All foreigners must present the "Ficha de Canje Internacional" to Migraciones when changing their immigration status either from a temporary visa or temporary authorization (for example tourist) to a residence visa or from one resident permit type to another. So, before you can even start any resident visa application process, you first have to get the Interpol clearance done.
The Ficha de Canje Internacional is a document issued by Interpol (The International Criminal Police Organization) certifying that a person isn’t an internationally wanted fugitive, so hasn’t an international wanted persons notice (Red Notice).
Getting the Ficha de Canje Internacional is contrary to popular opinion an easy process, at least if you know how it’s done, can reach the website for the online appointments and are lucky enough that there are free appointments.
Interpol offices in Peru
While for years Interpol was only located in Lima, now there are offices in the provinces as well making it easier for those living far from Lima and giving those that can’t get an appointment in the capital in a timely manner the option to try it elsewhere.
Interpol office in Lima: Av. Manuel Olguin block 6, Monterrico, Surco
Interpol office in Arequipa: Seguridad de Estado, Calle San Francisco 214, Arequipa
Interpol office in Chiclayo: Segunda Macro región Policial, Calle Manco Capac 205, Chiclayo
Interpol office in Cusco: Complejo Policial 6 de Diciembre, Av. 28 de Julio, Wanchaq, Cusco
Interpol office in Piura: Division de Investigación Criminal, Complejo Policial Carretera Panamericana Piura-Sullana km 2.5
Interpol office in Trujillo: Com. Policial Cap, Calle Toribio Mogrovejo 370, Urb. San Andres, Trujillo
How to pay the fee for the Interpol clearance
As with all administrative procedures in Peru, before you can make an appointment and apply, you first have to pay the corresponding fee either in person at a Banco de la Nacion branch or on the pagalo.pe website from a computer or with the pagalo.pe app from a smartphone or tablet.
You can find detailed explanations on how to pay, what you have to do and be aware of, how to register on the online payment platform and how to find the correct fee you have to pay, in our article "Paying administration charges and processing fees in Peru".
All administration charges, processing fees and fines government agencies, public authorities and entities levy in Peru have to be paid at the Banc...
For paying the Ficha de Canje Internacional (Interpol) you need the code 08141 (on págalo.pe you can find it under Policia Nacional del Peru); it costs S/ 31.50 (2023).
Once the payment is done, keep the receipt safe. You will need it when making the appointment.
How to make an appointment at Interpol
Appointments can only be booked on the Interpol website not in person anymore. Be aware that the website quite regularly only seems to load and work properly on workdays (Mo-Sa) and before 09.00 pm.
If you have problems that the page won't load or "hangs", reload the page and try again. Helpful as well using another browser and/or clearing your cache. Be aware that the Interpol appointment page only seems to work if you are in Peru. So, if you are in Peru, but use, for example, a VPN set in the US switch it off. If you are outside Peru and want to book your appointment before coming to the country, use a VPN and select Peru. And to avoid further system errors, we highly recommend to not using a translation program, which automatically translates the page from Spanish to your preferred language, and switching off any ad blockers you might use.
On the Interpol appointment page just fill in required fields: enter your personal data - such as passport plus passport number, last name(s), first name(s) exactly as in your passport, type of visa you are applying for (for example, changing to family visa (cambio a inmigrante por familiar residente) or changing to student or retirement visa (cambio a estudiante; cambio a rentista) - and your address.
On the next page enter the information of your payment receipt as required. Choose an Interpol branch and a date / time.
Check that all your information is correct and there are no spelling mistakes before clicking “Generar cita”!
If you are lucky, everything goes smoothly, and you have your appointment. Download your appointment and print it.
When choosing the Interpol office in Lima, it’s unfortunately not unheard of that no appointments are available at the moment. The only thing you can do is to try later, the next day, the day after that, … Interpol releases new appointments regularly, however with a changing schedule. For months, new appointments were made available on the 20th of each month or at the end of a month, or twice a month, or whenever. Right now (end of November 2022) Interpol announced to release new appointments once a week on Saturdays at 08.00am. When time is an issue, another option is to get your ficha at one of the Interpol offices in the provinces where usually appointments are readily available.
