COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Chile (09 July Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes

• Citizens and residents are allowed to enter the country.

• Citizens and residents of Chile are required to request a permit from the Comisaría Virtual in order to depart Chile. Permits will be granted only in exceptional circumstances.

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• No, with exceptions

• Non-resident foreigners are not allowed to enter Chile until 14 July 2021.

• Only travellers with specific permits or visas issued by a Chilean Consulate are allowed to enter.

• Travellers who have been in the United Kingdom or country with community transmission of COVID-19 or cases caused by variants of concern, as determined by the World Health Organisation within 14 days of their arrival are banned from entry. Chilean nationals and residents will be allowed to enter.

Is transit allowed through the country?

• Yes

• It is possible to transit through Chile, as long as travellers remain airside throughout their stay.

Is a test required on arrival?

• No with exceptions

• Upon arrival in Chile, travellers may have to undergo a random PCR or antigen test, even when passengers can present a negative PCR test result. Health screening measures are in place at all the entry points, including airports.

Test certificate accepted?

• Yes, with exceptions

• Test certificates issued in another country are accepted. A “Rapid” or “antigen only” COVID-19 test is not accepted for entry. The test must be a COVID-19 PCR test.

Test certificate required?

• Yes

• Travellers who are permitted to enter must have a negative PCR test certificate issued within 72 hours of boarding their final flight to Chile. A certificate for a negative COVID-19 PCR test result is required in order to check in for a flight. Foreigners will not be able to enter the country without the test. Children below the age of two are exempted from the testing requirement. (Note: the 72-hour time period begins from the time the test is administered, not from when the test results are returned.)

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• Yes

• All travellers (including Chileans, resident and non-resident foreign nationals) entering Chile, regardless of the country of origin or the region of destination (even if they have a completed vaccination against COVID19), must comply with a mandatory quarantine of 10 days or until they leave the country if the term is shorter, without the possibility of being exempted.

• All travellers entering Chile will be transferred to a transit hotel where they will stay for at least 5 days at their own expense and undergo a new PCR test, regardless of the pre-departure PCR result submitted to enter Chile. If the test is negative, travellers will be allowed to proceed to their final location (hotel or residence) to finish their required quarantine. Minors travelling alone may quarantine at home and the 5-day quarantine in a transit hotel is not mandatory for them.

• Passengers who test positive will be taken to a sanitary residence to complete their quarantine. Passengers are responsible for the cost of the five-day hotel stay.

• Travellers must complete an online form with the Ministry of Health and may receive additional emails from Chilean health authorities requesting daily reporting of location over a period of 14 days post-arrival in Chile.

• Based on the above restrictions, the traveller will be required to spend a minimum of 10 days in quarantine.

Recommended Border App

• Yes

• Use of the “CoronApp” is optional for contact tracing and self-assessment.

Insurance required?

• Yes

• Travellers will need to provide the airline with proof of a health insurance policy that provides coverage for COVID-19 and related health expenses during their stay. The insurance policy must have a minimum coverage of USD $30,000 for COVID-19 expenses.

• Foreign residents of Chile and holders of diplomatic/official passports are exempt from the health insurance requirements.

Entry form required?

• Yes

• All inbound travellers are required to produce three documents prior to travel:

• A completed “Affidavit of Travelers” electronic form less than 48 hours before boarding. The form can be accessed at this link.

• A certificate for a negative COVID-19 PCR result issued within 72 hours prior to boarding the final flight to Chile.

• Proof of a health insurance policy that provides coverage for COVID-19 and related health issues during the traveller’s stay in the country.

Is vaccination required?

• No

• A COVID-19 vaccination is not required for entering the country.

Airline restrictions

• Moderate

• Some commercial international and domestic flights are operating.

• Chilean authorities have suspended all flight operations from the United Kingdom.

Border restrictions

• Significant

• Borders will remain closed until 14 July.

• The Chilean authorities have closed all ports to cruise liners.

• Leaving the country is not allowed, except for special or essential reasons. Chilean citizens and residents of Chile will be required to request a permit from the Comisaría Virtual in order to depart Chile. Non-resident foreigners continue to be allowed to depart Chile.

Curfew restrictions

• Significant

• The nation remains in a state of emergency through 30 September 2021. This allows the government to enforce travel restrictions and health protocols to contain the spread of COVID-19.

• A nationwide daily night curfew is in place from 22:00 until 05:00 (local time).

• The Chilean authorities have introduced a five-phase system of gradual re-opening across the nation, and restrictions may vary across the regions.

• Communities under Phase 1 (Quarantine) are subject to 24-hour quarantine.

• Communities under Phase 2 (Transition) are subject to 24-hour quarantine only on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

• Communities under Phase 3 (Preparation) are not subject to quarantine.

• Communities under Phase 4 (Initial opening) and 5 (Advance opening) have further reductions on the imposed limitations and prohibitions of activities.

• The complete list of communities and their associated phase of restrictions can be found at this link.

Social restrictions

• Significant

• The Chilean authorities have introduced a five-phase system of gradual re-opening across the nation and restrictions may vary across the regions. The list of areas under the various phases of re-opening is available under the Situación Comunal (Community Situation) section here.

• In all stages, the protocol requirements such as the use of a mask, physical distance, and hand washing are maintained.

Internal travel restrictions

• Significant

• There are checkpoints on roads at various provincial borders around the country. All persons crossing checkpoints are subject to health screening and must produce their health and travel history. Checkpoints are in place at all principal points of entry and exit to the city of Santiago. Nationwide sanitary controls are in effect in bus terminals. Passengers are subject to health inspections before being allowed to board buses.

• Travel to or from regions under quarantine requires a permit obtained from the Chilean police. Travel between regions is allowed only to and from districts in Step 3 (Preparation) or above, and travellers are required to carry a permit.

• The number of travel permits that can be requested per week is also limited.

• Currently, only the regions of Aysén and Magallanes require a negative PCR test on entry. In the case of Aysén, the PCR test must have been performed within a maximum of 96 hours (4 days) before arriving at the destination, while in Magallanes it must have been performed 72 hours (3 days) in advance.

• People in Chile who have completed their vaccination cycle will be able to move between communities that are both in and out of quarantine for some activities, as well as travel more freely inside the country with a mobility card and a QR code for travel which can be obtained here

• Information on additional travel requirements inside of Chile can be found here.

Non-essential shops open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Non-essential establishments may open in some regions with restrictions on time and capacity limits. The measures will depend on the stage or phase of re-opening currently in effect in the region.

Restaurants open?

• Yes, with exceptions

• Restaurants may open in some regions with restrictions on time and capacity limits. The measures will depend on the stage or phase of re-opening currently in effect in the region.

Bars and cafes open?

• No

• Pubs, discos, and bars remain closed.

Events allowed?

• Yes, with exceptions

• Events are limited in capacity. Restrictions may vary across regions depending on their stage of re-opening. Details on the same may be found here.

Place of worship open?

• Yes, with exceptions

• Places of worship are allowed to open in Phase 1 only, with a maximum capacity of five (5) people.

Masks required in public?

• Yes

• The use of face masks is mandatory nationwide.

Other restrictions

• Gyms, cinemas, theatres and will remain closed.

• Schools are closed nationwide.

The COVID-19 epidemic is constantly changing worldwide. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Airlines may have their own requirements for testing, masking, and distancing. It is recommended that travellers carry a supply of face masks since the requirement can vary by location. It is recommended that travellers practice social distancing and maintain a 6-foot distance from other individuals and avoid crowded areas. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country's embassy for information on your specific travel plans.