7open jobs
5organisations hiring
2violent events in 3 months
2deaths (estimate)
To prepare a mission or a new post: the essential context, region by region. This briefing does not replace your organisation's security briefing on arrival.
presidential republic
There is a risk of violent protest in Santiago and other Chilean cities, particularly on Friday afternoons and evenings.
Even peaceful protests can become violent. The largest protests usually take place in central Santiago. Police can use tear gas and water cannons against protesters.
Avoid all demonstrations. Under Chilean law, you can be deported if you’re involved in or promote violent acts that could disturb social order or the system of government.
Nationwide protests often take place on significant dates, such as:
White and non-Indigenous 88.9%, Mapuche 9.1%, Aymara 0.7%, other Indigenous groups 1% (includes Rapa Nui, Likan Antai, Quechua, Colla, Diaguita, Kawesqar, Yagan or Yamana), unspecified 0.3% (2012 est.)
Spanish 99.5% (official), English 10.2%, Indigenous 1% (includes Mapudungun, Aymara, Quechua, Rapa Nui), other 2.3%, unspecified 0.2% (2012 est.)
Catholic 57%, none 25.7%, Evangelical or Protestant 16.2%, other Christians and traditions related to Christ 1.3%; less than 1%: Buddhist, Catholic Orthodox, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Islam, Judaism, other religions, no religion (2024)
Country profiles: The World Factbook (CIA), public domain, last edition (2025-2026).
export-driven economy; leading copper producer; though hit by COVID-19, fairly quick rebound from increased liquidity and rapid vaccine rollouts; decreasing poverty but still lingering inequality; public debt rising but still manageable; recent political violence has had negative economic consequences
19.9 MPopulation2025
89.2 %Urban population2025
$17,995GDP per capita2025
2.5 %GDP growth2025
4.2 %Inflation2025
0.4 %Extreme poverty (international line)2024
9 %Unemployment2025
96.4 %Adult literacy2017
95.6 %Internet users2024
99 %Access to electricity2024
2,631refugees hosted2025
9,561asylum seekers2025
28,415refugees and asylum seekers from the country2025
1,694stateless people2025
Indicators: World Bank (CC BY 4.0); refugees and displaced people: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder. Latest available year for each figure.
Armed Forces of Chile (Fuerzas Armadas de Chile): Chilean Army (Ejército de Chile), Chilean Navy (Armada de Chile, includes Marine Corps and Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine Directorate or Directemar), Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Chile, FACh) (2025)
Tren de Aragua (TdA)
Informative list, to be complemented by your organisation's security analysis and NGO security forums.
UK government (FCDO) travel advice. Some guidance is aimed at British nationals; always follow your organisation's instructions.
This travel advice page also covers Rapa Nui (Easter Island).
The National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (SENAPRED) has declared a Red Alert in the following areas of Santiago due to heavy rain and severe mudslides affecting the Andean and pre-Andean areas in the eastern sector of the Metropolitan Region:
Follow the advice of local authorities, including any evacuation orders. Check for updates and safety alerts from Chilean civil protection @Senapred and local officials.
If you need consular assistance contact the British Embassy on +56 (0) 22 370 4100 and select the option for consular assistance.
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. If you have onward travel plans within the region, check travel advice for all destinations you plan to travel through. You may also find it helpful to:
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
Follow FCDO:
Organised violence events recorded by UCDP, July – September 2026.
By month: July 0 · August 2 · September 0
| Region | Events | Deaths | Civilians | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santiago Metropolitan | 2 | 2 | 1 | new |
There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.
Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Chile.
Some individuals or groups claiming to represent the interests of indigenous communities have carried out attacks in the Araucanía, Biobío and Los Ríos regions of the country. State actors and businesses operating in these regions are the primary targets of these groups. You should exercise caution and follow the instructions of local authorities.
Anarchist groups have also carried out attacks, mostly in the Santiago Metropolitan region. Attacks are principally aimed at causing property damage. Keep bags with you at all times, as unattended bags might be treated with suspicion by local authorities. Report any suspicious behaviour or unattended packages to local authorities.
There is a risk of violent protest in Santiago and other Chilean cities, particularly on Friday afternoons and evenings.
Even peaceful protests can become violent. The largest protests usually take place in central Santiago. Police can use tear gas and water cannons against protesters.
Avoid all demonstrations. Under Chilean law, you can be deported if you’re involved in or promote violent acts that could disturb social order or the system of government.