Required documents for your Interpol clearance
Application form (you can get it at the office)
Appointment confirmation (printed copy)
Passport
Photocopy of the passport page with the personal information and photo (*)
Photocopy of the passport page with the Peruvian entry stamp (*)
Passport photos (usually they are taken at the Interpol office for free, however, in case of unforeseeable circumstances, it might be wise to have 2 in passport size with you)
Payment receipt for the Interpol clearance (code 08141; fee S/ 31.50 as of 2023) and printed photocopy
If you are already a resident, Carné de extranjería and photocopy of it
If you are applying for a family visa: official document that proves the family tie. For example:
If you are married to a Peruvian: photocopy of your Peruvian marriage certificate and photocopy of the spouse’s DNI (best have the originals with you as well)
If you are married to a foreigner with Peruvian residency: photocopy of your marriage certificate (with Apostille or, if the country in which the document was issued didn't sign the Apostille Convention (like Canada, for example) legalized by a Peruvian consulate and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Peru and then translated into Spanish by a certified translator) and copy of the spouse’s carné (best have the originals with you as well)
If you apply for other temporary or resident visas: even though not on the official requirements list, sometimes Interpol seemingly randomly asks to see the document proving the basis of your visa application. For example: if you apply for a work visa, Interpol may ask for a photocopy of the work contract; or if you apply for a retirement visa, they may ask for a photocopy of the letter from your pension fund; or if you apply for a student visa, they may ask for a photocopy of the enrollment certificate or the official letter from the Peruvian host university, etc.
If you are a US American national: an international money order, a so called “Giro sobre el exterior” for the amount of US$ 18.00, made out to "The Treasury of the USA" (you are supposed to get it at any BCP branch; most familiar with the process seems to be the BCP branch on Av. Larco 611 in MIraflores, Lima) (**)
If you are a Canadian national: an international money order, a so called "Giro sobre el exterior" for the amount of CAD$ 26,75, made out to "The Receiver General for Canada" (in Lima you get it at the BCP branch on Av. Juan de Arona 889 with Av. Rivera Navarrete in San Isidro or as suggested by the Peruvian government the one on Jr. Lampa 499 in the city center or at the branch on Av. Larco 611 in MIraflores) (**)
If you are an Australian national: an international money order, a so called "Giro sobre el exterior" for the amount of AU$ 99.00, made out to "The Australian Federal Police" (in Lima you get it at the BCP branch on Av. Juan de Arona 889 with Av. Rivera Navarrete in San Isidro or as suggested by the Peruvian government the one on Jr. Lampa 499 in the city center or at the branch on Av. Larco 611 in Miraflores) (**)
Black pen
(*)
One of our readers informed us that you must write your address and phone number on the photocopies of your passport (page with your personal details and page with the entry stamp) and sign them.
(**)
Example of the Giro sobre el exterior / Money Order US nationals need for Interpol; the photo was taken at Interpol in Arequipa; payment was done at a BCP branch in Arequipa
According to one of our readers, the BCP branch on Jr. Lampa 499 in the city center does not issue the money order anymore even though this branch is according to the Peruvian government website supposed to do so. Additionally, the BCP branch in San Isidro allegedly only does the money order for clients. At the BCP branch in La Molina getting the money order seem to be a hit and miss. However, over the past few weeks we got many reports that the BCP branch on Av. Larco 611 in Miraflores is familiar with issuing the money order and you shouldn't have any problem getting it done there, but here as well readers reported that sometimes BCP staff wouldn't issue the money order without you being a client.
In Cusco, one reader was able to get the money order at the BCP office on Avenida del Sol.
As regulations may change quickly without prior notice and depend on your nationality, procedures in your home country and the visa type you are applying for in Peru, we highly recommend confirming the above requirements and amounts with the Interpol office or online shortly before your visit.
Interpol Visit
On the day of your Interpol appointment, arrive at the office 15 to 30 minutes early with all required documents and without accompanying persons (only handicapped persons are allowed to enter the office with one adult for support).
Especially in Lima, the situation in front of the office sometimes seems chaotic. However, the staff is usually friendly and helpful; some English is spoken; the process is quite organized.
So, when you arrive at the Interpol office just proceed to the gate, where a guard checks your appointment confirmation and hands you the form you have to fill in. You are then directed to the waiting area. Sit down on the first free seat and move one seat forward each time the first person gets up to proceed to an officer. Once it's your turn, hand in your documents.
The officer quickly checks your documents and then sends you to get a photo taken. After that, you are sent to have your teeth visually examined. And then your fingerprints are taken. That's it.
