Your first 90 days in Chile: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · September 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
The 2021 law is the trap — applying for residence from inside Chile on a tourist stamp no longer works for most categories, and people still arrive planning to do exactly that. Confirm your category can be applied for in-country before you fly, or start the file at a consulate.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Register the residence permit with the PDI (Policía de Investigaciones) within 30 days, then apply for the cédula de identidad at the Registro Civil
PDI registration within 30 days of the visa being stamped; the cédula application follows immediately after
Since the 2021 migration law, most residence permits must be applied for from OUTSIDE Chile — the old practice of arriving as a tourist and changing status inside the country was largely closed off, and applications made the old way are refused.
Get your RUT / RUN (Rol Único Tributario / Rol Único Nacional)
It is Chile's universal identifier — banking, contracts, healthcare, buying a phone, even a supermarket loyalty card runs on the RUT.
Assigned by the Registro Civil with the cédula de identidad; a provisional RUT can be obtained from the Servicio de Impuestos Internos for investment purposes before residence.
Open a bank account
Banco de Chile, BancoEstado and Santander open accounts on the cédula; BancoEstado's CuentaRUT is the low-barrier account most new residents start with and requires only a valid RUT. Chile's banking system is the most developed in the region and works well once you are past the RUT gate.
Enrol in healthcare
Residents choose between FONASA (public, contribution-based, with tiered co-payments) and an ISAPRE (private insurer). Both require a RUT and contributions, and employees pay a mandatory 7% health contribution either way. Private clinics in Santiago are excellent; the public system is capable but slower.
Sort your driver's license
A foreign licence is valid while you hold tourist status; once resident, Chile requires a local licence issued by your municipality, which involves a medical, theory and practical examination for most applicants. There is no straightforward paper exchange for most foreign licences.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
Moving to Chile?
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Chile: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Chile?
Register the residence permit with the PDI (Policía de Investigaciones) within 30 days, then apply for the cédula de identidad at the Registro Civil — PDI registration within 30 days of the visa being stamped; the cédula application follows immediately after. Since the 2021 migration law, most residence permits must be applied for from OUTSIDE Chile — the old practice of arriving as a tourist and changing status inside the country was largely closed off, and applications made the old way are refused. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the RUT / RUN and do I need one?
RUT / RUN (Rol Único Tributario / Rol Único Nacional) is Chile's personal tax/ID number. It is Chile's universal identifier — banking, contracts, healthcare, buying a phone, even a supermarket loyalty card runs on the RUT. Assigned by the Registro Civil with the cédula de identidad; a provisional RUT can be obtained from the Servicio de Impuestos Internos for investment purposes before residence.
Can I drive in Chile on a US license?
A foreign licence is valid while you hold tourist status; once resident, Chile requires a local licence issued by your municipality, which involves a medical, theory and practical examination for most applicants. There is no straightforward paper exchange for most foreign licences. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Chile?
Residents choose between FONASA (public, contribution-based, with tiered co-payments) and an ISAPRE (private insurer). Both require a RUT and contributions, and employees pay a mandatory 7% health contribution either way. Private clinics in Santiago are excellent; the public system is capable but slower. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Chile's system treats foreign residents.