Chile – Visa Tech Program
The Visa Tech program was implemented in April 2017, which is now available to all foreign nationals who are highly qualified personnel in the area of science and technology or experience in innovation.
Chile’s new tech visa is targeted towards founders and investors in the tech businesses that are based or looking to set up a base in Chile, as well as science and technology professionals who are looking to work for a tech business based in Chile.
In order to be eligible for the visa tech, the foreign national must hold a letter of invitation and/or a certificate of sponsorship from:
- InvestChile (in the case of companies with overseas capital)
- Start-Up Chile (if the company is associated with the program)
- Undersecretariat of Economy (in the case of local companies)
The Certificate of Sponsorship should be requested by the company if the foreign national is already in Chile. If the foreign national is not in Chile, the company should request a Personalized Letter of Invitation for Business Purposes which will allow the potential employee to enter Chile and complete the hiring process to then apply for a work permit.
The duration of the visa is subject to the contract. The processing time is 15 working days from when the application is submitted.
Employers intending to use the new Tech Visa should consult an immigration expert for advice on the application.