108 CultureShock! Chile
Carnet
Each Chilean has an identification card called a Carnet or
Cédula de Identidad bearing a RUN (Rol Unico Nacional)
number, which is a number assigned to each person at
birth. This number is used for all official documents, i.e.,
carnet, passport, taxpayer ID number, driver’s license and
voter ID card. Chileans commonly refer to this number as
their carnet number, not their RUN. A RUT is a taxpayer ID
number that is granted to individuals and corporations, both
local and foreign, who are conducting business in Chile and
must pay taxes.
After you have received your visa, you will be issued
a Carnet de Identidad with an ID number and you will be
requested to register with a special section of the police
that deals with immigration, called Policía Internacional. You
will be asked to provide your carnet number on numerous
occasions, so memorise it or always have it on hand.Getting a Driver’s License
Many foreigners drive in Chile with a driver’s license from
their home country. Technically, an international driver’s
license should be obtained in the home country before
leaving. Foreigners who expect to be in Chile for a long period
of time should apply for a Chilean driver’s license. This can
be done at the office of the municipality in which you reside.
You will need to present your Carnet de Identidad and take
three tests: a written test in Spanish, a road test and a medical
exam that checks vision, hearing and reflexes.BANKING
Currency
The Chilean currency is the peso and if you’re used to
dollars or Euros, you’ll have to get used to thinking in large
numbers. Coins come in denominations of 1 peso (worth
very little and very rarely used), 5 pesos, 10 pesos, 50 pesos,
100 pesos and 500 pesos. Bills are issued in 500; 1,000;
2,000; 5,000; 10,000; and 20,000 peso denominations.
In Chilean slang, 1 luca is equivalent to 1,000 pesos and
1 guatón (fat one) is equal to 1 million pesos. A Gabriela is