Chile · Work
Chile Paid work residence
First stay: 2 yrs
Residencia Temporal — Actividades lícitas remuneradas (subcategoría 2)
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Paid work residence is a work route for Chile. Local work: limited. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- First stay
- 2 yrs
Time and long term
RenewalRenewable
An employee permit lasts up to 2 years and can be extended for successive 2-year periods.
Permanent residenceAfter 2 years of residence
You can apply for Residencia Definitiva after 24 months of temporary residence; the period can be as short as 12 months for some circumstances, and longer if income, work stability or absences are a concern.
CitizenshipGeneral rule: 5 years of residence
The Carta de Nacionalización needs Residencia Definitiva plus 5 years of residence in Chile since obtaining the electronic residence stamp.
Where to applyFrom abroad
This temporary residence application can only be made from outside Chile, through the online portal.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Applications are made from outside Chile, not after arriving
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Chile
- Work rights are limited
What you'll need
Documents1
- An employment contract or services contract is required, with the employer's legal documents and tax folder.
Steps2
- With a job offer, a 90-day permit is granted first.
- The contract must be filed within 45 days of entry.
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
Full official text
Temporary residence for paid work as an employee of an employer with a domicile or branch in Chile, or with a formal job offer, or self-employed with a services contract. 1
Requirements
- An employment contract or services contract is required, with the employer's legal documents and tax folder. 1
- With a job offer, a 90-day permit is granted first. 1
- The contract must be filed within 45 days of entry. 1
Stay
- Permit of up to 2 years when employed, extendable for successive 2-year periods.
- Initial permitted stay: 24 months.
- Visa validity: 24 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Work
Paid work in Chile. A holder of the temporary residence may change employer without informing the migration service; only the 90-day permit granted on a job offer ties the contract to the employer that made the offer.
Family
Dependants can apply under the dependant status of the temporary residence.
Official sources
- Residencia Temporal — Actividades lícitas remuneradas (subcategoría 2) · Servicio Nacional de Migraciones · checked 2026-10-12
- Residencia Definitiva en Chile · Servicio Nacional de Migraciones (Chile) · checked 2026-10-11
- Solicitud de Carta de Nacionalización · ChileAtiende (Government of Chile) · checked 2026-10-11
Paid work residence and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid work residence | – | 2 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Investor's staff residence | – | – | – |
| Job-offer residence Mexico | – | 4 yr | – |
| Internationalisation visa M Colombia | – | 3 yr | – |
| Scientist/professional permit Costa Rica | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Paid work residence?
Permit of up to 2 years when employed, extendable for successive 2-year periods.
Can I work on the Paid work residence?
Limited. Paid work in Chile.
Can I bring my family on the Paid work residence?
Dependants can apply under the dependant status of the temporary residence.
Does the Paid work residence lead to permanent residence in Chile?
Time on the Paid work residence counts toward permanent residence in Chile, which the rules allow after 2 years of residence. The general rule for citizenship is 5 years of residence.
Is there a tax break for Paid work 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
Work 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 2026-10-12 against 3 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.
- Residencia Temporal — Actividades lícitas remuneradas (subcategoría 2) · Servicio Nacional de Migraciones · checked 2026-10-12
- Residencia Definitiva en Chile · Servicio Nacional de Migraciones (Chile) · checked 2026-10-11
- Solicitud de Carta de Nacionalización · ChileAtiende (Government of Chile) · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. 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.