Chile
From the towering Andes Mountains to the glaciers of Patagonia, Chile is home to a stunning variety of natural wonders and its people are warm, welcoming and family-oriented.
Enquire about ChileEligibility Requirements
- Age: You must be between 15.6 and 17.6 years old
- Language: Basic Spanish Required
- School Enrolment Status: You must be enrolled in a NZ school
- Vaccinations: Hep B, MMR, and DTaP vaccinations required
What's included in your experience
- Airfare
- Airport Pick-up
- Host Family Placement
- Housing
- Meals
- School Placement
- Individual Contact Person
- Medical Insurance
- 24/7 Emergency Support
- School Transport
- Assistance with Application Process
- Visa Application Assistance
- Pre-Departure Orientation
- Orientations during your time abroad
- Continuous Support
- Worldwide Presence
- 70 Years Experience
What you are responsible for
- Vaccinations
- Cultural Tours
- Visa and Passport Fees
- Stipend
- School Uniform
What's it really like?
Instagram Takeovers!
Check out our Instagram Highlights to see Stella, Maiya and Adrianne’s everyday life in Chile. They have answered heaps of questions and shared lots of photos 📸
Host Family & Community
In Chile, you’ll likely find yourself living in or near the heart of a vibrant city! Family is truly at the center of life here, and there is a wonderful sense of closeness between generations.
You’ll see that children are raised with a deep respect for their elders, and it’s very common for extended family to gather often to share quality time together.
Language
The official language of Chile is Spanish, and some people also speak English, German, or Mapudungun (the language of the Mapuche).
Having a basic knowledge of Spanish is highly recommended.
School
The school year runs from March through December (the same as New Zealand) and students to go to school Mondays to Fridays, 8am to 5pm. Most schools will have a uniform.
Over the year, you will study 10 – 13 subjects with the same class.
Food
While breakfast is usually very light, lunch is the main meal of the day in Chile. It can include meat (beef, lamb, pork or chicken) or fish with rice or pasta and vegetables, soups and salads.
In the afternoon, enjoy an onces: tea or coffee with bread and butter or marmalade and pastry.
Dinner includes similar food to lunch, and many families eat dinner quite late. Whilst a variety of fruits tends to be available throughout the year.
Experience
AFS Chile offers two sightseeing tours each year for year and semester programme students; one to the North of Chile and one to Patagonia.
The cost for these tours are covered by the participants. Spots are limited, AFS Chile will tell you all about them when you get there!
Stella's Year in Valparaíso, Chile 🏡
Ready to Start your Chilean Adventure?
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Let AFS guide your intercultural adventure
With over 75 years of experience in student exchanges, we know what we’re doing when it comes to support and education! AFS provides comprehensive orientation for all students and families before, during and after your exchange – AFS volunteers and staff will be there to support and guide you the whole way through. In-person orientation camps in New Zealand and your host country are supplemented by our world-leading online Student Learning Journey, an interactive course that brings AFSers from around the world together to develop essential global skills, learn intercultural communication techniques, and practice social impact.