Chile is one of the easiest countries to move to Spain from: visa-free entry, a dual nationality treaty, a social security agreement and driving licence exchange. Many Chileans come for a master’s degree, and others have Spanish parents, which changes the route entirely. Here is how people usually make the move and what to prepare before leaving.
Key facts
- Entry: Chilean passport holders can stay in the Schengen area visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This does not allow work and does not, on its own, let you settle.
- Citizenship: as a national of an Ibero-American country you can apply for Spanish citizenship after 2 years of legal, continuous residence. The 1958 dual nationality treaty lets you keep Chilean nationality.
- Documents: Chile has applied the Hague Convention since 2016, so an apostille is enough and no translation is needed.
- Driving: there is an exchange agreement. Once resident you can drive for six months on your Chilean licence and exchange it without a test for cars and motorcycles.
- Social security: the Spain–Chile agreement lets you combine contributions from both countries for your pension.
How people usually move
- Studies. A master’s, PhD, degree or vocational course with a student visa; it allows work up to 30 hours a week. Time as a student does not count towards the 2 years for citizenship. Study permit
- Remote work. The digital nomad visa suits people working remotely for companies or clients outside Spain, including Chilean companies, with a relationship of at least three months. Digital nomad
- Skilled work. A highly qualified professional permit, EU Blue Card, intra-company transfer or a job offer from a Spanish company. Highly qualified professional
- Spanish parent. If your father or mother was Spanish when you were born, you are already Spanish by origin and only need to register your birth; if they are Spanish by origin and born in Spain, you can opt for citizenship with no residence period. The grandchildren route under the Democratic Memory Law closed in October 2025. If you were born outside Spain and your father, mother, grandfather or grandmother was originally Spanish, you can apply for citizenship by residence after just 1 year of legal, continuous residence. Spanish citizenship
- Family. Marriage or registered partnership with a Spanish or EU citizen. Family member of a Spanish or EU citizen
Documents and apostille
- Criminal record certificate for special purposes (certificado de antecedentes para fines especiales) from the Servicio de Registro Civil e Identificación. You get it online with your ClaveÚnica, also from abroad, and it must be apostilled. It usually has to be recent.
- Birth and marriage certificates from the Registro Civil, which offers online apostille for many of its certificates.
- Apostille: depending on the document, it is issued by the Registro Civil, the Ministry of Education (school and study records), the Ministry of Justice (notarial and court documents) or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (everything else). It is free, and an e-Apostille exists.
- University degrees and transcripts, apostilled, if you will study, have your degree recognised or apply for a skilled visa.
- Driving licence, valid: you will need it for the exchange at the DGT once you are resident.
What to keep in mind
- The Consulate General of Spain in Santiago de Chile covers the whole of Chile, including the regions. Visas require an appointment; BLS International also offers a Spain visa service in Chile, so check the consulate’s website for which channel applies to your visa type.
- Apply for a student visa in good time: the consulate asks for applications two months before classes start.
- If you plan to apply for citizenship, keep proof of continuous legal residence (TIE, padrón, contracts) from day one: the 2 years run from when you obtain residence, not from arrival.
- In Spain: register at the town hall (padrón) and, if you came with a residence or student visa, apply for your TIE within the first month.
Frequently asked questions
Will I lose Chilean nationality if I become Spanish?
No. The Spain–Chile dual nationality treaty lets you keep both. You apply after 2 years of legal, continuous residence and pass the CCSE test of the Instituto Cervantes; the DELE language test is not required because Spanish is an official language of Chile.
I live in Concepción. Where do I apply for a visa?
At the Consulate General of Spain in Santiago de Chile, which covers the whole country. Check its website for the appointment system and your visa’s document list, and plan to travel to Santiago to file the application.
My father is Spanish. What should I do?
If he was already Spanish when you were born, you are Spanish by origin: you just need to register your birth at the Civil Registry of the Consulate General in Santiago. If he acquired citizenship later, it is worth checking whether you can opt for it; the option with no deadline exists when your father is Spanish by origin and born in Spain.
Official sources
- Consulado General de España en Santiago de Chile: funciones y demarcación
- Consulado General en Santiago: visado de estudios
- ChileAtiende: certificado de antecedentes para fines especiales
- Cancillería de Chile: preguntas frecuentes sobre la apostilla
- DGT: países con convenio de canje
- Código Civil, arts. 22 y 24