We're planning to spend the next 6 months cycling around Chile, and were told by the Chilean embassy in London that there is no such thing as a "tourist visa" for that long. We were told we'll get 60/90 days on arrival at the airport of Santiago (as most visitors from EU countries do), and will then need to renew (at least twice...) by visiting "local immigration offices".

1. Can someone who has spent more than 2-3 months at a time in Chile confirm this model?
2. How prevalent are these "immigration offices"?
3. How strict are they about renewing on time?
4. Is the cost the extortionate USD100 we've been told?
5. What's the risk we'll be denied renewal and have to cut our trip short?
6. Is it possible to renew at any time?
7. How strict are they about people overstaying their visas?

We'll be on bicycles and thus not super mobile, and I'd hate to have to factor in where the next immigration office is to our route planning just because some genius decided issuing a 6-month tourist visa should not be possible...

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2011-2012: 5 months in Chile
2009-2010: 5 months in Turkey-Iran-Pakistan-India

Hi

Don't know what you prefer most. Corrupt officials or guys that stay by the book and follow the rules. The officials in Chile are strict about the rules but they are nice. Chile is the most stable country in South America, I would go as far as saying that you would have a very hard time finding a corrupt cop here. Chile is also very expensive compared to Argentina. You have the right of a 90 days entry visa which they always give me. I have been in and out of Chile about 7-8 times now when I leave after my 3 months visa is about to expire.
When travelling in Chile south or north you have the option of going into Argentina and when you entry Chile again the happily give you another 3 months of Visa.

You will enjoy Chile especially Carretera Austral if you like fascinating nature and wildcamping.

If you are from UK or Europe the Visa are for free at any border into Chile, and it is possible at any time of your 90 days stay.
If you stay by the rules you will not be denied anything.
Don't stay over time if you want to get into Chile again. Maybe you can deal with the border officials at a small post, but don't pend on it?

Argentina is also a visit worth, they people of Argentina are lovely.

People will think it is fascinating seeing people travelling on bikes. Not so much used here like we know it from Europe.

Good trip and just jump out into it. Chile is safe and lovely if you visit the countryside...

mhoey
www.mhoey.eu
Currently in Santiago

Can't you cross into Argentina and then cross back? Also the fee is only if you come in by air.

We flew in to Santiago and were charged a "reciprocity fee" of about US$135 (it was a few dollars more for the Canadian).

There was no charge for our visas (one US citizen, one Canadian citizen). And we entered many times back and forth with Argentina and were never charged any fees at the border. (We did have to give up some food items sometimes.)

I don't know about immigration offices along the way. On motorcycles, zipping over to Argentina is no big deal -- not so for you on bicycles. But it's an option if you can't find immigration offices along your route. Even take little bus trip -- some folks we met in Santiago had come by bus from Mendoza and it only cost about $20.

Sorry I can't help with first hand experience -- we spent several months traveling in and out of Chile but never managed to go more than a month or so without crossing a border.

-Laura

Yep, that's the crux of the matter for us.

@mhoey: Playing by the rules is always my first option. Unfortunately in this case the rules don't fit what we're doing very well. But I'm sure it'll be fine.

Thanks for the info, will let you know how it goes in about 4 months from now! (hopefully)

-A

__________________
2011-2012: 5 months in Chile
2009-2010: 5 months in Turkey-Iran-Pakistan-India

Hi guys

This is not your biggest headache regarding time for visa's. As stated above you are able to take a bus over the Andes to varies cities of Argentina if you don't want to do it on the bikes to get renewed your visas. You have 3 months of visa which is quit a long time.
I recon you are UK citizens? Why do you keep talking about a fee, it is only for Canadian, US and Australian citizens due to their own laws? I have never been charged any fees of entering a South American country as a Dane (European citizen). I first flew into Argentina from Cape Town. Then crossed a lot of borders to Chile and Argentina with my bike, paying nothing. Yes the Chilean are very nervous about you taking in fruit, meat etc.
Look in a guide book my Lonely Planet says:
Visas
National of the US, Canada, Australia and the EU do not need a visa to visit Chile.The Chilean goverment collects a US$132/ 56/ 132 reciprocity fee from arriving US/ Australian/ Canadian citizens in response to these goverments imposing similar fee in Chilena citizens applying for visas. The payment applies only to tourists arriving by air in Santiago and is valid for the life of the passport. Payment must be made in cash!It cost cost US$100 to renew a tourist card for 90 or more days at the Departamento de Extranjeria, phone 02-550-2484. Address: Argentinas 1235 2nd floor, Santiago (9am-2pm Mon-Fri).

Should you need assistance with anything when arriving to Santiago, give me a sign!

Happy travels, you will be just fine and love it here :-)

mhoey
ATWJ - ATWJ - mhoey.eu
Santiago, Chile

Heya, thanks for the info & the kind offer - we'll certainly let you know next month when we're in Santiago.

So here's the problem - I have a Greek passport, my companion a UK passport. Chile gives me a 60-day visa, my companion a 90-day visa.

So our options seem to be:

1. teleport to Santiago at least twice (assuming perfect timing, or just planning the trip around this restriction) during the 6 months and shell out $400 renewing "tourist cards"
2. abandon the bikes somewhere and travel to a border crossing, cross over to Argentina for a day and reenter. Hope the border guards will be amused. Do that at least 2 times. (assuming perfect timing etc)

We're on bicycles and not exactly athletes so I can't see us "nipping to the border" over 3000m mountains just to satisfy a bureaucratic hurdle. I mean, we will if we have to, but it's annoying. We'll see when we're there, perhaps there's a 3rd way.

Alex

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2011-2012: 5 months in Chile
2009-2010: 5 months in Turkey-Iran-Pakistan-India