How to move to Spain from Chile: visas, the Beckham Law, and a step-by-step guide 2026
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If you are Chilean and considering immigrating to Spain, your starting point is one of the most favorable in all of Latin America. Three facts summarize it. First: the Dual Nationality Convention between Spain and Chile, signed in Santiago on May 24, 1958, is the oldest bilateral dual nationality treaty signed by Spain, fully in force, and allows access to Spanish citizenship in only 2 years of legal residency without renouncing Chilean nationality. Second: the Chilean migratory profile in Spain is very different from that of other Latin American countries. Qualified professionals predominate (IT consultants, architects, engineers, doctors, lawyers, tech entrepreneurs) who can access fast-track routes such as the EU Blue Card, the highly qualified professional visa, and the Beckham Law, which allows taxation at 24% for 6 years. Third: the Chile-EU Free Trade Agreement (in force since 2003 and modernized in 2024) makes Spain the natural hub for Chilean companies that want to access the European market of 450 million consumers.
This guide covers all the legal and tax routes for Chileans who want to reside, work, or start a business in Spain, with data updated to 2026. It is designed especially for the actual Chilean profile: trained professional, entrepreneur with a project, and company that wants to expand to Europe.
The profile of the Chilean immigrant in Spain: professional, entrepreneur, and qualified
The Chilean community in Spain is comparatively small but highly qualified. Unlike the migratory flows from other Latin American countries, where the majority profile is the worker in hospitality, care work, or construction, the average Chilean who arrives in Spain today has university studies, consolidated professional experience, and, in many cases, a business network behind them. This completely changes the recommended migratory strategy.
The sectors where the most Chileans work in Spain include technological and digital consulting, architecture, medicine (especially in regions with a shortage of healthcare professionals), university teaching, civil and mining engineering, corporate law, finance, and technology-based entrepreneurship. The geographic concentration is in Madrid and Barcelona, with significant presence also in Valencia, Bilbao, Málaga (attracted by the tech hub), and Palma de Mallorca.
This reality explains why the useful reading for a Chilean is not that of social arraigo (which applies to those who have been irregular for two years), but rather that of qualified entry visas and tax planning prior to relocation. If you are one of those professionals, this article is designed for you.
What residency options does a Chilean citizen have in Spain?
The most relevant routes for the average Chilean profile, ordered by their actual frequency of use, are the following:
- Highly qualified professional visa for Chileans with a job offer at companies that require specific university training
- EU Blue Card for Chileans with higher education and a qualified job offer with a salary equal to or greater than 1.5 times the average Spanish salary
- Entrepreneur visa for Chileans with an innovative project (ENISA evaluates the business plan)
- Digital nomad visa for Chilean professionals who work remotely for clients or employers outside Spain
- Standard work visa as an employee, for offers that do not fit the highly qualified category
- Non-lucrative visa for Chileans with sufficient financial means who do not need to work (pensioners, rentiers)
- Student visa for programs longer than 90 days
- Family reunification if you have a spouse or ascendants with legal residency in Spain
For a complete view of the available procedures, our guide on immigration in Spain is the reference map updated to the new Regulation.
Highly qualified professional visa: the most used route by Chileans
It is the most common option for the typical Chilean profile. It is regulated by Law 14/2013 on Support for Entrepreneurs and requires the job offer to meet specific requirements: university qualification of the worker, salary that meets the thresholds of the position, and employer company with proven financial solvency.
The major advantages compared to the standard work visa as an employee: resolution period of 20 business days, processing entirely before the Large Companies and Strategic Groups Unit (UGE-CE), no need to demonstrate the national employment situation, and the possibility of extending the permit to direct family members in the same file. The complete details are in our guide on the highly qualified professional visa.
EU Blue Card: the fast route for highly qualified Chilean professionals
It is an alternative to the highly qualified visa, especially attractive for Chileans who want maximum European mobility. The EU Blue Card is a harmonized permit recognized by all 27 European Union countries, which means that after 18 months in Spain you can apply to relocate to Germany, France, the Netherlands, or any other Member State without starting the process from scratch.
