What do I need to do to get a visa for Chile?

Chile is an amazing country to visit but getting a tourist visa can be a time-consuming process.

Escape's Doc Holiday, Dilvin Yasa, answers your travel-related questions.

The regulations for Australians travelling to Chile seem confusing. Can you clarify the process please?

Absolutely. From 2020, Australian citizens visiting Chile must get a visa online through Sistema de Atención Consular (SAC) Ciudadanos well ahead of their departure date. Allow at least a month, because not only can it take a little time for the visa to come through, the process of information gathering can be time-consuming in itself. There are two types of visas: for transitional stays of up to 72 hours for those in transit (those in transit who do not leave the airport or go through immigration do not require a visa), and those with a maximum stay of up to 90 days with a cost which varies depending on the stay.

While filling out the form, you will need to explain the reason for your visit, plus the length of your stay before providing evidence of your onward or return flights, hotel reservations and proof of financial means (usually your last three pay slips or bills with bank transfers). It will be a simple case of uploading these documents while you’re uploading your photograph as well as a copy of the passport information page. The consulado.gob.cl/servicios/e-visa-para-australia site has all the info you require to get you started.

Once you arrive in Chile, you’ll also be given a paper tourist card which you must keep throughout your stay and present to immigration officials upon departure. If you lose it, you’ll need to request a new copy online. The time this takes to process can delay departure so best to keep it tucked inside your passport.

Travellers will also be required to complete the customs and Agro-sanitary declarations when entering the country, but by then you’ll be so used to filling out forms that this will be a walk in the park.

Do any cruise ships departing from Sydney offer dialysis (haemodialysis) on board? Picture: iStock.

Do any cruise ships departing from Sydney offer dialysis (haemodialysis) on board?

I wish I had better news but the short answer is “not really”. I first spoke with the team at Carnival Corporation, the parent company of Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, Cunard, AIDA Cruises, Costa and P&O Cruises, and they informed me that none of their ships offer haemodialysis. They did add, however, that they welcome guests who require peritoneal dialysis, since it can be performed by the patient or by someone the patient is travelling with who is trained.

Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean said that while they do not offer haemodialysis, guests can contact the guest services team ahead of time to bring their own, or use a third-party company. They themselves are unable to assist or administer haemodialysis treatments.

Dialysis at Sea Cruises specialises in the treatment of haemodialysis care while on-board select Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean sailings. It’s best to give them a call to see if they can assist with any of your future cruises.

I’ve almost grown tired of travel writer mates waxing lyrical about the wonder that is Walk Japan. Picture: iStock.

Can you recommend any reputable operators who specialise in guided walking tours of Japan?

I’ve almost grown tired of travel writer mates waxing lyrical about the wonder that is Walk Japan, but since I now know so much about the company, I can hand-on-heart recommend you start your search there. They offer such a wide variety of tours that you can search by price, duration or activity level. They’ve got everything from a one-day Kyoto tour from JPY25,000 (around $260) to an 11-day Nakasendo Way trail, the company’s pioneering walking tour of the country, from JPY536,000 ($5574). Fancy a more challenging Hokkaido hike? Yep, they’ve got that, too.

Raw Travel, an Australian company, is another I recommend. Some of their five- to 12-day hikes are guided, while others are self-guided, so it’s something to keep your eye on before you book. If you don’t find the exact trip you’re looking for, you can ask the team to tailor something to suit you. That said, their six-day Nakasendo Way Highlights Trip with Shimosuwa Onsen (from $3095) looks pretty close to perfect.

While World Expeditions isn’t a Japan specialist, it does excel in putting together well-rounded hiking expeditions and the 15-day Backroads of Japan (from $8520) provides the perfect balance of hiking, while at the same time experiencing the best of the country’s attractions.

Intrepid Travel also has an eight-day Koya-san & Kumano Kodo Trek from $4370, which is well worth looking into, as is G Adventures’ all-new Kyoto, Tokyo & the Michinoku Coastal Trail, an 11-day journey, priced from $11,749.

Originally published as What do I need to do to get a visa for Chile?