Chilean visa on world cruise leaving Sydney

[Sparrow3131]

On April 30^th 2024 I am on a world cruise out of Sydney Australia. I need information regarding a visa for Chile. A Chilean Visa once issued, is only valid for 90 days, however when leaving Australia it takes 94 days before reaching Easter Island therefore I am unable to obtain a valid visa before boarding the ship in Australia. The information on the Princess web site states that I could be denied boarding without a valid visa. Is anyone that has had this problem able inform me of the process needed to allow me to be able board without a completed Chilean visa.

Regards

Edited December 22, 2023 by Sparrow3131
Additional information

[Ozwoody]

Hi Sparrow3131

 

Got to this site, it is the World Cruise 2024 roll call site, much discussion have been on this subject, I think you will find all the info your looking for in the last pages 70 to 72.

 

 

Regards

Edited December 22, 2023 by Ozwoody

[MicCanberra]

You should call the embassy however if you apply for your visa with the date of arrival in Chile, then you should be covered.

[Ozwoody]

20 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

You should call the embassy however if you apply for your visa with the date of arrival in Chile, then you should be covered.

 

Unfortunately its a catch 22 problem.

The visa is only valid for 90 days, and you can't apply for it more than 90 days out, and the ship leave more than 90 days out, and you must have the visa to board the ship.

Grrrrrrrrr.

But there is a solution evidently the last WC's solved it for their trip, and the 2024 WC's have covered it as well.🙂

[MicCanberra]

That is why I said call the embassy, there are always exceptions to the rule.

[cruiser3775]

I didn't have your problem with timing when I applied for a Chilean visa, but it was still a PITA to get, so I wish you luck. I applied four months beforehand, and still had not got it 12 days out from my departure. My travel agent (from a big Australian cruising specialist agency) tried to help on my behalf. She also told me that, on the last world cruise her company handled, they had more than 200 Australians on board still waiting for their Chile visas to be issued. Apparently they were all granted at the very last minute, as was mine.

[MicCanberra]

We recently, ( a few weeks ago),  applied for ours, it was done and dusted within 3 days.

[Sparrow3131]

6 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

We recently, ( a few weeks ago),  applied for ours, it was done and dusted within 3 days.

Is that for the 2024 world cruise out of Sydney?

[MicCanberra]

9 hours ago, Sparrow3131 said:

Is that for the 2024 world cruise out of Sydney?

No, ours is the Oosterdam Antarctica and South America cruise, Jan 2024.

[Sparrow3131]

Who did you apply through?

[MicCanberra]

Chilean Embassy

[MicCanberra]

Smartraveller.

 

[MicCanberra]

Travel

[MicCanberra]

Visa application 

[Keimer 1953]

 

I am still having trouble getting a satisfactory solution from the embassy.  Each week they say they are working on a solution to the 90 day rule but time is running out.  How have the other Australian cruisers leaving from Sydney on April 30 2024 handled this. 

[OzKiwiJJ]

46 minutes ago, Keimer 1953 said:

 

I am still having trouble getting a satisfactory solution from the embassy.  Each week they say they are working on a solution to the 90 day rule but time is running out.  How have the other Australian cruisers leaving from Sydney on April 30 2024 handled this. 

I'm waiting for a couple of weeks more to see if they do get something sorted out. 

[ekka49]

There is about 1700 of us in this messy boat, re this countries  Visa. 

[Sarah Jane Smith]

We were in the same predicament for the 2023 world cruise. The steps were as per the letter above:

"Guests can apply for a Transit Visa via the below websites:

- NSW, QLD or NT - Sydney - https://serviciosconsulares.cl/tramites/visas
- ACT Canberra - https://chile.gob.cl/canberra/

- VIC, TAS, SA or WA – Melbourne - http://www.chilebroad.gov.cl/melbourne

You will receive an email advising the visa has been authorized, which must be presented at cruise check-in. Once on board, you will be notify to email the Chilean consulate to finalize the visa within the 90-day window."

 

The internet links above are in spanish, but you will get there in the end with a confirmation email.

 

One complication was, when on the cruise, passengers were specifically told NOT to email the consulate to finalise. We were told that Princess would sort it out as a bulk finalisation. This was fine until about 2 weeks out when we started getting letters stating "you don't have your visa yet!".

 

So, follow the advice in the letter above. If you don't have internet on the ship, ask guest services to send the email, or buy one days worth of internet half way 'round the world and send the email then.

 

In 2023, it all worked out in the end 🙂

 

[Sparrow3131]

On 2/24/2024 at 6:45 PM, Sarah Jane Smith said:

We were in the same predicament for the 2023 world cruise. The steps were as per the letter above:

"Guests can apply for a Transit Visa via the below websites:

- NSW, QLD or NT - Sydney - https://serviciosconsulares.cl/tramites/visas
- ACT Canberra - https://chile.gob.cl/canberra/

- VIC, TAS, SA or WA – Melbourne - http://www.chilebroad.gov.cl/melbourne

You will receive an email advising the visa has been authorized, which must be presented at cruise check-in. Once on board, you will be notify to email the Chilean consulate to finalize the visa within the 90-day window."