The essential requirements:
- Recognized university qualification or, alternatively, 5 years of equivalent professional experience
- Employment contract of at least 6 months
- Gross salary equal to or greater than 1.5 times the average gross annual salary of the sector in Spain (threshold adjusted annually)
- Proof of regulated profession (doctor, architect, lawyer) if applicable to the position
For Chilean professionals with a European vision, the EU Blue Card is usually more strategic than the national visa. The procedural details are in our guide on the EU Blue Card in Spain, requirements, and advantages.
Do you want a expert consultation? Contact us and we will help you.
Entrepreneur visa: how to set up your company in Spain as a Chilean
If your plan is to come to Spain to set up your own project, the entrepreneur visa is the standard route. It is regulated by Law 14/2013 and requires that the project meet the necessary innovative character, evaluated through a favorable report from ENISA or competent body. Innovative does not mean only technological: it can also be a cultural, differentiated services, biotechnology, or social impact project, as long as it demonstrates job generation potential, added value, or economic impact for Spain.
The file requirements are demanding: detailed business plan, professional profile of the entrepreneur, demonstrated financial viability, scalable business model, and short-term job creation commitment. The details are in our complete guide on the entrepreneur visa in Spain.
Digital nomad visa: work for Chilean companies while living in Spain
Ideal for the growing number of Chilean professionals who work remotely for clients or employers outside Spain. It allows you to live legally in Spanish territory while maintaining your professional activity with Chilean, Latin American, American, or any other country’s clients.
The key requirements:
- Proving that you work for companies or clients not residing in Spain (at least 80% of income must come from outside)
- Minimum income of 200% of the SMI (approximately €2,760 monthly in 2026)
- University qualification or proven professional experience of at least 3 years
- Employment contract or professional activity with a minimum tenure of 3 months with active clients
- Private health insurance with full coverage in Spain
The great added advantage: this visa allows access to the Beckham Law, which drastically reduces the tax burden during the first 6 years. For the procedural details, our complete guide on the digital nomad visa in Spain covers the entire process.
The Beckham Law for Chileans: how to pay only 24% in taxes for 6 years
Here is the point that most differentiates this article from the rest of the Latin American cluster. The Beckham Law, officially “special regime applicable to workers relocated to Spanish territory” (article 93 of Law 35/2006 on Personal Income Tax), is one of the most attractive tax regimes in Europe for professionals with high income who relocate to Spain.
How the Beckham Law works in 2026
The regime allows taxation as a non-tax-resident for 6 years (the year of arrival in Spain plus the following 5), even if you spend more than 183 days a year in Spanish territory. The tax keys:
- Flat rate of 24% on employment income up to €600,000 annually
- Rate of 47% on the excess over €600,000
- Taxation only on income obtained in Spain (except employment income, which is taxed worldwide at 24%)
- Foreign income exempt: dividends, interest, capital gains, rentals of properties outside Spain do not pay tax in Spanish territory
- Wealth Tax limited to assets in Spain (no tax on worldwide wealth)
- No obligation to file Form 720 (informational declaration of assets abroad)
- The benefits extend to the spouse and dependent children under certain conditions
Numerical example for a Chilean executive
A Chilean consultant or executive who arrives in Spain with a salary of €150,000 annually would pay:
- With the Beckham Law: €36,000 annually (€150,000 × 24%)
- With regular IRPF: approximately €52,500 annually (effective rate around 35%)
- Net savings: €16,500 per year, €99,000 accumulated over the 6 years
Requirements for Chileans
- Not having been a tax resident in Spain during the 5 years prior to the relocation (reduced from 10 to 5 years by Startup Law 28/2022, in force since January 1, 2023)
- The relocation must be motivated by: employment contract with a Spanish company, relocation by a Chilean company with destination to Spain, status of administrator with less than 25% of the company, entrepreneurial activity declared of economic interest, or performance of R&D&I activities as a qualified professional
- Apply for the regime through Form 149 within 6 months following registration with Spanish Social Security
- File Form 151 annually instead of the standard IRPF declaration
Excluded are professional athletes (they have their own regulation) and pure self-employed workers without a prior employment contract. To deeply understand the regime, its nuances, and tax planning prior to relocation, our complete guide on the Beckham Law in Spain covers everything necessary.
