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We are committed to keeping you up to date with the most important updates from Chile. We are in touch daily with our partners and contacts on the ground and are monitoring official government websites and the local news. We will update this guide with any significant changes. 

The latest from Chile

As of the 1st of September 2022, the following currently applies:

  • The affidavit for travellers online declaration form is no longer required
  • Vaccinated travellers are required to show a Local Vaccination Certificate* upon entry to Chile
  • The Local Vaccination Certificate* has replaced the Mobility Pass and should be carried at all times
  • Non-vaccinated individuals are required to show a negative PCR test result (no older than 48 hours) to be able to enter the country
  • Random Covid-19 testing continues to be conducted at the country's borders upon entering
  • Travellers under 18 years of age have no requirements to enter Chile

*This is simply the certificate that you are given when you receive your vaccinations in your home country, at your local vaccination centre. It may be in a digital or printed format. It isn't something you have to apply for specifically.

PCR testing at the airport (randomised)

On arrival in Chile, 50% of people are being asked to take a PCR test in the airport. This is randomised and you could be chosen even if you have received a booster dose of the vaccine within 6 months of travelling. Currently, the PCR test randomly administered to some tourists on arrival is free of charge and has been for many months. However, it is possible that this may change in the future with little or no notice to be chargeable. The Chilean authorities have not yet stated how long it will take for results to be shared, but we anticipate it could take around 24 hours.

International travellers landing in Chile are no longer required to isolate after entering the country, even if they are waiting for a PCR test result. Only those who return a positive PCR test result are required to isolate (for 7 days).

Travel insurance

Whilst travel insurance is no longer an official requirement of the Chilean government when entering Chile (official source), all international travellers are strongly recommended by the Chilean authorities to have medical insurance which covers any expenses relating to Covid-19.

Bear in mind that Chile has previously had a requirement for a fixed level of medical insurance for Covid-19, so although they have currently dropped this requirement, we are conscious that it could be brought back if the situation changes.


Here at Swoop, we require all customers to have adequate insurance and your Patagonia operator(s) will also have their own requirements with which you need to comply.

Finally, we recommend that you carry a printout of your policy (and possibly a spare copy in case you lose one).

Visas & travel documentation

Passports

We recommend that all visitors to Chile and Argentina have a valid passport for at least the entire duration of your trip, considering any possible delays that could occur on your trip.

Please check with the relevant authority (embassy and/or airline) for any specific requirements or restrictions, if you are in any doubt and/or if your passport will be close to expiring at the return date of your trip.

Visas

Because Antarctica isn’t a sovereign nation, you won’t need a visa to visit. However, you might need a visa to enter Chile.

Citizens of the European Union, the UK, the United States and Canada (among other countries), will not be required to apply for a visa when travelling to Chile. If you are travelling from certain countries not mentioned above, including Australia, you may need to apply for a visa - check with your local embassy.

If you are not required to apply for a visa, you will instead be issued with a tourist card, or 'Tarjeta de Turismo', on arrival in Chile, which will last for 90 days. This is an A5 sized white piece of paper - you must retain this document and present it to immigration when you leave.

Travelling families

In an effort to prevent international child abduction, Chile has put in place strict requirements for the entry/exit of minors under the age of 18. Even when the minor is travelling with both parents, the parents will be required to show evidence of their relationship to the child when departing the country. Please carry an original, certified or authenticated birth certificate.

If only one parent is travelling with a minor, a legal authorisation to take the child abroad will be required, too. This permit must be signed by the parent or parents that are not travelling.

Information for Japanese residents

Travellers from Japan (both Japanese citizens and foreign residents) are required to notify the Japanese Ministry of the Environment before your trip to Antarctica.

Reciprocity fees

If you are a US, UK, Canadian or Australian national you won’t need to pay a reciprocity fee to enter Chile. Some other nationalities may need to pay a fee, so do check with the Chilean embassy in your home country.

If you need to pay a fee, you must do so on arrival at the airport, either in US Dollars or by credit card. If you enter Chile by land, you will not need to pay a reciprocity fee.

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We recommend bringing printed copies of all essential documents where possible. If you are relying on your phone, only to discover the battery has drained, or you don't have a signal or WIFI when you need it, this might add unnecessary stress to your journey.

Contact

The Chilean government has published the following telephone numbers for international travellers who need assistance regarding Covid:19:

+56 22 8717800 (when calling from your home country)
800 123 668 (when calling whilst in Chile)

Calls are answered both in English and Spanish.

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If you're travelling through Chile en route to Antarctica, please note that the two round pins that fit a Chilean plug socket are generally slightly slimmer than some European plugs. These are generally known as Type C and are approximately 4mm in diameter versus the European type F, which are 4.8mm. Factor this in when choosing your plug adaptor!


Sources

Chile Turismo, Requirements for entering Chile, <https://chile.travel/en/traveltochileplan>

Chilean Government, Request your mobility pass, <https://mevacuno.gob.cl/>

Chilean Ministry of Health, C-19 Health Passport, Travellers from abroad, <https://www.c19.cl/llegada-internacional.html>



Disclaimer

Information provided by Swoop is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time only, but in this fast-changing environment we cannot be held responsible for changes not immediately reflected on this website or in information shared with you. Customers should undertake their own research appropriate to their individual circumstances before making final decisions.

Where links to government, operators or other third-party sites are provided, again this information is accurate and up-to-date to the best of our knowledge, but we cannot be held responsible for third-party content.