Moving To Chile from Canada

Relocating to Chile

   Learn some "local" Spanish. Chile has a calm lifestyle and beautiful environment that is cost affordable. Why make life needlessly difficult by not being able to communicate or understand.

   • Visit one of the many offices Chile has in Canada or apply on line for a "Chile Retirement and Periodic Visa". A Chilean Permanent Residence Permit is key to your move to Chile.

   • Consider planing your move arrival in Chile between October and May, especially if your moving to Santiago. Remember the seasons are reversed from North America.

   • You will be able to open a bank account as soon as you obtain your Chilean ID card (i.e. RUT).

   • The Chilean Peso tends to have a wide exchange rate. Controlling costs will be a function of attention to acquiring Peso's at expected rates.

   • Chile is a modern organized performer. The laid back patient culture is part of that, so accept it as a pillar of that success.

   • The Pinochet dictatorship that ended around 1990 is a touchy subject. While it may seem to be a conversation starter there is little to be gained and much lost in pursuing this topic. With over two thirds of the population identifying as Catholic religious holidays will be a much better place to build from.

   • Unless you will be working at an embassy or have a Spanish or Korean drivers license you will need to secure a Chilean drivers license.

   • Arrange for your health care from one of the ISAPRE health insurance options as soon as possible. Before leaving home confirm vaccinations for hepatitis or other common South American diseases, as you will be going to a new and different germ pool.

   • If you are bringing a pet you will need an official veterinarians health certification as well as a Spanish translated copy. On arrival a local examination confirming the pets clean bill of health is needed.

   • Shipping your new vehicle to Chile by container is the safest way to bring it along. It will need to have a current certified emissions test, as well as a completed temporary import form, original invoice, vehicle registration, your drives license and passport. Importing used motorcycles and vehicles is strictly prohibited.

   • Santiago, Chile's capital and home to almost 7 million, is among the most pollution impacted cities in South America. Its valley location, road traffic and the May thru August months play their part. Traffic restrictions are one of the many ways used to deal with this. Vehicles from before 2002 are strongly banned, except on holidays and vehicles from before Sept 1, 2011 are limited based on certain days in the month.

   • Importing alcohol and sporting arms is restricted. Items that you can not import into Chile include: Drugs, Meat, Used Motorcycles and Cars.