In virtually all cases teachers, and really any foreigners who wants to work in Chile, enter Chile on a tourist visa and they secure their working visa immediately upon arriving at the school.  The process to get the visa outside the country is a convoluted complex process that takes a  considerable amount of time and requires an in-person interview with an appropriate official at the Consulate General (usually this interview has to take place with the Ambassador).

The following summarizes the requirements on entry into Chile.  It should be noted that in all cases:

• a valid passport is required(valid for 3 months)
• in all cases the fee you pay, called a Reciprocity Fee, for entry is valid until your passport expires
• in all cases the maximum duration of stay is 90 days BUT you can apply for an extension
• a return or onward ticket is not required if holding a credit card or sufficient funds to purchase a ticket
• vaccinations - International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever is required if you are arriving from an infected area within 5 days

Passport/Visa Note: Passengers must hold a Tourist Card (issued free of charge on arrival for 90 days) and sufficient funds to cover intended period of stay.