Chile’s long-standing housing deficit, combined with limited legal pathways for regularization, has led many migrants—especially those without legal status—to settle in informal housing. As of 2023, an estimated 336,000 individuals were living in Chile without regular status. Informal settlements have become a widespread coping strategy, often located in areas with poor infrastructure and limited access to essential services such as water, sanitation, and electricity. 

Although Chile has historically maintained a relatively open approach to migration, recent years have seen a shift toward more restrictive policies. Rising economic pressures, public concerns about security, and the increasing association of crime with foreign nationals have influenced both policy and public discourse. Discrimination and xenophobia—particularly targeting Venezuelan migrants—have become more visible, further complicating integration efforts. 

A major concern is the lack of regularization mechanisms for adults who entered the country irregularly. These individuals are subject to removal procedures and are unable to access formal employment, housing, or social services, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and potential refoulement. While humanitarian exceptions exist for children—over 82,000 of whom had obtained residency permits by December 2024—these do not extend to their parents. The regularization process for children also faces challenges, including difficulties in obtaining required documentation. 

Chile is a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, as well as the Statelessness Conventions. However, recent legal reforms, including Law No. 21.655 (2024), have introduced stricter asylum procedures. These include a seven-day deadline to file asylum claims upon entry and an admissibility filter that excludes individuals who transited through other countries for more than 60 days. A statelessness determination procedure remains pending, and over 1,600 children born to foreign parents in transit are currently at risk of statelessness. 

Despite these challenges, migrants and refugees continue to play a vital role in Chile’s economy. They are particularly active in sectors facing labor shortages—such as agriculture, construction, transportation, and services—and as of March 2025, they made up nearly 11% of the labor force, contributing an estimated 10.3% to the national GDP. Their participation has helped sustain productivity, address demographic gaps, and support key industries, reflecting their integration into the workforce and broader society. Additionally, there is room for improvement regarding access to the territory and refugee status determination procedures, such as the implementation of differentiated asylum procedures, as well as clear procedures at border areas to be able to file asylum claims.