Passport & Working Visa

1. Canadian passport holders do not require a Visa to enter Chile as Tourists. An administrative fee must be paid exclusively when the passenger arrives through the International Airport Arturo Merino Beni­tez. No fee applies for arrivals to Chile through others ports of entry.
2. If a Canadian passenger wishes to stay longer than the 90 day granted, an additional period of up to 90 days may be requested at the Ministry of the Interior in Santiago.
3. For citizens of other countries, please call the Consulate General.
4. If you are a citizen of a country that requires a Visa, you must apply in person and provide the Consulate General the following original documentation:
   • Valid passport
   • Proof of country of residence
   • Airline tickets or a letter from the Travel Agency with the full itinerary
   • In some cases: A letter of sponsorship (if it is a business trip)
   • Proof of family ties, or a Visa to enter another country.
   • Proof of sufficient funds will be required.
5. The visa fee, duration and processing time depend on the nationality of the applicant.

Please call or e-mail the Consulate General to find out the fee applicable to you. For more information please visit or contact the Consulate General of Chile at www.chilevan.ca

 

Health

1. Vaccinations: No vaccinations are required to enter Chile. Inoculation against hepatitis and typhoid is a wise precaution.
2. Water: In general the city's water supply is absolutely safe, although it is always advisable for sensitive people to drink bottled water for the first few days. Bottled water is available everywhere.
3. Raw food: it is generally not advisable to eat uncooked vegetables that grow close to the soil (lettuce, carrots, strawberries, etc.), unless you get them from an established supermarket chain (Jumbo, Lider, etc.), who monitor the source of their products. There are a large variety of packed products, guaranteed to have been irrigated with potable water from a good source. Established restaurants will also guarantee this.

Money (Financial Information)

Currency: The official currency is the Chilean Peso ($ or CLP), which exists in banknotes of $1,000; $2,000; $5,000; $10,000; $20,000 and coins of $1; $5; $10; $50; $100; and $500. For an accurate exchange rate please visit www.xe.com

Foreign Cash: Foreign cash is not generally in use, except for hotels that may waive the value-added tax (IVA) if you are a foreigner, when you pay in US dollars cash or credit card.

Credit Cards: Credit cards are widely used and accepted. There is no surcharge for their use. The most commonly accepted cards are Visa, Master Card and Diners Club. In medium to large businesses American Express is also honoured. Exchange rates for credit cards are pretty good. Some small, rural towns mostly have cash economies, so have cash handy when going off the beaten track.

Teller Machines: In commercial and banking areas, it is easy to find Automatic Teller Machines (Redbanc network) honouring cards of all local banks as well as Cirrus cards, 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Exchange rates are very good.

Money Exchange: The government does not regulate the market of foreign currency in Chile. You can exchange money at any established Casa de Cambio at market driven exchange rates. They are common in commercial areas of Santiago (Downtown and Providencia) as well as in Shopping Malls.

Tipping

Standard is 10% in hotels, restaurants, bars, soda fountains, taxi service and hairdressers. The rest of the services are not tipped.

Local Time

1. Chilean standard time corresponds to the time zone GMT-04:00 (Greenwich Mean Time).
2. The daylight saving time (DST) runs one hour forward (GMT-03:00) between the second Saturday of October (changes at 12 pm) and the second Saturday of March. Easter Island is in the GMT-06:00 time zones, and during Summer it is in the GMT-05:00 time zones.
3. 24-hour time format is used in Chile, i.e. 3:00 PM is 15:00.

Clothing

Warm sunny days and cool nights are usual during most of the year except in the far south.

When visiting the North Regions and Eastern Islands light clothing, sunglasses, hat and sun lotion are recommended however, when you go to the South Regions you should bring worm clothing, (rain coat, jacket, polar, polypropylene), clothe that is easy to put on and remove. In the Patagonia you will find the 4 seasons in only one day. Good walking or trekking shoes are necessary.

Local Holidays

January 1st: New Year. March/April (variable): Good Friday, Eastern. May 1: Labour Day May 21: Glory of the Navy June (variable): Corpus Christi June 29: Saint Peter and Saint Paul August 15: Ascension of the Virgin Mary 1st Monday in September: Day of the National Reconciliation September 18: Independence Day September 19: Glories of the Army October 12: Discovery of America November 1: All Hallows December 8: Immaculate Conception December 25: Christmas Day In general, shopping centres, restaurants and cafes, entertainment and public transportation function on holidays, except for May 1 where only few services are opened.

Working Hours

Offices: Mon thru Fri 9:00 to 18:00

Banks: Mon thru Fri 9:00 to 14:00/16:00

Shopping Malls: Mon thru Sun 11:00 to 21:00 / 22:00

Stores & shops: Mon thru Sat 10:00 to 20:00

Supermarkets: Mon thru Sun 8:30 to 22:00 / 23:00

Breaks: Lunch time: 13:00 to 15:30 and dinner time: 20:30 to 24:00

1. Official Denomination: Republic of Chile (Population: 15,589,147 Census 2002)
2. Capital: Santiago (Population 4,668,473)
3. Superficies: 2,006,626 km2 (Including the Chilean Antarctic Territory)
4. Administrative Structure: 13 Regions (numbered ordinally) Divisions: Tarapaca¡, Antofagasta, Atacama, Coquimbo, Valparaiso, Metropolitana (Santiago), Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Maule, Bio-Bio, Araucana­a, Los Lagos, Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo and Magallanes and the Chilean Antarctica.
5. Languages: Spanish (Official) and Mapudungun (Mapuche language), Quechua, Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and Aymara (mountains in the North). You will also find that the majority of people working in the Tourism Industry speak English and some also speak German and French.
6. Ethnics Minorities: Araucanos; mapuches; aymaraes; yaganes; pascuenses. There is also Diaguitas, Huilliches, Alacalufes, which constitutes a low percentage of the population.
7. Major Religions: Catholic 76.7%; Protestant 13.25%; 4.3% Other Religions; 5.8% Not Religious
8. Monetary Unit: Chilean Peso
9. Electric Current: 220 Volts
10. Sernatur: National Tourism Center located across the country.

Politics

Chile is a Republic governed by a socialist government. There is a clear delimitation and independence of the three powers of the state. The President of the republic, Michelle Bachelet, who is also the head of state, exercises the Executive power.

1. Form of Government: Presidential Republic

Headquarters of the State: President of the Republic (elected every 6 years)

2. 3.Political Parties: a)Demarcate Christian Party (DC) b)National Renovation (RN) c)Socialist Party (PS) d)Democratic Party (PPD) e)Communist Party (PC) f)Independent Union Demarcate (UDI) g)Social Democracy (SD) h)Humanist Party (PH) i)Radical Party (PR)

Transportation

There are several different ways to travel around Chile. As for ground transportation you can choose from taking a taxi, the Metro, Interurban, National and International buses, as well as railways. Or if you prefer to drive, you can also rent a car.

As for air transportation the National Airline is Lan Chile. If you would like to travel to different international locations you have other airlines to choose from. Other means of air transportation are helicopters, hot air balloons, biplanes, gliders, etc. As for water transportation you can choose from ferries, cruise boats, or fishing boats. Fishing boats are sometimes used for tours around the harbours.