One of the most common first questions we get asked from PMs and producers who contact PUDU when planning their film, photo shoot, series, doc or TVC in Chile is: Do we need to organize special visas or work permits before we send our crew?
The great news is, no, you don’t, as long as the production is journalistic in its nature. You don’t even need a work permit. Feeling happy?
Media professionals coming from abroad to work on a foreign production in Chile can enter the country as a tourist, which is granted automatically and lasts for three months — no prep required. You don’t even need to apply for the tourist visa in advance, since it all happens at immigration inside the airport. But there is one easy step you need to make with us a little in advance of the crew traveling — organizing your Foreign Correspondent in Transit passes. These allow you to be in Chile on a tourist visa and work on your foreign production simultaneously, and PUDU can help you through the whole process.
These media passes need to be organized in advance of your travel; 15 working days in advance is advised, to allow for any issues and for the government office who issues them in Santiago to process them.
PUDU’s team of film fixers can collect these media passes in advance of your arrival, ready to go as soon as you touch down at SCL and meet our collection team. You could start shooting as soon as we clear the airport if you wanted, though we find in most cases, our clients prefer to head straight to their hotel to grab a quick nap and freshen up after a long red-eye flight 😉 Just sayin’!
As said, we recommend doing the prep work with PUDU for these media passes at least a couple of weeks before your arrival. We’ll assist by phone or email.
The steps to obtain the passes are simple:
- Provide PUDU with a formal letter about the production, which will be presented to the government office issuing the passes.
- The letter must include the full name and passport or ID card number of each person in the team, a brief summary of the work that will be carried out and the dates during which the team will be in Chile. The credential will be valid for the period according to the dates you provide.
- The format must include the logo of the media outlet and the signature and contact information of a director or editor in charge. It must be addressed to:
- International Media Unit Coordinator
- Mr. Ignacio Waissbluth von Schultzendorff
- Communications Secretariat
- Ministry Secretary General of the Government
- Fill out the Group in Transit Form, which will be sent to us once the government office has received a correctly issued letter.
- A passport-type digital photo in JPG format must be sent for each member of the team along with the completed form.
- The International Media Unit will check the information and confirm by email that the credential will be issued.
- One of the PUDU Fixer team will collect the passes as soon as they’re ready — this can be before you travel — and have the credentials ready, in-hand for when you arrive in Chile.
Don’t hesitate to contact us for any queries about visas or work permit requirements around shooting your production in Chile.
