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Tourist Visa extension in Peru

Tourist Visa extension in Peru

How to extend your tourist stay in Peru (and who actually can)

For years, extending a tourist stay in Peru was possible, then impossible, then possible again - but ultimately only for a very small group of nationalities. Over the past two decades, regulations changed repeatedly, leaving many foreign visitors confused about whether - and for whom - extending a tourist stay in Peru is actually an option.

Since August 2021, Peru has generally not allowed tourist stay extensions anymore. This blanket “no” was softened in October 2023 with the implementation of new Migraciones administrative regulations (TUPA), which reopened the extension door but exclusively for nationals of Andean Community member states; and only these.

Shortly after, a modification of the Foreigner Law, Decreto Legislativo 1582, was published on November 14, 2023, confirming the general legal framework for tourist stays while making it clear that, in practice, extensions remain limited to just a handful of nationalities.

The modification of the Foreigner Law states that foreign tourists can stay a maximum of 183 accumulated days within a 365-day period. It further describes that if a tourist does not receive the full 183 days upon entry, an extension may be granted until the maximum is reached, unless international agreements specify otherwise or prohibit extensions.

At present, according to the current Migraciones administrative regulations (TUPA), only citizens of Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia can extend their stay as tourists. All other foreign nationals cannot extend their tourist stay in Peru. 

 

Table of Contents

To understand the current situation, it might help or be interesting to look at how tourist stay extensions evolved over time - from a relatively straightforward process to today’s highly restricted system.

 

Tourist visa extension in Peru, May 2018 to March 2020

From May 15, 2018 until March 2020, when Covid-19 reached Peru, foreign tourists who received less than the by the 2017 foreigner law allowed maximum 183 days in a 365-day period upon entry could extend their stay. The procedure was and still is officially called "Prórroga de Permanencia" and could be completed online.

However, only South American nationals covered by bilateral or multilateral agreements were supposed to have access to the online extension system. So, Migraciones seemed surprised to discover that all nationalities could suddenly extend online.

This led to frequent technical issues, including endless error messages such as “no data record found”, “information of the bank receipt not found”, or “requested extension days invalid”. Whether these problems were caused by poor programming or because the system was never intended for all nationalities remains unclear. Notably, the Banco de la Nación payment code for the procedure explicitly stated that it applied only to South American nationals.

A key change in June 2019

Anyway, in June 2019, it got a bit more complicated - welcome to Peru. The Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RREE) quietly published an updated list showing:

  • which nationals need a tourist visa issued by a Peruvian consulate before coming to Peru, and
  • which nationalities may enter Peru visa-free - and for how long.

With this publication, the long-standing rule of 183 days per year became outdated for most nationalities. Suddenly and mostly unnoticed, next to Schengen State nationals, many other nationalities including, US Americans and Canadians  were limited to 90 days in a 180-day period.

Immigration officers increasingly applied these new rules, granting only a max of 90 days upon entry and significantly increasing the number of tourists seeking extensions. A challenge for the already technically struggling extension system.

If you want to check the maximum length of stay allowed for your nationality, please refer to our PDF “Visas for Peru by Country and Allowed Length of Stay” at the end of this article. It is an English translation of the original publication by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which can be found on the government website.

 

Tourist visa extension in Peru, March 2020 to August 2021

In March 2020, Peru closed its borders and airports with virtually no notice due to Covid-19 and declared a State of Emergency. Thousands of tourists were stranded in the country for months.

The Peruvian government assured visitors that:

  • overstaying would not be penalized,
  • tourist stay extensions were unnecessary during the State of Emergency, and
  • a 45-day grace period would be granted once the emergency ended.

In mid-2020, back then all offices were still closed, Migraciones launched a new online platform: the Agencia Digital allowing foreigners to manage various immigration procedures online, including a change the immigration status (so, the application for a residence visa), the extension of a residence visa, the application for different permits (such as the permit to sign contracts). One menu option on the Agencia Digital was labeled “Prórroga de Permanencia”, so the extension of a temporary stay, which technically includes the stay as a tourist.

However, in 2021, two important legal texts were introduced:

Both documents excluded any provisions for tourist stay extensions, regulating only extensions for real temporary visas (such as temporary student or temporary work visas).

