Chile rolls out free digital work authorization certificate for foreign workers

Chile has introduced a free digital certificate that allows employers to verify online whether foreign nationals are authorized to work in the country, part of a broader effort to streamline immigration services and reduce reliance on paper documents.

The Habilitación Laboral, or Work Authorization Certificate, is being issued by Chile’s National Immigration Service, known as SERMIG, through its online immigration platform.

The certificate includes a QR code that employers can scan to verify its authenticity and check a foreign worker’s authorization status.

The new system gives foreign workers a simpler way to demonstrate their eligibility to prospective employers while providing companies with a direct way to confirm the validity of the information presented during the hiring process.

What they are saying

Under the new system, foreign nationals can obtain the certificate electronically and present it to employers as evidence of their current work authorization.

Employers can then scan the QR code to verify the document, potentially reducing the time needed to review physical immigration paperwork.

The measure could be particularly useful for companies that regularly employ foreign nationals, where determining whether an applicant has the necessary immigration status can be an important part of the recruitment process.

But the certificate does not replace Chile’s immigration rules.SERMIG has indicated that employers must continue to review the broader immigration circumstances of foreign workers before allowing them to undertake paid employment.

What employers still need to verify

A valid digital certificate should not be treated as the only document an employer needs to review.

Depending on the worker’s circumstances, employers may still need to check relevant residence or work approvals, the validity of immigration permits and the worker’s entry records.

They may also need to confirm that a residence status has been activated where required and review any conditions attached to the worker’s immigration status.

In other words, the certificate is designed to make verification easier, not to replace the underlying permissions required to work legally in Chile.

What you should know

Chile has previously introduced pathways aimed at attracting skilled foreign professionals to fill gaps in its labour market.

• In December 2024, Chile opened applications for its 2025 Job Seeker Visa, known as the Visa de Residencia Temporal para Búsqueda de Empleo (SUJE). The programme allowed qualified foreign professionals to stay in Chile for up to six months while seeking employment.
• Applicants were required to hold a recognised university degree, while those on the visa could work part-time for up to 20 hours per week during their job search. Successful applicants who secured employment could subsequently transition to a work visa for longer-term employment.

The programme was positioned as a way to attract skilled workers to areas facing labour shortages, including technology, healthcare and renewable energy.