While for many months the check Interpol does before issuing the Ficha de Canje Internacional took an hour or so and you could pick up the document later on the same day, one of our readers commented that at the Lima office the ficha is issued immediately. So no waiting and returning later anymore.
With the ficha in hand, you now can start your temporary or resident visa application process.
Additional record check for US, Canadian and Australian citizens
If you are a citizen of the US, Canada or Australia, an additional criminal record check from the federal police body of your home country (for example, the FBI) is required. For this, the above-mentioned international money order is needed. This check has nothing to do with issuing the ficha de canje necessary for your visa application at Migraciones and the approval of your visa; if something serious comes up, your record is tagged, and you might be detained as soon as you leave the country.
Be aware as well that getting the results back may take many weeks or even months and the criminal record check you get supposedly does not meet the criminal record check requirements from Migraciones and does not have an Apostille on it. So, waiting to get this check back and use it for the "Antecedentes" requirement to apply for a residence visa is not recommended and additionally counterproductive as you most probably will run out of time on your stay as a tourist before you get the document and have it sent abroad and returned with Apostille.
So, better come prepared to Peru bringing your criminal record check already with you or, if you are already in Peru, apply for it on your own. You can find more information about the necessary criminal record check and how to get it in our article "International document corresponding to the Antecedentes policiales, penales and judiciales in Peru".
One of the requirements to apply for a resident visa in Peru or to change your visa type, for example from a work visa to a permanent resident visa...
And one of our readers, who is Australian, shared his experience, which might be useful for other Australians (and probably US Americans and Canadians as well):
"Hi again Eva.
Australian citizens.
Interpol clearance - Ficha de canje internacional additional finger print check by Australian Federal Police.
(Not to be confused with the Antecedentes policiales, penales y judiciales Police clearance certificate issued by the Australian Federal Police.)
When conducting the 'Ficha de canje internacional' interview, Interpol Peru will finger print Australians twice. Once for Peru and once for the Australian Federal Police. Interpol will ask Australians to fill out the second finger print form in English.
Interpol will instruct you to send this form with the AUD$99.00 international money order to the Australian Federal Police.
As Eva from Lima Easy kindly points out, this specific step is unrelated and not necessary for your residence application. Peru Migracciones only requires the Peruvian 'Ficha de canje internacional' and the criminal record check, not this additional check.
If you do as Interpol requests and send the additional finger print form and AUD$99.00 money order to the Australian Federal Police you will receive an email from the Australian Federal Police stating:
> To be able to process your application we require you to complete the attached application form and email back to us along with additional identification to make a minimum of 100 points. We also require credit card details as the fee is $99.00 Australian dollars and we cannot accept the cheque you have supplied. We also require an official English translation of the fingerprints you have supplied (attached) as all the labels must be in English. (Some of the labels are in Spanish and some labels are in misspelt English.) You can email these documents back to us together so we can process your application. AFP
So in conclusion, this specific step is not necessary for the Peru residence application and the data provided by Interpol Peru and the Peruvian bank check in it's raw state, is not satisfactory for the Australian Federal Police.
So I guess use your own discretion if you bother proceeding with this step. One assumes Peru Interpol and Australian Federal Police need to coordinate on their requirements if this step is it be successful.
I just tried to obtain a money order at the BCP branch suggested above (Av. Larco 611 in Lima). They told me that they no longer accept payment in cash for this money order, and that the payment must be made from an account at the bank.
I tried to explain the absurdity of the Peruvian government directing that foreigners in the process of immigrating make this payment through this specific bank, but that the bank will not allow a payment without an account, which the foreigner cannot obtain since they don't yet have a DNI. The bank instructed me to return with a friend who has an account at the bank in order to draw the payment from their account.
I can't believe it. It's just so ridiculous. Over months the BCP branch on Larco in Miraflores issued the money order without any problems. The "you must have an account with us" statement is not only what many others heard at the branches in La Molina and San Isidro, but as well shows the absolute ignorance of the BCP staff. Until now the Miraflores branch was always good option to get the money order.
And on the government website it still says that US Americans can get the money at any BCP branch (see attached picture).
I'm not sure what to recommend anymore or how to help. Probably try a BCP branch nearest to the Interpol office? In Lima there is one in Jockey Plaza and in Chacarilla. Or perhaps Interpol knows at which branch US American can successfully get this money order.
sorry, I don't speak French and even using a translation program don't understand your question.
Did you miss your Interpol appointment or was it canceled by Interpol due to the flooding?