 

Tourist visa extension in Peru, August 2021 to October 2023

Despite still being in a State of Emergency, but air travel being open for months already, in mid-August 202, Migraciones announced that the grace period for overstaying tourists had ended. From August 20, 2021, anyone overstaying beyond that day had to pay the usual fine when leaving Peru.

At the same time, Migraciones made it clear that:

  • tourist stays would no longer be extended, and
  • visitors must either leave Peru or apply for a temporary or resident visa.

Since then, tourists only receive up to 90 days upon entry, and extensions are no longer granted, regardless of nationality.

 

Tourist visa extension in Peru for nationals of the Andean Community since October 22, 2023

As already explained above, since August 2021, foreign nationals - those who can travel to Peru visa-free and those who have a real tourist visa in their passport - cannot extend their stay as a tourist in Peru anymore. Additionally, upon entry all foreign visitors generally only receive up to 90 days. 

On October 22, 2023, however, a new TUPA, which establishes the Migraciones administrative regulations and procedures. was published - and with it, a significant but very limited exception.

Foreign tourists whose nationality belongs to the Andean Community - Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador - can once again extend their stay as tourists for up to an additional 90 days, provided they do not exceed the maximum of 183 days in a 365-day period.

Eligible travelers can apply easily via the Agencia Digital under “Prórroga de Permanencia”.

Please note: This option applies only to Bolivians, Colombians, and Ecuadorians. No other nationalities are currently eligible!

 

Tourist visa extension in Peru since November 14, 2023

On November 14, 2023, a modification of the Foreigner Law, Decreto Legislativo 1582, was published. It confirms that foreign tourists may stay in Peru for 183 accumulated days within a 365-day period.

It also states that if a tourist does not receive the full 183 days upon entry, an extension may be granted, unless international agreements or conventions specify a shorter stay or prohibit extensions.

Since the current TUPA, which establishes the Migraciones administrative regulations and procedures, still limits extensions to nationals of the Andean Community, tourist stay extensions remain unavailable for most foreign nationals.

 

Overstaying as a tourist in Peru

Once your allowed time as a tourist is up, you must either:

  • leave Peru, or
  • apply for a temporary or resident visa.

If you overstay, a fine of S/ 5.50 per overstayed day (0.1% of an UIT) applies in 2026 (S/ 5.35 in 2025) and must be paid when leaving the country.

See our article “Peruvian Overstay Fine for Tourists” for detailed explanations, legal background, and payment instructions.

Peruvian Overstay Fine for tourists

Peruvian Overstay Fine for tourists

Legal Stuff
Tourists who stay longer than the number of days granted upon entry to Peru must pay an overstay fine before leaving the country. While this is usu...

 

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 immigration 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!

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  • This commment is unpublished.
    Anthony
    Anthony · 25/07/2022
    I am a US citizen currently in Lima Peru.  My 183 days are almost up and I am flying back to California next week.  will I be able to extend my stay now, or will I be able to obtain a visa for excess of 6 months?  I hope to apply for a Retirement Visa on my return trip to Lima.  Information I have read so far on the internet, is either "does not apply to me" or "muddy, at best" 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 25/07/2022
      @Anthony Hello Anthony,

      Are you sure you got 183 days as a tourist when you entered Peru half a year ago? If so, consider yourself extremely lucky, as since August 2021, most nationalities, including US citizens, usually are only given 90 days.

      So, it might be wise to check on the Migraciones website how many days you got upon entry and if you probably are in Peru on an expired authorization right now. Be aware that if you didn’t get 183 days, but only 90, you overstayed around 90 days and have to pay S/ 4.60 per overstayed day, so a bit over S/ 400 before you are allowed to leave.

      And no, you can’t extend anymore. And why would you do that if you are leaving Peru next week anyway? And, in case you overstayed, you can’t apply for another temporary visa or a resident visa as for that, you must be in Peru on a valid visa /authorization. So if you want to apply for a retirement visa, leave Peru, use the time abroad to get all your documents together and when you return, immediately start the retirement visa application.

      In our article “Peruvian Retirement Visa” you find all the requirements and a walk-through of the application process.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Alexander
    Alexander · 21/07/2022
    Hello Sunflower, 

    First of all, thank you for providing a succinct yet comprehensive overview of the multitude of changes to the tourist visa system in Peru over the past few years. Much appreciated. 

