Job Discussion Forums

AlwaysExploring · Joined: 18 Oct 2007 Posts: 16

With a Visa de Residente Temporario (Temporary Resident Visa), can I legally teach private classes?

Frank1980 · Joined: 13 Feb 2006 Posts: 31

No. You need to have a "visa sujeto a contrato" which you would get from a language school.

ghostdog · Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 6:58 pm Post subject:

That's not true at all. If you have a visa temporaria, you essentially function as an independent contractor and can work for whomever you like, or for yourself. You may or may not need a contract of some kind from an employer in order to get a visa, though. However, once you have the visa, you no longer need the contract -- if either side decides not to honour it it has no effect on your visa status.

With a "subject to contract" visa, technically you are bound to the employer who gives you the contract, though they may not care if you have your own privates or work for another language institute. Then again, they may care, and if they object and cancel your contract, your visa will end in 30 days. For this reason, and others, most Chilean language institutes seem to prefer to sponsor subject to contract visas -- they tie the teacher to the school and largely leave her/him at the mercy of the institute regarding hours, conditions, payment, etc. If you have a full-time contract with a school that you are very happy to work for, or a very understanding employer who allows you some measure of freedom, a subject to contract visa may be fine. Otherwise, perhaps not.

Frank1980 · Joined: 13 Feb 2006 Posts: 31

I disagree. One or both of us could be wrong... I suggest speaking with the people in the interior ministry or with a lawyer.

ghostdog · Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 11:31 am Post subject:

Much simpler would be to read the FAQ (in English, if you like) on the immigration department site: http://www.extranjeria.gov.cl/ingles/

There are descriptions of each type of visa there.

But it's illogical to suggest that you need a type of visa which legally binds you to one employer so that you can work for a different employer.

Frank1980 · Joined: 13 Feb 2006 Posts: 31

I agree that you should check out the site. After reading, I am afraid that I am as confused as before. If you want to persue this option instead of a contract with an institute, I suggest you speak with a lawyer.

mike30 · Joined: 31 Oct 2006 Posts: 67 Location: Santiago, Chile

If you aren't billing a business then your private classes don't need to be legal.....there is absolutely no way of getting caught, and even if by some strange twist of fate you were caught all you'd have to do is offer free private lessons to the person who caught you.

You only need to worry about being legal for businesses that require a boleta.

teaching is a delight · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 4

I have been in Chile for awhile and know of one person that was caught teaching illegally. I was told that there was also a school that was closed by the government for hiring illegally.