Interpol - Ficha de Canje Internacional

Before applying for any temporary or residence visa in Peru, all foreigners must first obtain the Ficha de Canje Internacional issued by Interpol. This means that before you can even start the so-called Cambio de calidad migratoria - whether from a temporary authorization (for example, a tourist stay) to another temporary or residence visa, or from one residence visa type to another - you must complete the Interpol clearance.

For many applicants, this step causes the most stress. In reality, however, the process is fairly straightforward - if you know how it works, understand the quirks of the appointment system, manage to secure an appointment and come well prepared.

Table of contents

• What is the Ficha de Canje
• Interpol offices in Peru
• Requirements for the Ficha de canje
• How to pay the fee for the Ficha de canje
• How to make an appointment at Interpol
• 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 is not an internationally wanted fugitive and does not have an “International wanted persons notice” (Red Notice).

The Ficha de Canje Internacional is a document issued by Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization) certifying that a person:

• is not internationally wanted, and
• does not have an active Interpol Red Notice

Contrary to popular belief, the Ficha de Canje is not a criminal background check. It does not replace the antecedentes policiales, penales y judiciales (criminal record certificate) from your home country when you apply for a residence visa.

Important:

For residence visa applications, Migraciones requires both:

• the Ficha de Canje issued by Interpol in Peru, and
• the Antecedentes policiales, penales y judiciales (criminal record check from your home country) with Apostille and certified translation.

You can find detailed information about the second requirement in our article
“International document corresponding to the Antecedentes policiales, penales y judiciales in Peru.”

International document corresponding to the Antecedentes policiales, penales and judiciales in Peru

Legal Stuff

One of the requirements when applying for a resident visa in Peru or when changing your immigration status (for example, from a work visa to a perm...

Interpol offices in Peru

While for many years Interpol services were only available in Lima, several provincial offices now also issue the Ficha de Canje. This is especially helpful if you live far from the capital or if you cannot get a timely appointment in Lima.

Interpol offices issuing the Ficha de Canje:

• Lima
  Av. Manuel Olguin block 6, Monterrico, Surco
• Arequipa
  Seguridad de Estado, Calle San Francisco 214, Arequipa
• Chiclayo
  Segunda Macro región Policial, Calle Manco Capac 205, Chiclayo
• Cusco
  Complejo Policial 6 de Diciembre, Av. 28 de Julio, Wanchaq, Cusco
• Piura
  Division de Investigación Criminal, Complejo Policial Carretera Panamericana Piura-Sullana km 2.5
• Trujillo
  Com. Policial Cap, Calle Toribio Mogrovejo 370, Urb. San Andres, Trujillo

Required documents for your Interpol clearance

The list of requirements looks intimidating. Just carefully read through it (don't miss the explanatory notes that answer most of your questions) and forget about the requirements that don't apply to you and your specific situation. Then just neatly organize document by document in a folder and you are ready for your Interpol appointment.

• Application form (provided at the office)
• Printed appointment confirmation
• Passport
• Photocopy of the passport page with personal data and photo (1)
• Proof of legal entry
  • (Entry stamp)
  • printed TAM virtual (2)
• Passport photos (taken at the Interpol office free of charge)
• Payment receipt (original and photocopy)
  • Authority: PNP Policia Nacional del Peru
  • Code: 08141 - Ficha de canje Internacional (Interpol)
  • Fee: S/ 31.50 (2026)
• Sometimes requested though not officially listed
  • Original + copy of a utility bill (“recibo”) showing your address in Peru (doesn't have to be in your name) (3)
  • second identity document (can be an ID card, driver's licence or similar from your home country) mostly only requested at the Arequipa office
  • Black pen (a remnant from Covid times; usually available, but better bring one)
• Additional required documents depending on your situation
  • Family visa applicants:
    • Married to a Peruvian: copy of Peruvian marriage certificate + spouse’s DNI (best bring the original as well)
    • Married to a foreign resident: marriage certificate with Apostille + Spanish translation + spouse’s carné (best bring the original as well)
  • Other visa applicants:
    • Occasionally Interpol asks for proof of the basis of your visa application
      • for example:
        • work visa applicants: work contract
        • retirement visa applicants: letter of your pension fund
        • student visa applicants: enrollment certifcate
  • Foreign residents:
    • Carné de extranjería + copy
• Special requirements for US, Canadian, and Australian nationals 
  • US Americans: 
    • International money order (Giro sobre el exterior / Giro Miamifor the amount of US$ 18.00, made out to "The Treasury of the USA), or
    • FBI criminal record check with Apostille and translation + copy (accepted at least at the offices in Lima,Arequipa and Cusco). (4)
  • Canadians:
    • International money order (Giro sobre el exterior for the amount of CAD$ 26,75, made out to "The Receiver General for Canada"), or
    • RCMP certified criminal record check with Apostille and translation + copy (accepted at least at the offices in Lima,Arequipa and Cusco). (4)
  • Australians:
    • International money order (Giro sobre el exterior for the amount of AU$ 99.00, made out to "The Australian Federal Police"), or
    • AFP national police clearance certificate (NPC) for criminal records that cover all Australian states and territories with Apostille and translation + copy (accepted at least at the offices in Lima,Arequipa and Cusco). (4)

