All foreigners must present the "Ficha de Canje Internacional" to Migraciones when changing their immigration status, for example from a temporary visa or temporary authorization (for example tourist) to another temporary or residence visa or from one resident permit type to another. So, before you can even start any temporary resident visa application process, you first have to get the Interpol clearance done.
Content overview
- What is the Ficha de Canje
- Interpol offices in Peru
- How to pay the fee for the Interpol clearance
- How to make an appointment at Interpol
- Required documents for your Interpol clearance
- Interpol Visit
- Additional record check for US, Canadian and Australian citizens
What is the Ficha de Canje
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".
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 (May 2023) Interpol announced to release new appointments once a week on Saturdays between 08.00am and noon. 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 (*)
- 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, especially in the provinces, 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) and photocopy of it (**)
- 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) and photocopy of it (**)
- 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) and photocopy of it (**)
- Black pen
- Even though not on the official requirement list, a few of our readers told us that some Interpol offices, especially in the provinces, ask for a recibo, so a water or electricity bill, and copy proving your address (doesn't have to be in your name)
(*)
One of our readers informed us that you must write your address and phone number on the photocopy of your passport and sign it.
(**)

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. Update May 2023: One of our readers reported that it wasn't a problem to get the money order at the BCP branch on Av. Pardo y Aliaga 1203-1207 in Lima.
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".
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.
Good luck."