Consular Birth Registration: A Key Procedure for Chileans Living Abroad

In 2024, the Lowy Institute of Australia ranked Chile 27th in its Global Diplomacy Index, which indicates that the country stands out among those with the largest number of diplomatic missions around the world. It is no coincidence that this ranking—led by China, the United States, and Turkey—places Chile in such a high position, as Chile currently has representatives in 75 territories through its embassies and consulates.

The reasons that lead the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to maintain such an extensive network abroad are based on the fact that Chile is a highly globalized country whose strong international relations are essential for its internal functioning. At the same time, the large number of Chilean nationals living abroad creates the need for Chile to maintain a presence overseas.

According to reports from the National Institute of Statistics, more than one million Chilean nationals reside outside the country, and this number continues to grow—not only because migration persists, but also because an increasing number of Chileans are born abroad every year.

Can someone born abroad be Chilean?

Yes. Article 10 of the Chilean Constitution, in its second paragraph, states that Chileans include “the children of a Chilean father or mother who are born abroad. However, it shall be required that at least one of their ascendants in the first or second degree in the direct line has acquired Chilean nationality pursuant to the provisions established in numbers 1, 3, or 4.”

Is it enough to be a first- or second-degree descendant of a Chilean to obtain nationality?

The answer is no. This birth must be registered with the Chilean Civil Registry and Identification Service. For Chileans living abroad, the alternative is to carry out what is known as a “Consular Birth Registration.”

Consular Birth Registration: What is it?

According to information provided by the Consulate General of Chile in Los Angeles, California, this procedure corresponds to “the registration, before the Civil Registry and Identification Service of Chile, of the vital event of a birth that occurred abroad so that it may produce legal effects in Chile. These effects include the granting of Chilean nationality to the registered individual and the assignment of a National Identification Number (Rol Único Nacional – RUN).”

This registration may be requested by Chilean nationals residing abroad—either personally, through representatives, or by their descendants, as applicable—once the birth has occurred and the corresponding legal documentation proving such event has been obtained.

Required Documents

The documents generally required for this procedure include the birth certificate of the person to be registered, its translation (in cases where the document is issued in a language other than Spanish), the birth certificates of the Chilean ascendants, and their valid Chilean identification documents.

In certain cases, death certificates and/or marriage certificates may also be required, without prejudice to any additional documentation that the Consulate may request.

It is important to note that the original documents must be physically submitted to the corresponding Consulate. These documents will not be returned (with the exception of identity documents), and their authenticity must be certified either through an Apostille—for certificates issued in countries that are parties to the 1961 Hague Convention—or through legalization, as applicable.

Once the documents have been received and accepted by the Consular staff, the records will be forwarded to the Civil Registry and Identification Service in Santiago, regardless of where the application was submitted. The Civil Registry typically takes between six months and one year to issue a response, which makes it essential to comply with all requirements from the outset.

Subsequent Procedures

Once the documents are approved by the respective Consulate, the interested party will be summoned to appear at its offices. During this appointment, the original documents must be presented, and the Chilean ascendants must appear in order to declare the stated family relationship, unless their death has been duly proven.

In addition, with the exception of children under six years of age, the registered individuals must appear in person for the capture of their fingerprints.

It is worth noting that, in the case of the United States, the consular fee for this procedure is USD 5, payable only by credit or debit card in most diplomatic missions. In any event, it is essential to verify the payment method on a case-by-case basis, since while some missions do not accept cash payments, others accept only cash or alternative methods such as bank deposits.

Professional Assistance

For the reasons explained above, it is advisable to seek professional assistance when initiating this process. It is essential to understand not only the general requirements for completing the procedure, but also the particular rules and practices of the various Chilean diplomatic missions abroad.

For example, while the Consulate General of Chile in Los Angeles requires that the certificates submitted be translated into Spanish by individuals or companies accredited to provide such services, the Consulate General of Chile in Chicago only requires an unofficial translation consisting of a simple transcription of the information contained in the document.

Similarly, while the Consulate General of Chile in Los Angeles requires that the certificates submitted be issued within the previous three months, the Consulate of Chile in Chicago does not indicate any requirement regarding the age of the documents.

For this reason, consulting with professionals specialized in this area is key when undertaking this process. Cuadra, Vollmer y Cía. has many years of experience handling these types of procedures and is therefore fully familiar with the requirements of Chilean consulates around the world.

If you are considering applying for a Consular Birth Registration, do not hesitate to contact us to ensure a successful application.

This article was written by attorney Benjamín Prado Castillo