The foreign population in Chile has increased significantly over the past decade, from 155 000 in 2006 to 456 000 in 2015 and 1 118 000 at the end of 2017. The main countries of citizenship are Peru (24%), Colombia (13%), Venezuela (12%), Bolivia (11%), and Haiti (10%). Flows in 2016 have diversified with increasing inflows of nationals from further afield, including Venezuela (3 700 permanent residence permits granted), Haiti (3 600), Spain (1 700), the Dominican Republic (1 100) and China (900).
In 2016, 53 200 permanent residence permits were issued, an increase of 10% compared to the previous year; however, less than the 35% increase which occurred in 2015 and in 2014. From 2005 to 2011, the number of permanent residence permits delivered annually did not exceed 20 000 (except in 2009, when a large regularisation programme was held). In 2016, the new permanent residence holders were primarily Peruvians (25%), Colombians (23%), Bolivians (15%), and Venezuelans and Haitians (7% each). The number of permanent residence permits issued to Venezuelan and Haitian nationals more than doubled in 2016.
The number of temporary visas issued in 2016 reached 141 100, excluding renewals. Of these, 136 300 corresponded to the broad “temporary visa”, a 32% increase compared to 2015. Most holders of a temporary visa can apply for permanent residence after one or two years in Chile. Colombian and Peruvian nationals were the largest group of new temporary visa recipients (20% each) in 2016, followed by Haitians (17%) and Venezuelans (16%). This category of permit includes citizens of other South American countries migrating under the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) Residence Agreement. Temporary visas were granted to 1 500 new international students and 3 200 new workers under contract, whose employers are required to pay the return fare to the country of origin upon termination of employment.
Latin American immigrants can easily enter or settle in Chile in the framework of the mobility programmes of the Mercosur or the Pacific Alliance. Additionally, nationals of two Caribbean countries have also entered Chile in increasing numbers in recent years. The number of permanent residence permits delivered to Haitians tripled in 2016 compared to 2015, with many Haitians first arriving as tourists. Nationals of the Dominican Republic have been subject to a visa requirement since 2012; therefore, some transit through Ecuador or Colombia before entering Chile illegally.
In 2016, Chile received almost 2 300 new asylum applications, a fourfold increase of the number in 2015. That same year, Chile granted refugee status to 34 individuals and rejected 27 cases. In addition, 66 Syrians who arrived from Lebanon were resettled.
In 2017, Chile introduced a Visa Tech procedure streamlining visa issuance for foreign professionals or technicians hired by firms which are authorised sponsors.
In April 2018, new amendments for the 2013 Migration bill were sent to the National Congress in order to modernise current legislation, which dates back to 1975. The amendments create a Ministerial Committee for Migration Policies and a National Migration Service. In August, new visa categories are planned to be available: a 12-month “opportunity visa” to seek work in Chile, requested abroad; and two visas for graduates of Chilean and foreign universities. To address the spontaneous arrival of Haitians and Venezuelans, a 90-day tourist visa category was created for Haitians, as well as family reunification channels and a humanitarian quota. For Venezuelans, a Democratic Responsibility visa is introduced. A regularisation for foreigners arriving in Chile prior to 8 April 2018 is included in the law. 125 000 applied for regularisation in the first month. Additionally, the new bill seeks to grant every non tourist that settles in Chile a national ID card.
Since 2017, the Ministry of Immigration offers a portal in Haitian Creole and has trained some of its officials in the language. The Ministry of Immigration, together with the Ministry of Labour, has created a new temporary training and employment visa in order to facilitate integration of undocumented migrants in the labour market. Spanish language and professional courses for occupations in shortage of 120 to 300 hours were put in place. Subsidised apprenticeship and training programs, relating to youth and female employability and the certification of skills, are also accessible by the foreign population. The Government implemented Chile te recibe in 2017 in order to increase the capacity of offices in charge of welcoming migrants, modernise services and increase attention to specific groups such as children of undocumented parents. In August 2017, the government started delivering temporary visas to children of undocumented migrants who are attending school or pre-school education. The plan is implemented by the provincial governments.
