🇨🇱 Chile

Chile offers a Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers with a valid employment contract or freelance income, granting 1-year residency renewable for a second year. Citizens of many countries can enter visa-free for 90 days as tourists, and Chile has some of the most straightforward immigration processes in Latin America. Temporary and permanent residence permits are issued by the Department of Extranjeria under the updated 2021 Immigration Law.

Chile reformed its immigration system in 2021 with a simplified residence permit framework replacing older visa categories. Employers must be registered with the immigration authority and submit work contracts; the Temporary Residence Visa for employment is typically granted for 1–2 years. After two years of legal residency, expats can apply for permanent residence regardless of employment status.

Spouses and dependent children of residence permit holders can obtain a Temporary Residence Visa for family reunification, allowing them to live and study in Chile. Dependents who wish to work must register separately with immigration, though the process is generally straightforward once the principal applicant holds legal status.

Chile taxes residents on worldwide income with progressive rates reaching up to 40%, though expats in their first 3 years of residency only pay tax on Chilean-source income. Corporate tax stands at 27% for larger companies, with a reduced 25% rate for SMEs. Chile has a VAT of 19% and an active tax treaty network with over 35 countries including the US, UK, and major EU nations.