Chilean nationals
Spain Digital Nomad Visa for Chilean nationals — the complete 2026 guide
Chilean passport holders are Schengen visa-free, making the UGE route (apply from within Spain, ~20 working days) fully available. Chile's tech sector, financial sector, and professional community produce strong candidates for Spain's DNV — and the Registro Civil criminal record certificate is one of the fastest and easiest to obtain online.
Chilean applicants
Chilean nationals and Spain's Digital Nomad Visa
Chile's educated professional class and strong English-language skills make Chilean remote workers attractive to international employers. Schengen visa-free access means the fast UGE route is available — fly to Spain, apply, receive your 3-year permit. Santiago to Madrid is approximately 13–14 hours direct with Iberia or LATAM.
Fastest criminal record certificate in the DNV process
Chile's Certificado de Antecedentes from the Registro Civil is downloadable online within minutes at registrocivil.cl. Combined with the MINREL apostille (5–10 business days), total turnaround is approximately 1–2 weeks — one of the fastest in the world for DNV purposes. This means your police certificate is unlikely to be the bottleneck in your application.
Chilean passport — Schengen visa-free
Chilean passport holders have Schengen visa-free access for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Fly to Spain (Santiago to Madrid direct with Iberia or LATAM, ~13 hours), apply via UGE from within Spain, and receive your 3-year permit in approximately 20 working days — without returning to Chile. This one-trip approach is the recommended route for Chilean applicants.
Ibero-American nationals — faster naturalisation path in Spain
Chilean nationals, like other Ibero-American nationals (Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, etc.), benefit from Spain's reduced residency requirement for naturalisation — just 2 years of legal residence instead of the standard 10 years for other nationalities. This means a DNV → 2 years of residence → Spanish citizenship path is available to Chilean nationals who want EU citizenship long-term.
Application routes
Consulate or UGE — the two routes to Spain's DNV
Chile passport holders are Schengen visa-free — you can enter Spain for up to 90 days and apply via UGE from within Spain. This is the fastest route and avoids consulate appointments in Chile entirely. You may also apply at Spanish Embassy Santiago, Consulate General Valparaíso before travelling to Spain.
UGE (from within Spain)
Enter Spain visa-free — apply from within Spain
- ✓ Chile passport holders enter Spain visa-free (up to 90 days)
- ✓ Apply via UGE — no consulate appointment needed
- ✓ No return to Chile required during the process
- ✓ Government tasas included in our service
- ✓ 3-year permit issued directly — no conversion step
Spanish Consulate in Chile
Spanish Embassy Santiago, Consulate General Valparaíso
- ✓ Apply from Chile without travelling to Spain first
- ✓ Spanish Embassy Santiago, Consulate General Valparaíso
- – Processing significantly slower — 2 to 3 months typical
- – In-person consulate appointment required in Chile
- – Separate conversion step to 3-year permit on arrival in Spain
Criminal record certificate
Police certificate requirements for Chilean nationals
All DNV applicants must provide a criminal record certificate apostilled or legalised for international use. For Chilean nationals, the required certificate is the Certificado de Antecedentes (para fines particulares).
Registro Civil e Identificación de Chile — apply online at registrocivil.cl
Apply online at registrocivil.cl for a Certificado de Antecedentes para fines particulares. Processing is typically immediate or within 1–2 business days. The certificate is downloadable as a PDF. If applying from outside Chile, use the online portal or apply via the Chilean Embassy in your country.
Certifying for use in Spain
Chile is a member of the Hague Convention. Apostilles on Chilean documents are issued by the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (MINREL). Apply online via cancelaria.minrel.gob.cl. Allow 5–10 business days. The apostilled certificate is required for your DNV application.
Allow 1–2 weeks total (Registro Civil certificate + MINREL apostille)
The police certificate is frequently the longest lead-time document in a DNV application. Apply for it as early as possible — your case manager will advise on optimal timing to avoid delays to your submission.
Living in Spain
Popular cities and practical tips for Chilean nationals in Spain
Barcelona and Madrid are the most popular destinations for Chilean DNV applicants. Barcelona has a significant Chilean community; Madrid is popular for finance and business professionals. The Ibero-American cultural connection makes Spain feel immediately familiar to Chileans.
Tax implications for Chilean nationals
Chile taxes residents on worldwide income at rates up to 40%. Once Spanish tax resident, you file Spanish IRPF or Beckham Law returns at 24% flat (qualifying). The Spain-Chile double taxation agreement prevents double taxation. Chilean-source income may still attract Chilean withholding tax.
Banking and finances
Iberia operates direct flights from Santiago (SCL) to Madrid (MAD); LATAM also serves the route. Santiago time (CLT/CLST, UTC-3/-4) is 3–4 hours behind Spain — a comfortable overlap for European client-facing roles.
Questions & answers