Chile · Citizenship
Chile citizenship for Americans: how many years, and can you keep US citizenship?
Short answer
Apply after more than 5 years of residence, once you hold permanent residence. The law still lists giving up your US citizenship, which is being checked.
The rules
| Timeline | More than 5 years of residence, counted from your first residence permit, plus permanent residence |
|---|---|
| Dual citizenship | Depends: the law still says you must renounce, but current practice isn't confirmed. Needs review |
Checked against the law The 5-year rule, read in the naturalization decree.
Needs review Whether officials still require you to renounce your US citizenship.
Good to know
- Age 18 or over, holding permanent residence when you apply.
- Residence years: temporary-residence years count, from the date of your first permit.
- Shorter clock, 2 years: permanent residents married to a Chilean for 2 years, or close relatives of Chileans.
- No exam: no language, civics or history test was found.
- Clean record: no crimes in the last 10 years, or lesser offences in the last 5.
- Fee: about $40, applied for online from inside Chile.
- It's discretionary: citizenship is granted by presidential decree.
- Trips abroad: the Interior Ministry decides whether trips broke your residence; no day limit was found.
Sources (6)
Legal basis and exact figures
- Clock: carta de nacionalización under DS 5.142 de 1960 art 2 (kept by Ley 21.325 art 84; Constitution art 10 N°3): 18 or over, more than 5 years of residence, holder of permanent residence. SERMIG counts the 5 years from the Estampado Electrónico of the residence permit, so temporary years count. A retiree with the 12-month reduction could reach permanent residence after 1–2 years and apply after 5 in total.
- Shorter: 2 years of continuous residence for permanent residents married to a Chilean for at least 2 years (marriage registered in Chile) or relatives of Chileans to the second degree, among others (Ley 21.325 art 85). Refusal for crimes in the last 10 years or simple offences in the last 5 (art 86).
- Renunciation: DS 5142 art 2 still lists renouncing the nationality of origin, formalised in writing after approval. Since 2005, Constitution art 11 makes loss of Chilean nationality by renunciation effective only after naturalising elsewhere. Whether SERMIG still applies the step, and its effect on US nationality, isn't established.
- Procedure: fee CLP 39,742 (SERMIG aranceles); online, in Chile only; discretionary presidential decree (DS 5142 art 1). Viajes accidentales are judged by the Interior Ministry; no day limit found.
Links
- Decreto 5.142 de 1960 (Interior), texto refundido sobre nacionalización de extranjeros (te
- Ley 21.325 de Migración y Extranjería (texto consolidado BCN)
- Constitución Política de la República (texto consolidado BCN)
- SERMIG: Nacionalidad (actualización 22 diciembre 2025)
- ChileAtiende ficha 3811: Solicitud de Carta de Nacionalización
- SERMIG: Aranceles migratorios (actualización 2 noviembre 2026)
Citizenship in Chile, in full → The full Chile guide →
Questions people ask
How many years until I can become a citizen of Chile?
More than 5 years of residence, counted from your first residence permit, plus permanent residence
Can I keep US citizenship if I become a citizen of Chile?
Depends: the law still says you must renounce, but current practice isn't confirmed. (Needs review)