A volcano erupted on White Island, New Zealand on 9 December 2019. Follow the instructions of local authorities. Updates are available from the New Zealand Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management.
Call 911
Exercise a high degree of caution in Chile.
Exercise a high degree of caution in Chile due to the violent civil unrest. Clashes with protestors and security forces continue in parts of Santiago and other cities. Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media about possible new safety or security risks. See Safety
Full travel advice: Safety
Full travel advice: Health
Full travel advice: Local laws
Full travel advice: Travel
Full travel advice: Local contacts
Protests have occurred in the areas of Las Condes, Providencia and Vitacura where the Australian and other embassies are located. Avoid Plaza Baquedano/Plaza Italia in central Santiago, and the centre of Valparaiso.
Protests continue to occur in Chile and can turn violent quickly. 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. 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 adn supermarkets or they remain closed.
Large-scale protests can occur in Chile, including central Santiago, other major cities and rural towns.
Public protests and events that draw large groups of people can turn violent.
Local authorities may use tear gas and water cannons.
Protests and demonstrations may occur on:
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:
More information:
Muggings and robberies are common in urban areas.
Hotspots for thieves include:
People walking alone are often targets, especially at night.
Muggings, including with weapons, occur in Santiago around:
Pickpocketing and bag snatching is common. Be aware in crowded areas, such as:
Keep your belongings close in the tourist areas of Santiago including:
There's also been a number of armed holdups of stores.
Robberies and assaults happen mainly at night. Take particular care:
Carjackings can occur as residents leave their vehicles to open or close gates.
Tourists have been robbed on inter-city buses, particularly:
Criminal groups often use distraction to rob tourists. Two common scams are where:
Food and drink spiking occurs.
To reduce your risk of violent crime:
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:
Terrorism is a threat worldwide.
More information:
Chile can experience natural disasters and severe weather, such as:
To protect yourself during a natural disaster:
More information:
Large forest fires occur in Chile, particularly in summer.
If there's a fire, obey the evacuation orders of local authorities.
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:
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.
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:
Don't wait for official warnings such as alarms or sirens. Once on high ground, monitor local media.
More information:
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:
Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition.
See your doctor or travel clinic to:
Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.
More information:
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:
More information:
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:
If you'll be travelling above 2500m:
Outbreaks of Zika virus and dengue have occurred on Easter Island.
If you're pregnant, the Australian Department of Health recommends that you:
To protect yourself from disease:
Get medical advice if you have a fever, muscle pain, rash or severe headache.
Outbreaks of waterborne, foodborne and other infectious diseases occur sometimes. These include:
To protect yourself from illness:
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:
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 at private hospitals in Santiago and other major cities are good but very limited elsewhere.
Treatment at private clinics and hospitals is expensive.
Some large hospitals may accept credit cards.
You may need to pay cash before doctors and hospitals will treat you, even in an emergency.
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.
Penalties for drug offences are severe and include long prison sentences in local jails.
More information:
Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you’re overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.
More information:
Chile doesn't recognise dual nationality.
If you're a dual citizen, 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:
If you're visiting Chile for tourism for 90 days or less, you can get a visa on arrival.
In other circumstances, you'll need to apply for your visa through an embassy or consulate of Chile.
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.
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:
Australian tourists arriving at Santiago International Airport must pay a USD 117`reciprocity fee' by credit card, EFTPOS or in US dollars.
More information:
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:
You also need a Spanish translation of the documents notarised no more than 3 months before travelling at either:
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
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.
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:
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:
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.
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.
Anti-tank mines and landmines are a danger in national reserves and parks near northern borders, including:
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:
To avoid unexploded mines:
To drive in Chile, you need both:
You need to get your IDP before leaving Australia.
Driving in Chile can be dangerous.
Hazards for drivers include:
It's illegal to drive with any blood alcohol content in Chile. Penalties can include jail.
If you intend to drive in Chile:
More information:
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.
Prepaid official taxis are available at the airport.
To protect yourself from crime and overcharging:
Rideshare apps are also available.
Chile has a well-developed bus network.
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:
More information:
Some international cruise liners visit Chile.
More information:
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:
Depending on what you need, you should contact your:
Call 132.
Call 131 or go to the hospital.
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:
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.
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.
In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:
Be the first to know official government advice when travelling.