Chile: Delays in Issuance of Identity Cards

The Civil Registry is currently taking up to 60 calendar days (up from the usual 30-40 calendar days) to issue Chilean Identity Cards for foreign nationals. This delay stems partly from backlogs and technological system failures caused by the recent launch of digital Identity Cards in December 2024 (which are optional and voluntary and do not yet replace physical cards). Due to the delay, foreign nationals may face payroll and administrative hurdles in Chile since identity cards are needed to open bank accounts in Chile, as well as for education, health, and other local matters.