 

The internet links above are in spanish, but you will get there in the end with a confirmation email.

 

One complication was, when on the cruise, passengers were specifically told NOT to email the consulate to finalise. We were told that Princess would sort it out as a bulk finalisation. This was fine until about 2 weeks out when we started getting letters stating "you don't have your visa yet!".

 

So, follow the advice in the letter above. If you don't have internet on the ship, ask guest services to send the email, or buy one days worth of internet half way 'round the world and send the email then.

 

In 2023, it all worked out in the end 🙂

 

Just checking. So fill out application but don't select end, then receive an email stating, a temporary permit has been created. To send your application to selected consulate you must press finish 

[Sarah Jane Smith]

Possibly it is best to think of the application as a two step process. Follow the links above to "apply" for your visa. You will get a return email that your application has been received, with a reference number. We need to show that email to the ships staff when boarding. Once inside the 90 day period, hit reply on the email with a request to "finalise" the visa.

 

My email read thus:

From: Consulado General de Chile en Sydney <sydney@consulado.gob.cl>
Sent: Tuesday, 16 May 2023 11:12 AM
To: me
Subject: Transit Visa for Chile
Dear me,
Your 3-days Transit Visa application for Chile has been successfully received at this Consulate General.
Reference No. SAC 318###3.
Once your Visa has been issued you must enter Chile (Easter Island) within 90 days. Therefore, you must send us an email (with your passport number and the above reference number) requesting we issue the Visa at a date closer to your arrival in Chile.
Please show the cruise company this email informing you that the Visa has been authorized in
order to board the ship.
Kind regards,
Consulate General of Chile
Level 18, 44 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Tel: (61-2) 9299-2533

 

 

[Sparrow3131]

On 12/22/2023 at 2:32 PM, Sparrow3131 said:

On April 30^th 2024 I am on a world cruise out of Sydney Australia. I need information regarding a visa for Chile. A Chilean Visa once issued, is only valid for 90 days, however when leaving Australia it takes 94 days before reaching Easter Island therefore I am unable to obtain a valid visa before boarding the ship in Australia. The information on the Princess web site states that I could be denied boarding without a valid visa. Is anyone that has had this problem able inform me of the process needed to allow me to be able board without a completed Chilean visa.

Regards

At last Princess have decided to let us know what we need to do re Chilean visa

CHILEAN VISA REQUIREMENTS
Australian passport holders require a "Transit Visa Up to 72 hours" (free of charge) to visit Chile aboard Coral Princess. You must apply for this
visa in advance of your cruise and finalise it within 90 days of your arrival in Chile.
Go to https://tramites.minrel.gov.cl/Solicitudes/visa.aspx to apply for your visa. Select English (top right) and provide required information
including the appropriate consulate. Attach a photo and all required documents (erase the account number from your bank statement). Then
print the email confirming your visa application has been received and bring it to embarkation or you may be denied boarding. Within 90 days of
arriving in Chile (when most guests are already on board), you will be emailed your visa. Print it at Guest Services.
Reminder: Each guest is responsible for obtaining and having appropriate valid travel documents available. For those with passports from other
countries, contact the consulate or a visa service provider for entry requirements.
Thank you for your attention to this notification

[OzKiwiJJ]

2 hours ago, Sparrow3131 said:

At last Princess have decided to let us know what we need to do re Chilean visa

CHILEAN VISA REQUIREMENTS
Australian passport holders require a "Transit Visa Up to 72 hours" (free of charge) to visit Chile aboard Coral Princess. You must apply for this
visa in advance of your cruise and finalise it within 90 days of your arrival in Chile.
Go to https://tramites.minrel.gov.cl/Solicitudes/visa.aspx to apply for your visa. Select English (top right) and provide required information
including the appropriate consulate. Attach a photo and all required documents (erase the account number from your bank statement). Then
print the email confirming your visa application has been received and bring it to embarkation or you may be denied boarding. Within 90 days of
arriving in Chile (when most guests are already on board), you will be emailed your visa. Print it at Guest Services.
Reminder: Each guest is responsible for obtaining and having appropriate valid travel documents available. For those with passports from other
countries, contact the consulate or a visa service provider for entry requirements.
Thank you for your attention to this notification

To add further clarification:

- Once you have reached the summary page you will receive an email stating your application has been created.

- You need to press "End" after which you will receive an email in English stating your application has been received, and another in Spanish which essentially says the same thing.

- A few days later you will receive an email like the one below and this is the one you need at check-in.

 

[alibabacruisers]

This has been helpful to us for 2025.  Thank you all!