Can a Company Send an Employee to Work in Chile?

Yes. A foreign company can send an employee, technician, engineer, executive or other professional to Chile to carry out a project, provide services, perform technical work or support a local client. However, depending on the activities to be performed, the foreign worker may require specific immigration authorization before starting work in Chile.

One of the most common mistakes companies make when assigning employees to Chile is assuming that a short business trip and the performance of actual work are treated in the same way for immigration purposes.

They are not.

Chilean immigration rules distinguish between entering the country for tourism or business purposes and performing remunerated activities. Therefore, before sending an employee to Chile, companies should determine what the individual will actually do while physically present in the country.

Entering Chile for business does not automatically authorize an employee to work

Temporary Stay (Permanencia Transitoria) allows foreign nationals to enter and remain in Chile for a limited period without the intention of establishing residence in the country. It covers purposes such as tourism and certain business activities.

As a general rule, however, Temporary Stay holders are not authorized to perform remunerated activities in Chile.

Chilean immigration regulations provide an exception for foreign nationals who need to carry out specific and occasional activities for which they receive remuneration or economic benefits either in Chile or abroad.

Chile’s National Migration Service (SERMIG) expressly includes categories such as consultants and expert technicians among the persons who may qualify for this exceptional work authorization.

Depending on the assignment, a foreign employee may therefore need to obtain a Work Authorization for Temporary Stay holders before carrying out the planned activities in Chile.

What if the employee continues to be paid abroad?

This is particularly important for companies sending employees to Chile on international assignments.

The fact that the employee:

remains employed by the foreign company;
continues to receive their salary outside Chile;
does not have a Chilean employment contract;
or will only remain in Chile for a short period

does not automatically mean that no Chilean immigration authorization is required.

SERMIG’s rules concerning specific and occasional activities expressly contemplate remuneration or economic benefits received in Chile or abroad.

Therefore, the relevant question is not simply:

“Where is the employee paid?”

Companies should also ask:

“What activities will the employee physically perform in Chile?”

Which employees may require immigration authorization to work in Chile?

International assignments can involve many different types of professionals.

A foreign company may need to send to Chile:

employees working on a specific project;
technicians;
engineers;
equipment specialists;
IT professionals;
consultants;
executives;
supervisors;
project managers;
commissioning specialists;
maintenance personnel;
trainers;
professionals providing technical assistance.

Whether immigration authorization is required depends on the actual activities performed rather than solely on the employee’s job title.

For example, attending meetings with a client and physically installing machinery at a client’s premises are not necessarily equivalent activities from an immigration perspective.

Business trip or work assignment?

This distinction is one of the most important issues companies should assess before international travel.

Activities such as:

attending commercial meetings;
negotiating agreements;
meeting clients;
participating in certain corporate discussions;

may differ significantly from activities such as:

installing equipment;
carrying out maintenance;
commissioning machinery;
configuring systems;
performing repairs;
providing hands-on technical assistance;
supervising technical operations;
or directly executing services connected with a project.

Calling a trip a “business trip,” “technical visit,” “customer visit” or “training trip” does not determine the individual’s immigration status.

What matters is the substance of the activities actually carried out in Chile.

Can an employee work in Chile for only a few days?

A short assignment does not automatically mean that no work authorization is required.

An employee who will perform work in Chile for three, five or ten days may still need immigration authorization depending on the nature of the activities.

Before the assignment, the company should therefore determine:

what the employee will do;
how long the assignment will last;
where the activities will be performed;
which company or project will benefit from the services;
how the employee will enter Chile;
and whether that immigration status authorizes the planned activities.

Duration is relevant, but it is not the only factor.

Work Authorization for Temporary Stay holders

For certain short-term assignments involving specific and occasional activities, it may be possible to apply for a Work Authorization for Temporary Stay holders.

SERMIG currently provides this exceptional authorization for categories including performers, athletes, lecturers, consultants and expert technicians who will carry out specific and occasional remunerated activities.

The application is submitted electronically through SERMIG’s Digital Procedures Portal.

The appropriate immigration strategy, however, should be determined according to the circumstances of each assignment rather than assuming that the same authorization applies to every short-term project.

Can the work authorization be requested before travelling to Chile?

The current SERMIG procedure allows the applicant to indicate whether they are applying from inside or outside Chile when submitting the Work Authorization for Temporary Stay application.

For companies managing international projects, reviewing immigration requirements before travel is generally the more effective approach.

