🚀 First Steps Upon Arriving in Chile
Arriving in a new country is an incredible experience, but the first few days can be a bit overwhelming. This section is designed to help you with the practical steps you need to take as soon as you land in Santiago. From official procedures to getting around and buying the basics, we guide you here so the start of your exchange program is a success.
What do you need to know?
🛂 What procedure must I do upon arriving in Chile?
🚇 How does public transport work?
📱 How do I get a Chilean SIM card for my phone?
⚠️ How do I prevent my phone from being blocked in Chile?
🛒 Where can I do basic grocery shopping at a good price?
🏥 How does the healthcare system work? If I get sick, where do I go?
1) What procedure must I do upon arriving in Chile?
The procedures begin before your trip. It is essential that you are clear about the following to avoid problems:
📧 Student Visa (before flying): Your first and most important procedure is to obtain the Temporary Residence Visa for Students. You must do this before traveling to Chile, at the Chilean consulate in your home country. Start this process as soon as you receive your acceptance letter from the Chilean university.
📑 Upon arrival (Immigration Control): Once at Santiago airport, immigration control will stamp an entry permit in your passport. This is your first official document in Chile.
🆔 Once settled: The Unique National Role (RUN) – your Chilean ID card: This is the equivalent of your Chilean identity card and is essential for many procedures (such as activating a cell phone plan or opening a traditional bank account). It is applied for at the Registro Civil e Identificación (Civil Registry) and usually requires:
Your passport with the approved student visa.
Proof of address in Chile (for example, your accommodation address).
Your birth certificate.
⏳ The Provisional RUT (Rut Provisorio): What is it and what is it for? While you wait for your final RUN (which can take weeks or months), you can apply for a Provisional RUT. This number allows you to carry out certain formal procedures, such as receiving payments for temporary academic activities or starting tax-related matters.
2) How does public transport work?
The public transport system in Santiago (known as the Red Metropolitana de Movilidad) is very comprehensive and is the most efficient way to get around the city.
🚇 Santiago Metro: It is the backbone of the system. It is fast, safe, and modern. It has 7 lines that connect the most important points: universities, shopping centers, and residential neighborhoods.
🚌 Buses (Micros): The city buses complement the Metro and take you to more remote neighborhoods. They are paid for with the same card as the Metro.
🎫 Bip! Card: It is your only payment method for accessing the Metro and the Red buses (except that you can now also pay with Visa or Mastercard credit cards on the Metro).
Where to buy it? You can purchase it at any Metro station, at Customer Service Offices, or at some kiosks.
🎓 National Student Card (Tarjeta Nacional Estudiantil – TNE): This is your best ally for saving money. Once you have enrolled at your Chilean university, you can apply for this special card. The TNE allows you to access the student fare, which is much cheaper (approximately 260 CLP per trip) compared to the general fare. You must load the TNE and then pay for your trips with it. It is important that you have an active student visa to access this benefit.
💡 Useful tips:
Avoid rush hours: The Metro and buses are very crowded between 8:00-9:00 and 18:00-20:00. If your class schedule allows, avoid traveling at those times for greater comfort.
Apps for getting around: Use apps like Moovit, Google Maps, or the official Red app to plan your routes. They show you connections, travel times, and frequencies.
Recharge your Bip! easily: You can top up credit at any Metro station.
3) How do I get a Chilean SIM card for my phone?
📍 Where to buy it?
✈️ Santiago International Airport: As soon as you arrive, you will find stores of the main companies inside the airport. This is the most convenient option to have mobile data immediately – you get a physical SIM card.
🏢 Official stores: The companies have locations in almost every neighborhood and shopping mall.
🛒 Supermarkets, pharmacies, and kiosks: They sell SIM cards from the most popular brands. Just ask for "un chip prepago" (a prepaid SIM card).
📶 Main companies:
Entel: Good coverage throughout the country, ideal if you plan to travel outside of Santiago.
Movistar: Very good coverage in the city and competitive prices.
Claro: Offers good prepaid data plans and international calls to several countries.
WOM: A newer company with aggressive pricing and good data packages. It is very popular among students.
💰 Prepaid plans (the most convenient):
You do not need a contract or commitment. You buy "carga" (credit) at any convenience store, supermarket, or through the banking app, and with that you choose a "paquete" (package) of data, minutes, and free WhatsApp for several days. For example, for about 5,000–10,000 CLP (about 6–12 USD), you can have data for 30 days.
📶 Other options:
You can also opt for an eSIM service, with apps like Holafly, where you can find unlimited internet plans that you can use both in Chile and when traveling to other countries in Latin America.
4) How do I prevent my phone from being blocked in Chile?
Here is a very important point that many students are not aware of and that can render your device unusable. In Chile, any phone purchased abroad must be registered in the database of the Subsecretariat of Telecommunications (Subsecretaría de Telecomunicaciones). This is done via the IMEI number, the unique digital fingerprint of your device.
⚠️ What happens if I don't register it?
