Why I chose to 'break' quarantine in Chile — and what the entry process is like now

With COVID-19 travel restrictions frequently changing, even the most carefully arranged plans can fall apart.

In the days before my dream trip to Chile, the swift spread of the omicron variant—particularly in the New York City region—threatened to derail my entire journey.

However, it turned out that omicron was less of a worry than I anticipated. The real issue was an administrative error that incorrectly listed my vaccination status on my mobility pass required for entering and moving within the country.

As a result, and without my knowledge, the country's vaccination database indicated that I needed to quarantine for seven days upon arrival, effectively nullifying my entire eight-day trip. Yikes.

Fortunately, that’s not how things turned out. Here’s what happened during my entry into Chile, how I technically "broke" quarantine, and what to keep in mind if traveling here is on your radar.

A brief overview

As a fully vaccinated traveler from the U.S. with a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival, I should have been free to explore Chile. However, throughout my journey, an incorrect vaccination status became a persistent issue.

Luckily, I was still able to embark on an adventure within the country (and had an amazing time), but it wasn’t without a bit of stress along the way.

Before diving into my personal experience, let’s review the COVID-19 requirements for entering Chile.

Summary of Chile's entry requirements

There are several steps you need to complete to enter Chile as an international visitor, so it’s best to start as soon as your travel plans are confirmed, as processing can take some time. While these entry requirements are current as of publication, make sure to check for the latest updates here.

Prior to arrival

To move freely throughout Chile, you must be fully vaccinated. The online process for verifying your vaccination status with the health ministry can take up to 30 days before your arrival, though it is often much quicker in practice.

Additionally, you will need a negative PCR test conducted within 72 hours prior to departure, as well as a travel health insurance policy with at least $30,000 in coverage.

Furthermore, you are required to complete a "traveler's affidavit" form within 48 hours before departure. This is where you will upload your negative PCR test results and travel insurance details online.

Upon arrival

Even if you have completed your pre-arrival checklist, there are still a few requirements to meet once you land in Santiago.

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be required to take a complimentary PCR test and must quarantine until you receive a negative result via email. This process can take anywhere from six to twelve hours.

You will also need to complete a daily health questionnaire that inquires about any COVID-19 symptoms you may be experiencing.

My challenges entering Chile

As mentioned earlier, to avoid quarantine in Chile, travelers over the age of 6 must provide proof of vaccination online before departure. It's advisable to do this as early as possible, as registration can take several weeks to process.

Fortunately, my vaccination verification was completed in just a few days, although this timeframe can differ significantly between travelers.

Once your application is approved, you'll receive a digital vaccine mobility pass featuring a QR code, which you can use for travel to and within Chile, as well as for activities such as indoor dining and visiting attractions. It will show the number of doses you’ve received and the dates of your vaccinations.

I packed my negative PCR test along with what I believed was my valid mobility pass and completed my traveler's affidavit before heading to the airport for my flight to Chile. Excited to discover the streets of Santiago and the beauty of Patagonia, I had my documents checked by American Airlines staff at the airport, boarded my flight, and began my journey.

Entering Chile

Time: 11 a.m.

This is where my troubles began.

Despite having both Pfizer doses clearly noted on my official vaccine card issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, I discovered that Chilean health authorities had only registered my first dose on the mobility pass. I still don't know how that happened.

After an overnight flight from New York (JFK), I arrived in Santiago (SCL) late in the morning. It was at this moment that I fully understood the severity of my situation.

I showed my documents — including the digital vaccine mobility pass, the traveler's affidavit, a negative PCR test, and my travel insurance confirmation — to a health official at the airport.

"You will need to quarantine for seven days," she informed me. The reason? My second vaccine dose was missing from the documentation (as shown above).

Holding my vaccine card, which displayed two doses of Pfizer along with a booster, I was confident this evidence would clarify any misunderstandings.

Despite this, the health official at the airport and several supervisors I spoke to maintained that to avoid quarantine, I needed to have my vaccination card validated online, along with a mobility pass showing both doses.

According to the airport authorities I consulted, there was no single individual authorized to amend my records in Chile's vaccination database.

Feeling confused and quite anxious, I proceeded through the airport to take my PCR test upon arrival.

Nonetheless, I knew I needed to devise a plan once I reached my hotel. Fortunately, the testing process at Santiago International Airport was efficient and organized, taking only a few minutes.

After clearing immigration and leaving the airport, I promptly uploaded my vaccine card online again, hoping that someone in the health department would update my mobility pass to reflect my two vaccine doses.

At this stage, I also started contacting the U.S. Embassy in Chile and any available contacts to resolve my situation or, if that failed, to speed up the approval of my second Pfizer dose.

