Student visa for Chile

You need a temporary residence permit for students (Residencia Temporal, subcategoría estudiante), issued by the National Migration Service (SERMIG). It is for students at educational institutions recognised by the Chilean state.

Apply from outside Chile. SERMIG states that the student permit must be applied for from outside the country, through its online portal. You cannot enter as a tourist and switch.

The money. SERMIG asks for proof of income or support: bank deposits, money transfers, a notarised family affidavit, or a scholarship certificate stating how long the scholarship lasts. No amount is published. Show enough to cover a full year of tuition and living costs in a form that is easy to trace.

Documents also include a passport valid for at least one year from the application date, a criminal record certificate for applicants over 18 no older than 60 days, a photo, and a regular student certificate or enrolment certificate. Documents not in Spanish or English need a certified translation; foreign documents need an apostille or legalisation.

The fee. The fee for the student permit depends on your nationality, according to the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile's official migration guide. For applications from abroad, SERMIG asks you to pay through the General Treasury (TGR) portal before you finalise the submission. We could not verify fee amounts by nationality: check the amount shown in the portal for your case.

Duration. SERMIG issues temporary residence for a maximum of two years, and it can be extended.

After arrival. The Universidad Católica's guide tells students to book an appointment at the Civil Registry (Registro Civil) within 30 days to get a Chilean identity card (cédula de identidad). You need it for a bank account, a phone contract and most everyday transactions.