PassportSouth Africa

Trip checklist: Chile

For South African passport holders. Last checked 5 October 2026.

Visa requirement

South Africans don't need a visa for Chile.

Permitted stay

You can stay up to 90 days per visit, and you can apply to extend.

Before you go

  • Purpose of visit

    Tourism, business visits and conferences (GSA). Paid work needs a visa.

  • Passport validity

    GSA: 6 months' validity and 4 blank pages. FCDO: valid beyond departure.

  • How to apply

    No visa needed. Present your passport. The PDI issues a tourist card (keep it until exit).

  • Where South Africans apply

    Not needed for tourism. Other visas: Embassy of Chile in Pretoria (chile.gob.cl/sudafrica) via serviciosconsulares.cl.

  • Return or onward ticket

    GSA lists a return air ticket.

  • Proof of funds

    SERMIG: visitors must be able to show lawful means of support during the stay. No amount published.

  • Accommodation or invitation

    Easter Island (Rapa Nui): an entry form, return ticket and SERNATUR-registered accommodation or invitation letter are required (FCDO). GSA also mentions an invitation letter for business.

  • Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa

    Chile: no yellow fever certificate requirement and no vaccination recommendation (WHO). South Africa's own rule on return: Chile is NOT on South Africa's yellow fever risk list, so no certificate is needed when flying straight home. You do need one if you transit more than 12 hours in, or travel via, a risk country (for example Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina or Paraguay).

  • Arrival forms

    PDI tourist card issued on arrival. A combined customs/SAG agricultural sworn declaration is required (do not bring undeclared food).

  • Extending your stay and overstaying

    The tourist stay can be extended through SERMIG. Fee and terms are not captured.

  • Travelling with children

    FCDO: a child travelling with one parent needs notarised authorisation from the other parent plus an original birth certificate.

  • Confirm with the embassy

    Rules change. Check the official source before you book.

Where to apply

  • UK FCDO https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/chile/entry-requirements

Research sources

  1. 1. Servicio Nacional de Migraciones (Chile): tourists (Official, serviciomigraciones.cl) https://serviciomigraciones.cl/en/permanencia-transitoria-permit/subcategories/tourists/
  2. 2. UK FCDO (Other government, gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/chile/entry-requirements
  3. 3. World Health Organization, International Travel and Health country list (Other government, cdn.who.int) https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/documents/emergencies/travel-advice/yellow-fever-country-list-ith-travel.pdf
  4. 4. DIRCO (South African High Commission, Canberra) (Other government, dirco.gov.za) https://dirco.gov.za/canberra/yellow-fever/
  5. 5. Wikipedia (Reference, en.wikipedia.org) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_South_African_citizens
  6. 6. The GSA (SA visa service), Chile guide (Commercial, thegsa.co.za) https://www.thegsa.co.za/visa-and-country-info/2766-chile-country-guide

From doineedavisa.co.za/chile. Always confirm with the embassy before you travel.