Chile: the Habilitación Laboral certificate is launched
Chile is tightening controls on the employment of foreign nationals with a new digital verification tool.
The Servicio Nacional de Migraciones (SERMIG) announced on 13 August 2026 the launch of the Habilitación Laboral certificate, accessible via the Portal de Trámites Digitales. This free official document allows employers to quickly verify whether a foreign national with regular immigration status is authorised to perform paid work in Chile.
Habilitación Laboral: 232,000 irregular contributions triggered the measure
✅ 232,000 contributions without a permit in four years: Cross-referencing data with the Superintendencia de Pensiones revealed that over four years, more than 232,000 people made social security contributions without holding the required permits, according to SERMIG national director Frank Sauerbaum. This finding directly prompted the creation of the certificate.
✅ More than 40,000 employers already exposed: Authorities have identified over 40,000 companies and individuals who employed foreign workers not authorised to work. This irregularity is concentrated primarily in agribusiness, food service, retail and construction.
✅ A free certificate restricted to regular immigration status only: The document does not constitute a new visa, residence permit, or work permit. It covers only individuals with regular immigration status. The absence of a generated certificate is therefore a red flag for the employer.
The certificate creates no new authorisation. A Permanencia Transitoria (tourist status) alone does not authorise work, except in specific cases validated by SERMIG. More importantly: SERMIG explicitly states that the certificate is a complementary tool, not a sufficient verification in itself. A valid residence permit, the entry document, and residence activation must each be checked separately in the employee’s immigration file.
This applies beyond Chile. Clearly differentiating between visa, work permit and residence permit avoids costly surprises for the employer. The region is also tightening its immigration controls, as shown by professional mobility within Mercosur, where compliance requirements are increasing.
Habilitación Laboral in Chile: what employers must check before any hire
- Request the certificate systematically before signing any employment contract, including for short-term assignments. Its absence signals an irregular or non-compliant immigration situation.
- Check the QR code and validity date: the certificate is valid for 60 working days from the date of issue. Any hire beyond that date requires a new certificate.
- Do not stop at the certificate: SERMIG specifies it is a complementary tool. Residence permit, entry document and residence activation must still be checked separately in the employee’s immigration file.
This measure marks a shift in the authorities’ stance: by cross-referencing immigration data with social security contributions, SERMIG now has a tool to target its inspections. For mobility teams, vigilance is required now, before controls intensify.
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Frequently Asked Questions
No. SERMIG states this explicitly: the certificate is a complementary tool, not a sufficient verification in itself. Employers must continue to check the residence permit, the entry document, and the employee’s residence activation separately.
There is no automatic penalty linked to the certificate itself, but employing a foreign national without work authorisation remains subject to prosecution. The certificate is designed to prevent this risk: failing to request it means forgoing the protection it provides.
The certificate attests to a situation at the time of issue — it is not retroactive. For employees already in post, a full review of the immigration file remains the appropriate course of action.
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- Mandatory formalities to complete
- The administrations responsible for the procedures
- Required documents
- Immigration statuses
