What is a Residencia Temporal permit?
Residencia Temporal is the permit granted by the Servicio Nacional de Migraciones (SERMIG) to foreigners who intend to reside in Chile for a limited period of time, which will be valid for up to 2 years, except for the subcategory of seasonal workers.
In what cases can I apply for a Residencia Temporal permit?
To foreigners who are in any of the following situations or immigration subcategories:
- Family reunification.
- Persons engaged in lawful remunerated activities.
- Students from state-recognized establishments.
- Seasonal workers.
- Individuals subject to the custody of Gendarmería de Chile.
- Foreigners in Chile by order of national Courts of Justice.
- Humanitarian reasons.
- People covered by international agreements.
Where can I apply for a Residencia Temporal permit?
The application for a Residencia Temporal permit must be made in the SERMIG’s Portal de Trámites Digitales.
* Spanish only.
How can I follow up the progress of my application?
The application stages may vary depending on whether it was apply for: in Chile or abroad.
You can follow up the progress of your application in the Portal de Trámites Digitales of SERMIG, logging in with your personal or ClaveÚnica account. Then go to the side menu and click on the “Consulta Estado Trámite” button.
General information
What is the validity of a Residencia Temporal permit?
The Residencia Temporal permit is issued for a maximum period of two years, except for the seasonal workers (trabajadores de temporada), which may be valid for up to five years, and within each calendar year the total stay of the person must not exceed 6 months.
The validity of the residence permit as a dependent will be conditioned on the residence of the foreigner on whom you are dependent.
All subcategories may be extended for two consecutive years, except for:
- The seasonal workers, which may only be extended for up to two additional years; and
- The special permit for pregnant foreign women, which cannot be extended.
When does the validity of a Residencia Temporal permit start to count?
After receiving the notification of being granted the Residencia Temporal permit in your email, the entry into force of the residence depends on:
- Application outside Chile: Once you have downloaded the Estampado Electrónico you will have 90 days to enter Chile. The validity of your Residencia Temporal permit will start from the date you enter the country.
- Application within Chile: The validity of the Residencia Temporal permit will be counted from the date on which you have downloaded the Estampado Electrónico.
For what reasons may a Residencia Temporal permit be rejected?
The SERMIG may reject applications for Residencia Temporal permits by means of a well-founded resolution, in accordance with the provisions of Article 88 of Law No. 21.325 of Migración y Extranjería for the following reasons:
- Failure to comply with the requirements of each immigration category and subcategory established in Decree No. 177.
- Be subject to any of the prohibitions provided for in Article 32 of Law No. 21.325, of Migración y Extranjería.
- To make false or adulterated declarations or present false or adulterated documentation when carrying out any procedure before the Chilean authorities in order to obtain an immigration benefit for oneself or for another.
- Who are unable to exercise a profession or trade and lack the means of support that would allow them to live in Chile.
- Who have been repeatedly sanctioned for not having complied with their obligaciones tributarias o previsionales (tax or social security obligations).
In any cause for refusal, the foreign person shall be notified in accordance with the provisions of Article 88 of the Regulation of Law No. 21.325. It is suggested to read about the complete refusal process below.
What does the refusal process consist of?
- Prior to the issuance of the refusal, the email address stated in the application will be notified of the reasons that will serve as a basis for the refusal. The foregoing in accordance with Art. 91 and 146 of Law No. 21.325 of Migración y Extranjería, and Art. 88 of the Regulation of the same legal body.
- The foreigner will have a period of 10 working days to present additional documentation regarding the cause of refusal invoked by the authority.
- After this period, and if there are no discharges that merit a change in the decision of SERMIG, the refusal will proceed. Any decision refusing or revoking a permit shall set a time limit for leaving the country, which may not be less than five days.
- The foreign person may file any of the administrative appeals (*) provided for in Law No. 19.880, otherwise, they must comply with the abandonment order.
(*) The filing of these appeals suspends the effects of the challenged decision.
How should I make the payment of Residencia Temporal permit fees?
- For permits applied for outside the country, before finalizing the submission of the application, you will be asked to pay for the fees in the Payment Portal of the Tesorería General de la República (TGR).
- For permits applied for within the country, in case of favorable qualification of the application, you will receive an email notification indicating that you must enter the application to access the link of the TGR portal, for the respective payment.
- For cases that were applied for prior to May 14, 2023, through the Portal de Trámites Digitales or the Clasificador N°8, Correo Central Santiago. Also in the case of favorable qualification of the application, you will receive an email notification to download the money order and then proceed to pay the respective fees. These fees can be paid at any commercial bank or ServiEstado.
Important!
Holders of a Permanencia Transitoria permit who are in the country cannot apply for a residence permit, unless they comply with the requirements established in Article 69 of Law No. 21.325 of Migración y Extranjería, that is:
- That they can certify that they have family bond with Chilean persons or with permanent residents.
- Those who apply as dependents of a Residencia Temporal permit holder.
- People affected for some humanitarian reason.
- Those whose stay is in accordance with the objectives of the Política Nacional de Migración y Extranjería.
- Other cases duly qualified by the Subsecretaría del Interior by means of a resolution, after a report from SERMIG.
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