Chile Tourist Visa: Entry Requirements and Reciprocity Fee

Citizens of 90+ countries including the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, Japan, and most South American nations enter Chile visa-free for 90 days. Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay. Chile does not require 6 months passport validity. The Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs website lists all visa-exempt nationalities.

Chile previously charged US (160 USD), Canadian (132 USD), Australian (117 USD), and Mexican citizens a reciprocity fee at the airport. This fee was eliminated in 2014 for Canadians and Australians and for US citizens in 2024. Verify current reciprocity fee status on the Chilean government website before traveling, as policies change.

Citizens of countries requiring a visa must apply at the nearest Chilean consulate. The application requires a completed form, passport, 2 photos, flight itinerary, hotel booking, bank statements, and a fee of 30-100 USD depending on nationality. Processing takes 5-15 business days.

Airlines and immigration officers check for proof of departure. A return flight, onward flight to another country, or a bus ticket to a neighboring country satisfies this requirement. One-way ticket holders may be questioned or denied boarding. Refundable tickets work as a flexible solution for open-ended travel.

A hotel booking, hostel reservation, or an address where you will be staying satisfies immigration questions. Travelers staying with friends or family should have a contact name and address ready. Immigration officers at Santiago airport ask about accommodation more frequently than at land borders.

Travel insurance is not legally mandatory for Chile entry but is strongly recommended. Chilean healthcare is good but expensive for uninsured foreign visitors. An emergency room visit costs 100,000-500,000 CLP (110-550 USD) without insurance. The Fonasa public system is not available to tourists.

Santiago's international airport handles the vast majority of international arrivals. Immigration lines take 15-45 minutes. The officer stamps your passport and gives you a Tarjeta de Turismo (tourist card), a small paper slip. Keep this card with your passport at all times. You must return it when leaving Chile. Losing it requires a replacement from the PDI (police) office.

The tourist card is a white paper slip stapled or handed to you at immigration. It records your entry date and permitted stay. You must present it when leaving Chile. If you lose it, visit a PDI (Investigative Police) office to request a replacement before your departure. The replacement process takes 1-3 hours.

Chile has extremely strict biosecurity controls to protect its agricultural industry. Fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, honey, seeds, and plant materials are confiscated and result in fines of 200-3,000 USD. Declare any food items honestly. Sniffing dogs check luggage at the customs area. Packaged processed foods are generally permitted.

Visit the Departamento de Extranjeria y Migracion on San Antonio street in downtown Santiago to request an extension. The extension costs approximately 100 USD and grants up to 90 additional days. Bring your passport, tourist card, proof of funds, and a completed application form. Apply at least 2 weeks before your current stay expires. Processing takes 1-5 business days.

Leaving Chile and re-entering resets your 90-day visa-free period. Popular options include buses to Mendoza (Argentina, 6-8 hours from Santiago), flights to Lima (Peru), or buses to La Paz (Bolivia). Unlike some countries, Chile does not require a minimum time outside the country before re-entering. A day trip to Mendoza technically works.

Overstaying incurs a fine payable at the PDI office or the airport. The fine increases with the length of overstay. Extended overstays can result in a ban on future entry. Immigration checks your entry date against your departure date at the airport. Resolve any overstay issues at a PDI office in the city before heading to the airport to avoid delays at check-in.

As of 2026, 1 USD equals approximately 900-950 CLP. ATMs (RedBanc network) dispense Chilean pesos at competitive exchange rates. Casas de cambio in Santiago's city center offer slightly better rates than the airport. US dollars are not widely accepted outside of tourist agencies. Credit cards work at most hotels, restaurants, and shops. Carry cash for markets and small vendors.

Entel, Movistar, and WOM sell prepaid SIM cards at airport counters and phone stores. A SIM with 10-30 GB of data costs 5,000-15,000 CLP (5.50-16.50 USD) for 30 days. Registration requires your passport. Coverage is excellent in cities and along major highways. Patagonia and the Atacama Desert have limited coverage outside of towns.

The BIP card is Santiago's transit card for metro and buses. Purchase one at any metro station for 1,550 CLP (1.70 USD) and load credit. Metro rides cost 640-800 CLP depending on time of day. Buses cost 640 CLP. The card is also used on the Metrotren to surrounding cities. Santiago's metro is Latin America's most extensive.