If your IMEI is not registered for some reason, your phone will work normally for a grace period of 30 to 90 days (the period for foreigners is usually 90 days from the first connection to a Chilean mobile network).
After that time, the system will automatically block it, rendering it unusable on all Chilean mobile networks (Entel, Movistar, WOM, Claro).
✅ With WiFi it will continue to work without issues (you can use WhatsApp, social networks, etc.), but it will have no signal and no mobile data outside your home.
📝 Steps to register it (two options):
Easy option (recommended): When you buy your Chilean SIM card at an official store (at the airport or in the city), give the seller your passport and the IMEI number. They will take care of the registration when activating your SIM card. It is fast, free, and saves you future problems.
Online option (do it yourself): If you prefer to do it yourself, go to the official website multibanda.cl and follow the steps for foreigners. You will need a photo of your passport and a photo of the entry stamp to Chile (the one you get at the airport) to prove your arrival date.
💡 Key tip:
Do not wait until the 90th day approaches. Register your IMEI during your first week in Chile, ideally on the same day you buy your SIM card. This ensures that your phone will continue working throughout your exchange without any nasty surprises.
5) Where can I do basic grocery shopping at a good price?
🛒 Traditional supermarkets:
Lider: Part of the Walmart chain. Large variety and its own brand "Great Value" or "Acuenta" is economical. Many have an online store and home delivery service.
Jumbo: More upscale, but with high‑quality products, especially fruits, vegetables, and meats. Its own brand is "Jumbo".
Unimarc: Another supermarket with locations throughout the city, mid‑range prices, and a good variety of local products.
Santa Isabel: Similar to Unimarc, with good deals on various products.
🛒 Digital options:
You can now find options to buy online through apps like Uber, Rappi, or the websites of the supermarkets mentioned above. This option is ideal if you prefer less logistics and more convenience, or if you don't have a supermarket very close to your accommodation.
🥬🍅 Street markets (Ferias):
In almost every neighborhood of Santiago, there is a free market (feria libre) once or twice a week (e.g., Wednesdays and Saturdays). There you will find fruits, vegetables, and legumes much cheaper and fresher than in any supermarket.
La Vega Central: This is a giant, emblematic market located in the Recoleta neighborhood (near downtown). It is the paradise of budget shopping. You will find fruits, vegetables, legumes, herbs, spices, fish, meats, and typical Chilean products at very low prices because it is the main distribution point in Santiago. Ideal to go once a month to stock up. Tips: go with cash (not all stalls accept cards), early (before 1:00 PM), and with a sturdy bag or cart.
There is also La Vega Chica (next to it) and the Mercado Tirso de Molina (covered, more orderly), which complete the experience.
La Vega also offers online shopping with home delivery for added convenience.
6) How does the healthcare system work? If I get sick, where do I go?
As we saw in the previous section, it is ideal that you arrive with an international health insurancepolicy taken out in your home country. However, it is also important that you know how the Chilean system works and what to do if you feel unwell, have an accident, or need medical attention.
🌍 My first recommendation: your international insurance
Before going anywhere, read the instructions from your insurance (they have a 24/7 emergency number and an app). Many insurances have agreements with private clinics in Santiago (e.g., Clínica Alemana, Clínica Santa María, RedSalud). Call first so they can tell you where to go and how to activate direct payment (the insurance pays the medical facility directly).
🏛️ If you don't have insurance or want to use the Chilean public system
The public system exists and works, but it is slower and in high demand. It is organized by levels:
🏥 CESFAM (Health Center): This is primary care. For non‑urgent problems (mild cold, simple follow‑up, prescriptions). They are open Monday to Friday until about 5:00 PM, but you need to make an appointment in advance. Not for emergencies.
🚑 SAPU (Primary Emergency Care Service): For non‑serious emergencies (high fever without danger, a small cut that needs stitches, moderate pain). Faster than a large hospital.
🏨 Public hospital (Emergency room): For real emergencies (breathing difficulties, strong chest pain, serious accidents, loss of consciousness). Waiting times can be long (sometimes hours), but they treat everyone, whether they have insurance or not. If you arrive with your international insurance, you will still be treated, but you will then have to request a refund.
💸 Private options (without insurance) – expensive
Private clinics: They treat quickly, but an emergency visit can cost between 50,000 and 100,000 CLP (about 70–140 USD).
Private consultation with a general practitioner: You can book an appointment online, costing about 30,000–50,000 CLP.
🔄 How do refunds work with my international insurance?
Direct payment (ideal): The insurance pays the clinic or hospital directly. Not all centers accept this, so check beforehand.
Payment and reimbursement (more common): You pay with your card, keep all receipts, test orders, prescriptions, and the medical report. Then you upload everything to your insurance's app or platform and get your money back in a few days.
💊 Pharmacies (Farmacias)
You can buy over‑the‑counter medication for simple issues (headache, cold). The largest chains are SalcoBrand, Cruz Verde, and Ahumada. Many have 24‑hour duty pharmacies (farmacias de turno) – ask for the nearest one.