If you didn't make it to the office for your appointment you usually have to make a new appointment as described above. In case Interpol was closed/canceled all appointments, either they offer that those whose appointment couldn't be respected to just come in without an appointment or they ask to make new appointments.
Migraciones announced just a couple of hours ago that those who couldn't keep their appointment due to the intense rain and flooding, can come to the Migraciones office at a later date without making a new appointment.
Just some feedback from the Interpol appointment. You must have a printed copy of your appointment and a printed copy of your payment receipt (they won't accept just the original payment receipt from the bank, they want it photocopied as well. Also they won't accept the appointment details on your phone, they have to be printed).
The photo copies of your passport details and entry stamp (can be in Black & White) will need you to sign, write your address and telephone number. Nobody gave me the forms when I arrived, so I had to ask.
Applied for a visa with all of the required documents etc. Nine months later and am told that the immigration office is “waiting on confirmation” from Interpol that the Ficha de Canje is legitimate before they can approve the visa.
Has anyone heard of this before? If so, what was your experience? Is there some way to confirm that it hasn’t been lost in the system somewhere?
That's unbelievable. You applied 9 months ago and your visa is still neither approved nor denied because Migraciones is waiting for an Interpol confirmation? Did you speak to someone in person at Migraciones? What did they say? What is the offered solution?
Honestly, I never even heard that Migraciones confirms the validity of the Ficha de Canje, but have to admit that I'm not familiar with their internal processes.
And I'm really sorry, but I don't have a solution for this problem. Personally, I have the feeling that something is lost in the system and would speak to Migraciones again asking what can be done, how the process can be sped up or re-initiated. Even they must admit that this is just ridiculous. Probably they can request the confirmation again by just calling them or sending them another request or whatever.
Another option could be paying Interpol a visit (take your passport, ficha and the Migraciones no. de expediente of your application with you) and ask there what's going on and if they can help in any way.
Hello, is the last paragraph (above) still correct? According to the updated regs (Supreme Decree), everyone needs a "police clearance/background check" to receive a residency visa. So, if one(a US citizen) goes through the whole process, but doesn't have an FBI clearance (yet), will they still process the family visa application? Thanks for any clarification.
To apply for a family visa at Migraciones, a US passport holder must present an FBI criminal record check issued in the US with Apostille, a translation in Peru and a legalization by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Furthermore, once in Peru, everyone who wants to apply for a family visa must additionally (!) get the Ficha de Canje from Interpol in Peru.
The documents (and the money order) Interpol Peru is required to submit to the FBI for an additional check have nothing to do with the issuance of the Ficha de Canje, your family visa application at Migraciones or the approval of it by them. The document you get back from the FBI (often only after many months) doesn't meet the Migraciones Antecedentes requirements.
Anyway, to submit your application for a family visa on the Migraciones Agency Digital you must upload the Ficha de Canje and the FBI record check otherwise you can't continue with your application. If you don't have your FBI check yet and must apply before your stay as a tourist expires, there is a way to overcome this little obstacle. Let me know if you need help with it and I will explain the process.
Otherwise, check out our Family Visa article where you find all requirements and a detailed step-by-step guide explaining the whole process.
@Sunflower Hi Eva, thank you for the reply. These two parts are a bit confusing:
This seems to contradict:
1)" To apply for a family visa at Migraciones, a US passport holder must present an FBI criminal record check issued in the US..."
2) "The documents (and the money order) Interpol Peru is required to submit to the FBI for an additional check have nothing to do with the issuance of the Ficha de Canje, your family visa application at Migraciones or the approval of it by them."
It appears that you are saying the FBI check has nothing to do with your visa application / approval. However, the FBI check is required to submit a visa application (through the online portal).
BTW, I'm already in Peru. So if I do the Interpol check (Ficha de...) and start the online process, I won't be able to complete my application until I can upload an FBI check(which could take months to get back)??
no contradiction. I'm not sure how to better explain it. The two FBI checks are different documents.
To apply for your family visa, Migraciones requires that foreigners present their "Antecedentes policiales, penales y judiciales" issued in the country of origin and proving they have no criminal record. For US citizens, these Antecedentes correspond to an “FBI Criminal Record Check” or a “Identity History Summary”.
So, ideally before leaving your home country, you or a service provider on your behalf must apply for the check in the US at the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). You then must get an Apostille on this document in the US.
