AFP pension refund · Chile

Worked in Chile? Your AFP savings may be yours to take home

If you worked in Chile as a foreign professional or technician and kept social security coverage in your home country, Chilean Law 18.156 may allow you to recover the pension contributions held by your AFP, even if you have already left Chile.
Check if you qualify →
Handled remotely, in English, by the lawyers of Ulises Abogados in Santiago.
Who may qualify

Four conditions, checked on your documents

  • You worked in Chile as a professional or technician with a degree or technical title from your home country.
  • You were covered by a social security system abroad (illness, disability, old age and death) while you worked in Chile.
  • Your employment contract reflects your decision to keep that foreign coverage.
  • Contributions were deducted from your salary and paid into a Chilean AFP.
Not sure about one of them? Send us what you have. Many cases can be completed with documents from your employer or your home country.
Why AFPs say no

Refusals are common. They are often not the end of it.

Requirements that are not in the lawAFPs often apply stricter criteria than Law 18.156 sets, such as demanding specific formats or original physical documents.
Doubts about your paperwork"Contradictory statements" in contract addenda or "inconsistent signatures" are frequent reasons for rejection.
Repeated rejectionsSome applicants are refused two or three times, each time for a different reason.
The courts have ruled against arbitrary refusalsWhen a worker meets the legal requirements, Chilean Courts of Appeals have ordered AFPs to return the funds.
How it works

From your country, without traveling to Chile

  1. Tell us about your caseA short form: when and where you worked in Chile, and your AFP.
  2. Document reviewBy WhatsApp or email we tell you what you have and what is missing.
  3. Video callWith our team, to explain the route and the fees in writing.
  4. Power of attorneyYou sign it where you live, before a notary or consulate, with an apostille.
  5. Request to the AFPWe file it for you. If the AFP refuses, we take it to the Court of Appeals with a constitutional protection action.
  6. Transfer of your fundsThe AFP applies the tax withholding required by law and transfers the balance.
A case we won

Three refusals, then a court order

A Spanish professional who worked in Chile for seven years was refused three times by her AFP, each time for a different reason. Our lawyers filed a constitutional protection action before the Court of Appeals of Santiago, which ruled in August 2025 that the refusal was arbitrary.
"The foreign worker applicant meets all the legal requirements for the return of her pension funds."
Published with our client's authorization.
Read the full case →Our reviews on Trustpilot →
Frequent questions

Before you start

Do I need to travel to Chile?
No. You sign a power of attorney where you live and we handle the process in Chile.
Is there a deadline?
If your AFP has already refused your request, the deadline to go to court is short. Contact us as soon as you receive the refusal.
How are the fees set?
We agree them in writing before we start: a fixed amount to open the case and a percentage of what is recovered. Notary and apostille costs are separate.
How long does it take?
It depends on the AFP and, if needed, on the court. After reviewing your documents we give you an estimate in writing.
Is the refund taxed?
Yes. The AFP applies the withholding required by Chilean tax law before transferring the funds.

Find out if your AFP funds can come home

Tell us about your case. We reply by WhatsApp or email.
Check if you qualify →
¿Prefieres español? Retiro de fondos AFP para extranjeros →