World Wide Diplomatic Archives Index: Chile

Legislation

Access to diplomatic archives is governed by the Administrative Directive for Documentation of 1983. Unclassified documents are available for public consultation 20 years after origination. Classified documents (Confidential and Secret) are declassified 30 years after origination. Documents that are considered of permanent interest of the Foreign Ministry are retained and not declassified. Chile passed a freedom of information law in the summer of 2008.

Location

Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Bandera 52 entrepiso (between Plaza/Ground Floor level and 1st Floor), Santiago, Chile.

Procedures

The Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs houses the greater part of the Chilean Government’s diplomatic records and treaties, as well as diplomatic lists (Chilean ambassadors and consuls overseas; foreign ambassadors and consuls in Chile), a photographic collection, a map/credentials/other materials collection, and several collections of the papers of former Chilean diplomats. Researchers (Chilean and foreign) must bring a letter from their supporting institution (academic or professional) or their advising professor stating the reason, subject, and time period of their research. For foreign researchers, a letter from their embassy or consulate stating the same information will be accepted. Researchers are also asked to provide the Archive with a copy of their finished work.