Internships in Chile

Internship conditions and requirements in Chile

Chile has a reputation of being welcoming to foreign workers and interns, especially if they are qualified. Therefore, you may be able to assist in exciting projects that will give you invaluable insight and experience.

The most common sectors for internships are business, non-profit or government, and tourism. The majority of companies or institutions will require at least some command of Spanish. Even if they don't, learning the language will greatly enrich your experience and help you immerse yourself in local life. Plus, being multilingual is a huge draw for many professions worldwide. Besides language skills, you will typically need to be a high school graduate and/or a university student in order to get an internship in Chile.

While you may get you a stipend for transportation and/or lunch, most internships are unpaid, and any stipends you are given likely won't be more than USD200. Therefore, it is important to budget for your stay in Chile which could be anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months. Legal working hours in Chile are 45 hours a week so you should expect to commit at least 30 weekly. Despite paid internships not being common, you will have the potential to not only gain experience but also to establish useful network connections in your chosen field.

It is also important to know that if you don't have a paid position, you do not technically need to have a work visa. Going on a tourist visa may become complicated after the first 90 days. Most individuals will head to Argentina or Peru as leaving the country and coming back allows you to renew a tourist visa. The authorities may give you anywhere from 30 days to another 90 days. Alternatively, you can pay for an extension in the country which costs approximately USD100.

If you don't want to risk it, you could potentially apply for a student visa which would allow you to stay in the country without having to leave every 90 days to renew a tourist visa. If you decide to apply for a visa, make sure to start this process several months prior to your departure. Regardless of whether you apply for a visa or enter as a tourist, you will need a valid passport.

 Good to know:

Currently, no vaccinations are required for entry into the country. If you plan to travel elsewhere in South America, be sure to check each country's vaccination requirements.

How to find internships in Chile

Similarly to finding a job in Chile, you may choose to go through a placement program which often requires paying a fee for their assistance in finding an internship and arrival into the country, or you can choose to apply for positions yourself by looking on popular websites such as LinkedIn and Indeed.

Either way, you will need to have an updated resume or CV and prepare to interview in Spanish and/or English. You should also decide which sector to try to find an internship so you can narrow your search and tailor your resume accordingly. Furthermore, it is important to consider whether you wish to be in a bigger city or more of a rural environment. There may be more opportunities in an urban environment, but you will have to decide what kind of internship will best help you meet your professional goals.

If you decide to go through a placement program, be sure to contact them and ask about any specific requirements they have in order to apply. You should also ask about what is included in the program fee. For example, some will include housing while others will require you to find your own. This is essential to know before arriving in the country so you can plan accordingly.

 Useful links:

LinkedIn
Indeed
Tandem
The Intern Group