ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: U.S. citizens entering Chile must
have a valid passport. U.S. citizens traveling to Chile for recreation,
tourism, business, or academic conferences do not need to obtain a visa
prior to their arrival to Chile. A Tourist Card will be issued for a
stay of up to 90 days upon payment of a reciprocity fee, currently
US$140. Currently, the fee is only charged at the Santiago International
Airport. Payment can be made in U.S. currency or by credit card. An
extension of stay for another 90 days is possible upon payment of an
extension fee at the Chilean
Immigration Office located at San Antonio 580, Santiago; telephone
56-2-5502469. The Tourist Card must be surrendered upon departure.
Failure to submit this card upon departure may result in delays until a
replacement is obtained. If lost or stolen, the tourist card must be
replaced by the
International Police at their nearest headquarters or at the
international airport prior to departure.
Ensure that you have appropriate documentation to enter Chile. U.S.
passports must be in good condition and valid for the period of stay.
The U.S. Embassy cannot secure entry on your behalf if you arrive
without a valid U.S. passport, with a passport that is damaged or
mutilated, or if you arrive without a visa when one is required.
For up-to-date information on visa requirements, visit the website of
the Embassy of Chile in
Washington D.C. U.S. citizens, who intend to work, live, or study in
Chile must apply in advance for a Chilean visa.
Chile imposes severe restrictions on the importation of agricultural
products of animal or plant origin. Visit the
Ministry of Agriculture website for
current guidelines. When in doubt, declare all agricultural items,
including fruit provided on incoming flights and packaged products. For
further information regarding customs regulations, please read our
Customs Information page.
The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry
restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Chile.
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ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR DUAL NATIONALS: Dual nationals
must enter and exit Chile using their Chilean passport, and they must
enter and exit the United States using their U.S. passport. A
naturalization certificate is not a valid travel document.
ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR MINORS: In an effort to prevent
international child abduction, Chile requires that minors under the age
of 18 meet specific requirements at entry/exit points. Unaccompanied
minors must have a notarized letter of consent from their parents or
legal guardians when they enter and leave Chile. The letter of consent
must be authenticated by a Chilean consul at the nearest
Chilean consulate in
the United States. Minors traveling alone must also carry a birth
certificate that shows both parents' names.
Minors entering and leaving Chile with only one parent need written
authorization from the other parent. This authorization must be in
Spanish and be authenticated at a Chilean embassy or consulate prior to
departure from the United States. If the minor is resident in Chile,
authorization may be notarized by a Chilean notary.
A letter of consent should include the following: 1) the full name(s)
of the custodial and/or non-custodial parent(s) or legal guardians, 2)
the full name of the child, 3) the child's date of birth, place of
birth, passport number, and passport date of issuance, 4) full name and
passport details of the person accompanying the minor, 5) dates of
travel, including arrival and departure information, 6) address where
the minor will reside in Chile, and 7) explicit authorization that a
minor can travel alone or in the company of another person. The letter
of consent must be notarized. It then needs to be authenticated by a
Chilean consul in the United States, or, if in Chile, by a Chilean
notary.
Parents, even when traveling together with the child, may be required
to show evidence of their relationship to the child. Please carry an
original birth certificate or a certified copy of the original.
The minor's tourist card is usually annotated to include the name(s)
of the person(s) responsible for the minor. The minor is normally
required to depart Chile in the company of the same responsible persons.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Santiago has two
main private hospitals that are accredited by a US hospital organization
and meet US standards: Clinica Alemana
and Clinica Las Condes.
Both have international patient departments and experience with some
international insurance. Medical care in Chile is generally good, though
it may not meet U.S. standards in remote areas. Major hospitals accept
credit cards, but many doctors and hospitals in Chile expect immediate
payment in cash. Prescriptions written by local doctors and
over-the-counter medicines are widely available.
Air pollution is a major source of health concern in Santiago,
resulting in severe bronchial ailments affecting infants, small children
and the elderly. The most severe air pollution occurs during the winter
(May through August).
The ozone layer is especially thin at the bottom of the world. Take
precautions to protect yourself from ultraviolet radiation.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions can be found
on the Centers for
Disease Control (CDC) website. For information about outbreaks of
infectious diseases abroad, consult the
World Health
Organization (WHO) website. The WHO website also contains additional
health information for travelers, including
detailed country-specific
health information.
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