Nationwide protests often take place on significant dates, such as:
Pickpocketing, mugging and thefts from vehicles are very common throughout Chile, including inside airports, churches, hotels and bus stations, and at viewpoints and petrol stations.
This is a list of scams and techniques which have been used on British Nationals in Chile, especially in central Santiago and Valparaiso:
Distraction robbery: The victim is distracted by one person while a second person steals the victim’s handbag or backpack from their chair or from under the table.
Liquid spill: Liquid is ‘accidentally’ spilled on a traveller, and the scammer steals the victim’s valuables while pretending to be assisting cleaning it off.
Tyre puncture: The driver pulls over owing to a punctured tyre (not knowing that their tyre has been deliberately punctured). A person then approaches the car offering to help, and distracts the driver whilst a second person steals belongings from the car.
Hire cars: Hire cars are targeted and broken into whilst parked at a viewpoint, petrol station or other location. Sometimes the driver is approached and distracted by one person while belongings are stolen from the car by a second person.
Airport taxi: Unlicenced taxi drivers at Santiago Airport add extra digits to the amount for the taxi journey i.e. charging 5,000,000 CLP (approx. 5,000 GBP / 5,000 USD) instead of 50,000 CLP. Others have convinced passengers to enter their pin number into a credit card reader whose display cannot be read. People have lost up to 10,000 GBP via this method.
Theft of belongings at Santiago airport: This includes luggage stolen both before check-in at the airport terminal and from the baggage carousel after arrival.
Many foreign visitors have been scammed for large amounts of money by unlicensed taxi drivers, including in airport taxis. Well-known taxi companies can be booked via ridesharing apps. Only book and pay for official taxis from inside the airport before exiting the building.
Do not use any transport from inside the airport if you cannot pay for it before getting into the vehicle.
See how to recognise official taxis (in Spanish) and be wary of people impersonating authorised taxi drivers. There are criminals inside the airport arrival area who dress up as authorised taxi drivers, including people inside the airport arrival hall wearing official-looking lanyards and jackets, with printed price lists.
To reduce the risk of being overcharged you can insist on paying in advance for your journey at one of the two official taxi booths in the arrivals at Santiago’s international airport, immediately after customs and just before you head through to the public area of arrivals. If one of the booths does not have a card reader available on that day, then you can go to the other booth instead.
If you do decide to pay in the taxi, you should insist on seeing the amount you are charged before you present your card for payment at the end of the journey. Carefully review the amount being charged on portable credit card machines before paying, including the number of zeroes shown on the screen.
If a taxi takes you to an ATM to withdraw cash for payment, do not let the driver near the ATM while you use it.
Read information about the official transportation options at Santiago airport:
Book taxis in advance rather than hailing one from the street, especially late at night. Keep in groups and avoid walking alone late at night.
Keep your valuables and passport somewhere secure, such as in a hotel safe. Bags hanging on chairs or mobile phones on tables can be targeted by thieves, who may use distraction techniques or work in pairs. Take particular care:
around tourist sites, and areas popular with tourists
in cafes and restaurants
at transport hubs, including at the airport, bus stations and ports
in hotel lobbies during arrival and departure
in service (petrol) stations and service station restaurants
When travelling by bus or coach, take care of your belongings when getting on and off. Keep your valuables with you, do not put them in storage compartments, especially for long journeys between regions. Be extremely wary of distractions at bus stations, where there are frequent thefts.
Muggings happen frequently, especially in Santiago and Valparaiso, and increasingly with weapons such as guns and knives. Muggings can take place during the day and in plain sight of others. Be aware of your surroundings, particularly in tourist areas or near official buildings. Muggers will target:
Do not resist any attempted mugging.
There has been an increase in criminals:
carrying out carjacking’s in Santiago, especially in affluent areas – some armed carjackers target high-end vehicles on highways
Be aware of your surroundings in and around the airport, when driving and on arrival at your destination. Keep vehicle doors locked and windows closed. Wait for gates to fully close before leaving your vehicle.
If you’re robbed, hand over your cash and valuables without resistance. If you’re carjacked, local authorities say it is best to raise your hands and get out of the vehicle to avoid violence.
People have been given ‘spiked’ drinks in nightclubs and bars, particularly in the Suecia and Bellavista areas of Santiago. These incidents leave victims open to theft or assault. Keep your drinks in sight and be wary of people offering to buy drinks for you.
Always carry a printed copy of the photo page of your passport with you.
It’s illegal to drink alcohol in public places including streets, roads, squares and promenades.