Explanatory notes

(1)

You may be asked to write your address and phone number on the passport copy and sign it.

(2)

Since May 2023, Peru no longer stamps passports on entry. As a copy of the entry stamp in your passport used to be - and officially still is - a requirement, download your TAM virtual to prove your legal entry. 

To prove your legal entry, download your TAM virtual from the Migraciones website. For more information about the TAM (virtual), see our article How many days did I get when entering Peru?. Under chapter “Option 1: Migraciones website” you will find a detailed explanation how to download the TAM

(3)

In Arequipa, applicants are almost always asked for a second photo ID (driver’s license, national ID card, etc.), even though this is not an official requirement.

(4)

Officially, the following additional requirement still exists for US Americans, Canadians and Australians, who apply for any Cambio de calidad migratoria:

• an international money order (Giro sobre el exterior or Giro Miami) issued by BCP, payable to:
  • USA: “The Treasury of the USA” - USD 18.00
  • Canada: “The Receiver General for Canada” - CAD 26.75
  • Australia: “The Australian Federal Police” - AUD 99.00

Important update since July 2024: At least the Interpol offices in Lima, Arequipa and Cusco now accept - and sometimes specifically request - a copy of your criminal record check from your home country (with Apostille and certified Spanish translation) instead of the money order.

As obtaining the money order has always been difficult, having your criminal record check, which you will need for a residence visa application anyway, ready may save you significant time and frustration.

That said, since the money order is still listed as an official requirement, acceptance of the criminal record check instead depends on the office (confirmed for Lima, Arequipa and Cusco). If you want to be on the safe side, be prepared for both scenarios.

According to official sources, you should be able to obtain the money order at any BCP branch. Unfortunately, this isn't true. Some branches seem completely unaware of the service, while others are only willing to issue it to BCP clients with US Dollar accounts. 

Since the money order is no longer required at the Interpol office in Lima, Arequipa and Cusco, you will likely struggle to find a BCP branch there issuing one.

In Trujillo, you should be able to get the money order at the BCP branch on Av. Larco, in front of UCV, but you must be accompanied by someone who has a BCP account.

How to pay the fee for the Interpol clearance

As with all administrative procedures in Peru, before you can book an appointment and submit your application, you must first pay the corresponding fee.

Payment can be made either:

• in person at any Banco de la Nación branch, or
• online via pagalo.pe (from a computer or via the pagalo.pe app on a smartphone or tablet)

Detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to register on pagalo.pe, how to make the payment, and what to watch out for can be found in our article “Paying administration charges and processing fees in Peru.”

Paying administration charges and processing fees in Peru

Legal Stuff

All administrative charges, processing fees, and fines issued by Peruvian government agencies and public authorities must be paid through the Banco...

For the Ficha de Canje Internacional (Interpol), you need:

• Authority: PNP Policía Nacional del Perú
• Code: 08141 - Ficha de canje Internacional (Interpol)
• Fee: S/ 31.50 (2026)

Once the payment is completed, keep the receipt safe. You will need it to book your Interpol appointment.

How to make an appointment at Interpol

After paying the fee at Banco de la Nación or via pagalo.pe, you must book an appointment online on the Interpol website. It's no longer possible to just show up at an Interpol office or make an appointment in person.

Some hurdles to conquer - technical issues

The Interpol appointment system is known for being "particular". If the page does not load or freezes:

• try reloading the page (be aware that entered data may be lost)
• consider using a different browser
• clear your browser cache

Please note:

• The Interpol appointment page generally only works from within Peru.
• If you are in Peru and using a VPN set to another country, turn it off.
• If you are outside Peru and want to try booking an appointment before arrival, a VPN set to Peru may work - sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t.

