New Chilean passport: Everything you need to know

The Civil Registry has unveiled a new Chilean identity card and passport , which will be available starting December 16, 2024. This change, which is implemented every 10 years for security and regulatory reasons, represents a significant update to the design and features of these documents, which had not been renewed in the last 12 years.

Starting in December of this year, citizens will be able to obtain the new national identity card and passport. It is important to note that it is not necessary to renew your identity card at the end of the year if it has not yet expired . If your card is in good condition and has not expired, you must wait until its expiration date to request a new one at the Civil Registry.

The director of the Civil Registry, Omar Morales, and the Minister of Justice, Luis Cordero, have highlighted this renovation as "the second major revolution" the Chilean public agency has undergone since its creation. This initiative will allow the country to be at the forefront of identification, helping to prevent counterfeiting and becoming more inclusive for people with visual impairments .

Morales told La Tercera : " We are currently updating the technology we use. Although it is a high-level technology, after 12 years it was necessary to move to the next level and update our system ."

This process not only introduces new designs, but also adds digital versions of the documents .

What you should know about the new Chilean passport

The new passport also features a redesigned cover and a blue cover, with variations for diplomatic (black) and official (burgundy) passports . This document will include 70 security features , such as iridescent ink printing, varying line density, microtext, a gradient background, and moving print.

In addition, the passport booklet will showcase different regions of the country with landscapes and features characteristic of each, such as Lauca National Park for the Arica and Parinacota Region , and the Chillán Snow-capped Mountains for the Ñuble Region .

According to the report, the design of the passport visa pages was the result of a vote among Service officials, who chose to highlight natural attractions from each region . The design process took approximately nine months, during which the rights to the postcards were acquired and transformed into drawings before the security features were added.

Chilean passport in physical and digital versions

The major revolution lies not only in the new designs but also in the availability of documents in digital format. Through a secure application, Chilean citizens will be able to authenticate processes and complete procedures remotely, reducing paperwork and waiting times.

This functionality will allow, for example, the authentication of processes with banks or during identity checks by the Investigations Police (PDI) or Carabineros .

The identity card, an alternative for traveling in America

Regarding the identity card , Sebastien Feldman, Project Manager of Idemia, the French company that operates the system and won the tender at the end of 2021, explained that there will be 13 main security measures in the new card .

These measures include non-standard typography, a photograph and laser-engraved data, tactile relief, variable line width, and a gradient background .

It's important to remember that Chilean citizens can travel to some destinations with just their national identity card. These countries are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay .

Also keep in mind that if you are traveling with a layover to a country other than those on the list above, the authorities will require your passport.

The update to identity documents in Chile is a significant innovation that improves security , positioning the country at the forefront of identification technology. The new digital passports and identity cards not only modernize the documents but also make them easier to use and more accessible.

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