1. Collecting Documents Before Leaving for Chile

The set of documents you need depends on the status you want to have in Chile. The most common visitor statuses are: a) tourism, medical purposes, business trips; b) departure for temporary residence. If you are traveling for childbirth in Chile, a medical purpose trip does not require a visa, but a long stay of 6 months or more will require you to apply for a rentier visa, work visa, or entrepreneur visa.

A visa is not required for childbirth in Chile, although there is a specialized visa; however, it does not provide any advantages if the applicant holds citizenship from a country with which Chile has a visa-free entry agreement.

While not critically necessary, we recommend bringing either originals or certified and apostilled copies of the following documents: birth certificate, school certificate (it may be useful), marriage registration certificate, and, if available, university diploma.

Pay Attention to the Visa Requirements!

The status of a resident is not always useful or necessary. Moreover, violations of residence rules (e.g., obtaining the status without living in Chile) can negatively affect the processing of subsequent documents if you wish to obtain permanent residence (visa definitiva), such as a rentier visa.

Without an apostille but with a translation, it is better to have:

• Medical history of pregnancy with all tests;
• Extract from the Unified State Register of Real Estate;
• Extract from the Federal Tax Service on assets;
• Information from banks about the availability of accounts.

2. Purchase of Air Tickets

Tickets to Chile are one of the highest expenses you will incur if you decide to give birth in Chile. The estimated cost of an air ticket per person in 2023 from the European continent ranges from 800 EUR to 2000 EUR one way with 1-2 transfers.

Direct flights to Santiago from Europe are operated only from four cities: London, Paris, Madrid, and Barcelona. The cost of such flights is usually 30-70% more expensive than connecting flights. The cost of a flight from Europe to Chile is generally not affected by seasonality or whether you purchase a round-trip ticket.

The Best Routes to Arrive in Chile:

1. Doha - Sao Paulo - Santiago. Qatar Airways offers the best price-quality ratio, and tickets are almost always available.
2. Rome - Sao Paulo - Santiago. There are often sales.
3. (Istanbul) - Madrid - Sao Paulo - Santiago.
4. (Istanbul) - Paris - Sao Paulo - Santiago.
5. (Istanbul) - London - Santiago.

How to Make It Cheaper?

You can often make the flight cheaper by booking the segment from Sao Paulo to Santiago separately. This can be more economical than booking a single segment, particularly for citizens of Eurasia and North America.

3. Collecting Documents for the Flight

When using air transport, airlines often require a doctor's certificate (sometimes on the airline's form) authorizing the flight for pregnant passengers!

If you do not know the date of the return flight, we recommend making a paid booking for a return ticket through services such as getonwardticket.com, dummyflights.com, or onewayfly.com to address any potential questions at the border.

4. Searching for Real Estate to Live in Chile

Remember the long list of documents you should bring with you. One place where these documents may be required is when renting real estate, outside of short-term online booking services.

Short-Term Rental (Up to 6 Months)

Common services and aggregators: Google Travel, Yandex Travel, Tripadvisor, Airbnb, Booking.com

Long-Term Lease (From 6 Months)

MercadoLibre South American marketplace.

5. Arrival in Chile

Arriving in Chile by air is fundamentally similar to arriving in any other country. You will cross the state border and collect your luggage. One difference is enhanced phytosanitary control, and you may more frequently encounter additional customs checks. However, this usually does not take much time and nothing problematic usually occurs.

You can safely state the purpose of your visit as "treatment in a Chilean hospital." Usually, nothing more is required.

Documents to Fill Out Upon Arrival

The only document you will need to fill out is a declaration of the absence of phytosanitary violations in the transported items. It is advisable to have a pen with you.

Transfer

You can safely order a taxi directly at the airport. Depending on your destination, the cost from the airport to the center or outskirts of Santiago will range from 25,000 to 40,000 pesos (for a small bus such as a Mercedes VIANO).

The second option is to use taxi aggregators: Uber, Cabify, and Didi are the leaders in the local market. The price will be similar to that of a taxi from the airport counter, but you will need to go to the second floor of the airport and look for your driver in the parking lot, which is not always convenient. This is because taxi drivers from aggregators are not allowed to drive closer to the airport.

6. Setting Up Temporary Life in Chile

In Chile, you will find that online services, aggregators, and other conveniences familiar in Eurasia are largely absent. The range of products in Chilean and South American stores is extremely limited. For instance, dairy products are significantly less varied compared to Europe, and cucumbers, when available, are far from appealing. However, you will also enjoy benefits such as a vast selection of marine products, various types of avocados, and edible cacti. Clothing options are also limited, but it is not difficult to find something average.

The same limitations apply to necessities for children after childbirth in Chile. Finding high-quality strollers, cribs, and car seats in the middle to premium class is extremely difficult. However, there is a good selection of economy options. In Chile and all of South America, you will not find typical "sharing" services (such as hourly nannies) or "handyman" services. Instead, live-in household staff who perform various duties (e.g., caring for children, cleaning the apartment, and bringing tea) are still common among the upper middle class and wealthy. This reflects a continuation of traditional practices and societal segregation. But as they say, this might not concern you if you're from elsewhere ;-)

You will also need to get used to the constant demand for the national identification tax number, RUT. Without a long-term visa, residence permit, or permanent residence, you will need to obtain this number from other sources. This requirement is frequent: you will need it to use the Chilean equivalent of services like Avito.ru, national mobile apps, web-based product delivery services, long-term real estate rentals, opening bank accounts, and even connecting to a local SIM card.

