Peruvian Police Clearance Certificate and Criminal Background Check

Foreigners who live or have lived in Peru, as well as Peruvians, are often required to present a police clearance certificate or criminal background check from Peru for job applications, visa and immigration processess, academic and other official procedures in Peru and abroad. These certificates are called Antecedentes Policiales, Penales y Judiciales.

Depending on the purpose, Peruvian authorities issue three different background certificates that confirm whether a person has a police record, criminal record, or judicial history in Peru. Knowing which certificate you need and how to obtain it can save you time, money, and unnecessary stress.

In this guide, we explain the differences between the Certificado de Antecedentes Policiales, Penales y Judiciales, who needs which document, and how Peruvians and foreigners can apply for them in Peru or from abroad.

Table of contents

• Certificado de Antecedentes Policiales
• Certificado de Antecedentes Penales
• Certificado de Antecedentes Judiciales

Certificado de Antecedentes Policiales

Peruvian Police Clearance Certificate

The Certificado de Antecedentes Policiales (Police Clearance Certificate) is issued by the Peruvian National Police (PNP) after a background check. It states whether a person has had registered encounters with the police, was involved in criminal activities, or is under investigation.

This certificate is commonly required for:

• job applications in Peru or abroad
• visa and immigration processes
• academic or professional procedures
• administrative requests in Peru
• permits for tinted car windows

Note:
There are two versions of this certificate: one for use inside Peru and one for use abroad.

Requirements

• Identification
  • Peruvians: DNI
  • Foreigners: Carné
• Payment receipt

Paying the fee to obtain a Peruvian Police Clearance Certificate

The first step is paying the corresponding fee at the Banco de la Nación.

For national use

• S/ 5.40 for online/virtual application
• S/ 8.50 for in-person application

Peruvians can pay at any Banco de la Nación branch or via pagalo.pe under Policía Nacional del Perú (PNP) using code 08116.

Foreigners with a carné must pay at a Banco de la Nación branch and then apply in person at a police station (comisaría). Make sure the teller gives you the form to complete and present later.

For use abroad

• S/ 133.28

Payment only at Banco de la Nación branch. Again, ensure you receive the required form.

How to get a Peruvian Police Clearance Certificate

Peruvians:

• Online:
  Peruvians can apply for a Police Clearance Certificate online on the website of the Peruvian National Police.The website is known for being "particular" and 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 a VPN set to Peru may work - sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t. Additionally, do not use automatic translation tools, disable ad blockers and avoid incognito/private browsing modes.
• At selected Banco de la Nacion branches:
  Some Banco de la Nacion branches are connected to the police database and can issue the certificate within a few minutes after fingerprinting - but only if you hold a Peruvian DNI. A list of authorized Banco de la Nación branches is attached as a PDF at the end of this article.
• At police stations with a CERAP division:
  If your payment branch isn’t authorized to issue certificates or if you paid using pagalo.pe, visit a police station with a CERAP division.
• At MAC centers:
  In Lima and other major cities, you can also visit a MAC center. Examples include:
  • MAC Lima Norte (Plaza Norte, Av. Alfredo Mendiola 1400, ground floor, at the intersection of Av. Tomás Valle and Panamericana Norte, Independencia)
  • MAC Lima Este (Agustino Plaza, Av. Áncash 2151, El Agustino)
  • MAC Ventanilla (Municipalidad de Ventanilla, Av. La Playa s/n, near the Zona Comercial, in front of Plaza Cívica, Ventanilla)
  • MAC Callao (Mall Plaza Bellavista, Av. Óscar Benavides 3866, basement level 1, Urb. El Águila, Bellavista, Callao)
  • MAC Piura (Real Plaza, Av. Sánchez Cerro 234, Piura)
  • MAC Arequipa (Mall Aventura Porongoche, Av. Porongoche 500, Arequipa)

When visiting a police station or MAC center, present your DNI, the payment receipt, and the completed form, ideally with copies of each document. You will be fingerprinted and typically receive your Police Clearance Certificate for national use within a few minutes. Certificates for international use are usually available within 24 hours. Don’t forget to bring your ID when picking up the certificate.

Foreigners:

In Lima, foreigners can only apply for a police clearance certificate at the police station on Av. Aramburú.

Expect long lines and arrive early. Bring:

• Carné de Extranjería
• payment receipt
• completed form
• copies of everything

Once it’s your turn, submit your paperwork and complete fingerprinting. Staff will inform you when your certificate is ready for pickup, which is usually the next day.

In other Peruvian cities, usually only one designated office - often a Dirincri PNP office - handles police certificates for foreigners.

