How do you get a RUT in Chile in 2026?

First complete Residencia Temporal (or another residence status) with SERMIG and activate the Estampado Electrónico: Apply for a residence permit. Then schedule Primera obtención extranjero at Registro Civil e Identificación with passport, residence proof, and the documents the appointment screen lists. Attend biometrics, pay the current card fee, and collect the cédula when ready. The card’s validity usually tracks your residence permit, while Residencia Definitiva holders follow longer card rules.

Missing the early post-activation window can mean fines before you can finish the card, so treat the Registro Civil turno as part of the migration checklist, not a leisure errand. Bring consistent name spellings across passport, SERMIG files, and translations.

Servicio de Impuestos Internos (SII) can issue limited tax RUTs for specific activities, and health systems may create provisional identifiers for care. Those shortcuts help narrow use cases. They are not the same as a foreigner cédula for CuentaRUT banking, most phone plans, ClaveÚnica, or a Chilean driving licence: Open a bank account, Set up ClaveÚnica, Enrol in public health, and Convert a driving licence.

Once you hold the card, use the RUN with the verifying digit exactly as printed. Landlords, employers, and utilities expect it on contracts. Budget card fees and appointment transport as setup costs outside monthly living bands: Monthly budget. Renew the cédula when residence renews so banks and ClaveÚnica do not lock you out on an expired plastic. Keep a clear photo of both sides of the card in a secure folder for upload forms that reject passport scans alone.