In a bid to protect its population from the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus, Chile has prohibited the entry of non-resident foreigners who have been in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini and Mozambique in the last 14 days. The new measures, outlined in the "Protected Borders Plan," came into effect on December 1.
According to Minister of Health Alberto Dougnac, who made the decision following international recommendations and those of the COVID-19 Advisory Council, Chilean and foreign residents who have been in these countries must undergo an entry PCR and comply with a quarantine of at least seven days, regardless of the negative result of their PCR and vaccination status.
All Chileans and resident foreigners, all non-resident foreigners with their vaccinations validated by the Ministry of Health, and all non-resident foreigners who meet the exceptional requirements of Decree 102 of the Ministry of the Interior and all children under six years of age, regardless of their nationality or vaccination status, may enter Chile through the authorized border crossings.
Chileans and foreign residents, entering the country require a negative PCR test taken in the country of origin no later than 72 hours before boarding the plane and an affidavit obtained from c19.cl.
To enter Chile, non-resident foreigners need to be fully vaccinated, and have the vaccination validated by the Chilean Ministry of Health, a negative PCR taken in the country of origin performed no more than 72 hours prior to departure, the affidavit obtained at c19.cl, a $30,000 medical insurance covering any disease associated with the coronavirus and a new PCR test performed upon arrival in the country, a process that implies a period of isolation that will be extended until the negative result of the test is available.
As a safeguard measure, the health authority decided to postpone the decision to exempt non-resident foreigners with a third dose of vaccination from a test upon arrival in the country, so that “everyone will have to take a PCR at the point of entry and quarantine until the result is negative, regardless of their vaccination status,” said Dougnac. In addition, Dougnac reiterated, all persons over six years of age who may enter the country and who do not have their vaccines validated must undergo a PCR at the airport and be quarantined for seven days, even if the PCR result is negative.
When leaving the country, as of December 1, the restrictions for traveling abroad from the authorized air border crossings will be eliminated, which means that neither a Mobility Pass nor a virtual police station permit will be required.
Along the same lines, it was decided to postpone the opening of the Chacalluta (Arica and Parinacota Region), Pino Hachado (Araucanía Region) and Colchane (Tarapacá Region) land crossings, which will remain closed until the situation is re-evaluated within two weeks. The air border crossing points at Santiago, Iquique, Antofagasta and Punta Arenas will remain operational.
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