Republic of Chile vs Republic of Peru
A neutral side-by-side of immigration systems, routes and regulators. Each row links to the underlying visa page with its primary government source.
Last reviewed:
Republic of Chile
Chile administers immigration through the Servicio Nacional de Migraciones (SERMIG) under the 2021 migration reform, Ley 21.325. Most foreigners progress through a tiered system — Permanencia Transitoria, then Residencia Temporal, then Residencia Definitiva — with the headline routes being temporary residence for lawful remunerated work, employment-opportunity seekers, investors, family reunification and students.
- Official portal
- Servicio Nacional de Migraciones (Chile)
- Languages
- Spanish
- Currency
- Chilean peso
Republic of Peru
Peru administers residence through the Superintendencia Nacional de Migraciones, with the system governed by Legislative Decree 1350. Headline routes include the Trabajador (worker) residence, the accessible Rentista (independent-means) route, investor and family residence, and permanent residence. A new citizenship law (Law 32421, 2025) moves naturalisation to a uniform five years once its regulations are in force.
- Official portal
- Superintendencia Nacional de Migraciones (Peru)
- Languages
- Spanish, Quechua
- Currency
- Peruvian sol
How Republic of Chile and Republic of Peru differ
| Dimension | Republic of Chile | Republic of Peru |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 5 | 6 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 3 | 4 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 4 | 5 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | — | — |
| Dominant skilled visa | Temporary Residence - Lawful Remunerated Activities | Worker Resident (Trabajador Residente) |
| Skilled visa salary minimum | — | — |
| Skilled visa processing time | — | — |
| Skilled visa government fees | — | — |
| Official languages | Spanish | Spanish, Quechua |
| Currency | Chilean peso | Peruvian sol |
| Primary regulator | CACh | CAL |
| Policy changes (last 12 months) | 0 | 1 |
Skilled-route head-to-head
Comparing each country’s most-used skilled-migration route side by side.
Routes unique to Republic of Chile
Visa routes side by side
Republic of Chile (5)
Temporary Residence - Lawful Remunerated Activities
Sponsor · To settlement · Temporary residence valid up to 2 years; counts toward Residencia Definitiva after roughly 24 months.
Temporary Residence - Employment Opportunity
No sponsor · To settlement · Temporary residence valid up to 2 years; counts toward Residencia Definitiva after roughly 24 months.
Temporary Residence - Investors and Related Personnel
No sponsor · To settlement · Temporary residence (up to 2 years per the Residencia Temporal framework); counts toward Residencia Definitiva.
Temporary Residence - Family Reunification
Sponsor · To settlement · Temporary residence (up to 2 years under the Residencia Temporal framework); renewable and counts toward Residencia Definitiva.
Temporary Residence - Students
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Temporary residence aligned to the study programme; extensions require continued enrolment and financial capacity.
Republic of Peru (6)
Worker Resident (Trabajador Residente)
Sponsor · To settlement · Commonly granted for 365 days and renewable while the employment continues; counts toward permanent residence after three consecutive years. Confirm current validity on the official page.
Rentista (Independent Means / Passive Income)
No sponsor · To settlement · Granted as a resident category for people of permanent income; the rentista category is associated with indefinite permanence. Confirm current validity and renewal terms on the official page.
Investor (Inversionista)
No sponsor · To settlement · Commonly granted for 365 days and renewable while the investment is maintained; counts toward permanent residence after three consecutive years. Confirm current validity on the official page.
Resident Family Member (Familiar Residente)
Sponsor · To settlement · Commonly granted for 365 days and renewable while the family relationship continues; can count toward permanent residence. Confirm current validity on the official page.
Digital Nomad (Nomada Digital)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Designed around a stay of up to 365 days with possible extension, but not yet available in practice. Confirm whether it is implementable on the official page.
Permanent Resident (Residente Permanente)
No sponsor · To settlement · Settled status, renewed periodically; permanent residents may generally live and work freely. Confirm current renewal and absence rules on the official page.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, Republic of Chile or Republic of Peru?+
Republic of Chile’s Temporary Residence - Lawful Remunerated Activities is the dominant skilled route; Republic of Peru’s Worker Resident (Trabajador Residente) is the dominant skilled route. “Easier” depends on your salary, sponsor situation, and nationality — see each visa’s eligibility detail.
Does Republic of Chile or Republic of Peru have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
Republic of Peru has more: 4 of its covered routes can be pursued without an employer sponsor, against 3 for Republic of Chile. No-sponsor routes — such as digital-nomad, self-employment, and points-based skilled migration — matter most if you do not yet have a job offer.