Spain-Chile Dual Nationality Convention: Spanish citizenship in 2 years
The Dual Nationality Convention between Spain and Chile, signed in Santiago on May 24, 1958, and published in BOE No. 273 of November 14, 1958, is the first bilateral dual nationality treaty signed by Spain and remains fully in force. Combined with article 22.1 of the Civil Code, it allows Chileans to access Spanish citizenship with only 2 years of legal and continued residency, compared to the 10 years of the general regime.
The complete requirements are:
- Legal and continued residency in Spain for at least 2 years immediately preceding the application
- Good civic conduct (no criminal record in Spain or in Chile)
- Sufficient degree of integration: passing the CCSE exam of the Cervantes Institute
- As Spanish speakers, Chileans are exempt from the DELE A2 exam
- Apostilled Chilean documentation (birth certificate, criminal record certificate)
The great advantage of the Convention: it is not necessary to renounce Chilean nationality. You keep both passports, although civil, political, labor, and Social Security rights are governed by the legislation of the country of domicile. To understand this regime in detail, our guide on Spanish dual nationality explains all the practical effects.
Chilean documents for Spain: apostille and competent bodies
Chile has been a party to the Hague Apostille Convention since 2016, which has greatly simplified documentary procedures. The apostille in Chile is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headquartered in Santiago, with the possibility of management also at Regional Sub-secretariats and through the MINREL Chile online system.
Documents that typically require apostille for procedures in Spain:
- Birth certificate, issued by the Civil Registry and Identification Service of Chile
- Criminal record certificate for special purposes, also from the Civil Registry
- Marriage certificate if applicable
- University degrees, previously legalized by the Ministry of Education of Chile
- Corporate documents (deeds, certificates from the Commercial Registry) when relocating a Chilean company to Spain
A useful particularity for Chileans: many certificates from the Chilean Civil Registry can be obtained directly online through www.registrocivil.cl, which saves trips and speeds up the process. The typical timelines for the complete process (obtaining + apostille) are 5 to 15 business days.
Do you want a expert consultation? Contact us and we will help you.
The Spanish Consulate in Chile: how to request an appointment in Santiago and actual times
The Consulate General of Spain in Santiago de Chile is the main office for all national visas, citizenship procedures, and consular services for residents in Chile. The actual appointment times in 2026 vary by type of procedure:
- Highly qualified visas and EU Blue Card: processed before the UGE-CE in Spain; the visa is collected in Santiago in 10 to 20 days once the authorization is granted
- Digital nomad visa: also managed by the UGE-CE; similar timeline
- Entrepreneur visa: 10 to 20 days once ENISA issues a favorable report
- Standard work and family reunification visas: 4 to 8 weeks for appointment; 1 to 3 months for resolution
- Citizenship by residency procedures: require apostilled Chilean documentation in force (3 months maximum)
For visas managed by the UGE-CE (highly qualified, EU Blue Card, digital nomad, entrepreneur), the total time from the submission of the application in Spain to the delivery of the visa in Chile can be as little as 4 to 6 weeks, one of the fastest routes the Spanish system offers.
Chilean companies and entrepreneurs in Spain: how to operate, invest, and relocate teams
The Chilean business block has a very specific angle that differentiates it from the rest of the Latin American cluster. Spain is the natural gateway to the European market for Chilean companies, thanks to the combination of language, the Chile-EU Free Trade Agreement (in force since 2003 and modernized by the EU-Chile Advanced Framework Agreement in 2024), and the network of double taxation treaties.
Relocating your Chilean company to Spain: subsidiary, branch, or representation office
If your Chilean company wants to establish itself in Spain, you have three alternatives with different legal and tax regimes:
- Subsidiary (commercial company incorporated in Spain, normally SL or SA): has its own legal personality, separates risk from the Chilean parent, can have employees, invoice, and operate like any Spanish company. It is the most used option for consolidated operations in Europe.
- Branch: legal extension of the Chilean parent, without its own legal personality, taxed for tax purposes as a permanent establishment. Suitable when you want to operate but maintain legal unity.
- Representation office: cannot operate commercially, only carry out preparatory and promotional activities. Useful as a first step to test the market.
