The Frequently Asked Questions section is designed to provide answers to your questions and to direct you to appropriate National Volunteer Center resources. Should you not find an answer to your question here or on our website, please send an email to voluntarios@mineduc.cl and an EODP staff member will respond to your inquiry.

Pre-Interview FAQs

Getting Started - The program in general

Where can I volunteer?
Historically, we have had placements all over Chile - from Arica to Punta Arenas. Every year, we have different schools that apply for a volunteer, so we don’t know in advance which areas will be available.

How likely is it that I’ll get my preferred placement city?
That very much depends. Every year, we get many requests for cities such as Santiago, Valparaíso, La Serena, and other such “tourist-friendly” areas. However, we have very limited placements in these areas compared to the amount of volunteers that request them.

While we can’t guarantee to accommodate specific requests, we are often able to place volunteers in the type of placement that they would prefer. For this reason, we suggest that you research all of Chile and think about what kind of placement you would work best in. (Would you prefer to be in the desert? In a cooler, forested climate? In a rural area? An urban area?) It’s possible that we may not be able to place you in Viña del Mar, however if you are looking for a coastal, urban area there is a good chance that we can find that for you.

As always, we ask for your flexibility and understanding - we can’t guarantee anything. You will be placed where you are most needed.

When will I find out about my placement?
We will provide you with your placement region two weeks prior to the start of your program. This is to enable you to pack for the climate you will be living in. You will find out specific information about your city/town, school, head teacher and host family during the orientation in Santiago.

Why won’t I know about my placement location until the orientation in Santiago?
The placement of volunteers is a complex process that involves a number of factors. Furthermore, we must wait until all applications are in to begin the process of matching up volunteers with suitable host families across the country. It is important to note that the National Volunteer Center does take volunteer placement preferences seriously and do our best to accommodate volunteer preferences to the best of our ability. For these reasons we are unable to disclose placement locations until the week of orientation in Santiago.

How much is the volunteer bonus?
All volunteers receive a participation bonus of 60,000 CLP for each month of completed service. This bonus is intended to reimburse you for costs that you incur during your time teaching, such as transportation to and from the school, any supplies you might want to buy, and perhaps some extra food to supplement your meals with your host family. However, the money will not go very far if you are looking to travel around Chile, eat out with friends, or buy yourself some souvenirs.

Additionally, we can only guarantee that the bonus will come at the end of your time here as a volunteer. Therefore, we ask that our volunteers come to Chile with savings that they are willing to spend during the program. Living and travelling in a foreign country is often accompanied by unexpected costs, and we want to make sure that you have the finances to be comfortable and enjoy your time in Chile!

My country is not traditionally an English speaking country, but I majored in English and have teaching experience; can I still apply?
Applicants who are not native English speakers must demonstrate fluency and error-free speech in a phone interview.

Do I need a teaching degree or TESL/TEFL certification to participate in the English Opens Doors Program?
No. A teaching degree and/or TESL/TEFL certification are not required to participate; however they will be considered a strength in securing a placement.

Can I apply for the program with my spouse or partner?

Each Volunteer Service applicant is considered based on the strength of their application. Both individuals comprising a couple must merit acceptance into the program for us to consider their application as a couple, and joint placement.

I am over 35; can I still apply?
The English Opens Doors Program requires that volunteers be between the ages of 21-35. We recognize and appreciate that volunteers over this age limit may be highly qualified, excellent teachers. However, volunteers work with their head teachers in an apprentice-guide sort of role, and assume a daughter/son role in their host families; therefore, the Program is geared toward younger participants. Additionally, it is very important that all volunteers are comfortable with basic accommodations.

Applicants over the age of 35 will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

I want to bring my son or daughter with me. Can I do so?
No. The nature of the program is not conducive for volunteers to be accompanied by dependents. The Ministry of Education is unable to assume responsibility for their well-being, nor are foreign children able to easily enroll in public schools in Chile.

Does the health insurance provided by the Program cover me outside of Chile?
No. The insurance coverage is only provided between designated program arrival dates and end dates within Chile. If you travel during breaks to another country, you should purchase supplemental coverage from a provider of your choosing.

What happens during the Application Process?

The following flowchart details the steps that all applicants need to follow.  Applicants are evaluated at each stage of the process, and continuation to the next step assumes successful completion of the prior.

When will I know if I have been accepted? What happens after the interview?
We’ll be in touch with you about your status within two weeks of your interview. If you are accepted into the program, we will be emailing information about sending along documents and flight information and other details that will get you ready to arrive in Chile.

Do I need to speak Spanish in order to volunteer?
No. While having the ability to speak Spanish will definitely make your transition to your new host family and community easier, it is by no means required. We will not consider lack of Spanish ability as a weakness on an application, and we have had many successful volunteers who arrived with no prior knowledge of Spanish.

Host Families

What is the host family selection process?
First, schools request to have a volunteer be placed at their school. The school then starts looking for families living in the community. The Chilean Ministry of Education requests various prerequisites from possible host families, such as: separate bedroom for the volunteer in a house in a safe neighborhood, and if possible located near the school. The Program then contracts a Ministry of Education employee from the placement region to visit the families to establish preliminary interviews.

The selected families receive preparatory material directly from the MINEDUC, which include the volunteer’s profile. They will also be sensitized to cultural differences and possible difficulties that may result because of these. For example, although your family may seem comfortably middle-class, you are probably used to a higher standard of living. There may be some things that you might take for granted in your host-home that are actually budgeted for very carefully.

Could I make certain requests regarding my host family placement?
Volunteers have the opportunity to let us know personal preferences (non-smoker, vegetarian etc.) on the application form. Program staff will do their best to match these preferences, although in some cases, it may not be possible. Applicants are requested to remember that families today come in many different forms, and are not always composed of a mother, father, and children, but instead may be comprised of a mother, grandmother, and children, or a single woman, etc.

