Republic of Chile · work sponsored · Leads to settlement

Temporary Residence - Lawful Remunerated Activities

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Source check: all 11 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026

Temporary residence subcategory for foreigners coming to Chile to perform lawful paid work under a contract, service contract or job offer.

Requires sponsorshipLeads to permanent residencyTemporary residence valid up to 2 years; counts toward Residencia Definitiva after roughly 24 months.
Processing time
Indicative only - SERMIG processes applications through the digital portal; timeframes vary. Confirm on the official page.
Government fees
Indicative only - government fees depend on nationality and reciprocity agreements (some are waived). Confirm current fees on the official SERMIG page.
Typical duration
Temporary residence valid up to 2 years; counts toward Residencia Definitiva after roughly 24 months.
Sponsorship required
Yes
Leads to permanent residency
Yes

In short

As of 9 July 2026, the Temporary Residence - Lawful Remunerated Activities for Republic of Chile is a sponsor-led Chile immigration route. Sources: official Republic of Chile government pages, reviewed 9 July 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/chile/temporary-residence-remunerated-work#answer

What is the Temporary Residence - Lawful Remunerated Activities in Republic of Chile?

Temporary Residence - Lawful Remunerated Activities is a sponsor-led Chile route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - government fees depend on nationality and reciprocity agreements (some are waived). Confirm current fees on the official SERMIG page; indicative processing time is Indicative only - SERMIG processes applications through the digital portal; timeframes vary. Confirm on the official page; typical duration is Temporary residence valid up to 2 years; counts toward Residencia Definitiva after roughly 24 months. This route can lead to permanent residence.

Verified against Servicio Nacional de Migraciones (Chile) on 1 June 2026.

Overview

This Residencia Temporal subcategory is for foreigners who intend to reside in Chile to engage in lawful remunerated activities, typically under a subordinate employment relationship with an employer established in Chile, a service contract, or a formal job offer. Under Ley 21.325 the permit is valid for up to two years and is applied for from abroad through the SERMIG digital portal. Time accrues toward Residencia Definitiva.

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Obtain an employment contract, service contract or formal written job offer from an employer established in Chile.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Gather valid passport, criminal record certificate, photo and employer tax/solvency documents.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    Submit the Residencia Temporal application on the SERMIG digital procedures portal from abroad.

  4. After approval

    Receive notifications by email, pay any applicable fee, and enter Chile to activate residence.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Temporary Residence - Lawful Remunerated Activities, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Agree the lawful start date and onboarding with the employer or sponsor. Check whether the permission names an employer, role or activity before changing the arrangement.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Chile. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant + sponsor
    Use official Temporary Residence - Lawful Remunerated Activities route page ↗

    Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Temporary Residence - Lawful Remunerated Activities.

    Servicio Nacional de Migraciones (Chile) · verified

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need a job offer before applying?+

Yes. This subcategory requires a qualifying employment contract, service contract or formal job offer from an employer established in Chile, submitted with the application from abroad. Always confirm current requirements on the official SERMIG page.

Can this lead to permanent residence?+

Yes. Time spent on Residencia Temporal counts toward Residencia Definitiva (permanent residence), which is generally available after about 24 months. Check the official SERMIG criteria for your situation.

Does my Chilean employment contract need to be notarised for the work residence?+

Yes. The typical evidence for this contract-based route is a notarised employment contract, service contract or accepted job offer, together with employer tax and solvency documentation. Confirm the current evidence requirements on the official SERMIG page.

How recent must my criminal record certificate be for the Chile work permit?+

A criminal record certificate is required for applicants aged 18 or over and is generally not older than 60 days; it must also be properly legalised or apostilled, otherwise it is a common blocker. Confirm the current rule on the official SERMIG page.

How long must my passport be valid to apply for the Chile work residence?+

Your passport must be valid for at least one year from the application date, and insufficient passport validity or missing documents is a listed blocker. Confirm the current passport-validity requirement on the official SERMIG page.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor in Chile

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Servicio Nacional de Migraciones (Chile)

Last checked: 1 June 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology