Chile

Demonstrations and protests

Following recent civil unrest and violence across Chile, there is potential for further demonstrations, protests and violent clashes in cities, including Santiago de Chile, Valparaíso, Viña de Mar, Punta Arenas, Puerto Montt, Concepción and Antofagasta.

Local authorities may use tear gas and water cannons. Curfews and states of emergency may be declared in regions affected by civil unrest.  Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media about possible new safety or security risks. Follow the instructions of local authorities.

Expect transport disruptions. Public transport will be running limited services at this time.  Contact your airline or tour operator to find out if the situation will disrupt your travel plans. There are reduced operating hours for shopping malls, banks and supermarkets in most effected areas.

Protests and demonstrations may occur on:

• 11 September – 1973 coup anniversary
• 1 May – Workers' Day (el Día del Trabajador)
• 29 March – Day of the Young Combatant (el Día del Joven Combatiente)

In the Araucanía region, people claiming to represent the Mapuche community are fighting over land and indigenous rights. The Mapuche are Chile's largest indigenous group.

In recent years, attacks have targeted multinational forestry corporations and private Chilean landowners.

Australians and other foreigners have not been targeted in the past. However, you may be affected by politically motivated violence during your visit.

To protect yourself during periods of unrest:

• avoid all demonstrations, protests and large public gatherings
• be alert around days of national significance
• monitor local media and other sources for news, especially before visiting central Santiago or other major city centres
• follow the advice of local authorities
• be alert when travelling in the Araucanía region

More information:

• Demonstrations and civil unrest

Petty crime

Muggings and robberies are common in urban areas.

Hotspots for thieves include:

• Santiago 
• Viña del Mar
• Valparaiso
• Calama

People walking alone are often targets, especially at night.

Muggings, including with weapons, occur in Santiago around:

• Cerro Santa Lucia,
• Cerro San Cristobal Park
• Plaza de Armas
• Mercado Central

Pickpocketing and bag snatching is common. Be aware in crowded areas, such as:

• public transport, including the metro system
• outdoor cafes
• markets
• resort areas
• hotel lobbies
• bars and restaurants

Keep your belongings close in the tourist areas of Santiago including:

• Plaza de Armas
• Mercado Central
• Barrio Lastarria
• Bellavista, including the Costanera Centre Mall

There's also been a number of armed holdups of stores.

Violent crime

Robberies and assaults happen mainly at night. Take particular care:

• in taxis
• in Bellavista and Barrio Lastarria in Santiago

Carjackings can occur as residents leave their vehicles to open or close gates.

Tourists have been robbed on inter-city buses, particularly:

• from Calama to San Pedro de Atacama
• at the Calama and Santiago bus stations

Criminal groups often use distraction to rob tourists. Two common scams are where:

• an elderly person 'accidentally' drops some coins and when a tourist stops to help, a thief steals the tourist's bag
• thieves squirt a substance onto a tourist and steal their bag while helping them clean up ('bird poo' scam)

Food and drink spiking occurs.

To reduce your risk of violent crime:

• avoid going out alone, especially at night
• book taxis by phone, particularly if travelling alone or at night
• keep your belongings close, especially in crowded places
• don't leave valuables in your checked luggage
• don't leave food or drinks unattended

Anarchist groups stage occasional acts of terrorism, mostly in Santiago. They may use small explosive devices or bombs.

On 4 January 2019, an explosion at a bus stop in Santiago injured 5 people.

To protect yourself from terrorism:

• be aware of your surroundings
• take care on public transport
• report suspicious behaviour or packages to local authorities

Terrorism is a threat worldwide.

More information:

• Terrorism

Chile can experience natural disasters and severe weather, such as:

• forest fires
• earthquakes and tsunamis
• volcanic eruptions
• floods

To protect yourself during a natural disaster:

• secure your passport in a safe, waterproof location
• monitor local media and other sources, such as the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System
• follow the advice of local authorities
• keep in contact with friends and family

More information:

• National Emergency Agency (Spanish)

Fires

Large forest fires occur in Chile, particularly in summer.

If there's a fire, obey the evacuation orders of local authorities.

Earthquakes and volcanoes

Chile is in an active earthquake zone. Earthquakes and volcanic activity may occur.

The Chilean Government uses a 3-tier system to classify volcanoes. The alerts are:

• Green – stable with no immediate risk of eruption
• Yellow – undergoing changes in activity levels
• Red – imminent risk of eruption

Volcanoes in Chile and current alert levels are listed on National Geology and Mining Service (Spanish).

If there's an earthquake or volcanic eruption, contact your travel provider about disruptions.

Tsunamis

Chile is at risk of tsunamis.

Be alert to warnings, as a tsunami can arrive very soon after a nearby tremor or earthquake.

Move immediately to high ground if advised by local authorities, or if you:

• feel a strong earthquake that makes it hard to stand up
• feel a weak, rolling earthquake that lasts a minute or more
• see a sudden rise or fall in sea level
• hear loud and unusual noises from the sea

Don't wait for official warnings such as alarms or sirens. Once on high ground, monitor local media.

More information:

• Pacific Tsunami Warning Center

Flooding

During autumn and winter, flooding can occur with little warning.

Flooding may affect services and transport.

Get comprehensive travel insurance before you leave. Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won’t pay for these costs.

If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.

If you're not insured, you may have to pay many 1000s of dollars up-front for medical care.

Confirm:

• what activities and care your policy covers
• that your insurance covers you for the whole time you’ll be away

Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition.

See your doctor or travel clinic to:

• have a basic health check-up
• ask if your travel plans may affect your health
• plan any vaccinations you need

Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.

More information:

• General health advice
• International travel and health

Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia is available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.

If you plan to bring medication, check if it's legal in Chile. Take enough legal medicine for your trip.

Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating:

• what the medication is
• how much you'll take
• that it's for personal use

More information:

• Medication

Altitude sickness

You’re at risk of altitude sickness if you travel above 2500m.

Altitude sickness can be life-threatening and can affect anyone, even if you're fit and healthy.

You're at greater risk of altitude sickness if you:

• ascend quickly or make rapid ascents at higher altitudes
• have had altitude sickness before
• exercise or drink alcohol before you get used to the altitude
• have lung problems that affect breathing

If you'll be travelling above 2500m:

• see your doctor for specific advice
• check your insurance covers emergency evacuation from altitude and related medical costs

Insect-borne diseases

Outbreaks of Zika virus and dengue have occurred on Easter Island. 

If you're pregnant, the Australian Department of Health recommends that you:

• discuss any travel plans with your doctor
• consider deferring non-essential travel to Zika virus affected areas

To protect yourself from disease:

• make sure your accommodation is insect-proof
• use insect repellent
• wear long, loose, light-coloured clothing

Get medical advice if you have a fever, muscle pain, rash or severe headache.

Other health risks

Outbreaks of waterborne, foodborne and other infectious diseases occur sometimes. These include:

• hepatitis
• typhoid
• influenza
• rabies

To protect yourself from illness:

• drink boiled water or bottled water with sealed lids
• avoid ice cubes
• avoid raw and undercooked food, such as salads
• avoid contact with dogs and other mammals

If you're bitten or scratched by an animal, get medical help straight away.

Get medical advice if you have a fever or diarrhoea.

More information:

• Infectious diseases

Air pollution

High levels of smog and air pollution occur in Santiago from April to October.

High levels of dust often occur from December to March.

The Chilean Government regularly issues pre-emergency alerts for air contamination.

If you have breathing problems, take extra care when there's a pre-emergency alert for air contamination.

Medical facilities

Medical facilities at private hospitals in Santiago and other major cities are good but very limited elsewhere.

Treatment at private clinics and hospitals is expensive.

Most large hospitals may accept credit cards.

You may need to pay cash before doctors and hospitals will treat you, even in an emergency.

Fundación Horna, offers an English-speaking service to victims of domestic violence, and can be contacted on + 56 2 2835 6044.  

You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.

If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our Consular Services Charter. But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

Drugs

Penalties for drug offences are severe and include long prison sentences in local jails.

More information:

• Carrying or using drugs

Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you’re overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.

More information:

• Staying within the law and respecting customs

Chile doesn't recognise dual nationality.

If you're a dual national, this limits the consular services we can give if you're arrested or detained.

If you're of Chilean origin, you may be deemed a Chilean national under Chilean law. This may apply even if you've taken steps to renounce Chilean citizenship.

If you're considered a Chilean national under Chilean law, you may need to enter and exit Chile using a Chilean passport.

Different rules may apply to a child aged under 18 years who was born overseas to Chilean parents.

Confirm your citizenship status and entry and exit requirements with an embassy or consulate of Chile before you travel.

Chilean entry and exit requirements for dual nationals may change without notice.

More information:

• Dual nationals

If you are visiting Chile for tourism for 90 days or less, you will now get a tourist card on arrival. You must keep the card and present it to immigration officials prior to departure.  The Chilean Government has removed the Reciprocity Fee for Australian travellers.

Please contact the Chilean Embassy or Consulate of Chile  for advice before you travel, if you plan to access Chile via a land border.

If you regularly travel for business, the APEC Business Travel Card provides streamlined entry to several regional countries.

You need a valid visa to depart Chile.

You can apply to extend your visa at:
Chilean Immigration Office
San Antonio 580
Santiago 
Call:  (+56 2) 2550 2469

If you overstay your visa, go to the Migration Department of the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security. You may face a fine.

If your Tourist Card is lost or stolen, get a new one at any International Police (PDI) Office or at Santiago's international airport.

Entry and exit conditions can change. Contact the Embassy or Consulate of Chile for details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules.

You can't stay on Easter Island (Isla de Pascua / Rapa Nui) for more than 30 consecutive days.

Travel via the United States

If you're travelling through the US, you must meet strict US entry and transit requirements. This include transit through Hawaii or another US point of entry.

Check your visa requirements with a US embassy or consulate well in advance of your travel.

More information:

• Travel advice for the US
• Santiago Airport or call +56 2 2690 1063
• embassy or consulate of Chile

Travel with children

If you're travelling with children aged younger than 18, you may need to show the original, and provide a copy, of the child's birth certificate, particularly if the parent and child don't share a family name.

A child aged under 18 years who isn't accompanied by 1 or both parents must carry 3 copies of:

• a notarised document certifying the agreement of any absent parents
• a copy of any court order conferring custody of the child, including sole custody (if relevant)

You also need a Spanish translation of the documents notarised no more than 3 months before travelling at either:

• the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Santiago by a Chilean consular officer
• a Chilean Embassy or Consulate

You can use the same document for entry and exit.

A child aged under 18 years born overseas to Chilean parents can enter Chile on an Australian passport and remain for up to 90 days as a tourist.

For stays longer than 90 days, the child must obtain a Chilean passport.

See Local laws

Validity

Some countries won’t let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you’re just transiting or stopping over.

Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.

You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than 6 months.

The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport’s expiry date before you travel. If you’re not sure it’ll be valid for long enough, consider getting a new passport.

Lost or stolen passport

Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.

Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.

If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:

• In Australia, contact the Australian Passport Information Service.
• If you're overseas, contact the nearest Australian embassy or consulate.

Proof of identity

Always carry a clear copy of your Australian passport as proof of ID.

Keep your passport in a safe location when not being used.

You'll need to show your Australian passport when:

• banking
• booking a hotel or hostel
• travelling by air in Chile

The local currency is the Chilean Peso (CLP).

Amounts higher than $US10,000 must be declared on arrival and departure. This covers all forms of currency, not only cash.

US dollars can be readily exchanged throughout Chile.

Check your change as vendors, including taxi drivers, sometimes swap denominations to short-change travellers.

