Chile Student Visa for Indians - Definitive Guide

As an aspiring student, there are dreams and plans that make us want to go abroad for higher education. To be able to do so, you will need to issue a student visa. A student permit to Chile will allow you to reside in the country to pursue your respective course. The Chile student visa is of two types:

• Student visa - Nominee
  If you are a student who can support your own expenses and the fee required to pay for the course as well for the visa, then you can opt for this category. Also, you will require sufficient funds for this category and should be able to provide proof of the same. It is an independent visa and does not require any sponsorer or an invitation letter.

• Student visa - Dependent
  If you have been sponsored for your trip and the course fee by a sponsorer in Chile, you can opt for this category of the visa. You will need an invitation or sponsorship letter for this kind that specifies what all expenses will be paid by the sponsorer in Chile. If any parts of the expense are to be handled by yourself, you will then need to have proof of sufficient funds to support your visa application.

Before going through with the visa application process, you must make sure if you are eligible for the application. There are eligibility criteria that you need to match before starting the application process. The process to apply for a student visa to Chile is mainly offline. The procedure to the application is given as follows:

• Go to the official website of the embassy and choose the application form for a student visa.
• Fill out the form as per the details in your educational documents and the passport.
• Print out the filled form and sign it as per your PAN card.
• Collect all the required documents as per the list of requirements given.
• Visit the embassy personally for the submission of the form along with the supporting educational documents.
• The application and the documents will then be approved by the Embassy of Chile.
• When the approval of the documents is completed, you can then carry on to pay the fees for the visa.

At the time of filling out the form, it is important that you provide all the correct information and verify it yourself before submission. There are chances that with false or unverifiable information, the visa may get rejected. This can even affect your future applications for any visa. To avoid the visa rejection for sure, it is better to consult the professionals.

There are certain things that you must take care of before applying for the Chile student visa. The eligibility criteria for the student visa must first be taken care of before applying. The requirement and eligibility are given as follows:

• You must meet the health requirements

• You must be healthy enough to travel to Chile.
• You must perform a medical test before travelling to the country and provide a relevant documentary proof.
• You must be within the age limit to be able to apply for a student permit.
• You must meet the character requirements

• You must be of good character and have genuine intentions behind studying in Chile.
• You need to provide a relevant documentary proof for the same as well in the form of a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).
• You must have sufficient funds

• You must possess or have access to sufficient funds to be able to cover your stay and other expenses in Chile.
• Bank statement or any equivalent document is to be submitted as well as proof of the same.
• You must have a sponsor if you are applying for the dependent type.
• You must have sufficient funds if you are opting for the nominee type.
• You must have confirmed admission in Chile
• You must be admitted to an institute in the country and a letter from the same confirming your admission must be available to be able to apply for the permit.
• The educational documents must be verifiable.
• You should have proof of your previous highest education degree.

There are different types of documents required for Chile Student Visa. They can be listed in the following:

• Student visa - Nominee

• An original passport valid for at least 6 months ahead of the date of travel.
• Visa application form, duly signed
• Coloured photographs as per the photo specifications
• A cover letter with all the required details
• Confirmed flight tickets
• Proof of accommodation - invitation letter, hotel reservation, etc.
• Proof of sufficient funds - bank statement or any other equivalent document.
• Income Tax Returns proof (of the sponsorer if applicable)
• Proof of identification - PAN card, Adhaar card
• A valid medical certificate, stamped and signed (if applicable)
• Background check certificate - Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) attested
• University’s or the organisation’s acceptance letter
• Letter of invitation (if applicable)

• Student visa - Dependent

• An original passport valid for at least 6 months ahead of the date of travel.
• Visa application form, duly signed
• Coloured photographs as per the photo specifications
• A cover letter with all the required details
• Confirmed flight tickets
• Proof of accommodation - invitation letter, hotel reservation, etc.
• Proof of sufficient funds - bank statement or any other equivalent document.
• Income Tax Returns proof (of the sponsorer if applicable)
• Proof of identification - PAN card, Adhaar card
• A valid medical certificate, stamped and signed (if applicable)
• Background check certificate - Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) attested
• University’s or the organisation’s acceptance letter 
• Letter from the sponsorer stating the applicant’s relationship with the sponsorer.
  

The Chile Student Visa Photo Specifications are as follows -

• Two copies must be provided
• Photo size: 35 mm x 45 mm
• Coloured copy must be provided
• The head must be about 1 to 1.4 inches of the photo frame
• Head should well-centred
• The picture must not be older than 6 months
• The background must be white
• Neutral expressions
• Glasses are not permitted
• Headgears are not allowed except for religious reasons
• Clothing shouldn’t match the background

After receiving the documents initially, the embassy will first approve them. You will be informed once the documents have been approved and then you can pay the fee for the same. The time taken to complete the whole process is about 15 to 20 days. The passport will then be stamped by the Embassy of Chile.

There are various aspects on which the fees for the student is dependent. The factors that affect the cost include the type of visa, the validity of the visa required, the urgency of the visa issuance, etc. The fee includes the charges paid to the embassy and the visa services if you avail any. The fee is to be paid offline in cash to the Embassy of Chile and should be in INR.

After the completion of the application process, 

• You need to visit the embassy by yourself (as physical appearance is mandatory) to submit the documents and the signed application form.
• Any visa applications through the mail are not accepted by the Embassy of Chile.
• If you are not a resident of Delhi or of any of the nearby areas and cities, you can grant someone else the authority to carry out the process for you.
• In order to do so, you can issue an authority letter stating that you are giving authority to the individual or the visa agency to carry out the process for you. It must be addressed to the Embassy of Chile, New Delhi.
• If there are any other requirements to be fulfilled or if there are any mistakes in the application, the embassy or the agency must be informed.
• If there are any changes related to the application, for instance, change in marital status or birth of a child, you must inform the embassy/agency.
• You can even check the status of the application and the processing in the meantime. 
• If there is a change of plans, you can withdraw the application.
• The visa fee is generally non-refundable.

There is a standard processing time that is required by the embassy. The embassy will take time to process the documents and after which only the approved visa applications will be processed and passports will then be provided with the stamp. In case you are willing to check the status within the standard processing time, you cannot. You will have to wait until the processing time is complete. You cannot check the status before 15 days of application. After this period, you can contact the embassy and book yourself an appointment to collect the processed visa stamp.

Once you have issued the visa, you must keep certain things in mind. There are certain rules and regulations that are to be followed as well. Some of the pointers are listed as follows:

• Before you travel

• Note the visa expiry date as well as the number of entries permitted. You must not stay in the country beyond this period.
• You should travel to Chile within the validity of your visa.
• Make sure to carry a copy of your passport and other travel documents while you are in the country.
• Issue health insurance and travel insurance from a certified company.
• At the Border

• Get your documents checked and your passport verified.
• Obtain the entry stamp on your passport.
• Consult the airport authorities for any kind of assistance required.
• Check your visa copy for other guidelines and rules to be followed.
• When you enter Chile

• Ensure not to get involved in any kind of activities that are not permitted to a non-Chilean resident. You may get into trouble otherwise.
• You can work as well as tour the country on this visa (if permitted).
• The tourist prohibited areas must be stayed out of.
• Make sure you don’t overstay and apply for a visa extension in time.