Using or possessing drugs is illegal and can lead to prison sentences.
Same-sex relationships are legal in Chile and are increasingly widely accepted socially, although much of Chilean society is conservative.
Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
Open fires are illegal in national parks in Chile, outside permitted camping areas. Local authorities may revoke your tourist permit if you’re caught starting a fire in a Chilean national park. You may be asked to leave the country voluntarily within 72 hours or face deportation. If your open fire starts a larger forest fire, you may also face criminal penalties and fines.
If you’re planning to go exploring or mountaineering, tell the local authorities before you set off. For further information on mountaineering, contact the Federación de Andinismo de Chile. For any other type of exploring, contact the Chilean Embassy in London to see if you need a permit. The rescue services in Chile are good, but you may have to pay if they help you.
If you are planning to drive a hire car or a UK vehicle, see information on driving abroad.
You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Chile for 3 months. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get the correct version of the international driving permit (IDP) as well.
You must have your passport and proof of your tourist status, such as your tourist card (‘tarjeta de turismo’) or the entry stamp in your passport, with you in the vehicle.
See information about driving licences in Chile (in Spanish).
If you hire a car, get appropriate insurance. Windscreen repair can be expensive, so consider including windscreen damage cover.
You cannot get car insurance if you’re driving on Rapa Nui (Easter Island). If you have an accident or do any damage to your vehicle there, you’ll have to pay for the repairs yourself.
Main roads in Chile are surfaced, but you may need a 4-wheel drive vehicle in the countryside. Be prepared for a range of driving conditions, from snow and ice to hot sandy deserts. Between June and September, winter weather sometimes temporarily closes the Chile-Argentina border crossing high in the Andes, including the main Los Libertadores crossing between Santiago and Mendoza.
Toll roads are increasingly common.
Landmine accidents mainly affect livestock and local people crossing borders at unauthorised points. Most minefields are near the borders with Peru and Bolivia in the extreme north of Chile (regions XV, I and II) and Argentina in the south (region XII). Although most minefields are clearly marked, some signs and fences are old and damaged and may be hard to spot. In some cases, minefields are laid right up to the edge of highways. Check with local authorities before travelling to more rural areas, stick to clearly marked roads and observe all warning signs.
See extreme weather and natural hazards for information about how to prepare, and how to react if there is a warning.
When necessary, the Chilean National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (SENAPRED) issues warnings for heavy rain which may impact travel plans. Road conditions may be hazardous, with increased risk of delays and accidents. If you travel, plan your journey carefully and allow extra time. Follow local news, weather updates and the SENAPRED website (in Spanish) for the latest information.
Chile often has severe forest fires which can be very destructive and spread rapidly. These fires have caused multiple deaths, as well as sometimes causing the closure of national parks and roads.
If you find yourself in or near the affected areas of any fires:
Major earthquakes are a risk in Chile. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake. Take note of instructions in hotel rooms.
Building regulations require new structures to take account of earthquake risks. Safety measures are widely known and put into practice by national organisations and the local authorities.
A chain of volcanoes is active in the Puyehue and Los Lagos region (500 miles south of Santiago). There is a continuing risk of eruptions in Chaiten in southern Chile, Llaima in the Conguillo National Park and Lascar in northern Chile. Copahue, a volcano on the Argentina-Chile border, erupts periodically, causing local residents to be evacuated. Villarrica, a volcano near the popular tourist destinations of Pucon and Villarrica in the IX region of La Araucanía, is also active.
If you’re travelling to these areas, monitor local media reports and follow local authority volcano monitoring advice (in Spanish).
This section has safety advice for regions of Chile. It only covers regions where FCDO has specific advice.
You should also read FCDO’s overall travel advice and safety and security advice.
There is ongoing civil unrest in the Araucanía Region, especially around Temuco. This includes attacks by groups of demonstrators against both people and property. Be cautious if you travel within the Araucanía Region. There is an ongoing state of emergency in the provinces of Biobío, Arauco, Cautín and Malleco because of a significant increase in violent incidents. The military are assisting regional police. Follow the instructions of local authorities.
81.4yearsLife expectancy2024
6.8per 1,000 live birthsUnder-5 mortality2024
10per 100,000 live birthsMaternal mortality2023
3.33per 1,000 peoplePhysicians2023
99.1 %Basic drinking water access2024
Before you travel check that:
This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.
Call 131 and ask for an ambulance.
Contact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.
