Working in Chile

Chile is a South American country covering a long, narrow strip of the continent’s southwestern coast. From north to south, the country borders Bolivia, Peru and Argentina. It is the only country in South America that does not border Brazil.

Spanish explorers arrived in Chile during the 16th century when the country was under Inca rule. Chile declared independence from Spain in 1818.

Chile has become one of South America’s most stable countries, both economically and politically. It is a haven for foreign investment and considered one of the continent’s leading emerging economies.

In recent years, Chile has valiantly overcome one of the largest ever earthquakes to hit anywhere in the world and received wide-spread recognition for the successful rescue of 33 trapped miners at the San Jose mine.

The Work and Holiday visa arrangement between Australia and Chile allows holiday and travel for Australians between the two countries.

Under the arrangement, university-educated Australians aged between 18 and 30 are allowed to work and holiday in Chile for up to 12 months.

The arrangement was introduced with the aim of strengthening cultural exchange and widening economic ties and links between the two countries.

Chile’s Work and Holiday visa summary

Visa: Working holiday
Age: 18 to 30
Length of stay: 12 months
Application fee: $204
Processing time: n/a

Requirements / Eligibility for Work and Holidays

If you want to travel to Chile under Work and Holiday arrangements, there are additional eligibility requirements. These include, but are not limited to:

• Hold an Australian passport
• Meet health and character requirements
• Be aged between 18 and 30 at the time of applying
• Have no dependent children accompanying you
• Have a return ticket, or sufficient funds for a return or onward fare
• Have sufficient funds for the first part of the holiday.
• A letter of approval from the Australian Government supporting the application
• Tertiary education
• Speak basic Spanish

The letter of government support can be issued by the ACT and Regions Office in Canberra, where the following details must be provided:

• Certified copy of a valid passport
• Certified copy of one other form of identification with current residential address
• Certified copies of the applicant’s tertiary qualifications, a letter from the university confirming the level of study or originals of academic transcripts.

Emergency

Tourist emergency telephone services:
Police                                   133
Fire                                       132
Medical emergency            131

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) encourages that Australian travellers to Chile register with DFAT, whatever the reason for their travel. The information you provide will assist in the event of a natural disaster, civil disturbance or family issue.

Consular assistance in Chile can be obtained from:

Australian Embassy, Santiago de Chile
Isidora Goyenechea 3621
13^th Floor, Las Condes
Santiago de Chile
Telephone: (56 2) 2550 3500
Fax:             (56 2) 2550 3560
Email: consular.santiago@dfat.gov.au

Tax System

Residents and expats in Chile are liable to pay income tax on income earned in Chile and internationally. Taxes are paid on a progressive system annually at the time of submitting a tax return. The country’s tax year is the same as the calendar year. Tax rates in Chile range from 0% to 40% depending on an individual’s annual income.

Bank Account

Opening a bank account as an expat in Chile requires several pieces of documentation, including: passport, proof of employment and proof of address in Chile. Each bank account will usually include a debit card and an option to open a savings account and more.

The major banks in Chile include: Banco de Chile, ABN AMRO Chile and Banco Central de Chile.

Working in Chile

Teaching English is an excellent option for expats venturing to Chile on a working holiday. According to TEFL (Teaching English as a foreign language), there is a high demand for English tuition in Chile as the language grows in use for business and tourism purposes. However, don’t expect a high salary for this work as wages in Chile are generally low compared to western countries.

Another option while traveling around Chile is to look for agricultural work. This is a great way to explore the country, enjoy the outdoors and supplement your stay with a small amount of funds.

Communication

Chile is well serviced by telecommunications around metropolitan areas such as Santiago and has several providers for expats to choose from. The major telecommunications players in Chile are:

•     Movistar
•     Entel
•     Claro
•     Nextel
•     VTR Movil

To sign-up for a phone contract in Chile, applicants will need to provide forms of identification, such as a passport.