Bureaucracy: Slow but Honest

The state apparatus in Chile underwent significant changes after Pinochet's departure, becoming more approachable and helpful. Bureaucracy in Chile is generally open-minded, friendly, and willing to assist with many issues. Bribes or other forms of corruption are not common at the grassroots or middle levels. However, there is a downside: the lack of interest in work often leads to extreme slowness. You should be prepared for delays in any processes involving the executive branch.

The Unique Nature of Chile

Chile’s diverse nature deserves a detailed exploration. The country stretches from north to south, encompassing various climatic zones. The capital, Santiago, experiences perpetual sunshine and drought, with abundant water sources nearby (desalination plants 120 km away and mountain springs 1-5 km away). However, comfortable living conditions are largely restricted to the capital. The larger city of Valparaíso and its surroundings face environmental challenges due to chemical industries, oil bunkering, coal-fired power plants, and other pollution sources. The southern regions, while environmentally pristine, are difficult to access due to complex logistics, and are mostly visited by penguins and European tourists.

Transport

Public transportation is well-developed. Travel by subway and bus is facilitated using a single BIP card, available at regular stores and metro stations. For taxis, services like UBER, Cabify, and DiDi are available. For medium-term car rentals, consider Mitta or Salfa. Carsharing is provided by AWTO, which requires a detailed registration and verification process. For cycling, ITAU BIKE is a popular option.

7. Preparation of Documents for a Newborn Before Childbirth

In practice, no additional documents are required for the future newborn. However, there are a few cases where it may be beneficial to prepare additional documents before giving birth in Chile:

1. If you wish to obtain a second citizenship for your child, such as Russian citizenship, there may be discrepancies between Chilean and Russian documents, particularly concerning the declension of surnames in Chile. To address this, you will need a certificate from the consulate, certified by the Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile. Then, have a copy certified by a notary and submit this set of documents to the local Registro Civil.

2. In Chile, all newborns are assigned two surnames—one from each parent. To neutralize this, you can either request a single surname during registration (e.g., Olga Petrova Petrova) or indicate that you are a single mother. Alternatively, you can change the surname in Russian documents first, then update it in Chilean documents. Otherwise, the electronic system at most Registros Civiles may reject the registration. This issue may also affect future banking services, where foreigners are often assigned a letter code (AA) or marked with a dot instead of a second surname.

8. Choosing a Hospital for Childbirth

One of the more enjoyable aspects is visiting various hospitals to determine which one best meets your needs in terms of price, quality, and medical staff. The capital is the most suitable location for childbirth in Chile. Local private hospitals are of excellent quality and well-equipped. Many doctors working in these hospitals are internationally recognized. Here are 12 hospitals worth considering for childbirth:

Recommended Hospitals in Chile:

Red Saluda, Santa Maria, UCC, Indisa, Bupa, Davila, CLC, Clinica Alemana, Universidad De Los Andes, Bicentenario, Padre Hurtado, Santiago Oriente.

9. Hospitalization

In private, fee-paying hospitals, you usually do not need to bring anything with you for childbirth. The hospital will provide everything you need, including excellent food and a tranquil atmosphere. Upon admission, you will be asked to complete a health declaration form, including past illnesses, emergency contacts, and persons authorized for visits.

Upon discharge, you will be asked about the availability of a child safety seat. While it is not heavily checked, it is recommended to have one available at the time of the child's birth.

After Admission to the Hospital

The hospital will assign you a midwife (doctor's assistant), nurses (for basic patient care), and the doctor with whom the delivery was arranged (unless any emergency circumstances occur). Most hospitals offer private rooms for paying patients, with double rooms available only in rare cases. Wi-Fi is provided in all listed hospitals.

10. Registration of Documents After Childbirth

After birth, the primary registration of the child takes place. With this document, you should visit any Registro Civil (after signing up through the online system) to obtain the main national documents. This procedure is paid but relatively inexpensive. The Registro Civil staff will take the child's photo.

After a short period, you will be able to download the birth certificate, which is issued electronically in Chile and includes an apostille.

The final Chilean steps will be obtaining a national identity card (Cedula) and a passport for the child. The entire process and waiting time can take up to 3 weeks.

Documents for the Russian Federation

After receiving Chilean national documents, you can contact the Consulate of the Russian Federation to obtain Russian citizenship for the child based on the parents' citizenship. You will need a standard set of documents for the child and parents, along with their translation into Russian (which you can do yourself). Photos of the child and mother will also need to be provided to the consulate (they are not taken on-site). The procedure takes up to 3 weeks and is detailed on the Russian Consulate’s website in Chile.

11. Departure from Chile

With the necessary documents, you can safely depart from Chile, with one exception. If the mother is traveling alone with the newborn and the father is listed in the child's birth documents, a Chilean power of attorney from the father, granting permission for the flight, will be required!