Then, three countries, the US, Canada and Australia, demand that Interpol Peru and their citizens, who apply for residency in Peru, initiate a second, another check at the FBI for US national, the RCMP for Canadians and the AFP for Australians. The document you get back is not needed for your family visa application at Migraciones and not accepted by Migraciones as document corresponding to the Peruvian Antecedentes; and it doesn't have an Apostille.
I would like to know a little more about any ideas you have about how to stay without having yet received the FBI check. I only realized that I need the FBI check after already coming to Peru to get married to a Peruvian. I just received my results back from the FBI today and will be sending them to be apostilled, but that will most likely take months. I will be getting my ficha de canje next week, so I will have all of the other requirements. My 90 day Tourist Visa will expire March 30th and I am wondering what options there are after that. Please let me know any ideas you have!
First of all I want to recommend to check out our article International document corresponding to the Antecedentes. Under "by country" and US another reader explained in detail how he got the FBI check and the Apostille while already being in Peru. Probably that helps to speed up the process.
Then I’m not sure if you already checked out our Family visa article. If not, probably read through it first, especially the point "Step-by-step guide to apply for a family visa in Peru" as otherwise my following explanation might be confusing. It’s a long article and I highly recommend reading it from top to bottom to understand the whole application process. So, get a coffee and make yourself comfortable.
Anyway, on the “2nd page of the family visa application” you must fill in some data and/or upload all for the family visa application necessary documents as PDF. There, under the Interpol tab, you must upload the Ficha de Canje from Interpol and your FBI criminal record check. Both fields are mandatory, and you cannot continue without having uploaded both documents. But, even though most probably not intended by Migraciones / the creator of the website, there is a way around it and you can “cheat” the system.
Be aware that your stay as a tourist must be valid when you apply on the Agencia Digital for your family visa. So, as you need every additional day you can get, best apply for your family visa on the last day when your stay as a tourist is still valid (or if you want to make sure nothing goes wrong on the second last day or so giving you a day or two to sort out any unforeseen situation).
Then follow the steps as described in our Family visa article until you are on the “2nd page of the family visa application” and the Interpol tab. Upload your Ficha de Canje from Interpol. As you can’t leave the field for the criminal record check blank anymore you must upload something. One of our readers just uploaded the Ficha de Canje a second time, another reader wrote a letter explaining that he is waiting for the Apostille on his FBI check and uploaded this letter instead of his background check, and another reader uploaded the FBI check without the Apostille and translation. So, upload some document there. Then continue to upload all other required documents and finish the application process as described in our Family visa article.
On the next page you get the Form PA - Cambio de Calidad Migratoria with the “numero de expediente” (your file number), the "fecha de publicacion" (application date) and a "codigo de verificacion" (verification code) and your access to your Buzon. As soon you get this your time as a tourist stops and even if your stay as a tourist expires during the processing time of your visa application you won't have any problem.
Now, depending how quickly Migraciones reviews your application and documents two things may happen:
As you haven’t uploaded all required documents, Migraciones will send you a notification (can be as quick as a few days after your application or a month, two or three later) using the Buzon electronico requesting to upload, in your case, the criminal record check. Be aware that these notifications are considered officially delivered. Usually, Migraciones only gives you a short deadline of 5 to 10 days to upload the requested document. You must react to the notification, even if it’s on the last day of the deadline they gave you (which might be wise to do if you still need more time), otherwise your application is canceled.
If by then you have your FBI check with Apostille, certified translation in Peru and overauthenticated by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs just upload it as described in the notification.
If you still don’t have your FBI check then you can apply for an extension of the deadline (max. 30 days). You just have to fill in the form Solicitud de ampliacion de plazo and upload it on the Agencia Digital under Subsanacion which you find in the left menu latest by the date your deadline ends. Usually, Migraciones doesn’t react to it, but if you upload your FBI check within 30 days all is good.
In case you have your FBI record check ready before you hear from Migraciones you can upload it immediately. I think you can do it as well on the Agencia Digital under Subsanacion in the menu on the left or in the Mesa de Partes Virtual (on the main page of the Agencia on the top right) and there somewhere is as well a point Subsanacion (the Agencia doesn’t load at the moment, so I can’t check where exactly). If you use the Mesa de Partes to upload you should fill in this form letter and upload it together with your criminal record check.
After completing all requirements of Interpol, the officer package all of my documents and sealed them into an envelope. I was told to send this package to the address that was printed on the envelope by Interpol. Weeks have now gone by and I still have no response and feel lost on what to do next. Any advice would be very helpful as my tourist visa from the US to Peru is about to expire. Thanks in advance to any useful information that my help me take this final step to secure my work visa.
