The Order of Bernardo O'Higgins is Chile's highest civilian order of merit, exclusively awarded to foreign citizens for exceptional services to Chile in arts, sciences, education, industry, commerce, humanitarian action, or social cooperation. It is the highest decoration granted by the Chilean government to non-Chileans and is issued by the President of Chile upon proposal from the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The order has six grades, from highest to lowest: Collar (created in 2006), Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, and Knight. It was originally created on April 28, 1956 (Decree Nº 272) as higher grades adjunct to the Order of Merit (Chile), separated into an independent order in 1967 (Decree Nº 303), with regulations updated in 1985.