ATMs are widely available. Contact your bank to find out whether your cards will work in Chile. Credit cards are widely accepted.

Frontier areas

If you're planning scientific, technical or mountaineering activities in areas classified as 'frontier areas', you need approval from the Chilean Government 90 days before travelling.

Unexploded mines

Anti-tank mines and landmines are a danger in national reserves and parks near northern borders, including:

• Lauca and Llullaillaco National Parks
• Salar de Surire National Monument
• Los Flamencos National Reserve

Be aware of unexploded weapons outside of military zones in the desert areas bordering Chile and Peru.

Take note of clearly marked landmine fields in the Magallanes region of southern Chile:

• between Punta Arenas and the Torres del Paine National Park
• in Tierra del Fuego

To avoid unexploded mines:

• seek advice from local authorities for these areas
• obey all warning signs
• stay on clearly identified roads

Driving permit

To drive in Chile, you need both:

• a valid Australian driver's licence
• an International Driving Permit (IDP)

You need to get your IDP before leaving Australia.

Road travel

Driving in Chile can be dangerous.

Hazards for drivers include:

• aggressive local driving practices
• poorly maintained secondary and rural roads
• poor street lighting
• no guardrails on mountain roads

It's illegal to drive with any blood alcohol content in Chile. Penalties can include jail.

If you intend to drive in Chile:

• check local traffic laws and practices
• use chains on mountain roads during winter

More information:

• Driving or riding

Motorcycles

Your travel insurance policy may not cover you when riding a motorbike, quad bike or similar vehicle.

Always wear a helmet. Make sure your passenger does too.

Taxis

Prepaid official taxis are available at the airport.

To protect yourself from crime and overcharging:

• avoid hailing taxis on the street, particularly if travelling alone or at night
• ask your hotel to make a telephone booking for you
• make sure that the driver uses the meter.

Rideshare apps are also available. 

Public transport

Chile has a well-developed metro and bus network, however it is running limited services due to unrest.

Santiago and Valparaiso are served by commuter rail. Opportunities for long-distance travel by rail are limited.

Tourists on inter-city buses, particularly from Calama to San Pedro de Atacama, have been robbed while sleeping.

If you take public transport:

• don't store valuables in overhead lockers
• keep your valuables with you at all times
• check your belongings before you get off

More information:

• Transport and getting around safely

Sea travel

Some international cruise liners visit Chile.

More information:

• Going on a cruise

Air travel

DFAT doesn’t provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.

Check Chile's air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.

More information:

• Air travel

Depending on what you need, you should contact your:

• family and friends
• travel agent
• insurance provider
• employer
• airline

Fire and rescue services

Call 132.

Medical emergencies

Call 131 or go to the hospital.

Police

Call 133 or contact the nearest police station.

Always get a police report when you report a crime.

Your travel insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.

Chile has 2 main police agencies.

For police reports in English:

Carabineros de Chile (Primera Comisaria)
Santo Domingo 714
Santiago Centro

If you lose your passport and need a police report for insurance, ask for a 'Proof of Loss of Documents' (Spanish: Constancia de Perdida de Documentos) from:

Policia de Investigaciones (PDI)
Eleuterio Ramirez 830
Santiago

Contact your provider with

For any complaints about tourist services or products, either:

• contact your service provider, or
• call the national information service on 103

Read the Consular Services Charter for what the Australian Government can and can’t do to help you overseas.

For consular help, contact the Australian Embassy in Santiago de Chile.

Australian Embassy, Santiago de Chile

Isidora Goyenechea 3621 
13th Floor, Las Condes 
Santiago de Chile 
Phone: (+56 2) 2550 3500 
Fax: (+56 2) 2550 3560 
Email: consular.santiago@dfat.gov.au
Website: chile.embassy.gov.au
Facebook: Embajada de Australia en Chile y Ecuador
Twitter: @AusEmbCL

Instagram:AusEmbCL

Check the Embassy website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.

24-hour Consular Emergency Centre

In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:

• +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas
• 1300 555 135 in Australia