Chile has launched a free digital Work Authorization Certificate, enabling foreign nationals and employers to easily verify work eligibility within the country.
Issued by Chile’s National Immigration Service (SERMIG), this new “Habilitación Laboral” certificate is accessible via the government’s online immigration platform. It features a QR code for quick and secure employer verification.
Understanding the New Digital Work Authorization Certificate
This digital work authorization certificate streamlines the process for employers to confirm a foreign worker’s labor status, reducing reliance solely on physical immigration documents. The integrated QR code offers an additional layer of security and can help minimize uncertainties during the hiring process in Chile.
For foreign nationals, the certificate makes it simpler to prove their current work eligibility to Chilean employers. However, it’s crucial to understand that possessing this certificate does not automatically grant work permission, alter immigration status, or replace any essential permits or approvals mandated by Chilean immigration laws.
Employer Responsibilities: Comprehensive Immigration Checks
SERMIG emphasizes that employers must continue to perform thorough immigration reviews before any foreign national can begin paid work. This comprehensive check should include:
- Verification of relevant work or residence approvals.
- Confirmation of immigration permits and their validity.
- Review of entry records.
- Confirmation of residence status activation, if applicable.
- Checking any other specific conditions tied to the individual’s immigration status.
Therefore, the new digital certificate serves as a quick confirmation tool, not a substitute for the complete hiring and immigration verification process.
Implications for Indian Travelers and Workers in Chile
For Indian passport holders planning to work in Chile, this digital certificate can expedite employment checks once all necessary immigration permissions are secured. However, it does not replace these fundamental permissions.
Employers are still required to review the worker’s full immigration status, including all applicable approvals, permits, entry records, and residence activation requirements. SERMIG clearly states that the certificate is an additional verification tool, not standalone proof of work eligibility. This development reflects a broader trend where immigration authorities are digitalizing status checks, adding certificates as supplementary tools rather than replacing core immigration procedures.
Travelobiz Take:
We view this as a valuable, free verification tool for Indian nationals working in Chile. It should be used to complement existing immigration documents and rigorous work authorization checks, not to replace the full verification process.
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