Visa Requirements for Chilean Citizens
Visa requirements for Chilean citizens are the set lists of documents needed upon crossing the border with foreign countries by citizens of Chile.
Each country pre-establishes its own rules and regulations applicable for different nationalities visiting them.
As of now, Chilean citizens can travel abroad using four different types of entry. Most countries welcome Chilean passport holders to enter visa-free, which eliminates the need to apply for any type of visa. However, still, a few documents validating one’s purpose of the visit may be needed.
33 countries have an electronic visa system in place, with Chilean citizens eligible to apply online before the planned trip takes place. Handling one’s visa online is extremely simple since the whole process can be completed within minutes without leaving home!
There is also a visa type offered upon completing an application process on arrival at the selected destination, which is simply called a Visa on Arrival. This visa type eliminates the need to handle a visa before departure. However, it is often connected with long waiting lines and the stress of obtaining a visa at the very last minute.
Lastly, there are 37 countries that still require Chilean citizens to present a valid Embassy visa upon arrival. A regular or traditional visa is the most difficult one to obtain, and getting one can take even up to a few weeks.
Further information on each type of entry available for citizens of Chile, specific visa requirements, and lists of countries for each entry type is available below.
Electronic visa
eVisa is an electronic alternative to regular visas that are stamped into the traveler’s passport. eVisas are obtainable entirely online after following a quick 3-step application process. Most electronic visa applications are approved within 72 hours ending with the processed document arriving at the traveler’s email address.
List of countries offering an eVisa for Chilean citizens
- Angola
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Benin
- Cambodia
- Canada
- Djibouti
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Guinea-Bissau
- Iran
- Ivory Coast
- Kenya
- Laos
- Lesotho
- Madagascar
- Myanmar
- New Zealand
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Suriname
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- USA
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
33 countries make it possible for travelers from Chile to apply for their visas online. Visiting any of the above-listed destinations should be preceded by an eVisa application completed online.
Issued eVisa allows its holders to stay abroad for a short period of time that can range between 14 and even 120 days. The exact length of the maximum permitted stay depends on the selected country.
With a selected destination, a valid passport, an active email address, and access to any online payment method, Chilean citizens can start the eVisa application process online. Most countries do not require any additional documents to be attached; thus, applying takes minutes!
Approved eVisa will then be delivered to each applicant via email in PDF form and should be presented upon arrival to the customs officials. Moreover, issued electronic visa usually allows travelers to enjoy all leisure, professional, and transit-related trips.
This means that eVisas make it possible to go abroad for a business trip, as well as on a relaxing getaway, a family reunion, or simply layover while transiting.
Visa on Arrival
A Visa on Arrival is a short-term (usually 30, 60, or 90 days) issued after one’s arrival travel authorization that can be used for leisure, business, or transit trips abroad. VoAs are handled at the border control checkpoint and often require travelers to provide numerous supporting documents to their application.
List of countries that offer a Visa on Arrival for Chilean citizens
- Angola
- Armenia
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Benin
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde
- Comoros
- Egypt
- Guinea-Bissau
- Iran
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- The Maldives
- The Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Rwanda
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
- Tanzania
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
36 countries allow Chilean passport holders to apply for their visas after arriving at the border. This helps to avoid applying for a visa prior to the planned trip when visiting any of the above-listed destinations.
It’s worth noting that even though VoAs can be obtained after arrival, it does not mean that all visa preparations can be omitted before departure. Travelers should still check if there are any documents that they need to attach to their VoA application for successful approval and prepare them before departing.
Next, once arrived at the selected destination, each traveler should complete the VoA application form and make sure that all the details provided are correct. Filled application forms should be submitted along with the required supporting documents (if any).
Sometimes, the border point officials may require travelers to cover the VoA issuing fee, which may be requested in cash (often in local currency). After that, applicants should simply wait for the approval.
The main downside of applying for a Visa on Arrival is the long waiting lines after arriving at the chosen destination and the uncertainty of traveling unprepared.
However, this can be easily omitted by using eVisas, which are offered by many of the VoA countries as an additional option for travelers. These destinations include Armenia, Bahrain, Benin, Cambodia, Iran, Guinea-Bissau, Laos, Madagascar, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and other.
Embassy visa
An Embassy visa is a regular, traditional visa that is usually stamped into the traveler’s passport after completing a complex application process at an Embassy or a Consulate. This visa type can be issued for both short and long-term stays, including those relating to working or studying abroad.
List of countries that require Chilean citizens to present a valid Embassy visa upon arrival
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Australia
- Bhutan
- Brunei
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- The Central African Republic
- Chad
- China
- The Republic of the Congo
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Cuba
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Iraq
- Kiribati
- Kuwait
- Liberia
- Libya
- Mali
- Nauru
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tonga
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
- Yemen
37 countries have made it a requirement for Chilean citizens visiting to have a valid Embassy visa upon arrival.
When planning a trip from Chile to any of the above-listed destinations, travelers must first apply for a regular visa at an Embassy. The first step to every visa application process is checking the requirements for the selected visa type.
Once the Embassy visa type has been selected (visa type should correlate with one’s purpose of visit), the appropriate documents should be prepared. The supporting paperwork can include various documents, such as proof of hotel bookings, sufficient funds for the trip, return ticket, one’s family history, birth certificate, and other.
Next, thoroughly completed Embassy visa application forms along with the required paperwork should be submitted at an Embassy or Consulate for approval. Additional steps, such as an in-person visa interview or visa issuing fee coverage, may also be required.
It’s best to start applying for an Embassy visa at least a few weeks before the planned trip, in some cases even months. The whole application process with preparations, as well as the processing time alone, may take a few weeks.
Visa-free countries
Currently, there are 100 countries that grant citizens of Chile visa-free entry. Some welcome Chilean citizens based only on their valid ID cards, other need a valid passport and a few supporting documents.
List of visa-free countries for Chilean citizens
- Albania
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- The Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominica
- The Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Eswatini
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guayana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- The Netherlands
- Nicaragua
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- The Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Russia
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- The United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
- Vietnam
Citizens of Chile visiting the above-listed countries do not need to handle a visa. Moreover, some destinations specify that the only document needed for entry is a valid ID. Destinations that allow Chilean citizens to visit on the basis of their ID are those included in the Mercosur agreement, which is a South American trade bloc, also known as the Southern Common Market.
Chile, along with 8 other countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru), makes up the Mercosur common market, allowing its citizens to stay in these destinations with a valid ID on hand.
Moreover, these countries make it possible for their citizens to visit each territory even for the purpose of finding employment without the need to handle any visa or provide any additional documents besides a valid ID.
Later on, the Common Market countries allow citizens of the participating destinations to handle a permanent residency easily.
Other countries offering a visa-free entry for citizens of Chile require a valid passport that will not expire throughout the whole duration of the planned trip. Additional supporting documents may also be required to help further validate the purpose of the visit. These documents may include hotel bookings, return tickets, or proof of having sufficient funds.
Visa-free countries allow all leisure, business, and transit-related short-term stays. Going on vacation, visiting one’s friends and family living abroad, taking a business trip, or simply having a layover while transiting to an onward destination is effortless with visa-free travel.