Chile · Temporary Residence
Chile Temporary Residence for Business People
Under Law 21.325, Chile's temporary residence is a single permit split into subcategories. Founders and investors hold it while building a business, renew it by proving progress, and use it as the base for definitive residence later on.
- Startup route
- No startup visa; investor or work-based temporary residence
- Minimum capital
- USD 500,000 for the investor subcategory
- Permanent residence
- 24 months of temporary residence (12 in some cases)
- Citizenship
- 5 years from the temporary permit's stamping
Residencia Temporal for investors: extension
Holders of the investor subcategory can extend the permit, but only by showing that the promised investment is materializing. SERMIG asks for documents certifying progress on the investment, the company's electronic tax folder, proof of the municipal business license payment and evidence of a contractual relationship that produces income. The investment project itself must be extended and the company must present a consolidated record. The permit's length is not stated on the subcategory page, so holders should rely on the expiry shown in their own resolution and start gathering renewal evidence well before that date.
- Extension basis
- Proof the promised investment is materializing
- Tax evidence
- Company's electronic tax folder
- Local license
- Proof of municipal business license (patente)
- Validity
- Not stated on the subcategory page; check the resolution
- Dependents
- Permits under Article 74, paragraphs 1–2, Law 21.325
- Leads to
- Residencia Definitiva
Requirements
- Documents certifying progress in carrying out the promised investment.
- The company's electronic tax folder and proof of the municipal license payment.
- Evidence of a contractual relationship that generates income.
- An extended investment project and a consolidated record for the company.
How to apply
- Collect investment progress records ahead of the permit's expiry.
- File the extension request through the Portal de Trámites Digitales.
- Pay the fee when SERMIG requests it.
- Check eligibility for Residencia Definitiva once enough time has passed.
Residencia Temporal: Retired persons or leasers (Subcategory 11)
Investors whose income comes from assets rather than from running a company can consider Subcategory 11, which covers retirees and rentistas. A rentista has constant income from real estate or financial assets, and that income must be regular and sufficient to cover at least the applicant's basic needs in Chile, measured against parameters set by the Ministry of Social Development and Family. Applicants document ownership of the property or assets and the income they produce, such as lease contracts or statements tied directly to the financial assets. Extensions require proof that the rentista status and the income continue.
- Who qualifies
- Retirees and people with income from assets
- Income test
- Regular income covering at least basic needs
- Benchmark
- Ministry of Social Development and Family parameters
- Evidence
- Asset ownership plus proof of the income produced
- Family
- Dependents may also qualify
- Leads to
- Residencia Definitiva after qualifying residence
Requirements
- Constant income from real estate or financial assets, or a retirement pension.
- Income that is regular and covers at least basic needs during the stay in Chile.
- Proof of ownership of the assets and of the income they generate.
- A passport valid for one year, a criminal record certificate and a photo.
How to apply
- Collect apostilled or legalized ownership and income documents.
- Apply from abroad through SERMIG's online portal.
- Extend by proving continued rentista status and enough income for the stay.
How the temporary permit works in practice
For a work-based permit, the validity period runs from the date the foreigner entered Chile, not from the approval date. Losing a job or changing employers does not by itself cancel a contract-based permit, although the 90-day job-offer permit ends if the contract never materializes. Foreign documents must be apostilled or legalized, documents from private parties should be no more than 30 days old and those from public bodies no more than 60 days old when filed, and passports need at least one year of validity.
Family members can receive a temporary residence permit as dependents of the main holder if they meet paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 74 of Law 21.325, so their documents should be prepared together with the main application. Founders who move in and out of Chile without settling can instead hold Subcategory 14 for multiple-entry business management, which can be extended when the holder documents the continuing activity, with total stays of up to six months per calendar year.
Questions and answers
How long is Chile's investor temporary residence valid?
SERMIG's investor subcategory page does not state a fixed duration, so the expiry shown on the holder's own resolution is the reference. What the page does set out is the renewal test: the holder must show that the promised investment is materializing, backed by tax, municipal license and income records for the company.
When does a Chilean work-based permit start running?
For the remunerated-activities subcategory, the permit's validity counts from the date the foreigner entered Chile rather than from the approval date. An approved applicant who delays travel therefore does not lose time on the permit, but should check that the passport and documents remain valid for the journey.
Do family members get their own Chilean permits?
Yes, as dependents. A spouse or other qualifying relative can obtain a temporary residence permit linked to the main holder's subcategory if they meet paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 74 of Law 21.325. SERMIG publishes the dependent requirements on a separate page of its temporary residence section.
Official sources
- Investors and related personnelserviciomigraciones.cl
- Retired persons or leasersserviciomigraciones.cl
- Multiple-entry businessserviciomigraciones.cl
- Foreigners engaged in lawful remunerated activitiesserviciomigraciones.cl
Reviewed October 2026. Immigration rules change often. Confirm the current requirements with the official authority or a licensed adviser before applying.
Your path in Chile.
Startup visa
No startup visa; Start-Up Chile funds founders but grants no permit
02Temporary residence
Subcategory 13 for USD 500,000 investors, or Subcategory 2 for salaried work
03Permanent residence
Residencia Definitiva after 24 months of temporary residence
04Citizenship
Carta de nacionalización after 5 years, filed from inside Chile