Chile Updates Entry Requirements for International Travel

A week after opening its borders to international visitors, Chile is modifying its entry requirements. Starting in November, the recently-introduced five-day quarantine period will be eliminated for vaccinated travelers who present a second negative COVID-19 test upon arrival.

Travelers will soon have access to some of the world’s premier hiking trails—through deserts, volcanoes, and snow-capped peaks—as Chile welcomes tourists, just in time for summer in the southern hemisphere. Moreover, numerous attractions await, including a new UNESCO site. Nevertheless, it is essential to follow specific protocols regardless of your COVID-19 vaccination status.

Required Documentation

All international travelers must complete the Travelers Affidavit no later than 72 hours prior to traveling. Under the new regulations, visitors can either undergo the full five-day quarantine period announced earlier or opt for temporary isolation while awaiting the results of a COVID-19 PCR test, which must be conducted in Chile.

In both scenarios, travelers are required to have their vaccination certificates validated by the Chilean health ministry through the mobility pass app before arriving in Chile, a process that may take around a month. Authorities have cautioned against planning travel until this validation is completed to avoid potential flight change hassles.

Vaccination and Health Insurance Requirements

The Chilean Health Department currently accepts vaccines such as Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Sinovac, CanSino, and Sputnik V.

In addition to testing requirements, travelers must secure health insurance covering a minimum of $30,000 USD for any medical expenses related to COVID-19 during their trip. Once in Chile, tourists must comply with a follow-up process lasting 14 days, involving daily self-reporting of their health status, current location, and testing through the mobility pass.

Healthcare and Safety in Chile

Chile boasts a successful vaccination campaign, with almost 87% of the eligible population fully immunized, as reported by the health ministry.

Once the borders reopen, travelers may enter through designated airports in Santiago, the coastal city of Iquique, and Antofagasta, which serves as the gateway to the Atacama Desert. Additionally, American Airlines is improving connectivity between the United States and Chile with direct flights launching between New York and Santiago this month.

Exciting attractions await travelers as well. Earlier in the year, Chile proudly added its seventh UNESCO site: Arica and the Mummies of Chinchorro. These mummies, believed to be from the world’s oldest ancestral civilization, date back approximately 7000 years, two millennia before Egyptian mummies. Visitors can view these well-preserved mummies in glass cases at a smaller version of the Museum of San Miguel de Azapa, located just outside Arica, with plans for a larger museum opening in 2024.

This article was first published on Sep 16, 2021, and updated on Oct 7, 2021.