This allows the company to determine in advance:

whether authorization is required;
which immigration procedure applies;
which supporting documents will be necessary;
when the employee may legally begin the assignment;
and whether the planned travel dates are compatible with the immigration process.

Immigration planning should ideally take place before flights, project start dates and technical schedules are finalized.

What documents may be required?

The documentation required depends on the nature of the assignment and the type of immigration authorization involved.

For Temporary Stay work authorization, companies should be prepared to document matters such as:

the identity of the foreign professional;
the activities to be performed;
the location where the work will take place;
the dates of the assignment;
the relationship between the parties involved;
and the purpose of the professional’s presence in Chile.

The underlying corporate and commercial documentation should therefore be reviewed together with the immigration requirements before an application is filed.

What if the employee will remain in Chile for a longer assignment?

The Temporary Stay work authorization is designed for specific and occasional activities.

If the employee intends to establish themselves temporarily in Chile and carry out remunerated activities on a more continuous basis, a Temporary Residence Permit may be more appropriate.

Chile has a Temporary Residence subcategory for foreign nationals who intend to perform lawful remunerated activities in the country. SERMIG currently requires applications under this category to be submitted from abroad.

The correct immigration route therefore depends on factors such as:

the duration of the assignment;
the activities involved;
the employee’s contractual situation;
the frequency of travel;
the nature of the project;
and whether the person intends to establish temporary residence in Chile.

What should a company review before sending an employee to Chile?

Before confirming an international assignment, companies should be able to answer the following questions:

Who will travel to Chile?
What is the employee’s role?
What exactly will the employee do while in Chile?
How long will the assignment last?
Where will the activities be performed?
Which company or project will receive the services?
Who employs and pays the employee?
Under which immigration status will the employee enter Chile?
Does that immigration status authorize the planned activities?
Is a work authorization or residence permit required before work begins?

Answering these questions before travel allows the company to identify potential immigration issues before they affect the project.

Immigration compliance for international assignments to Chile

International employee mobility should be treated as a corporate compliance issue, not merely as an administrative immigration procedure.

Companies frequently coordinate flights, accommodation, client schedules, technical teams and project deadlines before reviewing the immigration status of the professionals they intend to send to Chile.

Immigration should be considered earlier in the process.

A structured immigration review allows companies to align the employee’s legal status with the actual activities that will be performed in the country and reduce the risk of project delays or immigration non-compliance.

Corporate immigration advice for companies sending employees to Chile

FIC Visas Chile is a corporate immigration consultancy specializing in Chilean immigration matters for companies and foreign professionals.

We advise international companies that need to send employees, executives, engineers, technicians and specialists to Chile for temporary assignments, projects and professional activities.

We assess the activities to be performed, the duration of the assignment and the professional’s circumstances in order to determine the appropriate immigration strategy before travel.

Our objective is to ensure that companies know before the employee travels to Chile whether the planned activities are permitted and which immigration procedures must be completed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a foreign company send an employee to work in Chile?

Yes. However, the activities the employee will perform and their immigration status must be assessed to determine whether work authorization or a residence permit is required.

Does an employee need a work permit for a short assignment in Chile?

Possibly. The fact that an assignment lasts only a few days does not automatically remove immigration requirements. The nature of the activities is particularly important.

If the employee is paid outside Chile, do they need work authorization?

Payment outside Chile does not, by itself, determine whether authorization is required. SERMIG’s Temporary Stay work authorization rules expressly contemplate certain specific and occasional activities for which remuneration or economic benefits are received in Chile or abroad.

Can an employee enter Chile as a tourist and work?

As a general rule, Temporary Stay holders are not authorized to perform remunerated activities. Specific and occasional activities may exceptionally qualify for work authorization from SERMIG.

Is a business trip the same as a work assignment?

Not necessarily. The actual activities carried out in Chile must be assessed. The company’s internal description of the trip does not, on its own, determine the individual’s immigration status.

Can a technician or engineer perform a temporary project in Chile?

Yes, but the immigration requirements should be reviewed before the assignment. SERMIG expressly identifies expert technicians among the categories that may apply for Temporary Stay work authorization for specific and occasional activities.

What if the employee needs to stay in Chile for several months?

If the assignment involves establishing temporary residence and performing ongoing remunerated activities, a Temporary Residence category may be more appropriate than a short-term work authorization.

FIC Visas Chile | Corporate Immigration Consulting in Chile

Immigration advice for international companies sending employees, executives, engineers, technicians and specialists to work on projects in Chile.

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