The choice depends on the planned volume of activity, the desired tax structure, and the risk separation sought. To understand which figure best fits your case, our guide on representation office, branch, or subsidiary: differences compares the three options.
Spanish holding for Chilean entrepreneurs: tax advantages and structure
For Chilean entrepreneurs with diversified assets (shareholdings in companies, real estate, financial investments) who want to centralize their management in Europe, the Spanish holding offers concrete tax advantages:
- ETVE regime (Foreign-Securities Holding Entities): 95% exemption on dividends and capital gains from foreign subsidiaries when the conditions are met
- Network of Double Taxation Treaties: Spain has DTAs with Chile and with practically all countries in Latin America, the US, Europe, and Asia
- Access to the European financial market and bank financing on more favorable terms than from Chile
- Possibility of integrating the entrepreneur’s personal tax planning (Beckham Law for executives) with corporate planning
It is a complex structure that requires prior cross-border tax analysis between Spain and Chile, but with the potential to generate substantial savings and simplify the management of business assets. For details on the incorporation of the Spanish vehicle, our service of company incorporation in Spain includes all the coordination, from the NIE to the registry filing.
Beckham Law for executives and partners relocated from Chile: how to apply it
The typical case: Chilean entrepreneur who incorporates a subsidiary in Spain, is appointed administrator or general manager, relocates to Madrid or Barcelona, and wants to opt in to the Beckham Law. It is perfectly possible provided that the executive’s shareholding in the Spanish company is less than 25%, a key requirement introduced by the reform of Law 28/2022. If you exceed that threshold, the Tax Agency interprets that you are a partner-administrator (not a relocated worker) and the application of the regime is excluded.
Prior planning is essential: structuring the shareholding so that it complies with the threshold, formalizing the employment contract or senior management contract with the Spanish company, filing Form 149 within 6 months following registration with Social Security, and maintaining the documentation that proves the reality of the relocation (not contractual simulation, which has been the subject of recent jurisprudence by the Madrid TSJ).
Relocation of Chilean employees to Spain: intra-company transfer and documentation
If your Chilean company needs to relocate an executive, specialist, or trainee to a Spanish subsidiary, the appropriate figure is the intra-company transfer regulated in Law 14/2013. It is an agile permit, with a resolution period of 20 business days, aimed at profiles that already form part of the company before the relocation and who move to an entity of the same group in Spain. Our service of employee relocation to Spain coordinates the immigration aspects with the labor and tax aspects of the relocated worker.
Spain as a European hub for Chilean companies: why it is the gateway to the EU market
Three elements make Spain the natural European hub for Chilean companies:
- Common language and cultural proximity: the operational adaptation cost is minimal compared to entering through Germany, France, or the Netherlands
- Chile-EU Free Trade Agreement (in force since 2003) and the EU-Chile Advanced Framework Agreement (signed in 2023 and in the process of ratification, with provisional application since 2024) that practically eliminates all tariff barriers and reinforces access to the European market
- Spain-Chile Double Taxation Treaty, in force, which reduces the effective taxation on dividends, interest, and royalties between both countries
For Chilean exporting companies or professional services, a Spanish company operating under the EU single market opens the door to 27 European markets without additional barriers.
Corporate taxation for Chilean companies with activity in Spain
The taxation of a Chilean company with activity in Spain depends on the chosen legal structure:
- Spanish subsidiary: taxed by the Spanish Corporate Tax (general rate 25%, reduced to 23% for new companies in their first two years). Dividends distributed to the Chilean parent are taxed according to the Spain-Chile Treaty (typically 5% or 10% at source)
- Branch: taxed as a permanent establishment at 25%; profits transferred to Chile may be taxed at 19% as “branch tax”, although the DTA applies
- Representation office: does not carry out taxable activity in Spain since it does not constitute a permanent establishment, unless it actually develops commercial activities
Cross-border tax planning between Chile and Spain requires specific analysis case by case, especially for groups with operations in other Latin American or European countries.
Essential procedures upon arriving in Spain from Chile
Once you have obtained the visa and arrived in Spain, there is a sequence of urgent steps in the first weeks:
Padrón registration. This is the first procedure and the basis of everything else. It is done at the Town Hall of the municipality where you live, presenting a rental contract, deed of property, or authorization from the holder.
