Проактивная иммиграционная реформа в Чили: использование политики для экономического роста и инноваций

Chile’s immigration policy under the Kast administration

Chile’s approach to immigration has evolved into one of Latin America’s most investor-friendly frameworks. Following José Antonio Kast’s victory in the December 2025 presidential runoff (58.2% of the vote) and his inauguration on March 11, 2026, the country’s pro-investment immigration stance has been maintained and reinforced. The Republican Party administration combines strict enforcement against irregular migration with continued openness to foreign investors, skilled professionals, and startup founders.

The legal foundation rests on Decree 181/2024 (the National Immigration Policy), published in the Official Journal on December 27, 2023, which remains in force without amendment. This decree explicitly frames immigration as a tool for economic development, directing state agencies to prioritize processing of residence visas for professionals with Chilean employment contracts and foreign investors. Legislative activity in 2025–2026 has focused on border security — Law 21.748 (December 2024) expanded grounds for permit revocation based on criminal convictions, and pending 2026 proposals aim to criminalize illegal border crossings — while leaving the pro-investment visa framework untouched.

The SERMIG–InvestChile–CORFO fast-track system

The operational backbone of Chile’s investor immigration system is a cooperation agreement signed on September 5, 2023, among three agencies: SERMIG (the National Immigration Service), InvestChile (the foreign investment promotion agency), and CORFO/Start-Up Chile (the economic development corporation). This agreement creates a single-track interface for foreign investors and specialized personnel implementing projects in Chile.

Under this system, when InvestChile or CORFO certifies a foreign investor or specialist, SERMIG must process the visa application within 15 working days. This fast-track applies to investor visa applicants sponsored by InvestChile and startup founders or technical staff accepted into Start-Up Chile programs. The agreement remains active under the Kast administration.

Demand for these channels has been strong. Per available InvestChile data, 2,062 expedited visa certifications were processed between August 2022 and August 2023, with nearly a fifth from China (19.6%) and significant volumes from Argentina (13.9%). On the investment side, Chile received over USD 20 billion in FDI in 2022, a 31% year-over-year increase — confirmed by InvestChile’s official Foreign Investment in Chile 2022 report and consistent with OECD and UNCTAD data. Official FDI figures for 2024 and 2025 have not yet been published by InvestChile.

Visa categories for investors and professionals

Investor visa (Inversionista y personal relacionado)

Chile’s investor visa requires a minimum investment of USD 500,000 in productive activity. Passive real estate investment does not qualify. The investment must be directed toward the production of goods or services, as codified in Decree 177/2022 and InvestChile Exempt Resolution No. 144/2022.

The application process begins with obtaining a Carta de Patrocinio (sponsorship letter) from InvestChile. Required documents include a valid passport, a detailed investment plan, proof of source of funds, the InvestChile sponsorship letter, an apostilled criminal background check, and supporting business documentation. Processing takes approximately 90–120 days through standard channels, but when InvestChile certification is secured, the 15-working-day fast-track applies.

Work permit (Visa Sujeta a Contrato)

The employer-sponsored work permit is tied to a specific employer and requires a formal job offer, a labor contract, employer registration with SERMIG, and professional credentials for regulated professions. The visa is typically issued for 1–2 years and is renewable. Standard processing takes 30–45 days.

Remote workers and the digital nomad question

Chile does not have a formal digital nomad visa. Remote workers seeking to live in Chile typically use one of two pathways. The Rentista visa is designed for individuals with demonstrable passive or foreign income, generally requiring proof of approximately USD 1,500–2,000 per month. It does not require a Chilean employer. Alternatively, the Trabajo Independiente (self-employed) visa is available for those with Chilean clients or contracts.

Neither pathway was designed specifically for location-independent workers, and the absence of a dedicated digital nomad visa category is a gap that several competing Latin American jurisdictions have already addressed.

Start-Up Chile and the Visa Tech pathway

Start-Up Chile, operated by CORFO, remains active and accepting applications as of 2026. The program offers equity-free grants through several tracks: BIG (up to approximately USD 80,000 for growth-stage startups), S-Factory (focused on female founders), and SCALE (later-stage growth companies).

