Full Country Name: Republic of Chile
Capital: Santiago de Chile
Area: 4,720 kilometers (2,653 miles)
Population: Approx 16 million
Major Industries: Copper, Fruits, Wines, Timber, Salmon.


LOCATION
Chile is located to the southwest of South America, and connects to the north with Peru, to the east with Bolivia and Argentina, and to the west with the Pacific Ocean.

CLIMATE
Most of the northern part of Chile is arid and very little rainfall has been recorded. The central portion of the country has warm summer weather and mild winters. Humidity is low and rainfall is restricted to the winter months. The southern portion of Chile has cool weather and abundant rain.

Chile is a democracy with a president, elected by the people of Chile. The president is not allowed by the constitution to serve consecutive terms. Chile is divided into 15 regions, each lead and appointed by the president. The regions are then divided into provinces, lead by governors also appointed by the president. Each province is broken down into communes which are lead by municipalities, each with its own mayor and council elected for four year terms.

CURRENCY
The country’s currency is the Chilean Peso. Also, there is a monetary unit called “UF” (UNIDAD DE FOMENTO), which varies daily to express the devaluation of the Chilean peso, therefore it is index-linked to inflation. The daily value of the UF can be found in the main newspapers of the city. Many services and products such as rental contracts, home and car payments, school and insurance fees are often expressed in UF.

BANKS
The banks are open Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Proper identification is required to open a bank account, unless special arrangements are made with the bank.

The most common banks are:
• Citibank/Chile
• Santander
• Scotia Bank

LANGUAGE
Spanish

RELIGION
Mainly Roman Catholic but also have the freedom to worship any religion.

SHOPPING
The malls are open every day of the week from 10:00 am to 09:00 pm. Here you can find everything you need, from supermarkets and department stores to restaurants and pubs as well as bookstores, pharmacies, and name brand clothing stores.

Culture
Friendly and known for their humor, Chileans are proud of their heritage and nation. This is reflected in their impeccable style of dress, which is quite sophisticated in the urban area. Eye contact and good posture are important. A handshake is the proper way to greet someone when meeting for the first time, but when meeting a friend or someone you know, male acquaintances greet each other with a big hug and women greet female or male acquaintances with a kiss on the right cheek.

RESTAURANTS
Chilean cuisine features a variety of seafood, beef, fruits, and vegetables. Some of the traditional recipes include asado, cazuela, empanadas, humitas, and curanto.

ENTERTAINMENT
There are many options for entertainment in Chile. There are several clubs and bars to enjoy a drink and music. Musical concerts, Chilean Films, or museums such as, Museo de Arte Precolombino, are great sources of entertainment.

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS

Police: 133
Fire: 132
Ambulance: 131
Directory Inquiries: 103
Telephone Customer Service: 107
Airport Information: 56-2-690-1900

SCHOOLS

The Chilean education system is good. There are state schools and private schools. Most private schools have a wider curriculum in terms of languages, sport, and extracurricular activities. These schools have fees which vary according to the institution and grade level and in all cases involve the payment of an entry fee. The school year begins in March and ends in December. The only school that has the American Calendar is Nido de Águilas International School. Uniforms are mandatory in almost all schools and they carry distinguishing emblems sewn onto them.

IMMIGRATION PROCESS
After all documentation has been received and submitted, it takes approximately 50 days to receive a Visa.

The following information is necessary to obtain any type of permit in Chile:
1. Full name
2. Passport number
3. Nationality
4. Profession
5. Position
6. Brief role description
7. Curriculum vitae
8. Full name of spouse and/or children
9. Passport No. of spouse and/or children

Important Immigration Links:

American Consulate- www.chile.usembassy.gov

American Chamber of Commerce- www.caccgp.com

Local Police- www.policia.cl

HOUSING
There is a variety of houses and apartments in different residential areas of Santiago. The quality of the properties might vary, however most of the new apartments and houses have central heating, swimming pool, garage, etc. The rental cost will depend on the location, size of property and luxury required. Prices of rent can be anywhere from US$800 for a small apartment in the city to US$4500 for a modern family house in the suburbs. Most properties are found through real estate agents and payment of their commission equals 50% of 1 month`s rent + tax.

Santiago, the capital, plays an important role in Latin American commerce as it is the point of entry for nearly all international arrivals. Because Chile is south of the equator, the seasons are the reverse of those in the northern hemisphere and the weather becomes cooler as one goes further south.

HOLIDAYS
New year’s day - January 1st
Holy Friday - first Friday in April
Labor day - May 1st
Navy day - May 21st
Saint Peter and Saint Pablo - June 28th
Carmen Virgin - July 16th
Virgin's Ascention - August 15
Independence day - September 18th
Glorious armed force day - September 19th
Columbus day - October 11th
Evangelic church - October 31st
All Saint’s day - November 1st
Immaculate conception - December 8th
Christmas day - December 25th

TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
Voltage: 220v- ac, 50 Cycles
Plugs: Standard European Plugs
Television Systems: VHF and UHF, local television stations and cable television.