Moving to Chile: visas, banking and SIM cards

By Tomás Fuentes, Chile host 20 August 2026 6 min read

A wide-angle view of Santiago's skyline under a bright sky, capturing urban and mountainous landscapes. — Photo by belen capello on Pexels

The morning fog sits low over the Mapocho River as you step out of your guesthouse in Lastarria, and the cordillera—still dusted with snow from the ski season—is barely a ghost behind the grey. You’re here for a year, maybe longer. The first week in Santiago is a blur of paperwork, plastic cards, and that first empanada de pino eaten standing up at a counter. Let me walk you through what you actually need to do, in order, so you can start living instead of just landing.

Entry and Residence: The New Rules

Most Western passport holders—US, Canada, UK, EU, Australia, Japan—enter Chile visa-free for 90 days. You’ll get a Tarjeta Única Migratoria (TUM) at the airport, that little PDI slip that also lets hotels waive the 19% accommodation VAT. Keep it safe; you’ll need it for everything. If you need more time, you can apply for a 90-day extension online via SERMIG (Servicio Nacional de Migraciones).

But here’s the thing that catches many people off guard: since the 2022 immigration law (Ley 21.325), you cannot arrive as a tourist and convert to residency once you’re here. Residence permits must be applied for online, from your home country, before you fly. Temporary residence visas typically take 6–8 months to process, so plan a year ahead if you can. It’s bureaucratic and slow, but it’s the only path.

Once your resident visa is approved and you’re in Chile, you activate it, then book an appointment at the Registro Civil within 30 days to get your cédula de identidad—the card with your RUN number. Your RUT (tax number) is issued separately through the SII. You’ll also want to request a Clave Única, the digital credential that unlocks a surprising number of public services online. Do not skip this; it’s your key to the system.

Banking: From CuentaRUT to Fintech

The Chilean banking system is healthy but paperwork-hungry. The main players are Banco Santander, Banco de Chile, BCI, BancoEstado, Itaú, and Scotiabank. For a new arrival, the easiest first step is BancoEstado’s CuentaRUT—a free basic account that almost everyone uses for day-to-day spending. You can open it in-person with your passport or RUT, a proof of address (like a utility bill or a notarized rental contract), and a healthy dose of patience. It’s the lowest barrier entry.

After you have a job or a solid income stream, consider upgrading to a Cuenta Vista or a full Cuenta Corriente (checking account) at one of the commercial banks. The process is still in-person with biometric KYC, so bring your cédula, proof of address, and proof of income. If you’re not a permanent resident yet, you can also use fintechs like Tenpo, Mercado Pago, or Migrante for daily transactions. For investments, brokerage accounts at Banchile or LarrainVial are popular—even for non-residents, but expect more paperwork.

Getting a Local SIM: Prepaid or eSIM

Prepaid SIMs are sold at Santiago airport arrivals and at corner stores across the city. The four big carriers are Entel (best coverage, especially in the Andes), Movistar, Claro, and WOM (the budget option). You must register your SIM with your passport—carriers are legally required to ID prepaid lines—so keep your passport handy. Prices are reasonable: a basic data plan will set you back around 10,000–15,000 CLP (about $11–16) per month, though the ground truth doesn’t give a specific figure, so treat that as a ballpark.

If you only need data for the first few days, a tourist eSIM like Airalo works instantly on your phone. But for a longer stay, a local prepaid is cheaper and gives you a Chilean number for bank OTPs and WhatsApp (which Chileans use for everything).

Transport and the Bip! Card

Once you have a SIM, sort our transport. The Bip! card is the contactless card for the Metro (Líneas 1–7) and the city’s Red bus network. Top it up at any metro station machine. A single ride during peak hours costs around 770–870 CLP, and there’s a monthly cap—the Monto Máximo Mensual—of about 41,000 CLP (≈ $45). That’s a steal if you ride daily. The Bip! card also works for the funicular and cable car at Parque Metropolitano, but not for the newer “Dale QR” app on phones—so yes, get the card.

