Chile's Congress on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, passed the Carabineros Strengthening Plan, the law that modernizes the national police career, raises pay and creates new incentives, [BioBioChile](https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/chile/2026/10/21/de-70-a-248-mil-el-salto-aprobado-en-el-congreso-para-alumnos-de-carabineros-y-que-suma-a-civiles.shtml) reported. The Senate approved the changes made by the Chamber of Deputies and sent the bill on to review by the Constitutional Court (Radio Agricultura). According to the government, the final version triples the resources of the original bill and involves annual spending of about CLP 106 billion.
President José Antonio Kast celebrated on X, highlighting "a more modern police career, better pay and more incentives." These are the key points of the law and what is still needed for it to take effect.
What the Carabineros Strengthening Plan includes
| Topic | What changes, according to the bill passed |
|---|---|
| Cadet stipend | Rises from CLP 70,000 to CLP 248,000 a month |
| Special Risk Bonus (GER) | The 20% cap is removed: it can reach 100% of salary depending on post and risk |
| Performance incentive | An extra 10% tied to meeting institutional goals |
| Entry | Special entry routes for professionals and technicians |
| Civilian staff | Civilians take over administrative tasks now done by officers |
| Training | A "probationary carabinero" status, with direct supervision in the final semester |
| Medical leave | Some leave for a serious illness of a child under one year will not reduce the performance incentive |
Sources: BioBioChile, Canal 9 and Radio Agricultura. There is a small discrepancy: BioBioChile reports a stipend of CLP 248,000, while Radio Agricultura mentions "250,000 during the first semesters" and a higher, unspecified figure afterward. None of the reports published the vote count or the bill number.
Why the Carabineros Strengthening Plan was created
The plan began in May 2026, when the presidents of the Chamber, Jorge Alessandri, and of the Senate, Paulina Núñez, handed Security Minister Martín Arrau a proposal to reinforce the force (Radio Paulina; Senate). The diagnosis pointed to a recruitment and retention crisis.
| Indicator cited in the May 2026 proposal | Figure |
|---|---|
| Applicants to Carabineros per year (2015-2019) | About 15,000 |
| Applicants in 2024 | Fewer than 8,000 |
| Officers who left the force (2019-2026) | More than 4,600 |
| Cadets who dropped out during training | About 900 |
Source: Radio Paulina, with figures presented by the presidents of Congress. The May proposal suggested cadets receive CLP 208,000 net in their first year, CLP 703,000 during the practical stage and CLP 888,000 on graduating as corporal second class. Those amounts were a proposal: according to the press, the bill passed sets the stipend at CLP 248,000, and the other figures have not been confirmed in the law. To compare with current pay, see how much a Carabineros officer earns in Chile.
How much a Carabineros officer earns today and what may change
The law changes incentives and bonuses, not the base pay scale. For reference, these are net salaries from the 2025 scale published by Meganoticias, the most recent one released:
| Rank | Net monthly salary (2025 scale) |
|---|---|
| Carabinero (new graduate) | CLP 828,907 |
| Corporal second class | CLP 1,027,788 |
| Sergeant second class | CLP 1,673,881 |
| Chief warrant officer | CLP 2,266,887 |
| Sub-lieutenant | CLP 1,419,293 |
| Lieutenant | CLP 1,800,090 |
The effect on each paycheck will depend on the post. The biggest change is the Special Risk Bonus: today it cannot exceed 20%, and under the new law it can reach 100% of salary in the riskiest roles. The percentages for each post will be set by regulations that are not yet known, so it is not possible to calculate today how much each officer's income will rise. The full table by rank is in how much a Carabineros officer earns in Chile.
What the government and Congress said
Minister Arrau summed it up: "We tripled the resources of the original bill," and thanked lawmakers for their cross-party support. Undersecretary for Public Security Pilar Giannini said officers will receive "better pay, greater incentives for those who face the highest risks," and that strengthening the force is key to fighting organized crime (BioBioChile).
Funding for the new bonuses must be included in future budget laws, according to Estapasando. That links the law to the debate over the 2027 budget, which Congress must pass by the end of November. The new career framework adds to other security laws approved this year, such as the use-of-force rules in Law 21,849.
When the Carabineros Strengthening Plan takes effect
| Stage | Status as of October 22, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Proposal from the presidents of Congress to the Security Ministry | Delivered on May 28, 2026 |
| Passage through the Chamber and Senate | Completed: passed on October 21, 2026 |
| Constitutional Court review | Pending |
| Enactment by the president | Pending |
| Publication in the Official Gazette | Pending; the law takes effect from then |
The Constitutional Court reviews provisions with constitutional organic rank, so the text could still see adjustments. The start date of each benefit will depend on the final published text; we will update this article when the law appears in the Official Gazette. To compare with other police forces, see how much a PDI detective earns.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Carabineros Strengthening Plan?
It is the law that modernizes the Carabineros career: it raises pay and incentives, improves cadet stipends, opens entry to professionals and technicians and shifts administrative tasks to civilians.
When was it approved?
Congress passed it on October 21, 2026, when the Senate approved the Chamber of Deputies' changes.
How much will Carabineros cadets earn?
The stipend rises from CLP 70,000 to CLP 248,000 a month, according to BioBioChile. Radio Agricultura reports CLP 250,000 in the first semesters.
What is the Special Risk Bonus?
An extra payment for those in higher-risk roles. The law removes the 20% cap and allows it to reach 100% of salary depending on the post.
Is it already in force?
No. It still needs Constitutional Court review, enactment and publication in the Official Gazette.