    I have gone through the comment section to gather what aspects may apply to my situation but I figure I should still ask you and get your opinion/thoughts about my upcoming travel/volunteering plans in Lima, Peru. 

    I'm currently a medical student based in the US (will be traveling with a valid US passport) with plans to travel to Lima, Peru on September 26, 2022 to join a Peruvian-based non-profit health organization and support their organizational efforts from a research perspective and learn at the same time (to clarify, I will not be paid/will not earn a salary). I have been instructed from the organization's volunteer coordinator that there is no visa for volunteer work, so entering as a tourist is the correct visa. 
    visiting Peru on a "tourist visa? (particularly the first time in late September)?" Would this potentially complicate things by allowing them to question me more closely about salary

    ramifications besides paying the fine of 0.1% UTI/day overstayed? I do not and will not have another opportunity to visit Peru for quite a while after January 18, 2023, but I am concerned about the risk of acquiring a criminal record or anything

    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 21/07/2022
      @Alexander Hello Alexander,

      Thank you so much for your nice words.

      Even though unknown to many, Peru has a volunteer visa, the so-called visa cooperante. But to get one, the organization you are volunteering for has to jump through so many hoops and conquer so many hurdles that they just can’t or won’t help their volunteers getting one. Therefore, they just recommend visiting Peru as a tourist and then volunteer.

      However, strictly speaking, you are not allowed to volunteer in Peru as a tourist. A tourist visa, for those who can travel visa-free to Peru like you as US passport holder, the "temporary authorization to enter as a tourist", allows foreigners to stay in the country for touristic and recreational purposes only, not to volunteer.

      But as there is no other visa option to volunteer legally (expect for the visa cooperante), most foreigners just volunteer at a charitable organization or institution while being officially in the country as a tourist.

      You find more detailed information about the situation in our article “Peruvian Volunteer Visa - Visa cooperante”.

      With this being said, when you enter Peru as a tourist, not having been in Peru before within the last 180 days, you will usually get 90 days.

      Not sure what you mean by “allowing them to question me more closely about salary”. Who is them? The immigration officer you have to face? You are entering Peru as a tourist, so why would they question you about your salary (which you won’t have in Peru)? They might ask what your plans are. While keeping your answer short, you could tell them you want to extensively visit this beautiful country, you always wanted to see Machu Picchu or the highlands or the jungle region, you always wanted to get to know the real Peru and its people, taste the great food and a Pisco sour or whatever; just don’t tell them you are coming to volunteer.

      When I understood correctly, you will come to Peru on September 26 and leave on January 18. So, getting 90 days you are allowed to stay until December 15, leaving 34 days you will overstay.

      While I can’t and won’t recommend overstaying, if you overstay just a few weeks, you usually won’t have to fear any consequences. When you are leaving the country, you just have to pay the overstay fine (S/ 4.60 per day you overstayed in 2022; for the 2023 it will be a bit more) and then can leave Peru without further penalties.

      While the Peruvian foreigner law allows for stricter punishments such as re-entry bans, deportation, etc. these penalties are "reserved" for foreigners excessively abusing the law, overstaying many months or years, committing crimes, being involved in drugs, destroying cultural and historic sites, etc. While you should be aware that after December 15 you are illegal in the country, you surely won’t “acquire a criminal record or anything” by overstaying a few weeks.

      Have a great time in Peru

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Alexander
      Alexander · 21/07/2022
      @Sunflower Hi Eva, 

      Thank you very much for the prompt response and clarifications! They certainly provide ease of mind/clarity to my anticipated plans. 

      1. Thanks for clarifying about the volunteer visa. I forgot that I did indeed ask the volunteer coordinator about this, and you're right. The organization used to help arrange volunteers the visa to stay for longer but is currently not able to do so.

      2. I think this was implicit in your response but I did want to double confirm this. There shouldn't be any issues with multiple exits and re-entries into Peru within the 90-day period, correct?  

      3. Great, thank you for explaining the conditions surrounding "overstaying," especially in regards to the more serious legal/criminal consequences that I don't anticipate getting myself involved in.

      Truly appreciate your help again. Looking forward to my visit and stay in Peru!

      Best,

      Alexander 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 21/07/2022
      @Alexander Alexander, you are allowed to stay up to (!)  90 days in a 180-day period. When you enter, you get the "temporary authorization to enter as a tourist" which is just an entry in a database and granted automatically upon entry, and in most cases allows you to stay 90 days. It's valid for a one time (single) stay only.

