Peru
Peru visa guide: visits, residence and refugee status
- 9 visa types
- checked 24 October 2026
How visas for Peru work
Peru splits visa work between two bodies. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RREE) issues tourist and business visas through its consulates, decides who is exempt from them and runs the refugee procedure through the Special Commission for Refugees (CEPR). The National Superintendency of Migrations (Migraciones) controls the border and grants every long-stay immigration status (calidad migratoria), such as worker, student, family member, rentista, investor and permanent resident, through its online Agencia Digital.
Many nationalities need no visa for tourism: the RREE table of visa requirements lists who is exempt and for how long, for example Türkiye for 90 days in each 180-day period counted from the first entry. Exemption for tourism does not always cover business: nationals marked as not exempt for business need a business visa from a Peruvian consulate, which costs 30 consular soles (roughly USD 30). Peru also exempts holders of permanent residence in Chile, Colombia or Mexico from the tourist visa.
Residence visas are requested online while the applicant is outside Peru: you pay the processing fee at Banco de la Nación or Págalo.pe (S/ 58.80 for most categories), upload PDFs, and receive the answer in your Migraciones electronic mailbox within 30 working days. After entering on the approved visa you apply for the carné de extranjería (S/ 24.00). Foreign documents must be apostilled or legalised and translated into Spanish by a certified translator. Residents already in Peru change status for S/ 161.40.
Which visa do I need?
Holiday or family visit: no visa if the RREE table lists your nationality as exempt for tourism; visa-required nationals apply for a tourist visa at a Peruvian consulate.
Meetings, negotiations or signing contracts: business visa, required for nationals not exempt for business and for anyone concluding a contract in Peru, up to 183 days in 12 months.
A job with a Peruvian employer on a contract of at least one year: worker resident status.
Living on a pension or foreign income of at least USD 1,000 a month: rentista resident status, with indefinite stay.
Investing at least S/ 500,000 in a Peruvian company: investor resident status.
Studying for at least one year: resident status for training (formación).
Spouse, partner or close relative of a Peruvian or a foreign resident: family resident status.
Fear of returning to your country while in Peru: refugee claim with the CEPR.
Visa types for Peru
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Tourist visa (visa de turista) and visa-free tourist entry
Nationals listed as exempt in the RREE table of visa requirements can visit Peru as tourists without a visa, for the period the table gives for their nationality.
Maximum stay: Visa-exempt nationals: the period in the RREE table (for example 90 days in each 180). Tourist visa: up to 183 days within 12 months of issue
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Business visa (visa de negocios)
Peru's business visa covers meetings, negotiations, market visits and signing contracts.
Maximum stay: Up to 183 calendar days, continuous or in several visits, within 12 months of issue; no extension - Investor visa Investor resident status (calidad migratoria inversionista residente)
The investor resident status is for foreigners who establish, develop or manage lawful investments in Peru.
Maximum stay: 365 days, renewable
Study and training
- Student visa Resident status for training (calidad migratoria de formación residente)
Foreigners who want to study in Peru for at least a year request the training resident status from Migraciones online while still abroad.
Maximum stay: Up to 365 days, renewable for the same period
Work
- Work visa Worker resident status (calidad migratoria trabajador residente)
The worker resident status lets foreigners work in Peru for public or private employers under an employment contract, an administrative appointment or a services contract lasting at least one year.
Maximum stay: 365 days, renewable
Family
- Spouse and partner visa Family resident status (calidad migratoria familiar residente)
The family resident status lets spouses, registered partners, children and parents of Peruvians or of foreign residents live in Peru and work as employees or independently.
Maximum stay: Up to two years for relatives of Peruvians; one year for relatives of foreign residents; renewable
Residence
- Retirement visa Rentista resident status (calidad migratoria rentista residente)
Peru's rentista status is for foreigners who receive a retirement pension or a permanent income, from Peru or abroad.
Maximum stay: Indefinite stay - Permanent residence Permanent resident status (calidad migratoria permanente residente)
Foreigners who have lived in Peru for three consecutive years as resident workers, investors, researchers or members of a religious community can change to permanent resident status.
Maximum stay: Permanent
Asylum and international protection
- Asylum and international protection Refugee status before the Special Commission for Refugees (CEPR)
People in Peru who fear persecution or serious threats in their own country can ask the Special Commission for Refugees (CEPR) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to recognise them as refugees.
Maximum stay: While the claim is pending, with the provisional applicant document
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Peru?
It depends on your nationality and purpose. The RREE table of visa requirements shows, for each nationality, whether it is exempt for tourism, business and transit; many nationalities are exempt for tourism but still need a business visa for business trips.
Where do I apply for a Peruvian visa?
Tourist and business visas are handled by the Peruvian consulate or embassy consular section for the country where you are, usually by appointment. Residence statuses are requested online from Migraciones through its Agencia Digital.
How much does a Peruvian visa cost?
Consular tourist and business visas cost 30 consular soles, about USD 30. Migraciones charges S/ 58.80 to process most residence visas requested from abroad and S/ 24.00 for the carné de extranjería.
How long does a Peruvian residence visa take?
Migraciones answers online applications within 30 working days through its electronic mailbox (Buzón Electrónico).
Does Peru have a digital nomad visa?
Legislative Decree 1582 created a digital nomad status, and Migraciones announced that it would be granted once its rules and procedure were published. No application procedure for it appears among Migraciones' online services, so check before planning on it.
Do I need certified translations?
Yes. Documents in a foreign language must be translated into Spanish by a certified (colegiado) or sworn public translator, and foreign documents must be apostilled or legalised.
Embassies and consulates
Last checked 24 October 2026. Each visa page lists the official sources it is based on.