Closing AFP accounts in Chile / Tramite for foreigners

*updated: April 1, 2015 (no joke!)* 

This will be a boring post. But 110% necessary if you live here and ever want to leave the country with the money you earn. Not a fun topic but if just one of us gringos feels ready to take on the tramites in Santiago and gets it done well, I did my job. I helped someone sweat less on the metro, stand in less lines and continue loving this beautiful country at the end of the world, it was worth it.

Closing your AFP account 

If you are a foreigner working in Chile and contributing to an AFP account, you can take out your money. As a US citizen, this is the process I had to do in order to close out my account and get my money. I'm waiting for them to direct deposit my money. 

1. STAMPS. Get a notarized copy of your university degree stamped by the Secretary of State (costs may vary by state?). Then, send that along to the Chilean Embassy in the US with a  money order for $12 US and a pre-paid, pre-addressed envelope for them to stamp it. If possible, get a legal translation in the US because it might be cheaper/faster than Santiago. 
2. DIPLOMA GOES DOWNTOWN. Head to the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores office on Agustinas 1320 (metro La Moneda) for a) stamp to legalize it and b) official translation. The stamp takes 30 seconds but the translation takes 15 work days. You must pay in cash and pay (at least a portion) up front. 
3. US EMBASSY. Make an appointment to receive a Social Security letter with the US Embassy. Be sure to state why you are making the appointment or else you get there, ask for the document and then have to go back to get it. This was free. 
• The US Embassy has a form letter. Make sure that it states "otorque prestaciones en caso de enfermedad, invalidez, vejez, y muerte." And of course, has the official US Embassy timbre
• Take that to the Relaciones Exteriores for a stamp. 
4. WORK CONTRACT. Get a copy of your work contract legalized by a notaría - legalized for your employer's signature and your own signature. Ojo: I went to AFP Modelo and gave them my notarized copy of the contract and they said I did it wrong. Apparently, you need to get your original contract legalized (for your signature and your employer's) and then get that copied and legalized. More on that experience later. Plus, get an anexo to your contract that states “la voluntad del trabajador de mantener la afiliación al sistema provisional extranjero."

• Take your passport and carnet with you to the AFP office. They will make a copy for their records. 

*update* April 1, 2015

How long is the wait from turning in the paperwork to receiving my money? 

This is super important because unless you leave a poder amplio to a friend or family member, you need to take your money out before you leave Chile. It took about three weeks but this is Chile - you could wait two weeks or two months. Also, it is a direct deposit! Hooray!

Avoid doing ANY paperwork between Christmas and February 28. If you live in Chile, you are laughing and angry right now. Am I right? 

Do I get the full amount in my AFP account? 

There is no penalty so you should expect to get your full amount. This could change because the policy of letting foreigners take their money out is very new, only a few years old. 

Does Chile require you to put that money into a comparable pension-fund account in the USofA? 

No! Pay off your college loans, buy a car, save it, donate it to your favorite charity. It is your money. Chile requires you to show that the US has a similar program - social security - because maybe they actually care that you are saving for retirement? I am speculating about the why behind the policy. You have free reign over your money! 

*end of update*

My personal experience? 

I went to the AFP Modelo and spoke with Women #1 and she said that I needed 1) the original contract legalized. Isn't the original already legal? I only had a notarized copy of the original. She also said that I needed a copy of my passport - but that wasn't a requirement on their list of things to do. I asked, "Anything else missing?" She said no.  

I went to the notaría to fix my contract and returned. Then, I spoke with Man #1 and he told me that I needed my employer's signature legalized. WHAT. Woman #1 never mentioned that. I asked, "What else?" He said nothing. So he didn't require a copy of my passport. Funny, they sit right next to each other at work all day long but yet, follow two different versions of paperwork that should have a simple, single procedure.

Two days later I had the original contract legalized twice - for my signature and my employer's - and an extra copy, a copy of my passport and a fake smile.

Turn it in, give them your bank information for a direct deposit and wait for the money to appear! 

Don't forget to take your finiquito to the AFC and receive your seguro de cesantía. 

WAIT, You are probably wondering... Why am I taking all my money out? 

We are MOVING to San Francisco, California!!!!! 

Wish us LUCK!