Chile spouse visa (family reunification residence)

The applicant must prove a tie with a Chilean or with a foreigner who holds definitive residence, as one of the following: spouse, or a partner in a relationship that under the applicable law has effects equivalent to marriage, such as a Chilean civil union (Acuerdo de Unión Civil); a single child under 24 who is studying; or a minor under the sponsor's personal care or guardianship.

For relatives of temporary residents the route is different: they apply as dependants of the temporary resident, with permits that depend on the holder's.

Spouses submit the marriage certificate between the applicant and the Chilean or the resident; civil partners submit the civil union certificate; children submit their birth certificate. All add an identity document (a valid passport when applying from abroad, a valid national ID when applying in Chile) and, if over 18, a criminal record certificate from the country of origin or of residence in the last five years.

A marriage celebrated abroad is proved with an apostilled or legalised marriage certificate; documents not in Spanish or English need an official translation. Public documents must be uploaded within 60 days of issue, as PDFs.

On SERMIG's Portal de Trámites Digitales choose 'Residencia Temporal en el extranjero' if you are outside Chile or 'Residencia Temporal en Chile' if you are inside, logging in with ClaveÚnica or a portal account. Family reunification is one of the exceptions that allow a person on a transitory stay to apply without leaving. From abroad you pay the fee in the Treasury (TGR) portal before sending; inside Chile you are asked to pay only after a favourable assessment.

Once granted, a permit requested from abroad starts on entry to Chile, within 90 days of downloading the electronic stamp; a permit requested in Chile starts when you download the stamp. Book a Civil Registry appointment within 30 days to get your identity card.

The permit can be renewed for two years at a time. After at least 24 months of temporary residence you can apply for definitive residence within the 90 days before the renewal deadline; the period can be shortened to 12 months in circumstances listed in Article 79 of Law 21.325. For a tie with a Chilean, the definitive residence application includes the marriage or civil union certificate and the Chilean partner's birth certificate. The definitive residence fee, CLP 142,726 in general, does not apply to spouses of Chileans.