Community · Londres
Chileans in London
A community with history — from the exile of '73 to the Fiestas Patrias in Elephant & Castle. Compact, active and with a long memory.
7,883
born in Chile (2021 census, verified) — 44% in London
1996
Casa Chilena UK has celebrated the community ever since
~3,000
exiles arrived in the 70s — a history London hasn't forgotten
Your country's paperwork, from London
What your community searches for most — answered plainly, with the official source.
Consulate
Consulado General de Chile en Londres
37-41 Old Queen Street, SW1H 9JA (Westminster)
+44 20 7222 2361[email protected]
💡 Appointment required: book online at tramites.minrel.gov.cl/agenda (or by email/phone). Safe hours 9:00-13:00. Notice: on Thursday 17 September 2026 the office closes at 12:00 — if you plan to go on the 18th or 19th, call first. The cédula can be renewed at the consulate (~US$25) without travelling to Chile, and the Chilean apostille is online and free.
Can I renew my Chilean ID card without travelling to Chile?
Yes — the consulate handles cédula renewal (~US$25) by appointment. Passports are issued in London too: US$91 plus a US$3 consular fee (paid in pounds at the exchange rate), a single 50-page format valid for 10 years; you're told the timescale when you apply.
How do I apostille Chilean documents for use in the UK?
Chile has an ONLINE, FREE electronic apostille (apostilla.gob.cl) — one of the region's easiest systems. British documents for Chile are apostilled at the FCDO.
How do I keep my IPS pension while living in the UK?
With the annual proof-of-life certificate, arranged through the consulate. If you receive a Chilean pension, book your fe de vida every year — without it the payment is suspended.
Can I vote in Chile's elections from London?
Yes — Chile has voted abroad since 2017. The 2025 presidentials had 8 polling tables in London. Your electoral address must be registered as overseas with Servel (done at the consulate).
Your life in the UK
The British paperwork coming your way, explained properly.
ETA for visitors from Chile (£20 since Apr-2026)
Since 8 January 2025 Chileans don't need a tourist visa but do need the ETA: £20 since April 2026, valid 2 years, applied for in minutes in the official 'UK ETA' app or at gov.uk/eta — any site charging more is a scam. Tell your family before they buy tickets for the Dieciocho.
Your first weeks: NIN, bank, GP
The newcomer's step-by-step.
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Your people
Where your community gathers: food, faith, sport and meeting places.
Casa Chilena UK — the heart since 1996
The community's institution, 30 years old in 2026: its Fiestas Patrias at St Jude's Centre (Elephant & Castle) are THE date of the year — empanada and wine included.
The memory of the exile
Some 3,000 Chileans arrived as refugees after '73. Their story lives in the Chile Solidarity Campaign archive (People's History Museum), the LSE collection and the El Sueño Existe festival in Wales — 20 years of memory. We're building the first guide in Spanish.
The Chilean table, emerging
Chilean food in London is a small but growing scene — and nobody misses Casa Chilena's empanadas.
Dates that matter
Fiestas Patrias 2026 — Casa Chilena UK
St Jude's Centre (108-110 St George's Rd, Elephant & Castle), 16:00-21:30. Tickets £18 (£15 members, children under 10 free) including an empanada and a glass of wine; choripán, pastel de choclo and a dance programme. Tickets on Eventbrite or via WhatsApp 07846174287 — they sell out
Memory of '73
Remembrance events by the exile community and solidarity organisations
Send money home 🇨🇱
Compare how much actually arrives with each service — fee and exchange rate included.
Compare now →Community, media and support
Casa Chilena UK
Founded on 1 July 1996 — the Chilean community's natural ally and organiser of its parties.
The memory network
Chile Solidarity Campaign (archive), Documenting Chile (LSE) and El Sueño Existe (Wales) — the history of the exile, alive.
IRMO and the Chaplaincy
Free advice in Spanish and Vauxhall's Latin American faith network.
Facts checked against official sources (July 2026). Spotted something out of date? Write to [email protected].