An automated message from the U.S. Embassy directed me to a general email address. Meanwhile, the only person I managed to contact by phone at Chile's Ministry of Health informed me that there was no way to reach the department responsible for vaccination verifications.

In fact, the representative indicated that my only option was to see if I could talk to someone from the U.S. instead of Chile. He mentioned that many fully vaccinated travelers from around the globe were facing denial of Chile's digital vaccine pass due to a backlog of requests.

Receiving my PCR test result

Time: 7 p.m.

In the meantime, I awaited my PCR results. I took an Uber to my hotel and quarantined there for the remainder of the afternoon. All travelers, regardless of their vaccination status, must stay put until they receive a negative test result.

By the evening, approximately seven hours after my initial test at the airport, I received an email revealing the results of my test: negative.

Although I was cleared of COVID-19, I still didn't have the green light due to my incorrect vaccination status.

With no replies from either the U.S. Embassy or the Chilean Ministry of Health, I was left contemplating my next steps as I went to bed that night.

My second dose approved

Time: 7 a.m. (next day)

In a somewhat miraculous turn of events, I received an email early the next morning confirming my second Pfizer dose.

At this point, both doses were now displayed on my digital mobility pass, indicating that this one-day headache was finally resolved.

Indeed, my pass now showed both doses (previously, only one was listed), and I accepted this email as valid proof. Consequently, I felt ready to leave my Santiago hotel room, continue my adventures in Chile, and most importantly, exit quarantine.

My quarantine inspection

At least, that's what I believed.

While I was exploring Santiago and during my initial days in Patagonia, various restaurants and attractions requested to see my mobility pass at the entrance. Each time, my pass was scanned without issue, and I was granted access. It was perfect.

Moreover, both hotels where I stayed — in Santiago and Puerto Natales — asked to see my pass during check-in. I encountered no problems entering restaurants, hotels, or attractions at any point during my trip.

During my domestic flight from Santiago to Puerto Natales (PNT), I was never asked to show my vaccination proof.

The email from the Ministry of Health

Imagine my surprise when, a few days later, while flying three hours south of Santiago in Puerto Natales, I received an email in Spanish from Chile's Ministry of Health.

Though my Spanish is limited, I could easily grasp the gist of the message. Earlier that day, a health official had inspected my original hotel in Santiago and discovered that I was not there.

The email contained a link for me to upload proof of my whereabouts and explain why I was no longer in quarantine.

I thought I had put my Chilean entry troubles behind me, but this email sparked new concerns about what actions I needed to take. My biggest worry: Had I violated any laws by leaving quarantine, and would I face detention at Santiago airport when leaving the country?

My Chilean friends and hotel staff reassured me that this was simply a misunderstanding and helped me upload my proof of full vaccination along with the negative PCR result I received upon arriving in Santiago.

Nevertheless, receiving such an email in a foreign country, especially when you don't speak the language, was quite unsettling.

Departing Chile

My return trip from Patagonia was lengthy, but thankfully it went smoothly.

I took a three-hour bus ride from Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas. Once there, I boarded my domestic flight to Santiago.

Similar to my journey south, my mobility pass and vaccination status were not checked on my way to the capital.

In Santiago, I enjoyed another 24 hours exploring the city before heading back to the U.S. After a relaxing afternoon by the hotel pool, it was time to return to the airport.

During the check-in, immigration, and boarding process for my flight to New York-JFK, I wasn't questioned about my quarantine or vaccination status. In fact, leaving Santiago for the U.S. was remarkably simple. The only COVID-19 requirement was a negative test taken within one day of departure.

While I'm uncertain if I might face issues when reentering Chile in the future, I can confidently say that leaving was hassle-free.

In summary

I’ve traveled to eight countries during the pandemic, but entering Chile was by far the most challenging experience.

Upon arriving in Santiago, I was impressed by how efficient the PCR testing process was, and the digital vaccination form contributed to keeping Chile safe for both tourists and locals.

In contrast, the online pre-arrival procedure was quite confusing, and I felt frustrated by the lack of someone on-site who could correct a clear administrative error.

Nonetheless, I genuinely enjoyed my time in Chile. It's a stunning country with a lively capital and incredibly welcoming people. (Stay tuned for more on my adventures in Patagonia.)

A tip for anyone traveling to Chile: Be thorough with the entry process and, most importantly, ensure all your vaccination doses are clearly indicated on your documents before departure. Otherwise, you might face the stress of 'breaking' quarantine or, worse, being denied boarding when returning to the U.S.

Once you get an email from Chile's Ministry of Health confirming your vaccination, verify that both doses (for Pfizer and Moderna) are listed. If they aren't, continue to resubmit your vaccination card until you achieve full approval.