To reduce system errors, we also recommend:

• not using automatic translation tools
• disabling ad blockers
• avoiding incognito/private browsing modes

Some hurdles to conquer - availability of appointments

Interpol office in Lima

Getting an appointment at the Interpol office in Lima can be difficult - and sometimes close to impossible.

For quite some time now, Interpol has been releasing new appointments for Lima only on Saturday mornings. In practice, this means that you usually have a chance to book an appointment only between 8:00 am and 12:00 pm on Saturdays.

As demand is high and capacity limited, appointments are often gone within a few hours. This situation has been causing significant stress, especially for people who urgently need to apply for residency because their tourist stay is about to expire.

Technically, if not all appointments are taken by Saturday at noon, it is still possible to book later or on subsequent days. However, in recent months this has almost never happened.

If you are in Lima and need an Interpol appointment, be prepared to get up early on Saturday and spend a few hours in front of your computer trying to secure one. Or if you cannot get an appointment in Lima, consider getting your Ficha de canje at one of the Interpol offices in the provinces.

Interpol offices in the provinces

For Interpol offices outside Lima, new appointments are released on the 30th of each month for the following month.

Appointments in the provinces are usually not in such high demand and are readily available, so, you are generally not restricted to booking exactly on the 30th and you can book an appointment on almost any day.

Therefore, if you cannot get a timely appointment in Lima, consider taking a trip to one of the provincial Interpol offices in Arequipa, Chiclayo, Cusco, Piura, or Trujillo to obtain your Ficha de Canje.

Step-by-step guide: Booking your Interpol appointment

To schedule an appointment, go to the Interpol website. You will see the following page.

Click on Registre su cita and you are directed to this page.

Now just fill in following fields:

• Nacionalidad (Nationality):
  Select your home country. Country names are listed in Spanish (e.g. Estados Unidos / EEUU). Not all are alphabetically ordered, so you may need to search carefully.
• Tipo de documento (Type of document):
  Select the document with which you entered Peru (usually pasaporte).
• Número de documento (Document number):
  Enter your passport number.
• Apellido paterno (Last name):
  Enter your last name.

Click on Ingresar and you get to the Datos Personales (page 1).

Complete the required fields:

• Nacionalidad (Nationality):
  Already filled in.
• Tipo de documento (Type of document):
  Already filled in.
• Número de documento (Document number):
  Already filled in.
• Calidad migratoria (Immigration status):
  Select the visa category you are applying for (e.g. Cambio a inmigrante por familiar residente if you want to apply for a family visa, Cambio a rentista if you want to apply for a retirement visa, etc.).
• Apellido paterno (First last name):
  Already filled in.
• Apellido materno (Second last name):
  Optional; leave blank if you have only one last name.
• Nombre(s) (Name(s):
  Enter your first name(s) exactly as in your passport.
• Sexo (Gender):
  Choose your gender - either masculino (male) or femenino (female).
• Fecha de nacimiento (Birth date):
  Enter your date of birth.
• Estado civil (Marital status):
  Choose your marital status; soltero (single), casado (married), divorciado (divorced) or viudo (widowed).
• Estatura (Height):
  Enter your height in meters.
• Peso (Weight):
  Enter your weight in full kilograms.
• Nombre de padre (Father's first name):
  Enter your father’s first name.
• Nombre de madre (Mother's first name):
  Enter your mother’s first name.
• Nombre de cónyuge (Name of your spouse) 
  Optional
• Nombre de empresa (Name of your company):
  Optional

Double-check that all data is 100% correct, then click Siguiente and you get to the Datos Personales (page 2).

Now enter your current address in Peru, ideally exactly as shown on a utility bill (recibo):

• Departmento (Department):
  Enter the department (region, state); for example: Lima, Cusco, La Libertad, Madre de Dios, Ancash...)
• Provincia (Province):
  Enter the province; for example, Lima, Cusco, Trujillo, Tambopata, Huarmey.....)
• Distrito (District):
  Enter the district; for example: Miraflores, Cusco, El Porvenir, Las Piedras, Huarmey ...)
• Urbanizacion (Urbanization):
  Optional. You can enter here the area or housing development where you live.
• Direccion (Address):
  Enter the street and house number where you live.

Below that, enter your last address in your home country:

• Estado o ciudad (State or city):
  Enter the state or city where you last lived in your home country.
• Direccion (Address):
  Enter the street and house number where you last lived in your home country.

Click on Siguiente and you get to the Programar Cita page.