Are there alternatives to living with a host family?
Although it is strongly recommended to live with a host family, volunteers may choose alternative living arrangements and receive the living stipend allocated to host families (130,00.00 CLP per month). Please be aware that if you choose to live independently (in an apartment or pension, etc.) and receive the living stipend designated for the host family, you will be responsible for assuming any expenses not covered by the living stipend. It is important to note that volunteers in the past who chose to live independently have reported that using their own funds to offset the costs of their accommodations was unavoidable - having additional savings is a necessity.

Preparing for Chile

What kind of visa do volunteers receive?
All volunteers must obtain a Temporary Residence Visa, Visa Temporaria. The National Volunteer Center will assist volunteers with the process.

Who pays for the visa?
Volunteers are responsible for payment of the visa fee, as well as any other associated fees, such as the reciprocity fee that many nationalities must pay upon arrival to Chile. Certain nationalities will be charged a fee for the Temporary Residence Visa. Please see the Accepted Volunteers page to download a chart of current visa fees. Volunteers are responsible for being up-to-date on changes in visa fees.

What are the visa fees? What is the process?
The visa fee and process varies depending on the international agreements your home country has with Chile. Citizens of the following nations do not need to obtain a tourist visa before entering Chile; Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United States, United Kingdom* and South Africa.

Citizens of India, Ghana, Kenya and some other nations do need to obtain a tourist visa in their home country.

For specific information on your country follow the link to the Visa Information Table. The English Opens Doors Program will guide volunteers through the process of obtaining a 1 year temporary residence visa during their orientation in Chile.

*Please note that citizens of the UK do not need to pay the fee for the temporary residence visa! An agreement reached between Chile and the United Kingdom in 2011 has allowed for the visa fee to be waived for UK citizens who are participants in the English Opens Doors Program.

When will I know what age group I will be teaching?
You will find this information out when you arrive in your region. Keep in mind that you may be teaching all grade levels, depending on the size of the school. Some basic materials, such as stamps and stickers, are a hit with all grade levels.

Will I have internet access in my placement?
While internet access is not a host family requirement, many host families do have internet in their home. Most schools also have internet access, as well. Also, internet cafés (usually called “cibers”) are very common in Chile. These are usually open all day, and charge less than 1 USD for an hour of use.

If you have a laptop, feel free to bring it - many volunteers bring their laptops and find them useful both within the classroom and when keeping in touch with family and friends.

When is the shuttle service available?
The English Opens Doors Program will only pay for the shuttle if you arrive the weekend before your program begins. If you’d like to arrive earlier, that is fine, but you are responsible for your own transportation from the airport. The shuttle is available 24 hours a day, so no worries if you arrive at 4 AM!

What vaccinations do I need before I go?
No vaccinations are needed to enter Chile. However, keep in mind that if you’d like to travel outside of the country, you should find out what vaccinations you need for those countries.

Should I get supplemental insurance for when I travel outside of Chile?
You will not be covered by SegurViaje while you are outside of Chile, so it is recommended that your purchase additional insurance for this time.

Packing for Chile

How much should I pack?
If you will be flying to your region (Iquique, Arica, Aysen or Magallenes volunteers will all take a domestic flight) remember that you will have a weight restriction! Your checked luggage all together cannot weigh more than 20 kilos (44 pounds) in total. This means that you can bring one suitcase weighing 20 kilos, or 2 suitcases weighing 10 kilos each, or other such variations. You cannot bring 2 suitcases weighing 20 kilos each - that will be over the limit. You can also bring a carry-on - this means a purse or a backpack, not a small suitcase! Remember: what counts as a carry-on in your home country may not count as a carry-on here in Chile. Do your best to keep to this weight restriction. If your luggage is over the weight limit, you will have to pay. Please refer to the Sky Airlines website for more information:

https://www.skyairline.cl/en/informacion-viaje-ing.aspx#

If you are taking a bus to your region, there isn’t a weight limit, but remember that you will be in charge of carrying your own luggage around. Don’t bring more than you can handle yourself! Also, keep in mind that your host family may have limited space for your belongings. Packing light is highly recommended.

What materials should I bring for my class?
Students love stamps, stickers, and other little rewards that you can give them during class. Stickers with English phrases (Well done! Fantastic job!) are relatively inexpensive, easy to pack, and motivating for the students. Books and magazines are also good options. Basically, anything that you can’t easily get in Chile is fun for the students!

The Ministry will provide you with markers, poster board, tape, glue, pencils, and other supplies.

What will the weather be like?
Chile is very diverse, so the weather varies greatly by region. Take a look at our pre-departure information for specific suggestions by region. As for Santiago, for those of you arriving during January, keep in mind that it will be summer and it will be very hot. In March, nights will be a bit cooler but days will still be hot. In July, keep in mind that it is winter in Santiago. While the temperature almost never drops below freezing, central heating is rare and is not available in the hostel. Make sure that you bring some warm clothes for the Closing Ceremony and for chilly nights at the hostel.

I would like to bring a gift for my host family. Any suggestions?
Your host family will probably appreciate anything you’d like to give, but if you’re looking for ideas, candy is always a hit. Any local candy from your area or something fun and simple would be a good idea - just make sure that you declare any food you bring into Chile and check the requirements (www.aduana.cl) before packing.

Don’t feel obligated to bring your family a gift if you don’t have room in your suitcase or can’t think of anything you’d like to bring. They won’t be necessarily expecting a gift from you. It might be a good idea to wait until you have met them and know what they like, and then bring them a little gift from someplace you visit within Chile.