You had your Interpol appointment and submitted all your documents, had your photo taken, your teeth examined and were fingerprinted?
Then before leaving the Interpol office (or later that day) you should have gotten a document called “Ficha de Canje Internacional” printed on the official letterhead of the “Policia Nacional del Peru, Direccion de asuntos internacionales, Oficina central nacional Interpol”.
Didn’t you get this?
All the documents the Interpol officer put in the envelope and had you send to the FBI (I assume you are a US citizen) have nothing to do with the Ficha de Canje and your visa application. They are for an additional check the FBI requires from US citizens. You don’t need the response from the FBI to apply for your visa in Peru.
The important document you need is the Ficha de Canje issued by Interpol in Peru. If you didn’t get this, then you should return to the Interpol office immediately and explain your situation; probably ask why you weren’t given the document when you were there.
It is possible to cancel or change the date of an Interpol appointment? I have an appointment scheduled in Cusco on Monday the 19th but with the current chaotic situation across the country, I'm not comfortable traveling to Cusco, and would like to postpone my appointment to a later date when things hopefully calm down. Interpol Peru's appointment website does not seem to offer any option to modify or cancel an appointment, and I couldn't find any additional information online. The system won't let me make a separate new appointment either, so it looks like I'll have to first wait to forfeit my current appointment on the 19th before I can make another appointment? I'd greatly appreciate any insight you or any other folks on the forum might have!
As Cusco isn't a good place to be at the moment and the situation might even worsen, I wouldn't travel there right now.
But unfortunately, I don't know of any way to change or cancel an Interpol appointment online.
So, have you tried calling the Interpol office in Cusco? Probably they can manually change your appointment or cancel it and allow you to make a new one online.
Regarding the copy of your passport, passport stamp, passport photo, can these be pdfs? Or do they have to be printed photocopies in the case of passport?
as far as I know, for Interpol, you need printed photocopies of your passport page with your personal details and the entry stamp as well as a printed photocopy of your marriage certificate, work contract, etc.; no digital copies or accepted. The passport photos are taken at the office.
The guard at the gate asked for the appointment confirmation, and gave me some forms. She directed me to the waiting area, where there were around 15 people.
The officers don't call you up by name, so you have to move to the front row of seats, towards the door, as people get up.
The officer checks your documents, then sends you to get a photo taken (no cost). He didn't accept the passport photos I brought myself. After, you go to have your teeth visually examined, then your fingerprints are taken.
I'm Canadian so I had additional fingerprints and an additional form to fill. They provided the envelope with the address already on it for sending to the RCMP.
The ficha was already printed out and ready before my fingerprints were finished being taken. There is a wash station outside to remove the ink.
All the staff were friendly and the atmosphere was relaxed. They spoke some English as well. They have pens there, but it'll go a lot smoother if you bring your own to fill out the forms. They didn't ask me for a Constancia de Matrícula.
thank you so much for sharing your experience at the Interpol office in Lima. I will update the article above, so our readers get the most current information possible.
I think lots of our readers will be happy to hear that while the visit to Interpol is another hurdle on their way to apply for residency, there is nothing to worry about.
I hope everything else on your way to a student visa works as smooth as your Interpol visit.
usually if you get your photos taken somewhere in Peru and say they have to be "tamaño pasaporte" they cut your photos in the correct size. They should be around 40x45mm (but if you look on official requirements lists you as well find sizes of 35x45mm).
And when I remember correctly, two weeks ago or so, you already posted on our student visa page. So, I assume you want to apply for a (temporary?) student visa. If you are in Peru as a tourist, for example, and apply for a temporary or resident visa, the procedure is called "cambio de calidad migratoria" (change of immigration status). Nevertheless, the Interpol form provided on the government website is from 2019 and seems to be intended only for applying for a resident status (residencia) not a temporary visa. I don't know, if the form is still up-to-date and used (as well for temporary visa applicants).
But since forever, you get the form at the Interpol office when you arrive for your appointment. So, I wouldn't worry about it. Just take a black pen with you to fill it in.
Well, my experience in obtaining the Ficha de Canje is a lot more humane.
You can get the $18 money order (for $30) at the main BCP office on Avenida del Sol. I was not the only one there getting this that day. Bringing an image of the money order from the web is helpful to orient the tellers.
