Family Reunification Residency in Chile
The only Chilean temporary residency you can apply for from inside the country — who qualifies, which civil documents SERMIG requires, and the usual mistakes.
Of all Chile’s Temporary Residency subcategories, family reunification is the only one that can be applied for from inside as well as outside the country — a flexibility that the Mercosur, investor, work-contract and rentier routes do not offer. That changes the planning logic entirely for someone already in Chile who has formed a family tie there, or who intends to join a Chilean spouse or child.
Who qualifies
SERMIG grants this subcategory to applicants who can evidence a family tie with a Chilean citizen or with a foreign national holding Permanent Residency, in the following situations:
- Spouse, or a tie equivalent to marriage under the applicable law (civil union).
- Father or mother.
- Child under 18.
- Child with a disability.
- Unmarried child aged 18 to 24, provided they are studying.
- Minor under the guardianship or custody of the Chilean citizen or permanent resident.
Note that the tie may be with a Chilean citizen or with a foreign national who already holds Permanent Residency. Chilean nationality — whether by birth or naturalisation — is not a requirement on the sponsoring side.
Where to apply
Unlike most subcategories, this one can be filed through two channels:
- “Solicitud de Residencias Temporales para extranjeros fuera de Chile”, if the applicant is abroad.
- “Solicitud de Residencias Temporales para extranjeros dentro de Chile”, if they are already on Chilean territory.
Both are filed through SERMIG’s Portal de Trámites Digitales, using ClaveÚnica (Chile’s national digital ID) or an ordinary account.
Documents by type of family tie
Spouse of a Chilean citizen or permanent resident
- Identity document (passport for applications from abroad; the Chilean ID card is accepted for applications filed inside Chile).
- Criminal record certificate (applicants over 18).
- Recent photograph, SERMIG standard.
- Marriage certificate between the applicant and the Chilean citizen or permanent resident.
Civil union with a Chilean citizen or permanent resident
The same general documents, replacing the marriage certificate with the civil union certificate.
Child under 18, in the care of the Chilean citizen or resident
- Identity document.
- Applicant’s birth certificate.
- Recent photograph.
- Declaration of care and maintenance (Certificado de cuidado y expensas), signed before a notary using an advanced electronic signature.
Unmarried child aged 18 to 24, studying
- Identity document.
- Criminal record certificate.
- Applicant’s birth certificate.
- Recent photograph.
- Enrolment or student status certificate issued by an institution recognised by the Chilean State.
Child with a disability
- Identity document, criminal record certificate, birth certificate, photograph.
- Evidence of the disability: inside Chile, through the Registro Nacional de la Discapacidad (RND) or a COMPIN resolution; outside Chile, a certificate from the competent official body in the country of origin, apostilled or legalised.
Minor under guardianship or custody
- Identity document, birth certificate, photograph.
- Declaration of care and maintenance.
- Certificate of guardianship or custody in favour of the Chilean citizen or permanent resident.
Father or mother of a Chilean citizen or permanent resident
- Identity document, criminal record certificate, photograph.
- Birth certificate of the Chilean child (or of the Permanent Residency holder).
General rules that apply to every family tie
- Passport valid for at least 1 year, for applications filed from abroad.
- Criminal record certificate valid for a maximum of 60 days.
- Applicants in Chile under Temporary Stay must attach a copy of the Tarjeta Única Migratoria (TUM) or the entry stamp in their passport.
- Documents issued abroad require an apostille or legalisation, plus a translation where they are not in Spanish or English.
Can I work under this residency?
Yes. Holders of Temporary Residency through family reunification may carry out lawful paid activities, subject to the same Labour Code caveats that apply to minors.
Renewal
At renewal you must certify that the tie with the Chilean citizen or Permanent Residency holder still exists — meaning the continuation of the marriage, civil union or dependency relationship is a condition of renewal.
Family reunification vs. Mercosur: which to choose
| Criterion | Family reunification | Mercosur (reciprocity) |
|---|---|---|
| Requires a tie to a Chilean citizen or permanent resident | Yes | No |
| Where to apply | Inside or outside Chile | Outside Chile only |
| Suited to | Someone with a Chilean spouse, child or parent, or a tie to a permanent resident | Someone without a qualifying family tie, but who holds Mercosur nationality |
Someone who marries a Chilean while already in Chile, for example, will find this subcategory to be the only realistic route to regularisation without leaving the country. None of the other subcategories in this cluster allows it.
Common mistakes
- Submitting a marriage certificate without an apostille, where it was issued abroad.
- Forgetting the advanced electronic signature on the declaration of care and maintenance — a simple handwritten signature is not accepted.
- Failing to attach the TUM when applying from inside Chile under Temporary Stay.
- Letting the family tie dissolve without flagging it before renewal — if the marriage or civil union ends, the legal basis of the residency changes.
Frequently asked questions
Does dating a Chilean, without a formalised civil union, qualify?
Not through the spouse or civil union route, which requires a formal certificate (registered marriage or civil union). Without that document, family reunification does not apply on that particular tie.
Can I apply from inside Chile while on a tourist stay?
Yes — this is one of the few subcategories that accepts applications filed on Chilean territory. But your identity documents and the TUM, where applicable, must accurately reflect your current immigration status.
Does the tie have to be with a Chilean by birth?
No. A tie with a foreign national who already holds Permanent Residency in Chile also qualifies.
How long before I can apply for Permanent Residency?
A family tie to a Chilean citizen or permanent resident is among the circumstances that can reduce the minimum period of Temporary Residency from 24 to 12 months — covered in detail in this cluster’s article on Permanent Residency.
Conclusion
Family reunification is the most flexible subcategory in terms of where you can apply, but also the most dependent on precise civil documentation — certificates, apostilles and, in some cases, advanced electronic signatures on notarial declarations. For someone already in Chile who has formed a qualifying family tie, it is usually the most direct route to regularisation, without having to leave the country.
This content is for information purposes only and was prepared on the basis of the legislation in force on its publication date. It does not constitute legal, tax or accounting advice. Every situation should be assessed individually by qualified professionals.