Guidance

Chile: Knowledge Base profile

Published 1 May 2024

About: Chile

This document contains useful information about Chile which will assist HM Passport Office staff process passport applications.

Contacts

If you have any questions about the document and your line manager or senior caseworker cannot help you or you think that the document has factual errors then email the Guidance team.

If you notice any formatting errors in this document (broken links, spelling mistakes and so on) or have any comments about the layout or navigability of the document then you can email the Guidance team.

Publication

Below is information on when this version of the document was published:

• version 2.0
• published for Home Office staff on 18 April 2024

Changes from last version of this document

This document has been updated with minor formatting changes.

Chile: names

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about names in Chile.

Naming conventions exist in Chile. Names in Chile consist of:

• forename
• father’s first surname
• mother’s first surname

Birth registration confirms the child’s name.

Change of name

Name changes are allowed in Chile.

Married women do not take their husband’s surname after marriage and retain their birth name.

A Chile national can change their name once. This is done through the courts using a lawyer and if approved must be registered in the Civil Registry. Nationals’ resident overseas can give power of attorney to a third party to represent them at court.

Change of name is permitted by law if:

• the father’s name was not originally included in the birth registration
• the name causes the holder emotional or physical harm
• the person has been known publicly in the new name for 5 years or more

Name alignment

In Latin America the letters S and Z are interchangeable in names, for example, Perez/Peres, Gonzales/Gonzalez or Rodriguez/Rodrigues. HM Passport Office will not ask for alignment in these cases.

Chile: nationality

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about nationality in Chile.

Dual nationality is recognised in Chile.

Chile: legitimacy and parental responsibility

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about legitimacy and parental responsibility in Chile.

Legitimacy

Since 26 October 1998, Chile does not recognise a difference between legitimate and illegitimate births. All children are born legitimate, whether their parents are married or not.

Parental responsibility

Both parents will have parental responsibility whether they are married or not.

Chile: adoption

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about adoption in Chile.

Adoption is legal in Chile.

Chile: surrogacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about surrogacy in Chile.

Surrogacy is not governed by law in Chile.

Chile: gender recognition

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about gender recognition in Chile.

Transgender citizens are recognised in Chile.

Chile: civil partnerships and marriage

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about civil partnerships and marriages in Chile.

Civil partnerships and same sex marriages, also known as a civil union, are legal in Chile.

Civil marriage is legally recognised in Chile, religious marriage is not legally recognised.

Chile: documents

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about documents in Chile.

All birth, marriage and death certificates in Chile are issued at the Civil Registry Office (Registro Civil e Identificacion).

Birth certificates

Births should be registered within 5 days of birth. Late registrations are allowed.

Birth certificates are issued when the birth is registered.

If an error is found on a certificate it will be corrected.

Marriage certificates

When a couple have a civil wedding, the marriage is automatically registered, and the couple are issued a marriage certificate and a libreta de matrimonio (marriage book).

Religious marriage certificates are not legally recognised.

Death certificates

A death certificate is usually issued within 48 hours of the death unless investigation into the death is needed. Late registrations are allowed.

Identity documents

It is mandatory for all residents aged 18 years and older to hold an identity card. There is one card for Chile nationals and another for foreign nationals.