      So, if you leave before the 90 days you were given are over, the remaining days expire automatically. If you re-enter Peru during your 180-day period, you technically get a new "temporary authorization to enter as a tourist". The authorization isn't a multiple entry visa. So, things can go many ways, as the number of days an immigration officer gives you is completely at his / her discretion.

      If you are lucky, you might get another full 90 days, or you just get the remaining days left over from your first trip (so if you spend 40 days during your first stay, you are only given 50 days when re-entering during your 180-day period) or the immigration officer gives you any amount of days he thinks appropriate.

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Alexander
      Alexander · 21/07/2022
      @Sunflower @Sunflower

      Thank you for clarifying that. Your explanations and examples are very clear! Much appreciated!

      Best, 

      Alexander
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Kasia
    Kasia · 20/06/2022
    Hello Sunflower, thank you very much for all the info. Please forgive me if that was already addressed in the comments, but I just wanted to make sure that I understand correctly.

    I entered Peru on the 7 of June this year and got 90 days (I am from Poland). I am having my partner joining me to travel in Peru in November, and with no extensions I would not be allowed to stay that long. My question is:  if I leave in a month, let's say after 45 days (to Chile or Bolivia) and will come back to Peru at the end of October (assuming I will get remaining 45 days of the "unused" 90 days), will my "180 days clock" reset on the 3rd of December (which it would counting from the date I have entered Peru for now - 7th of June)?
    And if so, would that mean that I  can finish my 45 days (from oryginal 90) in November and beginning of December, leave Peru on the 3rd of December  for a few days and come back with a new 90 days out of new 180 period? 
    I am sorry if that sounds a bit complicated, but essencially - is it possible that that 90 days are broken into two parts and the second one is back to back with a new stay on the new 180 period?
    Thank you so much for your help.
    Kasia
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 20/06/2022
      @Kasia Hello Kasia,

      Officially, you can stay in Peru as a tourist up to 90 days in a 180-day period. The 180-day period begins with your first entry; so in your case, June 7; it ends December 4. A second 180-day period would start on December 5.

      When you entered Peru, you got 90 days, meaning you could stay until September 5 and shouldn’t re-enter Peru again before December 5.

      If you don’t use the 90 days you were given and leave, for example, already after 45 days (which would be July 22), the remaining 45 days expire. But you could return to Peru in your first 180-day period without any problems and get a new “tourist visa” upon entry.

      According to the regulations, you then should only get up to 45 days. The question, however, is how many days the immigration officer gives you. It could be just the remaining 45 days; it could be less, or it could be another full 90 days. It’s completely at his/her discretion. So, you should be aware that you don’t have the right to get the full 90 days or when you reenter the full 45 days, you could get less or, if you are lucky, more.

      The same applies when you leave and return to Peru in December. Yes, then a second 180-day period starts and you should get another 90 days, but it’s up to the immigration officer if he/she gives you the full 90 days or less.

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Kasia
      Kasia · 20/06/2022
      @Sunflower Hi Eva, thank you so much for explicit break down of it all! I truly appreciate it. 
      I have another question though, before I found your page I wrote to immigration office with a similar question, and just got a reply, that states that it is 183 days in a year not 90 days in 180 days. Do you know where is that difference coming from (I have told them that I am from Poland). Here is their reply (coming from INFORMES@migraciones.gob.pe):

       "Estimado(a) Sr(a).
      Buenas tardes, gracias por contactarse con la Superintendencia Nacional de Migraciones. Respecto a la consulta le hacemos de conocimiento que, el tiempo de estadía para un ciudadano extranjero según la norma migratoria puede ser desde 01 día hasta 183 días, dentro del periodo de un año, el tiempo dependerá de la solicitud del usuario y/o la evaluación del Inspector u Oficial de migraciones responsable del control migratorio, efectivamente que se le descontaran solo los días que permanezca en el país y luego podría volver a entrar por los días restantes.

      Asimismo, indicarle que desde el 9 de Julio se aprobó el Nuevo Texto único de Procedimientos Administrativos- TUPA, a consecuencia de ello la calidad migratoria temporal de turista no es prorrogable en el territorio peruano, por lo que, si lo que usted desea extender su permanencia, podría solicitar un cambio de calidad migratoria, según las actividades que realizará en el País."

