🇨🇱 Chile visa for Canada citizens

Most North Americans and Europeans can waltz into Chile for up to 90 days visa-free. Some others get less. Don't assume you're covered until you check your passport.

Who gets a free pass (and for how long)?

Citizens of the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and most of Western Europe generally don't need a visa for short tourist stays in Chile. You’ll get a stamp good for 90 days upon arrival. This is usually extendable for another 90 days, but you need to apply for that extension before your initial 90 days are up. Check with the PDI (Policía de Investigaciones de Chile) or the Department of Immigration.

A smaller group of countries, primarily in South America, also enjoy visa-free entry, often for similar 90-day periods.

Then there are countries whose citizens do need to apply for a tourist visa in advance. This typically involves an application at a Chilean embassy or consulate in your home country. The process can take a couple of weeks, so plan ahead if you’re not from a visa-exempt nation.

Staying longer: The 90-day rule and its quirks

That 90-day tourist stamp is your baseline. The catch? You can only extend it once for another 90 days within a 12-month period. So, you can’t just keep renewing indefinitely to live there long-term on a tourist visa. If you overstay, penalties can be steep. While specific fines can vary, expect to be denied re-entry for a period, and potentially face a daily fine. For instance, overstaying by just a few days could incur fines around $200 USD or more, on top of being escorted to the airport. Always get an exit stamp when you leave Chile, even if you’re just heading to Argentina for a weekend trip; this proves you left within your legal stay and helps avoid issues on your next entry.

Can I actually work remotely on a tourist stamp?

This is where it gets murky. Officially, working for a foreign company while on a Chilean tourist visa is a legal grey area. You're not supposed to be employed by a Chilean company, but working remotely for a company based elsewhere? Most digital nomads do it. Enforcement is generally light, especially outside of Santiago. Immigration officials are more concerned with people working illegally for local businesses. As long as you're not drawing attention, paying your taxes in your home country, and can show you have sufficient funds to support yourself, you're probably fine. However, if you plan to stay longer than six months or want to formalize your situation, you'll need to look into other visa options, like a remote worker visa if Chile offers one, or a digital nomad visa.

What’s new with Chile’s entry rules?

Chile rolled out an eVisa system in recent years, aiming to streamline the application process for certain nationalities who require a visa. This means you can often apply and pay for your tourist visa online, saving a trip to the consulate. The fees for these eVisa applications can fluctuate but are typically in the $40-$60 USD range. Keep an eye on the official Chilean government immigration website for the most current information, as programmes and fees can change without much notice. They sometimes add or remove countries from visa-waiver lists, or adjust the duration of stay allowed. Always check the latest requirements before booking flights.