Even though Chile has not characterised itself in its independent history for being a great receptor of immigrants in the last few years it has experienced an increment of the migratory flow, especially of people from Latin America. In the health area, the focus of the current migratory policy consists of regularising the situation of the immigrants, so that they can have the same rights as the national population. However, there is also a concern to protect the most vulnerable of immigrant groups, such us pregnant women, children, and refugees.

This paper outlines the migratory context in Chile, reviews the status of immigrants' health. The author details advances in health issues for immigrants, and presents some key challenges in this area. The paper concludes that new immigration flows will highlight an inflection point in the pace of Chile forming an identity impression marked by the ignorance of what is different; even by the systematic oblivion of its own indigenous roots, as part of our original mixed races. The new immigrants, of all colors, rhythms and beliefs, are forcing the country to rethink its advance from the monocultural slant, based on the notion of State-Nation, towards the recognition of the multicultural, national and foreign, with a view based on the dialogue between cultures.

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