Chile
Living, work, immigration, education & business — official links and practical guides
Key Facts
Basics
Currency
CLP
Region
South America
Local time
UTC-3
America/Santiago
Economy
Population
19.76M
GDP (current US$)
$330.27B
GDP per capita
$16,710
Source: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0) · 2024 · Last checked: 2026-07-06
Tax snapshot
Corporate tax
27%
VAT
19%
Top individual income tax
40%
Capital-gains tax
10%
- Shares with stock-market presence pay a 10% sole tax (art. 107 LIR); under the National Reconstruction Law passed in August 2026 these gains become non-taxable from 1 January 2027. Other gains are taxed as income, up to 40%. Corporate is 27% under the general regime and 25% under the Pro Pyme regime for smaller companies. Gains are taxed as ordinary income, so the capital-gains figure tracks the personal top rate.
Source: National tax authority · Cross-check: OECD · PwC · KPMG · Last checked: 2026-07-16
Headline statutory rates. The income-tax figure includes national surtaxes; any regional or municipal layer is shown beside it. Social contributions and reliefs are excluded. Verify the current rate with the authority before relying on it.
At a glance
The region's most predictable institutions and easiest place to run a company — with a residence system that was rebuilt to require applying from abroad, which catches out anyone following older guidance.
Best for
Professionals with a signed contract, founders using it as a regional base, and Mercosur nationals.
Who this may not suit
People expecting to change status from inside the country — several routes now require applying from a consulate abroad before you arrive.
Main routes in
Temporary residence for professionals Based on a signed contract or recognised qualification; applied for from outside the country. Mercosur nationality route A simplified process for nationals of member and associated states. Investor / company route Company formation is fast, and supports residence for founders.
Key trade-offs
- You generally cannot enter as a tourist and switch to residence in-country — the rules were changed specifically to stop that.
- Santiago's housing and schooling costs are high relative to regional salaries.
- Spanish is needed for administration and most employment outside a few international firms.
First steps
- 1 Apply from outside the country — this is the single most common mistake with Chile.
- 2 Apostille and translate your qualifications and police record before applying.
- 3 Register with the police and obtain your identity card after arrival.
- 4 Get a RUT tax number — banking, contracts and utilities all depend on it.
What changes often
- · Temporary-residence subcategories and their criteria
- · Consular-only application rules for some permits
- · Processing backlogs at the migration service
The residence system was restructured and older guides are unreliable — confirm current categories and where to apply with the Servicio Nacional de Migraciones. Servicio Nacional de Migraciones ↗
Major cities
All cities (5) →Living
Housing
Renting and buying property in Chile — typical rents, deposits, contracts, and official tenancy rules.
Healthcare
How the Chile healthcare system works — public vs private care, eligibility, and costs for residents and visitors.
Insurance
Insurance in Chile — health, travel, and digital-nomad cover, what is mandatory, and how to choose a plan.
Work
Jobs
Where to find jobs in Chile — major job boards, in-demand sectors, and how to apply.
Employers
Major employers hiring in Chile, with links to their official careers pages.
Government Jobs
Public-sector and civil-service hiring in Chile — the official government job portal.
Salaries
Typical salaries by role in Chile — pay ranges, taxes, and cost-of-living context.
Immigration & Mobility
Work Visa
Work permit categories, eligibility, sponsorship, application steps, and processing times.
Startup Visa
Entrepreneur and startup visa programs, investment thresholds, and application criteria.
Student Visa
Student visa categories, eligibility, required documents, work rights, and application steps.
Tourist Visa
Tourist and visitor visa requirements, visa-free entry, duration, and application steps.
Permanent Residency
Permanent-residence routes: eligibility, required years of residence, and the official application steps — including any investment routes where a country offers them.
Citizenship
Naturalization rules: required residence years, language and civics requirements, and each country's dual-citizenship policy.
Employment & Labor
Hiring rules, employment contracts, payroll, social insurance, and EOR options.
Digital Nomad Visa
Remote-work visa programs, income requirements, duration, taxes, and application steps.
Education
Universities
Top universities in Chile, admissions, tuition, and international-student support.
Online Courses
Online learning relevant to Chile — accredited platforms, local MOOCs, and language courses.
Scholarships
Scholarships and financial aid for studying in Chile — government, university, and international programs.
Study Abroad
How to study in Chile as an international student — application steps, student visas, and living costs.
Business
Company Registration
Entity types, registration process, required documents, costs, and official registries.
Business Banking
Opening business and personal bank accounts, remote options, required documents, and fees.
Investment
Foreign investment rules, incentives, investment promotion agencies, and restricted sectors.
Tax System
Corporate tax, VAT/GST, personal income tax, capital gains, and filing obligations.
Import & Export
Customs procedures, duties, de minimis thresholds, EORI/registration, and restricted goods.
Trademark & IP
Trademark registration, patents, copyright, official IP offices, and filing costs.
Compliance
Corporate, tax, employment, data-protection, AML/KYC, trade and AI compliance — official regulators and registries.
Corporate Compliance
Annual filings, registered-agent and beneficial-ownership obligations, and the official company registry.
Tax Compliance
Filing calendars, registration thresholds and the official tax authority.
Employment Compliance
Mandatory contracts, payroll and social-insurance registration, and the official labor authority.
Privacy & Data Protection
The country's own data-protection regime, registration duties, and its official supervisory authority.
AML & KYC
Anti-money-laundering and customer-due-diligence obligations, regulated activities, and the official financial regulator.
Import & Export Compliance
Customs registration, controlled/restricted goods, sanctions screening, and the official customs authority.
AI Regulations
The country's own AI governance approach, risk tiers, transparency duties, and its official authority.