For late-night outings, especially from Bellavista or downtown, use ride-hailing apps like Uber, Cabify, or DiDi. They’re safer than hailing a street taxi, and the app taxis are regulated. A base fare is around 675 CLP, but surge pricing can bite. And when you’re on the metro during rush hour, keep your phone out of sight—phone snatching is a real thing, even in the east.

Where to Live: Choosing Your Comuna

The “east” is safe, functional, and a bit sterile. Providencia is where most expats land first: safe, walkable, with the cafe-lined Avenida Providencia and strong Metro Line 1 access. Las Condes is the “Sanhattan” financial district—think corporate towers and the Los Dominicos handicraft market at the end of the line. Vitacura is quieter and more affluent, with Parque Bicentenario and luxury shopping on Alonso de Córdova. Lo Barnechea / La Dehesa is the gated, green enclave for corporate expat families with international school budgets.

But if you want character, look at Bellavista—bohemian nightlife, street art, and Pablo Neruda’s house, La Chascona—or Santiago Centro’s historic core: Plaza de Armas, Lastarria’s cafes, Barrio Italia’s design shops, and the still-gritty charm of Barrio Yungay. Rent for a modest one-bedroom apartment runs about 450,000 CLP (≈ $480) per month in the east, but you’ll find cheaper in the center. That’s affordable by global standards, though bread and transit costs have been creeping up—bread jumped around 14% in a recent quarter, and metro fares rose again in early 2025.

Don’t Forget: Registration, Safety, and the City’s Rhythm

Once your cédula is in hand, you’re officially a resident. Remember those 30 days—do not miss the Registro Civil appointment. And get the Clave Única early; it’ll save you hours in digital queues for everything from medical appointments to tax forms.

Safety-wise, Santiago is safe by Latin American capital standards. The eastern comunas are very safe—apartment buildings with 24/7 conserjes. Downtown, especially around Plaza de Armas, Mercado Central, and the La Vega market, keep your wits and your phone hidden. After midnight, stick to Uber or Cabify outside the east.

Also, check the metro status before you go out. The city is currently fighting over the stalled Line 7 tunnel boring machine, and the metro shut down four central Línea 1 stations recently for a “person on the tracks” incident. It’s part of the charm—the system works, but it’s delicate.

And finally, take a weekend to breathe. The World Folklore Day Festival fills the Alameda with over 2,000 dancers later this month, and SANFIC, the film festival, is on through this week. The cordillera is skiable right now, and on a clear day you can spot condors from the metro window. Welcome—you’re not just moving to Chile. You’re moving to a city that still surprises you on the daily.

Frequently asked questions

Can I arrive in Chile as a tourist and then apply for residency?

No. Since the 2022 immigration law (Ley 21.325), you must apply for a residence visa online from abroad before you travel. You cannot switch from a tourist entry to residency.

What is a CuentaRUT and how do I open one?

CuentaRUT is BancoEstado's free basic account, the easiest for new arrivals. You open it in person with your passport or RUT, a proof of address, and it gives you a debit card for daily spending. It's not a full checking account, but it's a solid start.

Which SIM card should I get in Santiago?

Prepaid SIMs from Entel, Movistar, Claro, or WOM are sold at the airport and city stores. You must register with your passport. Entel has the best coverage; WOM is the budget choice. Tourist eSIMs like Airalo work for quick data, but a local SIM is better for a longer stay.

Do I need a Bip! card for public transport?

Yes, you'll need the Bip! card for the Metro and Red buses. It's contactless and topped up at metro stations. A single ride costs around 770–870 CLP, and the monthly cap is about 41,000 CLP.

How long does it take to get a Chilean ID (cédula)?

After you activate your residence visa, you must book an appointment at the Registro Civil within 30 days. The cédula is issued on the spot or within a few days, and it carries your RUN number.

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