Many people work informally on tourist visas. Among the options are teaching English or another foreign language, work in the tourist industry, or casual labor in bars or restaurants. The problem with such jobs is that they either require time to build up a clientele (in the case of teaching), are seasonal (tourism), or poorly paid (in bars or restaurants, except the few places where tips are high).

Legal residence, permitting eligibility for more and better-paying jobs, usually requires local or foreign sponsorship, a substantial investment, marriage to a Chilean or other permanent resident, or a reliable retirement income. There are three types of working visas: a temporary visa for professionals and trained technicians, whose qualifications must be evaluated by an appropriate Chilean institution; a contract-specific visa with an employer, valid up to two years and primarily for low-skilled workers, who must have a return ticket to country of origin; and a visa for exchange students seeking part-time work. In theory, temporary working visas can lead to residence, but the Interior Ministry bureaucracy moves slowly.