Foreign-born population – 2024 | 9.7% of the population | Main countries of birth: Venezuela (38%), Peru (14%), Colombia (11%) |
Size: 1.9 million, 52% women | Evolution since 2014: +334% |
International Migration Outlook 2026
50th Edition
Bolivia, Venezuela and Colombia were the top three nationalities of newcomers in 2024. Among the top 15 countries of origin, Bolivia registered the strongest increase (28 000) and Mexico the largest decrease (‑200) in flows to Chile compared to the previous year.
In 2025, the number of first asylum applicants decreased by ‑78%, to reach around 500. The majority of applicants came from Venezuela (300), the West Bank and Gaza Strip (93) and Colombia (58). The largest decrease since 2024 concerned nationals of Venezuela (‑1 200). Of the 2 230 decisions taken in 2025, 8% were positive.
Emigration of Chilean citizens to OECD countries decreased slightly by ‑2% in 2024, to 18 000. Approximately 47% of this group migrated to Spain, 15% to the United States and 9% to Germany.
In July 2025, the Ministries of the Interior and Foreign Affairs issued new general guidelines for visa issuance, standardising procedures between consular offices and the National Migration Service (SERMIG), while expanding the use of digital applications and electronic processing. SERMIG also introduced organisational reforms to strengthen regional implementation capacity, particularly in areas most affected by irregular migration flows.
In March 2025, an Innovation Committee was established to modernise processes and improve public services. In August 2025, additional operational responsibilities were delegated to regional offices in the northern border regions, which are particularly affected by irregular migration. The Armed Forces continued to support migration surveillance and control operations in the north under existing mechanisms, alongside co‑operation between migration, police and defence authorities. Monitoring of irregular entries and implementation of removal procedures were also strengthened.
Throughout 2025 and 2026, Parliament continued considering several initiatives to amend Migration and Immigration Law No. 21.325, making migration policy a major legislative and public-policy priority. Key proposals include criminalising and sanctioning irregular entry; strengthening administrative removal powers, including allowing the Chilean Investigative Police (PDI), subject to judicial authorisation, to enter the residence of a foreign national subject to a removal order; and introducing certain restrictions on access to state‑funded benefits for persons in irregular immigration status, as provided by law.
A constitutional reform initiative was also introduced to extend the maximum period for detaining foreign nationals for removal purposes from the current five‑day limit to up to 180 consecutive days, in order to facilitate consular and operational co‑ordination.
Since taking office on 11 March 2026, President José Antonio Kast has introduced changes to migration and foreign policy aimed at ensuring the orderly, regular and secure management of migration flows, in accordance with applicable law. The approach seeks to reconcile migration management with public order, national security and sovereignty, while safeguarding migrants’ fundamental rights. It prioritises regular migration channels and compliance with legal requirements, while strengthening state capacity to monitor and manage migration flows and discouraging irregular entry and stay.
The current migration policy does not provide for mass regularisation programmes. Instead, it prioritises existing residence categories and ordinary legal regularisation mechanisms, with the aim of maintaining an exceptional approach to regularisation and promoting predictable, sustainable and legally established migration pathways.
Key measures include the Border Shield Plan, which provides for physical barriers, enhanced surveillance technologies and increased military presence along the northern borders, particularly with Peru and Bolivia. The strategy aims to strengthen border control, combat transnational organised crime, and deter irregular entry. As a result, irregular entries reportedly decreased by 31% compared with the same period of the previous year.
President Kast also announced a Voluntary Departure Plan to facilitate the return of irregular migrants to their countries of origin, including those who entered through unauthorised crossings or remained in the country after their tourist permits had expired. Participants would avoid sanctions for the infringement committed and could subsequently obtain temporary residence.
For further information: www.extranjeria.gob.cl | www.serviciomigraciones.cl/en/home/
