Chile holds the strongest passport in Latin America — and by a meaningful margin. The Chilean passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 170 countries, including one benefit no other Latin American passport can match: the United States. In December 2023, Chile joined the US Visa Waiver Program, making Chilean passport holders the only Latin Americans who can enter the US without a visa. Here’s what the full passport unlocks.
1. United States — Visa-Free (The Only Latin American Country)
This is the defining advantage of the Chilean passport and the reason it sits at the top of the Latin America rankings. Since joining the Visa Waiver Program in December 2023, Chilean citizens can enter the United States for business or tourism without a visa — just an approved ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization), which is a simple online application costing $21 with no interview required.
No other Latin American country has this. Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay — all require B1/B2 visas for entry into the US. Chile stands alone. For Chilean passport holders who travel frequently to the US for business, family, or lifestyle reasons, this eliminates a significant recurring friction point.
2. Schengen Area — Visa-Free
Chilean passport holders can enter all 27 Schengen countries without a visa for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Combined with the US access, the Chilean passport provides essentially frictionless travel to both major developed-world destination blocs without advance visa applications.
3. United Kingdom
The UK grants Chilean passport holders visa-free entry under the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system — a simple pre-registration rather than a full visa. This is the same arrangement extended to US, Canadian, and Australian citizens.
4. Japan, South Korea, and Australia
Chile has visa-free or electronic travel authorisation arrangements with Japan, South Korea, and Australia — three countries with strict immigration policies that don’t extend this access widely. The Chilean passport sits in the same tier as many Western European passports by the destinations it opens.
5. All of Latin America
Visa-free across the entire region. Combined with the global access above, the Chilean passport provides as close to frictionless worldwide travel as any document in the Southern Hemisphere.
6. Multiple Citizenship Allowed
Chile permits its citizens to hold multiple nationalities. Naturalizing in Chile does not require renouncing existing citizenship. You add the Chilean passport to what you already carry.
How to Get a Chilean Passport
Citizenship by Descent
Children of Chilean nationals born abroad are eligible to claim Chilean citizenship by descent. If you have a Chilean parent, the registration process involves proving the parental connection — no residency in Chile required.
Naturalization After Residency
Chile requires 5 years of legal residency before naturalization for most nationalities. Citizens of other Latin American countries qualify after 1 year. Chile’s residency options include the Sujeto a Contrato visa for workers, the Rentista visa for passive income earners, and the Investor visa for those making qualifying business investments. See our Chile investor visa page for details on one of the main routes.
Is the Chilean Passport Worth Pursuing?
If you have Chilean ancestry, the descent route to the strongest passport in Latin America is an obvious yes. For people without Chilean connections considering naturalization specifically for the passport, the 5-year residency requirement is a serious commitment — though for Latin American nationals who qualify after 1 year, it’s a compelling option. The US Visa Waiver access alone sets the Chilean passport apart from every other option in the region.
See our Latin America Passport Index for the full regional comparison. To discuss whether Chile fits your situation, book a consultation call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Chilean passport holders enter the US without a visa?
Yes. Chile joined the US Visa Waiver Program in December 2023. Chileans can enter the US for tourism or business with an approved ESTA — no visa application or interview required.
Is the Chilean passport the strongest in Latin America?
Yes, by visa-free country count and by the quality of access — particularly the US Visa Waiver Program membership, which no other Latin American country has.
Does Chile allow dual citizenship?
Yes. Chile permits multiple nationality.
How long to naturalize in Chile?
5 years for most nationalities; 1 year for citizens of other Latin American countries.
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