TIE application. Within one month from your entry into Spain, you must request an appointment at the National Police Station to have your fingerprint taken and apply for the Foreigner Identity Card. You will need the EX-17 form, proof of payment of the fee, Chilean passport, visa, and three photographs.
Social Security registration. If your visa is for work as an employee, the registration is processed by the employer in the general regime; if you are self-employed or a digital nomad, you do it yourself in the RETA.
Form 149 application (Beckham Law). If you are going to opt in to the impatriate regime, this is the critical procedure: you have 6 months from your registration with Social Security to file Form 149 before the Tax Agency. After that period, you lose the option permanently.
Opening a bank account. Necessary for payroll, bills, and business operations. For Chileans with assets in Chile, it is advisable to open an account at banks with international presence (BBVA, Santander) that facilitate transfers between both countries.
Immigrating to Spain from Chile is one of the most privileged migratory processes in the world: a historic Dual Nationality Convention, fast routes for qualified professionals, an extraordinarily attractive tax regime for 6 years, and a European market open to the Chilean investor thanks to the modernized FTA. The difference between an optimal process and an ordinary one usually lies in prior planning: choosing the correct migratory route, anticipating the Beckham Law application, properly structuring the business operation, and coordinating Chile-Spain cross-border taxation. At ILLAY Legal, we work with Chilean professionals and companies through 100% online management, integrating immigration and taxation to design the optimal strategy in each case. Tell us your situation and we’ll tell you exactly what steps to take.
Frequently Asked Questions: Emigrating to Spain from Chile
Do Chileans need a visa to enter Spain as tourists?
No. Chile does not appear on Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, which means that Chileans can enter Spain and the entire Schengen area without a visa for stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period, whether for tourism, family visits, or professional matters. You only need a valid Chilean passport with at least 3 months of validity beyond the planned departure date and, in some cases, proof of financial means and reason for travel at the border control.
How much does it cost to live in Spain as a Chilean in 2026?
The cost of living varies greatly by city. In Madrid or Barcelona, a single person needs between €1,800 and €2,500 monthly for a medium lifestyle (housing, food, transportation, leisure). In cities such as Valencia, Seville, or Bilbao, that budget drops to €1,400 to €2,000. The rent of a 1-bedroom apartment ranges between €700 in mid-range areas of secondary capitals and €1,500 to €2,000 in central areas of Madrid or Barcelona. For a qualified professional profile with an employment contract or digital nomad status, the average reference salary usually comfortably doubles those costs.
Can Chileans buy a property in Spain without having residency?
Yes, without any restriction. Any Chilean citizen can buy a property in Spain by simply obtaining a non-resident NIE, which is requested at the Spanish Consulate in Santiago or at any National Police Station in Spain. The purchase does not grant automatic residency (the Golden Visa was repealed in April 2025), but it allows you to operate as an owner, rent the property, contract utilities, and manage all the legal and tax aspects associated with the property. For large real estate operations, it is advisable to combine the purchase with a parallel residency route.
Is there a double taxation treaty between Chile and Spain?
Yes. The Convention between the Kingdom of Spain and the Republic of Chile to avoid double taxation and prevent tax evasion has been in force since December 22, 2003. It establishes reductions in source taxation for dividends, interest, royalties, and capital gains between both countries. It is especially relevant for Chilean entrepreneurs with activity in Spain, professionals with cross-border income, and residents with real estate or financial assets in both countries. The application of the Convention is compatible with the Beckham Law, although with important nuances that should be reviewed with a specialized tax advisor.
For a Chilean, is it better to apply for the Beckham Law or the digital nomad visa?
They are not exclusive alternatives but complementary. The digital nomad visa is a migratory entry route that gives you legal residency in Spain while maintaining your activity for clients outside Spain. The Beckham Law is an optional tax regime that, among other profiles, digital nomads can opt in to. The usual practice is to first apply for the digital nomad visa and, once with residency and Social Security registration, file Form 149 within the 6-month period to activate the impatriate regime. The combination is especially powerful for Chilean professionals with high income and remote work for non-Spanish companies.
Do you want a expert consultation? Contact us and we will help you.
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