Quotas and Application for the Chile Working Holiday Visa
- Manuel Moreira
- Mar 31
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 2
Redaccion Volare | March 31, 2026
The Chile Working Holiday program allows foreign citizens to reside in the country with the primary goal of vacationing and participating in a cultural exchange. Under this scheme, employment and the academic offer (such as language courses or short-term technical training) are considered secondary activities that complement the travel experience.
To access this benefit, applicants must prove financial solvency, have international health insurance, and mandatorily present their return ticket or, failing that, the necessary funds to purchase one before the end of their stay.
Operational Management and Vacancy Availability
The renewal of vacancies and opening dates are subject to the official calendar established by each bilateral treaty. Quotas and application periods are determined by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile under the principle of diplomatic reciprocity.
Unlike migration flows to other destinations, the vacancies assigned to European and Oceanian citizens to enter Chile rarely run out immediately after opening, allowing interested parties to carry out more relaxed planning of their documentation and official translations.
Quota Details by Nationality
Below is the availability of annual quotas and their respective application periods, grouped according to the nature of each agreement:
Group 1 (Germany and Portugal): Unlimited quotas. Application remains open throughout the year.
Group 2 (Australia): Has 3,400 annual quotas. Vacancies are renewed annually on July 1st.
Group 3 (New Zealand): Has 940 annual quotas. The opening of the processes takes place every year in October.
Group 4 (Canada): Has 700 annual quotas. Selection of applicants is carried out through a pool or lottery system.
Group 5 (France): Has 400 annual quotas. The annual opening process takes place in January.
Group 6 (Austria, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Poland, and Czech Republic): Have 200 annual quotas per country. Opening is enabled according to the official availability of each agreement.
Group 7 (Denmark): Has 150 annual quotas. Opening dates are distributed between March and September.
Group 8 (South Korea, Luxembourg, and Sweden): Have 100 annual quotas per country. Opening is enabled according to the official availability of each agreement.
Group 9 (Iceland): Has 40 annual quotas. Opening is enabled according to the official availability of the treaty.
Group 10 (Colombia, Mexico, and Peru): Quotas are limited according to the provisions of the technical agreement of the Pacific Alliance.
Group 11 (Switzerland): Quotas are limited according to the specific trainee exchange agreement.
Application Process and Steps to Follow
The application is a 100% digital process carried out through the SERMIG Digital Procedures Portal. It is essential to meet the following operational milestones:
Applicant Location: It is mandatory to send the application while being physically outside of Chile. The applicant must remain outside the national territory until their request is favorably resolved.
Category Selection: Within the National Migration Service portal, the applicant must navigate the path: "Residencia Temporal" (Temporary Residence) > "Tratados Internacionales" (International Treaties) > "Working Holiday".
Approval and Entry: Once the visa is approved and the corresponding payment is made, an Electronic Stamp is obtained, which enables legal entry into the country.
Subsequent Obligations: After entering Chile with the approved visa, the holder has a maximum period of 30 days to register with the Investigations Police of Chile (PDI) and subsequently request their Identity Card at the Civil Registry and Identification Service.
More Information at Volare
For personalized assistance in preparing your file or to learn more details about the process, we invite you to visit the Working Holiday Visa for Chile section on our Volare website.
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