The bad part was that the interpol website just hanged when I tried to make the appointment; this persisted for days. We went to the Cusco interpol office (which seems to be 2 desks in a room) and explained. The woman there more or less confirmed the problem, asked us for a time the following week, and told us to come then, and gave us her cellphone number. We called her the day before, and she said she was on vacation but would explain the situation to her colleague. And sure enough she did!
The whole thing was easy and informal. There was no one else in the office; my wife was along to translate for me the whole time. We had to go out to get a second copy of my passport pages. They took my pictures for free; it included profile shots so a passport photo wouldn't have cut it. I had to walk a block to a local dentist to get my teeth documented; a 15 minute wait. I returned with the card and the document was ready.
@John The website also hanged for me the first time I tried to reserve the appointment in Lima. I disabled the adblocker then hard refreshed, and it worked right away.
Hey, I'vej just made na appointment on Interpol and dicovered that on the confirmation od the appointment on "Fecha de nacimiento" od the date that I started to fill in the form (yesterday), and when I download the document by QR code, in the same place is "almost" correct data, but day and month are switched... do I have a problems during the visit because of that?
Under normal circumstances, I would say, yes, you should correct your birth date. Peruvian authorities are strict with any mistake, be it a spelling mistake or switched numbers.
But, as far as I know, unfortunately you can’t just correct your mistake on the form. You must start from scratch, so fill in the form again and make a new appointment. As appointments are still scarce in Lima, you might not get a new one soon.
So, I’m not sure what I should recommend. Even though with a heavy heart, I would leave it as it is, but on the day of the appointment let Interpol know about the day-month switch of your birthdate (nothing unusual as the US writes mm/dd/yyyy, Peru dd/mm/yyyy) and kindly ask them to please change it. I was told that Interpol staff is much more accommodating than they used to be and just correct little things like that.
Hi quick question. I'm US American and the FBI has the option to pay the $18.00 fee for the background report directly online via their secure payment portal instead of having to find/convince a willing Peruvian bank + snail mail over a cashier's check/money order. When I go to Interpol do I need to explain any of this?
Honestly, I don’t know if Interpol in Peru accepts the payment via the payment portal of the FBI.
So, personally I would check with Interpol first to not waste any money and probably your appointment; if they don’t accept this form of payment, they might just send you away without processing your ficha and have you get a new appointment. However, you could just arrive at your appointment with the payment receipt from the online portal and see what happens.
Anyway, if Interpol accepts the online payment, it would be a real game changer for US Americans. So, would you be so kind and let us know what you find out? Thanks a lot.
On the Facebook page "Expats in Peru," someone recommended this bank to his clients, at least for those who are American citizens:
Banco BCP Sucursal Schell, Av. José Larco 611, Miraflores 15074
I went there, and it worked! No BCP bank account needed.
Not an automated process, but not that scary. They don't say "If you pay your $18 dollars, we just push this button, and 'BAM,' here's your giro sobre el exteriror made out to the Treasury of the United States." You do have to fill out a general-purpose money transfer form. Plus I had a $12 commission -- a small price to pay given my limited time available. You can't pay by card, and I believe I had to give actual dollars and not soles.
The top half is what's really important. Below that, you only need to fill in your name and passport details. Obviously, that's private information
Thank you so much! I - and I assume many others having problems paying the fee for the money order as well - highly appreciate that you took the time to share your experience here.
The Ficha issued by Interpol in Peru including the additional check for US, Canadian and Australian nationals which is requested by the federal police body of their home countries and the FBI record check (Antecedentes) issued in your home country and requested by Migraciones when you apply for a resident visa are two completely different things.
So, as US national, you must pay the US$ 18 otherwise Interpol won’t issue the Ficha.
31 Comments
· 22/03/2023@JonathanHello Jonathan,I can't believe it. It's just so ridiculous. Over months the BCP branch on Larco in Miraflores issued the money order without any problems. The "you must have an account with us" statement is not only what many others heard at the branches in La Molina and San Isidro, but as well shows the absolute ignorance of the BCP staff. Until now the Miraflores branch was always good option to get the money order.And on the government website it still says that US Americans can get the money at any BCP branch (see attached picture).I'm not sure what to recommend anymore or how to help. Probably try a BCP branch nearest to the Interpol office? In Lima there is one in Jockey Plaza and in Chacarilla. Or perhaps Interpol knows at which branch US American can successfully get this money order.Really sorry!Eva