What makes Start-Up Chile particularly attractive for immigration purposes is the Visa Tech pathway. Accepted founders and key technical personnel receive a 2-year temporary work visa processed within 15 working days. Unlike the standard investor visa, program acceptance itself triggers the fast-track — a separate InvestChile sponsorship letter is not required. This pathway operates through coordination between Start-Up Chile, InvestChile, and the Undersecretariat of Economy.

Как подать заявку

All visa applications are submitted through the SERMIG online portal at digital.inmigrantes.gob.cl. Some categories require an initial in-person application at a Chilean consulate if the applicant is outside Chile. The general documentation requirements across all visa categories include:

Путь к постоянному месту жительства и гражданству

After 2 continuous years on a temporary residence visa, holders become eligible to apply for permanent residency. The naturalization process opens after 5 years of permanent residence in Chile, requiring a language test (Spanish proficiency) and a formal application through Chile’s civil registry. The total timeline from first entry to citizenship is approximately 7 years under standard conditions.

Note that under the Kast administration, naturalization requirements have not been tightened for investor pathways, though enforcement of existing requirements — including the continuous residence test — has become more rigorous.

Tax framework for foreign residents

Tax residency and the 3-year foreign income exemption

An individual becomes a Chilean tax resident if they remain in the country for more than 183 days within any rolling 12-month period, under the Tax Modernization Act (Law 21.210, enacted in 2020). An independent domicile test also applies, meaning tax residency can be triggered before the 183-day threshold if intent to remain is established.

New foreign residents benefit from a significant tax advantage: during the first 3 years after becoming tax resident, they are taxed only on Chilean-source income. Foreign-source income is exempt during this period. The exemption can be extended to 6 years total by requesting an extension from the SII (Chile’s Internal Revenue Service) before the original 3-year period expires, though approval is discretionary. This exemption has been confirmed as still in force by multiple sources including KPMG and InvestChile.

Ставки подоходного налога

Residents are subject to the Global Complementary Tax on worldwide income (after the exemption period), with progressive rates from 0% to 40%. Non-residents pay a flat 20% withholding on Chilean-source employment income and a standard 35% withholding on passive income, subject to reduction under applicable double tax treaties.

For corporate investors, the combined effective rate is approximately 35%: a 27% first-category corporate tax on profits, plus a 35% additional withholding tax on distributions (with credit for the corporate tax already paid). Chile maintains double tax treaties with the United States (in force January 1, 2024), the UAE (in force January 1, 2023), Spain, and the United Kingdom, among others.

Обязательства по социальному обеспечению

Foreign workers in Chile are subject to mandatory contributions to the AFP (pension) and ISAPRE (health insurance) systems. However, exemptions are available for workers employed by a foreign employer without a Chilean permanent establishment, or where a bilateral social security agreement applies. Work accident and unemployment insurance contributions still apply in most cases. Workers who contributed to AFP despite qualifying for an exemption can apply for a refund upon departure from Chile.

Priority sectors and labor shortages

Chile’s immigration priorities in 2026 are shaped by both long-standing industrial needs and the Kast administration’s economic agenda. The key sectors actively recruiting foreign talent include:

SERMIG maintains an internal service-level agreement of 15-day processing for specialists sponsored through CORFO or InvestChile channels in these priority sectors, particularly for engineers (electrical, mining, civil), AI and data scientists, renewable energy technicians, and healthcare professionals in rural areas.

Chile compared to other South American programs

Chile offers the most stable environment among its South American peers, combining institutional predictability with active investor promotion infrastructure. Argentina offers the fastest path to citizenship (approximately 2 years) but carries extreme economic risk, including currency instability and capital controls. Uruguay provides a balanced middle ground with the fastest citizenship timeline in a stable economy (approximately 3 years), lower costs, and its own tax incentives for new residents. For investors prioritizing regulatory certainty, sectoral alignment, and institutional support, Chile generally leads the region.

For related country guides, see our coverage of вид на жительство, проживание за инвестиции, Регистрация бизнеса и налоговое структурирование.

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