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You've just arrived in Chile, but what do you do next? In this section you will find everything you need to know about getting you're roots planted in Santiago, whether for a short period or for a number of years. Check out the chpaters on visas and the many sections on setting up a new home in Chile.

Visas and Immigration

If you want to stay in Chile for more than 90 days you should start thinking about visas. There are various visas to choose from, depending on your reason for being in the country. More on Visas and Immigration in Chile...

Embassies

Registration at your nation's embassy is an important step when you are getting yourself settled in Santiago. It is as easy to do as it is easy to forget. Registration helps the embassy contact you in case of a large-scale emergency and to keep you informed about tax and election information for citizens abroad. Learn about Embassies in Chile...

Relocation Agencies

Relocation agencies aid you in every aspect of an international move. They can help you move your furniture overseas, arrange for your visas and documentation, look for housing in Chile and help you orient yourself in Santiago. More on Relocation Agencies in Chile...

General Housing Information

Apartments are usually more readily available for foreigners than homes. There is still a good market for homes, but this often depends on the time of year and market trends. Read about Housing in Chile...

Real Estate Agencies

Many real estate agents offer home and apartment rentals. If you find a listing for a home that is offered by a real estate agent, you will have to obtain a written permit from the agent to see the house. More on Chile Real Estate Agencies...

Homes and Apartment Listings

Santiago's daily newspaper El Mercurio has the most extensive property listings. The newspaper is on sale at virtually all Santiago’s newsstands. The paper costs 300 pesos (US$0.55) Monday through Saturday and 500 pesos (US$0.90) on Sunday. Find Listings For Chilean Homes and Apartments...

Furnished apartments

Furnished apartments cost more per month than unfurnished apartments, but they are convenient if you plan to be in Chile for a short period of time. In the newspaper, furnished apartments are listed as departamentos amoblados. The following companies offer furnished apartments to business travelers. These are generally for shorter-term visitors and cost more money than individual furnished apartments offered in the newspapers. On the other hand, they offer a wide range of services for business people. More on Furnished Apartments in Chile...

Moving

International moving companies will arrange for your furniture to be picked up in your home country, shipped to Chile and brought right to your new home. Read about Moving in to Chile...

Furnishing Your Home

Though you can purchase furniture at malls and department stores (See Shopping), some stores offer a more unique furniture selection. More on Furnishing your Home in Chile...

Telephone Connection

The Chilean telephone market is highly competitive, which means that you have many companies to choose from. If you live in an apartment building, however, you may have no other choice but to go with the company that services the building. To save yourself the trouble, check with your landlord to see if one company exclusively services your building. Learn about Telephone Connections in Chile...

Gas

Gas for your kitchen, water heater and heating system is purchased in tanks called balones. There are a variety of companies that will deliver gas to your door. You will have to pay once for each tank that you want in your house. Read about Gas and Heating in Chile...

Water

Discus the water bill with your landlord when you are negotiating the lease. Water may be included in the rent payment, or it may be part of a separate bill that includes garbage called gastos comunes. More on the Water Bill in Chile...

Hotels

Santiago's hotels can lie primarily in three areas of the city. There are a number of good, cheap hotels in the Santiago downtown area. In the borough of Providencia, a few hotels can be found along Avenida Providencia between Pedro de Valdivia and Los Leones. Most of the city's more exclusive five star hotels are on Avenida Kennedy in Las Condes. Find Hotel Lodging in Chile...