Chile updates migration regulations to better protect minors and workers

The National Migration Service (Sermig) in Chile completed the review and adjustment of five regulations that had been pending since the Migration Law took effect in February 2022.

The agency updated Decree 177 to improve the issuance of temporary residency for minors based on family reunification or humanitarian reasons. These changes introduce stricter requirements for verifying family ties, particularly for children who enter Chile without parents or responsible adults.

Frank Sauerbaum, the National Director of Migration, stated that these adjustments aim to provide a more robust framework for protecting children and adolescents. The updated rules also affect labor and administrative procedures. Seasonal workers can now stay for up to 10 months, up from the previous 6 months, and the agency now accepts electronic signatures for contract validation. Additionally, tourists participating in international sports, cultural, or scientific events can obtain free authorizations for sporadic paid activities.

The service also established a specific procedure for recognizing stateless status and modernized the payment of fines through electronic platforms.