Entry and immigration to Easter Island
Rapa Nui (Easter Island) is governed by Chilean Law 21.070, which limits how long visitors may stay and how entry is controlled. Today, nearly everyone traveling as a tourist or invited guest must complete an online Formulario Único de Ingreso (FUI) and show proof to the PDI before boarding at your departure airport or port — not only in Santiago.
Most international visitors connect through Santiago (SCL), but if you fly from Papeete (PPT) you are still subject to the same rules at check-in there. This page summarizes what travelers usually need; it is not legal advice. See also our travel guide for flights, park tickets and on-island tips.
The FUI (Formulario Único de Ingreso)
The FUI is Chile’s electronic Single Entry Form for Rapa Nui. It registers who is traveling, how they are entering (for example tourism vs. invitation), and that basic requirements — such as return ticket and lodging or a formal invitation — are declared in advance.
Why it exists
Chile uses the FUI together with Law 21.070 to protect the island’s environment and community. The PDI states that you must present the FUI before boarding; if you do not, you may be denied boarding (ChileAtiende — FUI).
Who must fill it out?
- Tourists staying in SERNATUR-authorized lodging.
- Invited guests staying with a host under the official invitation procedure.
According to the same official source, Rapa Nui persons registered with CONADI and other legally enabled persons generally only show ID at migration control — they do not follow the visitor FUI flow.
What data will you need?
Everyone: passport / ID number and personal details as requested on the portal.
If you travel as a tourist:
- A return ticket from Rapa Nui with return date no more than 30 days after your outbound flight to the island; Chile describes this ticket as non-transferable in official summaries.
- A reservation at SERNATUR-authorized lodging, including the address of the property (verify the property in the SERNATUR registry).
If you travel as an invited guest: the official invitation letter requirements summarized above (folio from the Provincial Government, full details of guests and host). Enter those details exactly as they appear on the letter.
How to complete it — step by step
- Open the only official site: ingresorapanui.interior.gob.cl (Ministry of the Interior and Public Security).
- Create or access your application; choose the correct type of entry (tourism vs. invitation).
- Enter passport/ID data exactly as in your travel document.
- Add flight information and, for tourism, lodging that matches your real booking; for invitations, data matching the gobernación letter.
- Review and submit; keep the confirmation e-mail and any PDF/QR the system provides.
- Arrive at the airport with that proof before airline check-in closes; LATAM and PDI may ask for it early in the process.
When should you submit?
The allowed time window is defined on the portal and can change. Many third-party guides mention submitting between about 21 days and 72 hours before the flight — treat that only as a memory aid; the official site’s countdown or instructions always win.
Cost
The FUI is free of charge according to ChileAtiende / PDI.
Where do you show it?
At the airport or port of departure to Rapa Nui, at the PDI control point — for most people that means SCL before the LATAM flight to Mataveri (IPC), or PPT if you use the Tahiti route when it operates.
Practical tips from our team
- Use the same spelling for names as on your passport and ticket.
- If you change hotels after filing the FUI, check whether the portal allows an update or if you must file again — don’t assume.
- Screenshot or save the confirmation offline in case e-mail fails at the airport.
- The FUI is separate from your national park ticket — you still need Ma’u Henua / rapanuinationalpark.com for archaeological sites.
Quick official links
Entering Easter Island as a tourist
Maximum stay 30 days
This 30-day limit aligns with what the FUI and official summaries require for tourist return tickets. Extensions or special permits exist only in specific cases (research, work, family processes, etc.) and must be arranged through Chilean / island authorities — not via the standard tourist FUI.
Requirements
First: almost all visitors must complete Chile’s online Formulario Único de Ingreso (FUI) for Rapa Nui before boarding — see the FUI section below. Airlines and the Chilean Investigative Police (PDI) check this at the airport of departure (for example Santiago or Papeete).
In addition, you should have ready:
- A valid passport (or other accepted travel document) matching the FUI.
- A return flight from Rapa Nui with a return date within 30 days of your outbound flight to the island (official requirement for tourist stays).
- Either a real booking at SERNATUR-authorized lodging or a proper invitation letter if you stay with a host — exactly as declared in the FUI.
SERNATUR-authorized lodging
Official information refers to lodging that is authorized / registered in Chile’s national tourism registry (SERNATUR). Reputable hotels, hostels, cabins and campsites on the island are almost always listed; if you are unsure, search the SERNATUR service search (Chileatiende also links to this tool).
Keep a booking confirmation (print or PDF on your phone) that shows your name (or a travel companion’s), stay dates, and the property name and address — it should match what you enter in the FUI.
Staying as an invited guest
If you are not using commercial lodging, Chile’s official guidance states that invited travelers need a formal invitation letter from a person who belongs to the Rapa Nui people or is otherwise authorized to host under Law 21.070. According to ChileAtiende / PDI summaries, the letter should include:
- The folio number issued by the Gobernación Provincial de Isla de Pascua.
- Full identification of each invited guest (name, nationality, document type, e-mail, start and end dates of the visit, and where you will stay).
- Full identification of the host (name, address where you will stay, phone and e-mail if available).
Your host obtains the correct format through the provincial government — ask them to send you a clear PDF or photo before you fill out the FUI so every detail matches.
Entering Rapa Nui as a resident or exempt traveler
Official guidance states that Rapa Nui persons registered with CONADI and certain other persons enabled under Law 21.070 normally only present their identity document at PDI immigration control — they do not use the tourist FUI process in the same way as visitors.
If you are a registered resident (but not in that exempt category), airline staff and PDI will verify your status in their systems; you should carry the same ID you use for Chilean domestic travel.
Registering as a resident
The procedure depends on your situation (family ties, work, business, etc.) and is handled through the island authorities. The summary table below is an informal guide from our earlier materials — confirm every step with the gobernación or a qualified attorney.
| Is rapa nui | Has rapa nui family name | Has rapa nui spouse | Has rapa nui children | Has work contract | Has a company | Has lived at Easter Island since before Jan 24, 2016 | Is parent, grandparent or child of resident | More information |
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No need to register | ||||||
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Get a Certificado de calidad indígena from CONADI and present it at the gobernación to get registered. | |||||||
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Present the following documents at the gobernación:
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Present the following documents at the gobernación:
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Present the following documents at the gobernación:
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Present the following documents at the gobernación:
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Ask at the gobernación for a special permit to get registered as a resident. | |||||||
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Present corresponding documents at the gobernación showing your relation to the resident. |
More information
If you have any questions, please contact us, and we'll be more than happy to help you out.