From abroad:

If you are no longer in Peru, you have two options:

• Grant power of attorney:
  You can grant someone in Peru a power of attorney to request the Police Clearance Certificate on your behalf (this usually applies only to certificates for international use).
• Contact a Peruvian consulate or embassy:
  Alternatively, you can contact the nearest Peruvian diplomatic mission abroad. According to the Peruvian Ministry of the Interior, consulates and embassies can guide and assist you with the process.

Certificado de Antecedentes Penales

Peruvian Criminal Record Certificate

The Certificado de Antecedentes Penales (criminal record certificate) is issued by the Poder Judicial del Perú. It confirms whether a person has ever been convicted of a crime by a Peruvian court. In other words, it is an official record of criminal convictions in Peru (not police encounters or investigations, only final convictions).

This certificate is commonly required for:

• job applications in Peru or abroad
• visa and immigration procedures
• residency applications in other countries
• certain international travel or administrative processes

For many years, obtaining this document meant queueing first at a Banco de la Nación branch and then again at the court. Today, the process is much easier: if you need the certificate for use inside Peru, it can be requested entirely online.

If you need it for use abroad, however, you still have to visit an authorized court office in person.

Requirements

• Identification
  • Peruvians: DNI
  • Foreigners: Carné
• Payment receipt

Paying the fee to obtain a Peruvian Criminal Record Certificate

The first step is paying the corresponding fee, either at a Banco de la Nación branch or online via pagalo.pe.

Authority: Poder Judicial

Code: 03670 - Certificado de antecedentes penales

Fee: S/ 40.40 (2026)

As you have likely already paid Migraciones fees before, you’ll be familiar with the process. If not, you can find detailed instructions in our article "Paying administration charges and processing fees in Peru".

How to get a Peruvian Criminal Record Certificate

For use in Peru:

If you need the Antecedentes penales for use in Peru, go to the Poder Judicial website under “Trámite de Certificado Electrónico de Antecedentes Penales”.

• Click on Nuevo Trámite.
• Enter your personal information.
• Input the details from your bank payment receipt.

Processing usually takes a few minutes to about 30 minutes. You can then download and print the digitally signed electronic certificate.

The certificate is valid for 90 days.

For use abroad:

If you need the Antecedentes penales for international use, you must visit the authorized office at the nearest court (a list is attached as PDF at the end of this article).

Bring:

• your ID (DNI/CE)
• your payment receipt
• copies of both

The certificate is often issued immediately, but allow up to 30 minutes.

The certificate is valid for 90 days.

From abroad:

If you are no longer in Peru and need the certificate in your country of residence, contact the nearest Peruvian consulate. They have access to the judicial system and can usually issue the certificate within minutes.

Certificado de Antecedentes Judiciales

Peruvian Judicial Background Certificate

The Judicial Background Record is issued by the National Penitentiary Institute (INPE) and shows if a person has been incarcerated in any Peruvian jail or has done community service as part of a sentence. The record details the exact time spend in prison as well as the sentence and other important judicial entries.

This certificate is commonly required for:

• job applications in Peru or abroad
• visa and immigration procedures
• residency applications in other countries
• study abroad programs
• credit card applications

Requirements

• Be over the age of 18
• Identification
  • Peruvians: DNI
  • Foreigners: Carné
• Payment receipt

Paying the fee to obtain a Peruvian Criminal Record Certificate

The first step is paying the corresponding fee, either at a Banco de la Nación branch or online via pagalo.pe.

• Authority: INPE
• Code: 00044 - Certificado de antecedentes judiciales nacionales
• Fee: S/ 37.70 (2026)

As you have likely already paid Migraciones fees before, you’ll be familiar with the process. If not, you can find detailed instructions in our article "Paying administration charges and processing fees in Peru".

How to obtain the Peruvian Judicial Background Certificate

Electronic certificate

Peruvians (except they were born abroad) and foreigners (with CE or PTP) can request the certificate online and receive an electronic certificate, usually within a few minutes. Just follow the link, click on "Tramite Virtual" and follow the instructions filling in the requested fields.

Physical certificate

If you need an original printed copy of the Judicial Background Report you have to visit the nearest INPE office. As far as we are aware, the only INPE office that issues the certificates for foreigners in Lima and Callao is the one on Jr. Lampa 450 in the city center.

Once there, present your identification and payment receipt (bring copies of both) and a carné sized photo. If you haven’t been incarcerated in Peru, the Certificado de Antecedentes Judiciales is usually issued within the next 30 minutes..

The Judicial Background Certificate is valid for 90 days.

Please note: We from LimaEasy are not a Peruvian government agency, a public authority or (immigration) lawyers. All information is published to our best knowledge and should be seen as general guidance introducing you to Peruvian regulations and procedures. All information is subject to change, as regulations, requirements, and processes can change quickly without prior notice!

And if you find something wrong on this page, please help us to keep this guide as up to date as possible and contact us either below with a comment or use our contact form. Thank you!