Is the Cedula de Identidad mandatory?

Yes. Holding a valid cedula is mandatory for people aged 18 and over residing in Chile, and it can be requested for minors from birth by a parent or guardian.

Can the Chilean ID card be used to travel?

Yes. The cedula is accepted as a travel document within parts of the region such as Mercosur countries, while the passport covers broader international travel.

🇨🇱 Chile · National ID card

Cedula de Identidad

The Cedula de Identidad is Chile's mandatory national identity card, establishing legal identity and tied to the holder's RUN. The redesigned version issued from December 2024 is a polycarbonate smart card with an embedded microprocessor and 32 security measures, including braille initials for accessibility.

What it does

Identity verification / KYCBiometric authenticationMobile credential (in person)Travel / border control

Country:🇨🇱 Chile

Type:National ID card

Status:Live

Launched:2024

Issuer:Servicio de Registro Civil e Identificacion (SRCeI)

Who can get it:Chilean citizens, with a separate variant for foreign residents

Format

Card

Identity attributes

Full nameRUN (national ID number)SexDate of birthPhotographSignatureFingerprintBraille initials

Authentication methods

Biometric (fingerprint, facial photo)Chip-based authenticationPhysical security features

Common use cases

Proof of legal identityFoundational credential for ClaveUnica enrollmentVotingBanking and KYCRegional travel document

Standards

Polycarbonate smart card with microprocessor; 32 security measures

Coverage

Mandatory national ID for residents

Interoperability

domestic

Privacy and trust

The card centralizes biometric data tied to the RUN, which is widely used as a universal identifier across public and private sectors, raising data-linkage considerations.

Identity verification providers

Independent identity verification vendors that support documents like this for KYC and onboarding. Exact document coverage varies by provider and region, so confirm support before relying on it.

Onfido Jumio Veriff Sumsub Persona AU10TIX IDnow Regula

Official source

https://www.registrocivil.cl/

Cedula de Identidad: frequently asked questions

Is the Cedula de Identidad mandatory?: Yes. Holding a valid cedula is mandatory for people aged 18 and over residing in Chile, and it can be requested for minors from birth by a parent or guardian.
Can the Chilean ID card be used to travel?: Yes. The cedula is accepted as a travel document within parts of the region such as Mercosur countries, while the passport covers broader international travel.

Educational reference, not official guidance. Confirm current details with the issuing authority. all Chile schemes · identity verification vendors