Spanish

Roman Catholic 70%, Evangelical 15.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other Christian 1%, other 4.6, none 8.3%

Chile is a rapidly developing country with a large, educated middle class and a robust free-market economy. 

Army of the Nation, Chilean Navy (Armada de Chile, includes naval air, marine corps, and Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine Directorate (Directemar), Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Chile, FACh), Chilean Carabineros (National Police)

U.S. citizens entering Chile must have a valid passport.  U.S. visitors will be charged a reciprocity fee at the port of entry, and a small receipt for the fee will be stapled in the last page of the passport.  This visa is valid for multiple entries and remains valid until the expiration of the passport.  In addition, visitors will be issued a tourist visa consisting of a single sheet of paper placed in the passport. This visa is valid for a stay of up to 90 days.  An extension of stay for an additional 90 days is possible, but requires payment of an extension fee.  The visa document must be surrendered to immigration authorities upon departure.

Chilean entry and exit control laws require that a minor child under age 18 traveling unaccompanied must have permission from the parents or legal guardians.  The document must be notarized and, if issued in the United States, authenticated by a Chilean consul in the United States. 

If the child is traveling in the company of only one parent or guardian, the non-traveling parent or guardian will also be required to grant permission for travel.  In this case, the document will also need to be notarized and authenticated by a Chilean consul.  The permission to travel may also be notarized by a Chilean notary in Chile. 

Parents are required to have documentary evidence of their relationship to the child.  An original birth certificate or certified copy of an original birth certificate is required.  This requirement applies to all foreigners as well as Chileans.  This requirement is increasingly being enforced by Chilean immigration officers.  When traveling with a minor child in Chile on a tourist visa, having such documentation on hand will facilitate entry and departure.

Visit the Embassy of Chile web site www.chile-usa.org for the most current visa information and entry/exit requirements.  Visitors should be aware of the severe Chilean restrictions on the importation of fruit, vegetables & agricultural products.  Check the Ministry of Agriculture web site www.sag.gob.cl for current requirements.

Information about dual nationality and the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website.  For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information sheet.

Airports:  363, Airports w/paved runways:  73

Santiago- Arturo Merino Benitez Airport (SCL/SCEL)
Santiago Airport, Chile, Casilla 1152, Santiago, CHILE
Tel:  +56 (0)2 676 3000, +56 (0)2 601 9008
Fax:  +56 (0)2 601 9416, +56 (0)2 601 9366
E-mail: ap.amb@dgac.cl
Website: www.dgac.cl

The potential for terrorist activity is low.

Crime rates are low to moderate throughout Chile and are moderate in Santiago, Valparaiso, and other major cities. American citizens visiting Chile should be as careful in cities as they would be in any city in the United States.
Chile is an earthquake prone country.

Infant MR total:  8.36 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:  TOTAL 76.96 years  (male 73.69/female 80.4)

Required: None
Recommended: Hep A & B, Rabies, Typhoid
Boosters: MMR, DPT

Dengue, American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease), and leishmaniasis are diseases carried by insects that also occur in this region. In 2002, locally transmitted cases of dengue fever occurred for the first time in Chile on Easter Island. Rodent-borne hantavirus pulmonary syndrome has been identified in the north-central and southwestern regions of Argentina and in Chile.

Medical care, though generally good, may not meet U.S. standards, especially in remote areas. Although emergency rooms in some major hospitals accept credit cards, many doctors and hospitals in Chile expect immediate payment in cash. Prescription and over the counter medicines are widely available.

Air pollution is a major source of health concern in Santiago. The most severe air pollution occurs during the winter (May through August).

Country Calling Code:  +56
Internet Country Code:  .cl