Chile.
Can I bring my family on the Mercosur residence?
Family members who meet article 74 numbers 1 and 2 of Law 21.325 can receive a temporary residence as dependants.
Who can apply for the Mercosur residence?
Nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Open to: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay.
Is there a tax break for Mercosur residence holders in Chile?
Chilean income tax: three years on Chilean-source income only for new residents (Ley de la Renta art. 3): A foreigner who sets up domicile or residence in Chile pays tax only on Chilean-source income during the first three years from entry; after that, worldwide income is taxed unless the Regional Director grants an extension in qualified cases. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Chilean income tax: three years on Chilean-source income only for new residents (Ley de la Renta art. 3)
Tax relief
Details
- On: Chilean-source income during the first three years
- Who: Foreign national who establishes domicile or residence in Chile
A foreigner who sets up domicile or residence in Chile pays tax only on Chilean-source income during the first three years from entry; after that, worldwide income is taxed unless the Regional Director grants an extension in qualified cases.
Taxed on
Chilean-source income during the first three years; worldwide income afterwards.
Who it applies to
- Foreign national who establishes domicile or residence in Chile.
- The three years count from the date of entry into Chile.
Exclusions
- Chilean-source income remains taxable from the start.
- Chilean nationals who recover domicile or residence in Chile are not covered.
Days in the country
- More than 183 days in any period of 12 consecutive months · Presence in Chile, continuous or not, of more than 183 days makes the person resident from the 184th day.
Tax residence
A person present in Chile for more than 183 days, continuous or not, within any 12 consecutive months is resident from the 184th day; domicile is a separate test. The three-year period runs from entry into Chile whether or not residence or domicile has yet been established.
Visas
The rule depends on domicile or residence, not on the type of temporary residence.
Other taxes
Extension of the three-year period must be requested from the Regional Director.
Checked against official sources on Change log
Similar visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-10 against 2 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Mercosur: Visa de residencia por reciprocidad internacional · Servicio Nacional de Migraciones, Chile · checked 2026-10-10
- Acuerdos internacionales · Servicio Nacional de Migraciones, Chile · checked 2026-10-10
Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.