Chile – COVID-19: Borders Reopened, New Consular Visa Rules

The Chilean government announced the reopening of Chile’s borders for nonresident foreign nationals¹ and made modifications to the Plan de Fronteras Protegidas (Plan for the Protection of Borders), which regulates entry into and departure from Chile.²  (For prior coverage, see GMS Flash Alert 2021-200, July 15, 2021.)

The government has also been rejecting some ongoing consular residence visa requests made prior to 2021,and requesting additional and updated information for consular visa requests made after this date but prior to the closure of borders on April 5, 2021.

The reopening of Chilean borders allowing travel into and out of the country will benefit companies with internationally-mobile workforces. This measure will have a positive impact on companies with expatriate populations in terms of future assignments inbound to or outbound from Chile.

Employees and their families who may have received offers for an international assignment to Chile will be allowed to resume the plans for their assignments and relocate to Chile.

Companies with a global presence and individuals operating across borders need to continue to be aware of the relevant risks associated with travel, large-crowd events and conferences, and changed work arrangements resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Possible rejections of or requests to provide updated documentation for ongoing consular residence visa requests made after the reopening of borders will add additional steps for these processes, which may delay relocation plans and assignation start dates. Therefore, companies, employees and their families may need to adjust their mobilization schedules accordingly.

Starting October 1, 2021, nonresident foreign nationals are able to come into the country if they comply with the following mandatory requirements: ³

1.     Complete a sworn affidavit at https://www.c19.cl/ within the 48 hours prior to boarding the flight to Chile.

2.     Show proof of a negative PCR test for SARS COV-2 attached to the sworn affidavit, which must be taken within the 72 hours prior to boarding the flight to Chile.

3.     Provide proof of an international health insurance policy with a minimum coverage of USD 30,000 for COVID-19-related medical coverage and repatriation purposes in case of death. 

4.     Have a valid Chilean Mobility Pass (Pase de Movilidad), an electronic mobility permit that can be obtained with a complete vaccination scheme. Vaccination schemes completed abroad can be validated at https://mevacuno.gob.cl/. In accordance with the government announcement, the validation of the vaccination scheme can take up to 30 days; which if approved, will produce a Chilean Mobility Pass.

In addition to this announcement, the government made changes to the Plan de Fronteras Protegidas, which regulates the entries/departures into/from Chile. These changes are effective starting October 1. Changes include:

1.     Antofagasta and Iquique airports will allow international travel, in addition to the international ports of entry/departure, which currently include Arturo Merino Benítez International Santiago airport.

2.     Quarantine periods upon entry will be modified as follows: any person with a valid Mobility Pass will be required to undergo a strict 5-day quarantine, whereas Chilean nationals and resident foreign nationals without a Mobility Pass will be required to quarantine for 7 days.

3.     Quarantining at an authorized hotel will no longer be mandatory. Travelers will now be allowed to quarantine at their private place of residence or at any hotel of their choice. The chosen place of quarantine must be previously supplied on the sworn affidavit completed at https://www.c19.cl/, prior to traveling to Chile.

4.     If the traveler chooses to keep quarantine in a private household cohabitating with other people, these persons will be equally required to quarantine for the same period.

5.     After the entry into Chile, transportation to the declared place of quarantine must be done immediately and through private transport. Interaction with other people and stay-overs in a different location are prohibited.

6.     All prior health follow up measures for travelers will continue to be valid: completion of a daily questionnaire sent to the traveler’s personal email, possible domiciliary inspections by health officials, and random testing resulting in isolation in an authorized sanitary residence in case of a confirmed positive case of COVID-19.

7.     Nonresident foreign nationals will not encounter special restrictions for departing the country. However, Chilean nationals and resident foreign nationals will not be allowed to depart the country unless they can show proof of a valid Mobility Pass. Without this document, travelers will need to request a special exit permit at https://comisariavirtual.cl provided they qualify for an exceptional circumstance, which includes: a fundamental need for the country’s benefit, humanitarian and essential health reasons, or departing without the intention of reentering.

Additional changes will be effective starting November 1. Changes include:

1      Children under six (6) years old will be able to leave Chile through the designated airports with no need to have a Mobility Pass. Upon their return to the country, both these minors and their cohabitants must undergo a quarantine of seven (7) days.

2      Travelers entering Chile with a valid Mobility Pass may terminate their quarantine period at any time after receiving a negative result for a PCR SARS COV-2 test taken in Chile.

We have noticed that Consular authorities have come to a decision, in some cases, to reject ongoing consular residence visa requests that were made last year. In those cases, new submissions will be necessary. Whereas, for requests made during 2021, prior to the closure of borders enacted on April 5, 2021, updated medical certificates, updated support letters and updated apostilled or legalized police clearance certificates have been required to continue processing ongoing visa requests.

Moreover, in continuance with the vaccination scheme validity plan for tourists, we believe it is likely that for all consular residence visa requests, the Chilean Mobility Pass (Pase de Movilidad) will be required in the future prior to the visa stamp or entry into Chile for all approved requests.

1  See the official government decree (in Spanish) published in Chile’s Diario Oficial.

2  See the official government updated Fronteras Protegidas plan (in Spanish).

3  See the official government resolution (in Spanish) published in Chile’s Diario Oficial.

* Please note the KPMG International member firm in the United States does not provide immigration or labor law services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.

The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Chile.