At least 8 weeks before your trip:
See what health risks you’ll face in Chile, including altitude sickness, which is a risk in parts of Chile. Read more about altitude sickness on TravelHealthPro.
There are confirmed cases of dengue fever on Rapa Nui (Easter Island). Take steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.
Hantavirus is present in Chile. Read more information about Hantavirus in Chile on TravelHealthPro. Further guidance on Hantavirus is available from the UK Health Security Agency and Chile’s Ministry of Health (website in Spanish).
The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.
Read best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro.
There are good health facilities in Santiago and other major cities, but private clinics and hospitals are expensive. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
There is only one hospital on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and its facilities are limited. People suffering from serious illnesses or injuries are taken by air ambulance to mainland Chile for treatment. Make sure your travel insurance covers this.
FCDO has a list of medical providers in Chile where some staff will speak English.
There is also guidance on healthcare if you’re living in Chile.
Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro.
Passport Index Data (passportindex.org), MIT licence. Indicative, for a tourist stay; always check with the embassy or consulate. (17 February 2026)
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Chile’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Chile set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Chilean Embassy in the UK.
Your passport should have an ‘expiry date’ after the day you plan to leave Chile.
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.
British-Chilean dual nationals must enter and leave Chile using their Chilean passport. Chilean entry and exit requirements for dual nationals may change without notice. For further information check with the Chilean Embassy in the UK.
You can visit Chile for up to 90 days without a visa.
The Chilean immigration authorities will give you a tourist card (‘tarjeta de turismo’), an A5-sized white form. Keep it safe and give it to immigration when you leave the country. If you lose it, Chilean police investigations (PDI) allows you to request a copy online (choose ‘Duplicado de tarjeta de turismo’). You can also go to the nearest PDI office.
To stay longer (to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons), you must meet the Chilean Government’s entry requirements.
Chile requires children travelling with only one parent, with a guardian or alone, to have permission from the non-travelling parent or parents. Parents travelling with children for tourism have faced difficulty leaving Chile at the end of their visit when only one parent is present. You must have
If you’re travelling with children aged 17 and under, check the website of the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs (website in Spanish) for what documents you need to show.
Before a dual national child aged 17 or under leaves Chile, you must get authorisation to travel from a Chilean notary (‘notaría’) if the child is travelling:
If a child was born in Chile, they must have a Chilean passport to leave the country.
To enter Rapa Nui (Easter Island) you must:
For details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Chile guide.
There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Chile. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
Before you arrive, register with the coordination bodies: they share alerts, cluster meetings and useful contacts.
Clusters: health, nutrition, protection, WASH, food security, shelter, education, logistics, emergency telecommunications and CCCM. OCHA publishes their meetings and contacts in each country where they are activated.
Organisations hiring in the country, based on open jobs on the site:
Violence over the last 3 months, jobs and passages of official advice that mention the region.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
show a reservation registered with SERNATUR, the national tourism service (select region ‘Valparaiso’ and comuna ‘Rapa Nui’ to refine your search for accommodation) or an invitation letter from the provincial delegation
This is a list of scams and techniques which have been used on British Nationals in Chile, especially in central Santiago and Valparaiso:
No organised violence recorded over the period.
A chain of volcanoes is active in the Puyehue and Los Lagos region (500 miles south of Santiago). There is a continuing risk of eruptions in Chaiten in southern Chile, Llaima in the Conguillo National Park and Lascar in northern Chile. Copahue, a volcano on the Argentina-Chile border, erupts periodically, causing local residents to be evacuated. Villarrica, a volcano near the popular tourist destinations of Pucon and Villarrica in the IX region of La Araucanía, is also active.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
A chain of volcanoes is active in the Puyehue and Los Lagos region (500 miles south of Santiago). There is a continuing risk of eruptions in Chaiten in southern Chile, Llaima in the Conguillo National Park and Lascar in northern Chile. Copahue, a volcano on the Argentina-Chile border, erupts periodically, causing local residents to be evacuated. Villarrica, a volcano near the popular tourist destinations of Pucon and Villarrica in the IX region of La Araucanía, is also active.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
Some individuals or groups claiming to represent the interests of indigenous communities have carried out attacks in the Araucanía, Biobío and Los Ríos regions of the country. State actors and businesses operating in these regions are the primary targets of these groups. You should exercise caution and follow the instructions of local authorities.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
This briefing gathers public information to prepare a mission. It does not replace your organisation's security analysis, your security focal point's instructions or the country's authorities.