Chilean Government announces changes to the Protected Borders Plan from November 1

At an event held today at La Moneda Palace, Public Health Undersecretary Paula Daza and Tourism Undersecretary José Luis Uriarte announced changes to the Plan Fronteras Protegidas (Protected Borders Plan), which will come into effect from November 1. 

The first change will allow everyone who enters Chile from November 1 with a Mobility Pass or vaccine homologation certificate to stop isolating as soon as they receive a negative result from a PCR test taken in the country. In addition, children under the age of six will be able to leave the country through authorized airports without a Mobility Pass from the same date. It is important to note that both children and those who live with them must quarantine for seven days on returning to Chile. 

According to health authorities, the measure is based on the low incidence of positive cases among travelers and overall low rates of COVID-19 in Chile. Authorities have stated that only 0.7% of travelers who entered Chile via the Arturo Merino Benítez Airport between November 23, 2020, and September 30 of this year tested positive for COVID-19. 

“The current epidemiological situation and the evolution of the Plan Paso a Paso (Step-by-Step Plan) have allowed us to modify the measures and restrictions set in the context of the pandemic,” Undersecretary Daza explained. She added that, during September, “over 89% of travelers with confirmed cases of COVID-19 who entered the country via Santiago’s airport were identified during the Búsqueda Activa de Casos (Active Case Search, BAC) conducted by health officials upon arrival, not during the subsequent monitoring period.” 

Undersecretary Uriarte highlighted the move to make the Protected Borders Plan more flexible, stating, “this is very good news for tourism. Not only we will be able to keep reactivating internal tourism, as we have done over the past few months, but also receptive tourism.” 

Undersecretary Uriarte emphasized the importance of the vaccine homologation process, explaining, “it does not end with the simple fact of applying. It is important to wait until it has been accepted. Only then can a traveler depart for Chile and only then will they be allowed to enter the country. Once they arrive, we will take all public health precautions. We will require them to present the Mobility Pass once it is active, as we do for all Chileans. We are happy with the progress made, but we want to keep being responsible so that we can keep moving forward towards greater reactivation, particularly as we approach tourist season.” 

Authorities indicate that requirements for entering the country remain unchanged. Chileans and foreign residents who enter through any of the three authorized airports must provide an Affidavit for Travelers (C19), which can be completed up to 48 hours before boarding. They must also show a negative PCR test given less than 72 hours before departing for Chile. 

Non-resident foreigners must validate their vaccination scheme at mevacuno.gob.cl, provide an affidavit completed up to 48 hours before boarding at www.c19.cl, show a negative PCR test given less than 72 hours before departing for Chile and prove that they have medical insurance with minimum coverage of US$30,000. 

Finally, everyone who enters Chile must undergo a period of traveler monitoring, reporting their location and health status for ten days. They must also be willing to submit to BAC tests at the airport and/or during the monitoring period.