Chilean lawmakers demand answers on illegal residency permits for foreigners

Members of parliament across Chile's political spectrum are demanding answers from the Civil Registry regarding the improper issuance of identity documents. Concerns have been raised after revelations that thousands of foreigners were mistakenly granted permanent residency, bypassing the correct procedure for temporary permits.

An investigation by the media outlet Ciper revealed that between 2024 and 2025, the Civil Registry issued identity cards with five-year permanent residency to foreign nationals who, as asylum seekers, were only eligible for temporary permits. This administrative error affects at least 14,000 records showing inconsistencies in the system's data flow.

The scale of the problem has spurred cross-party calls for immediate scrutiny to uncover the origin of this significant administrative lapse. Deputy Joanna Pérez, who chairs the Interior Government Commission, stated, "When the state issues documentation that certifies a migratory status that is not correct, it generates a serious problem for the proper functioning of the State."

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When the state issues documentation that certifies a migratory status that is not correct, it generates a serious problem for the proper functioning of the State.