ResidencyAmericasChile temporary residence
Chilean temporary residence (Residencia Temporal) is granted for up to two years, renewable, under Law 21.325 of 2022 and Decree 177 of 2022. Applications are filed online from outside Chile through the SERMIG portal, and the applicant enters Chile once approved.
Updated
The subcategories most relevant to our clients are rentista (people living on passive income such as rents, dividends or pensions), investor (a qualifying investment in Chile, with a sponsorship route through InvestChile) and remunerated activities (work for a Chilean employer, or self-employment). SERMIG publishes no fixed income minimum for rentistas; the income must be stable and documented.
After the qualifying period on temporary residence, holders can apply for permanent residence. The tax exemption starts from entry into Chile once the person takes up domicile or residence, so the immigration and tax timetables should be planned together.
Who it suits
Founders with foreign companies and clients
Three years of residence without Chilean tax on foreign profits and dividends.
Investors planning a liquidity event
Gains on foreign assets during the exemption are outside Chilean tax.
Families wanting a long-term Latin American base
Permanent residence and, later, citizenship are available.
Requirements
- Required
Application from abroad
Filed online through SERMIG before travelling.
- Required
Passport and criminal record certificate
Apostilled; police certificate typically recent.
- Required
Proof of the qualifying basis
Passive income, investment or a Chilean contract, depending on the subcategory.
- Required
Domicile or residence in Chile
Needed to start the tax exemption; residence generally follows 183 days in a 12-month period.
- Depends on your case
Extension request to the SII
Only if you want the exemption beyond three years.
Timeline
- 1Plan the three yearsMap income, gains and the exit or long-term structure before arrival.
- 2Apply for temporary residenceOnline from abroad through SERMIG.
- 3Enter Chile and registerObtain the RUT tax number and take up residence.
- 4Exemption periodChilean-source income only for three years from entry.
- 5Extension or worldwide taxationRequest an extension in qualified cases, or move to worldwide taxation.
Questions
Does Chile have a tax holiday for new residents?
Yes. Foreigners who take up residence are taxed only on Chilean-source income for three years from entering Chile. The SII Regional Director can extend the period in qualified cases.
What happens after three years?
Unless an extension is granted, you are taxed on worldwide income like any Chilean resident, at progressive rates reaching 40%.
How do I apply for Chilean residency?
Online from outside Chile through SERMIG, under the temporary residence subcategory that fits you, such as rentista, investor or remunerated activities.
How long is Chilean temporary residence granted for?
Up to two years, renewable, under Law 21.325 of 2022 and Decree 177 of 2022. After the qualifying period on temporary residence, holders can apply for permanent residence.
More in Chile
Other residency programmes
- Uruguay residency for founders and investorsUruguayan permanent residence is a legal residence granted by the Dirección Nacional de Migración to foreigners who intend to settle and can prove regular means of living. As of 2026 the application starts online and ends at an in-person appointment. It suits remote founders, retirees and investors whose income comes from abroad.View
Uruguay - Paraguay residency for founders and investorsParaguayan temporary residency is a two-year permit, renewable once, for foreigners who want a legal base in South America and a territorial tax system that does not tax foreign-source income. As of October 2026 it is the required first step towards permanent residency. It suits remote founders, investors and location-independent professionals.View
Paraguay - Panama residency for founders and investorsPanamanian permanent residence lets foreigners live in Panama indefinitely, reached through routes such as Friendly Nations, Qualified Investor or the pensioner visa. Since September 2026 the Qualified Investor route follows Executive Decree 17, which kept B/. 300,000 for new property. It suits founders, investors and retirees with income from abroad.View
Panama - Mexico residency for founders and retireesMexican temporary residence is a permit of up to four years for foreigners who prove economic solvency at a Mexican consulate abroad; permanent residence follows after four years, or directly for qualifying pensioners. Since the visa guidelines of July 2025, thresholds are set in UMA days. It suits remote founders, retirees and investors.View
Mexico - Argentina residency for retirees and investorsArgentine temporary residence as a rentista or pensionado lets foreigners live in Argentina on passive income or a pension from abroad worth at least five national minimum wages a month. In October 2026 that equals ARS 1,956,000. Applications are filed inside Argentina through the RaDEX system. It suits retirees, investors and remote founders.View
Argentina - Costa Rica residence for founders, retirees and investorsCosta Rica's main temporary residence categories are rentista (steady foreign income), pensionado (lifetime pension) and inversionista (investment). Each grants two years of temporary residence, renewable, and leads to permanent residence after three years. Applications go to the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME).View
Costa Rica
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Sources
- Ley sobre Impuesto a la Renta, Article 3, retrieved 2026-10-27
- Consultores ID: tax residence in Chile and the 183-day rule, retrieved 2026-10-27
- Círculo Verde: how tax residence is defined in Chile, retrieved 2026-10-27
- SERMIG: investors and related personnel (subcategory 13), retrieved 2026-10-27
- Golden Harbors: Chile temporary resident visa 2026, retrieved 2026-10-27
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