Overview
Family reunification visas and spouse-dependent residence permits in Chile. Requirements, eligibility criteria, and application processes vary depending on your specific situation, nationality, and the type of residence permit you're seeking.
Available Family Pathways
Chile Family Reunification Visa — Residencia Temporal (Reagrupación Familiar)
Formal name under Law 21.325 is Residencia Temporal de Reagrupación Familiar. Eligibility more specific than any resident - requires family tie to either Chilean citizen or foreigner holding Residencia Definitiva (permanent residence). Family members of holders of temporary residence (not permanent) apply instead under Dependent Status (Calidad de Dependiente) mechanism, not formal family reunification category. Original family relationship with temporary or permanent resident is technically imprecise. Major 2022 improvement: same-sex relationships fully recognized (same-sex marriage since 2022, civil unions since 2015). Dependent permit holders may now work. Uniquely among Residencia Temporal categories, family reunification CAN be applied from within Chile as well as from abroad. ELIGIBILITY PRECISION: Family Reunification (Reagrupación Familiar) specifically requires tie to Chilean citizen or Residencia Definitiva (permanent resident) holder. Family members of temporary residents apply via separate Dependent Status (Dependiente) mechanism, which has different procedural requirements including notarized affidavit of financial support from holder. Confirmed by SERMIG official pages and Chilean immigration law (Law 21.325).
Eligibility
SPONSOR must be: Chilean citizen or Residencia Definitiva (permanent residence) holder. APPLICANT must be: Spouse/civil partner, child <18, disabled child, unmarried child <24 studying, or minor in guardianship. Same-sex: Fully recognized via AUC or marriage. FOR DEPENDENTS OF TEMPORARY RESIDENTS: Sponsor must sign notarized affidavit assuming financial responsibility and demonstrate sufficient economic resources (Ministry of Social Development standards). Application uses Dependent Status mechanism, not Reagrupación Familiar. Qualifying family relationships under Law 21.325: Spouse in official marriage; Civil partner (equivalent to marriage, including AUC same-sex unions); Children under 18; Children with disabilities (any age); Unmarried children under 24 who are studying; Minors under personal care or guardianship. For family members of temporary residents (not PR holders), Dependent Status mechanism also includes parents and other relatives in specific circumstances. Language NOT requirement for family reunification - integration support available via SERMIG.
Requirements
Valid passport (or national ID for Bolivians per bilateral agreement); marriage certificate, civil union certificate, or birth certificate (apostilled/legalized + Spanish translation if not in Spanish); passport photo (color, white background); criminal background certificate for applicants over 18 (apostilled + translated); proof of family relationship between sponsor and applicant; FOR DEPENDIENTE: notarized affidavit from sponsor assuming costs; proof of sponsor sufficient financial resources; application via SERMIG portal (can apply from within Chile for this category). CAN APPLY FROM WITHIN CHILE - IMPORTANT EXCEPTION: Unlike most Residencia Temporal subcategories that require application from outside Chile, family reunification and humanitarian reasons explicitly excepted and may be applied from within Chile (Law 21.325, Article 4, Decree 177). Means family member who is already in Chile as tourist can apply for family reunification status without leaving. Significant practical advantage. SAME-SEX RELATIONSHIPS FULLY RECOGNIZED: Chile recognized same-sex civil unions (Acuerdo de Unión Civil / AUC) since 2015 and same-sex marriage since 2022. Both explicitly recognized for family reunification and dependent status purposes under Law 21.325. Partner in same-sex civil union or marriage from abroad qualifies for sponsorship.
Processing Time
Current reality 2025-2026: Standard processing 6-8 months. Incomplete or incorrect documents: up to 12 months. Expat.cl 2025 reports family reunification visa takes approximately 6-8 months under current SERMIG conditions, extending to 12 months if documents incorrect, missing apostilles, or not properly translated. Older sources cite 30-90 days reflecting pre-2022 timelines. KEY: Ensure all documents correctly apostilled/legalized AND translated into Spanish by sworn oficial translator. Incorrect documents leading cause of delays and rejections.
Validity Period
Initial permit: 1 year (renewable annually until qualifying for PR). Work rights: Permitted for all permit holders (Law 21.325 improvement - under old regime pre-2022, family members on dependent visas prohibited from working. Law 21.325 reversed this entirely. Holders of family reunification permits and dependent status MAY perform remunerated activities without needing independent work permit. Chambers & Partners Chile 2025 confirms as key improvement encouraging family relocation). Permit tied to sponsor: Dependent permit validity conditioned on holder permit; divorce does not automatically affect legal status but may impact renewals. Residencia Definitiva: After 2 years of Residencia Temporal + 185+ days/year physical presence. Citizenship: After 5 years total legal residency; Spanish proficiency; civics knowledge test. Dual citizenship: Recognized - no renunciation of prior nationality required.
Last updated: 3/1/2026
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