Under Comprobante, select where you paid the fee (Banco de la Nación or pagalo.pe) and enter the required receipt details:

• Numero de secuencia
• Fecha de comprobante
• Numero de Cajero

Then choose where and when you want your appointment:

• Sede (Branch):
  Select the Interpol office; Lima, Arequipa, Cusco, Chiclayo, Piura or Trujillo.
• Fecha (Date):
  Select an appointment date.
• Horas (Time):
  Select an appointment time.

Click Generar cita. 

If you are lucky, everything goes smoothly and you have an appointment. Download the appointment confirmation, print it, and keep it safe.

When selecting Lima, it is unfortunately common to see messages indicating that no appointments are available or for the page to freeze. In that case, reselect the sede or date and try again.

Here’s a helpful tip from our reader Phil making your life hopefully easier at that stage:

If you're on the page where you need to select your sede [Interpol office] and appointment time and it doesn't load, just reselect the sede or the date and wait, if the spinner stops or you see an error it probably didn't work and you can reselect. You don't need to press F5 to reload the page, doing so will lose all the input data from your comprobante.

As explained above new appointments are released:

• For the Lima Interpol office: Saturday mornings
• For the Interpol offices in the Provinces: on the 30th of each month

So, if you want to apply for the Ficha de Canje at the Lima office, be prepared to get up early on Saturday and spend a few hours between 08.00 am and 12.00 pm in front of your computer trying to secure an appointment. Good luck!

If time is critical and Lima does not work out, booking an appointment at one of the Interpol offices in the provinces is often the best solution.

Interpol Visit

On the day of your appointment, arrive 15–30 minutes early with all required documents at the Interpol office. Accompanying persons are usually not allowed (except for one assistant in case of disability).

Especially in Lima, the situation outside the building may appear chaotic, but once inside the process is usually well organized. Staff are generally friendly, and some English is spoken.

At the entrance, a guard will check your appointment confirmation and hand you a form to complete. You will then be directed to the waiting area.

In Lima (procedures in the provinces may differ), simply take the next available seat and move forward as people are called.

When it’s your turn:

• your documents are checked
• your photo is taken
• a brief visual check of your teeth is done
• fingerprints are taken

That’s it - the Ficha de Canje is issued immediately.

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

Update (since July 2024):

At certain Interpol offices (confirmed for Lima, Arequipa and Cusco), US Americans, Canadians, and Australians are no longer required to present the money order if they can show the original and leave a copy of their criminal record check from their home country with Apostille and official Spanish translation (which you need for a residence visa aplication anyway).

This is a significant relief. Hopefully, the practice will soon be adopted nationwide.

However, as the money order is still officially listed as a requirement and not all offices accept a criminal record check in its place, the explanation below remains relevant.

What the additional check is (and is not)

If you are a citizen of the US, Canada, or Australia, an additional criminal record check from the federal police authority of your home country (e.g. FBI, RCMP, AFP) may be initiated by Interpol.

This check:

• is not required by Migraciones
• does not replace the apostilled criminal record certificate needed for your visa application
• has no influence on whether your visa is approved

If something serious appears, you may be flagged, potentially leading to issues when leaving Peru, not during the visa process.

In some provincial offices, applicants have been sent to a nearby post office during their appointment to mail documents for this additional check and then return with the receipt before receiving their Ficha.

Be aware that:

• results may take many weeks or months
• the document does not come with an Apostille
• it cannot be used for your residence visa application

So, waiting for this document to use it to fulfill the "Antecedentes" requirement for a residence visa application is therefore not recommended and often counterproductive.

The best approach is to arrive in Peru already prepared with your apostilled criminal record check from home or apply for it independently.

You can find detailed guidance in our article “International document corresponding to the Antecedentes policiales, penales y judiciales in Peru.”

International document corresponding to the Antecedentes policiales, penales and judiciales in Peru

Legal Stuff

One of the requirements when applying for a resident visa in Peru or when changing your immigration status (for example, from a work visa to a perm...

Please note: LimaEasy is not a Peruvian government agency, public authority, or law firm. The information provided is based on our best knowledge and is intended as general guidance to help you understand Peruvian regulations and procedures. Regulations, requirements, and administrative practices may change at any time and without prior notice, so we recommend verifying current details with the relevant authorities before acting on this information.

And last but not least: If you notice any inaccuracies or outdated information on this page, please help us keep this guide up to date by leaving a comment below or contacting us via our contact form. Thank you for your support!