Heading to Chile? Two rules you need to know about

A foreign phone on a local SIM can be blocked after 30 days

If a phone bought abroad is used in Chile with a SIM from a local carrier (Entel, WOM, Movistar, Claro and so on), the device has to be registered in the Multibanda (SAE) system.

Here's how it works:

• if the phone isn't registered within 30 calendar days of first connecting to a Chilean network, it can be blocked;
• a warning SMS is usually sent after that first connection;
• you can complete the registration within 60 days of entering the country;
• registration is free for one device per year.

The rule only applies when you're using a SIM or local eSIM issued by a Chilean carrier.

Who does this matter for?

If you:

• came on a Working Holiday program;
• are a student;
• are a digital nomad;
• or will be in Chile for more than 30 days,

then you need to register your phone.

On a short tourist trip the clock never runs out, so the block simply isn't an issue.

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Roaming and travel eSIMs are exempt from this registration

Chilean law has one important exception.

If your phone only uses:

• international roaming,
• a travel eSIM,
• or Wi-Fi only,

then Multibanda registration is not required.

Because travel eSIMs technically work like international roaming, your phone is never treated as a local carrier's customer — so the 30-day block countdown never even starts.

Worth noting: the law doesn't use the term "travel eSIM" as such. The distinction that matters is between a local SIM and international roaming.

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Buying a local SIM requires a passport and a face scan

Since February 2025, every prepaid SIM in Chile has to be activated with an identity check.

For tourists, the process looks like this:

• you present a valid passport;
• upload a photo of the document;
• complete a face biometric check (a selfie) using your phone's camera;
• once the system verifies your identity, the SIM is activated.

Most carriers run this process through a mobile app or a web portal.

In practice, activation is doable, but:

• the interfaces are mostly in Spanish;
• the biometric check sometimes fails;
• which is why tourists are better off buying the SIM at an official carrier store rather than a street kiosk.

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An important catch for travelers entering with a DNI

Citizens of Argentina, Peru, Bolivia and a few other countries can enter Chile with their national ID card (DNI).

But when it comes to activating a local prepaid SIM, carriers usually accept only:

• a Chilean ID card (Cédula),
• or a valid passport.

So you can cross the border with a DNI, but activating a SIM afterwards can be a struggle.

In that case a travel eSIM is the easier option, since it doesn't require a passport or a biometric check to activate.

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Which option is right for you?

Staying less than 30 days

You can use a local SIM.

Just:

• present your passport,
• pass the face biometric check,
• and buy the SIM from an official carrier store.

Your phone won't get blocked, because the 30-day window won't run out.

Staying more than 30 days

If you're going to use a local SIM, you'll need to register your phone in the Multibanda system.

It's a one-time registration, and you won't have any trouble afterwards.

Want something simple with zero paperwork

A travel eSIM:

• needs no passport check;
• asks for no biometrics;
• requires no phone registration;
• and installs in a few minutes before your flight.

For example, LimitSim has 15 different plans for Chile, with prices starting at €0.95.

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