Complete Guide to Chile: Visa, Travel, Investment & Important Facts
Chile is the skinny ribbon of land that won the geographic lottery: Pacific coast, Andes spine, Atacama (driest desert on Earth), Patagonia ice fields, and Easter Island 3,700 km offshore. In 2025 it remains the safest, most developed, and most investor-friendly country in Latin America — with one of the easiest residency-by-investment programs on the continent and the clearest skies for stargazing you’ll ever see.
The Most Insane Geography on the Planet
4,300 km long but only 177 km wide on average — Chile has deserts where it hasn’t rained in 400 years, glaciers that calve into fjords, the clearest night skies on Earth, and wine valleys that rival Bordeaux. It’s the world’s largest copper producer, second-largest lithium producer, and home to 41% of the planet’s astronomical observatories.
Visa Policy
Visa-free 90 days for 140+ countries (USA, Canada, EU, UK, Australia, Japan, South Korea, most of Latin America). Extensions easy online.
Residency by Investment 2025
- USD 100,000+ in business, real estate, or approved funds → temporary residency (2 years)
- Convert to permanent residency after 2 years, citizenship possible after 5 years total
- Very straightforward process, high approval rate
- 0% tax on foreign income for first 3 years (new 2024 law)
Must-See Chile
- Torres del Paine — granite towers, turquoise lakes, guanacos everywhere
- Atacama Desert — Valle de la Luna, geysers, ALMA observatory tours
- Easter Island (Rapa Nui) — 887 moai statues, volcano hikes
- Santiago & Valparaíso — modern capital + colorful UNESCO hills
- Lake District & Chiloé — volcanoes, wooden churches, palafitos
- Patagonia cruises — fjords, glaciers, Cape Horn
- Marble Caves — Lago General Carrera’s turquoise cathedral
- Cajón del Maipo — day trip from Santiago with hot springs
Safety
Safest country in Latin America by far. Lower crime rate than many European countries. Pickpocketing in Santiago downtown is the main concern — otherwise extremely safe.
How to Buy SIM Card
Entel, Movistar, Claro, or WOM at any airport or mall — CLP 3,000 starter + CLP 10,000 for 50 GB. Entel has best Patagonia coverage.
Current President
Gabriel Boric — youngest president in Chilean history, in office since March 2022.
Getting Here
Santiago (SCL) is the main hub with direct flights from North America, Europe, Australia, and most of South America. New direct routes from Asia opening in 2025.
Final Thought
Chile is the country that has everything — except bad options. Whether you want to ski in the morning and surf in the afternoon, drink world-class wine under the clearest stars, or quietly build a Plan B in the most stable corner of Latin America — Chile delivers without drama. It’s not the cheapest, it’s not the flashiest, but it’s the one that actually works.