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It is very difficult for a foreign resident to open a bank account in Chile. Most banks require you to have had residency for at least 2 years before opening an account. The best way to receive funds from abroad is to use a credit or debit card to take money from ATMs, which are widely available even in the smallest towns. ATMs accept Visa, Mastercard, Cirrus, Switch, Solo and many other international banking systems so it is unlikely you will ever have a problem when withdrawing cash. Sometimes, an ATM may not be able to connect to the main server and will deny you funds but this is usually a short-lived problem and you can often find another ATM around the corner that works fine.

With the occasional exception of small, independent shops credit cards are accepted almost everywhere. Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted. American Express is common but not as much as Visa or Mastercard.

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About The Author

Matt Ridgway is an Englishman who has lived in South America for over three years. He worked as a private property consultant in Buenos Aires before recently moving to Chile with his Chilean girlfriend. They both continue to offer real estate and investment advice but now focus on the Central Region of Chile.

For more information about moving to and investing in Chile please read www.pacificfive.co.uk