Chile

South America

A South American country with a strong passport, a 5-year citizenship path and residence by investment, but case-by-case immigration and tax rules.

Overall score

Good · 98% data coverage

Language

Spanish

Currency

CLP

Citizenship

5 years

Personal tax

Up to 40%

Cost of living

$1,100 / mo (single)

Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.

Score breakdown

Access

17%

57Residence12%

75Citizenship and passport5%

Earning power

25%

58Salary and work12%

72Buying power13%

Business and wealth

20%

52Taxes7%

72Business8%

66Investment5%

Daily life

25%

72Quality of life18%

87Education7%

Rights and institutions

13%

91Freedom6%

80Rule of law7%

Pros

A strong passport
A 5-year citizenship path
Residence by investment

Cons

Case-by-case immigration and tax rules

Best for

Investors

Score profile

Access

Residence

Citizenship

Passport

Earning power

Salary & work

Buying power

Cost of living

Economy

Business and wealth

Taxes

Personal tax

Corporate tax

Business

Investment

Wealth building

Daily life

Safety

Healthcare

Environment

Infrastructure

Education

HDI

Rights and institutions

Freedom

Rule of law

How the scores are calculated

Access

Residence

Openness to residents

Moderate

Migrant stock7.8% of population (2024)

Regulatory quality0.78 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways

EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible

Student	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Self-employed	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Permanent	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Citizenship

Citizenship accessibility

Good

Years required	5 years
Dual allowed	Yes
Language	Check the current naturalisation rules for the selected route
Residence	Typical headline route: 5 years; qualifying residence and absence rules apply
Notes	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Passport

Passport power

Excellent

183 / 198

Mobility

#12

Global rank

Yes

Biometric

Visa-free132
On arrival42
eTA9
Visa required15

Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work

Labour-market strength

Moderate

Output per worker$63,924 PPP (2024)

Unemployment9.0% (2025)

Participation62.3% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Mean monthly earnings of employees

Overall$742 · $1,506 PPP (2024)

Tech (IT & comms)$1,060 · $2,151 PPP (2024)

Source: ILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)

Freelance	Market access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation
Job market	Use current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions.

Buying power

Purchasing power score

Good

GNI / person$35,730 PPP (2025)

Consumption / person$19,613 PPP (2024)

Price level51 (US = 100) (2025)

Income inequality43.0 Gini (2024)

Inflation4.2% / yr (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living

Affordability

Good

Price level51 (US = 100) (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Rent	Varies substantially by city and neighbourhood
Monthly	$1,100 / mo (single)
Cities	Santiago, Valparaíso, Concepción

Economy

Economic strength

Good

Output & income

GDP$357.4B (2025)

GDP / person$17,995 (2025)

GNI / person$35,730 PPP (2025)

GDP growth2.6% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour

Inflation4.2% / yr (2025)

Unemployment9.0% (2025)

Output per worker$63,924 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition

Agriculture3.5% of GDP (2025)

Industry31.4% of GDP (2025)

Services55.5% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries

Mining (copper, lithium)Agriculture & wineForestryFishing & salmonFinancial services

Top exports

CopperLithiumFruit & wineSalmonWood pulp

Type	High-income, mining- and export-led
Key sectors	Copper mining (the world's largest producer), Lithium, Agri-exports
Summary	A high-income, open economy and the world's top copper producer, with major lithium reserves and strong agri-exports.
Currency	Chilean peso (copper-linked)

Business and wealth

Taxes

Tax friendliness

Moderate

Personal	Up to 40%
Corporate	Generally 27%; SME regime may be lower
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Personal tax

Low

Personal	Up to 40%
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence

Corporate tax

Low

Corporate	Generally 27%; SME regime may be lower
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Business

Business friendliness

Good

Regulation & bureaucracy

Regulatory quality0.78 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Government effectiveness0.96 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules

Foreign company	Generally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules
Local company	Available company forms and capital requirements vary
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply

Investment

Investing environment

Good

Market cap136% of GDP (2025)

Private credit102% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position
Dividends	Data not available yet
ETFs & funds	Data not available yet
Wealth tax	Check current national and subnational rules
Brokers	Local and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks
Foreign access	Data not available yet
Tax-advantaged	Data not available yet

Wealth building

Wealth accumulation

Moderate

Salary & work

Moderate

Business

Good

Investment

Good

Tax friendliness

Moderate

Cost of living

Good

Daily life

Safety

Safety & stability

Moderate

Personal safety

Homicide rate6.3 per 100,000 (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability

Control of corruption1.11 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Political stability0.12 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Healthcare

Healthcare score

Good

Outcomes

Life expectancy81.4 years (2024)

Under-5 mortality6.8 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing

Physicians3.33 per 1,000 (2023)

Hospital beds1.94 per 1,000 (2023)

Health spending$3,612 PPP / person (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs

System	Public/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status
Insurance	Check residence-permit and local coverage requirements
Average cost	Depends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage

Environment

Environment score

Good

Environmental pressure

PM2.5 exposure23.1 μg/m³ annually (2023)

Water stress9.0% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure

Infrastructure score

Good

Digital infrastructure

Internet use95.6% (2024)

Internet resilience64 / 100 (2026)

Fixed speed96 / 100 download index (2026)

Mobile speed67 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities

Electricity access100.0% (2023)

Grid losses5.9% of output (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport

Transport quality2.80 / 5 (2022)

Rail density3.2 km / 1,000 km² (2021)

Air connectivity7,276 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education

Education score

Excellent

Attainment

Expected schooling16.9 years (2023)

Mean schooling11.3 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment

Tertiary enrolment110% gross (2024)

Education spending4.9% of GDP (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition	$4,000–12,000 / yr
Public university	Varies by institution, programme, and student nationality
Languages	Spanish
Student work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

HDI

Human development score

Excellent

HDI0.878 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life

Life expectancy81.2 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge

Expected schooling16.9 years (2023)

Mean schooling11.3 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025