Effective from September 17, 2025, Chilean Decree No. 359 introduced a mandatory prior authorization or visa requirement for nationals of 104 specified countries seeking entry and stay in Chile under the “Temporary Stay Permit” category.  This policy is enacted under Article 27(2) of “Law No. 21.325 on Migration and Foreigners,”1 which allows the Chilean government to impose such requirements for reasons of national interest or international reciprocity.

      Notably, Australia has been exempted from the list due to reciprocity considerations.  The regulation also provides for exemptions for nationals covered by specific international agreements or treaties.

      The measure aims to foster safe, orderly, and regular migration, aligning with Chile’s national migration and foreign policy objectives. 


      WHY THIS MATTERS

      Nationals of the listed countries must now secure prior authorization or a visa from a Chilean consulate before entering and staying in Chile on a Temporary Stay Permit, representing a substantive change in entry procedures.

      This change could mean extra administrative steps and the implementation of new procedures and costs for travelers and for the companies sending them.

      This requirement may necessitate adjustments to travel planning, compliance processes, and operational protocols, especially for businesses, educational institutions, and NGOs facilitating international mobility.  The measure could impact the speed and predictability of travel and affect cross-border activities.  


      More Details

      The decree is the result of coordinated efforts among the Ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs, and the National Migration Service (Servicio Nacional de Migraciones), following comprehensive technical and policy reviews.  The decree specifies the administrative procedures and responsible authorities for processing applications, and it reaffirms that the inclusion or exclusion of countries is based on national interest and reciprocity principles.

      List of Affected Countries

      Nationals from 104 countries must obtain prior authorization or a visa for Temporary Stay Permits (see the table below).  Australia is specifically exempted based on reciprocity.

      Afghanistan

      Democratic Republic of the Congo (ex Zaire, ex Kinshasa)

      Iran

      Mauritania

      Sierra Leone

      Angola

      Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville)

      Comoros

      Micronesia (Federated States of)

      Syria

      Saudi Arabia

      North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea)

      Marshall Islands

      Mozambique

      Somalia

      Algeria

      Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

      Solomon Islands

      Myanmar

      Sri Lanka

      Armenia

      Cuba

      Jordan

      Namibia

      Sudan

      Azerbaijan

      Djibouti

      Kazakhstan

      Nauru

      South Sudan

      Bahrain

      Dominica

      Kenya

      Nepal

      Tanzania

      Bangladesh

      Egypt

      Kyrgyzstan

      Niger

      Tajikistan

      Belarus

      Eritrea

      Kiribati

      Nigeria

      Timor-Leste (East Timor)

      Benin

      Eswatini (Swaziland)

      Kosovo

      Oman

      Togo

      Bhutan

      Ethiopia

      Kuwait

      Pakistan

      Tunisia

      Botswana

      Philippines

      Laos

      Palau

      Turkmenistan

      Brunei Darussalam

      Gabon

      Lesotho

      Palestine

      Tuvalu

      Burkina Faso

      Gambia

      Lebanon

      Papua New Guinea

      Uganda

      Burundi

      Ghana

      Liberia

      Central African Republic

      Uzbekistan

      Cabo Verde

      Guinea

      Libya

      Dominican Republic

      Vanuatu

      Cambodia

      Guinea-Bissau

      Madagascar

      Rwanda

      Venezuela

      Cameroon

      Equatorial Guinea

      Malawi

      Samoa

      Yemen

      Qatar

      Haiti

      Maldives

      São Tomé and Príncipe

      Zambia

      Chad

      India

      Mali

      Senegal

      Zimbabwe

      China (People’s Republic)

      Iraq

      Morocco

      Seychelles

       

      Administrative Procedures

      Applications must be processed through Chilean consulates abroad, with oversight by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Migration Service.

       


      KPMG INSIGHTS

      In light of this development, organizations and entities may wish to consider the following:

      • Review the list of affected countries and update travel policies and advisories accordingly.  Moreover, the entity may wish to provide targeted guidance and support to nationals from the listed countries, including assistance with consular processes.
      • Coordinate with legal counsel or migration experts to foster compliance and ascertain alternative “paths” where possible. 
      • Educational institutions and NGOs may wish to communicate the changes proactively to students, staff, and partners from the aforementioned countries with plans to travel to Chile.

      Affected parties may also wish to monitor official updates and maintain ongoing engagement with relevant authorities.  Further changes to the list of countries may occur.

      If travelers and employers sending employees from the aforementioned countries have any questions or concerns about how this decree will affect them and what next steps they should consider, they may consult with their qualified immigration adviser or a member of the immigration team with KPMG in Chile (see the Contacts section).


      FOOTNOTE:

      1  Ministerio del Interior, Decreto 359 ESTABLECE AUTORIZACIÓN PREVIA O VISA PARA EL INGRESO Y ESTADÍA EN CHILE DE TITULARES DE PERMISO DE PERMANENCIA TRANSITORIA QUE SEAN NACIONALES DE LOS PAÍSES QUE INDICA…  Decree 359, published on the website of Biblioteca Nacional del Congreso de Chile, on September 17, 2025.  Please note that the decree was promulgated in November 2024, but did not take effect until September 17, 2025.

      Contacts

      Maria Villar

      Managing Director, Tax

      KPMG in Chile

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

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