      It seems like they should have the most accurate knowladge about the regulations, but perhaps I am missing something here. Do you have any link to the official document that was announcing that 90 days in 180 period? 

      Thank you so much for that information or your input on the matter!
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 20/06/2022
      @Kasia Hello Kasia,

      Unfortunately, Migraciones doesn’t always give the most accurate answers to questions and is usually quite “creative” when replying.

      Anyway, yes, according to the Peruvian Foreigner Law, Decreto Legislativo 1350, page 60 article 29 h or screenshot below, foreigners can stay in Peru up to 180 days in a 365-day period as a tourist, so half a year in one year. That’s the maximum.

      However, what Migraciones forgot to mention in their mail to you is that according to a publication of the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RREE), see page 4 or screenshot below, the max time for Polish nationals per entry is up to 90 days in a 180-day period. And if you get 2 times 90 days in two consecutive 180-days periods, you have your half a year in a year, the max allowed by the Foreigner Law.

      While the statement of Migraciones isn’t wrong per se, it’s extremely misleading as since August 2021 immigration officers go by the RREE publication and won’t give 180 days anymore when entering, just up to 90 days.

      Misleading as well mentioning that the extension of the tourist visa won’t be possible anymore with the new TUPA starting in July 2022; it’s not possible anymore since August 2021 and they should know that.

      And pointing out the option to change your immigration status from tourist to a “real” temporary visa such as a temporary work visa, a temporary student visa, temporary art visa, temporary religious visa, etc. which are valid up to one year, isn’t really helpful, if you have a look at the requirements you have to fulfil (see Decreto Supremo 002-2021-IN, page 29 of the document starting with article 71-A).

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Kasia
      Kasia · 24/06/2022
      @Sunflower Thank you very much!
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Joe Ek
    Joe Ek · 07/06/2022
    Hello Sunflower,
    Thank you for the excellent article! 
    I am a US citizen with a Peruvian fiance. I arrived in Peru on June 14th, 2021. I left February 2nd, 2022. Obviously, I overstayed my visa. Upon departure I paid the overstay fine and even asked the gentleman if I would have any problems returning and he said no. One thing that struck me odd was that the fine did not seem to add up; it seemed as if I only paid for the days past 183 eve though I was given 90 days upon entry. Strange. But anyway I paid the fine without any drama. I have a flight booked for September 10, 2022. This would put me out of Peru for just over 7 months. Do you predict any problems for me? Has enough time passed for me to return without incident? 
    On a side note, I also had my passport renewed so I would be entering with a new passport number. 
    Thank you very much!
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 07/06/2022
      @Joe Ek Hello Joe,

      Thanks a lot for your nice words.

      I’m not sure how they calculated your overstay fee, but when you entered in June 2021, they should have given you 183 days (they only started with enforcing the 90 days at the end of August). Or they only counted your 90 days starting from August 20, 2021, when the grace period for foreigners being in the country on an expired tourist visa /authorization to enter as a tourist was over. Or someone couldn’t count / didn’t know how to calculate the days or was just nice. Not sure.

      Anyway, I think you shouldn’t have any problem re-entering Peru in September and getting 90 days, especially as you are now traveling on a new passport. However, it’s always at the discretion of the immigration officer how many days he/she gives you.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    George
    George · 01/06/2022
    Hi there,

    I entered Peru in August 2021 and overstayed slightly and had to pay a fee as mentioned above. (I’m a UK National).

    What’s the regulations regarding re-entering Peru on a new tourist visa? I heard something about it only being allowed after passing a 365 day period from when you first entered, however I’m not too sure and can’t find official confirmation of this anywhere. I’ll be going back in August this year so wanted to see what might happen before I buy flights and try to re-enter - any thoughts or advice on this?

    Hi there,

    I asked a question a minute ago - forget that as I’ve got more specifics here. Apologies it might seem confusing but I would really like some help with this if possible.

    I arrived in Peru on the 24th July 2021, however left
    on the 21st October 2021 (this was Day 90). I came back in again on 11th December, and stayed on until the 21st February this year.

    I think in the first 180 day period (which was up until the 18th January) I overstayed 40 days, and when I then left in February I paid the fee to leave (no long discussion - simply paid and left for Brazil).

    Now here comes my question! The second 180 day period runs from 19th January until the 21st July, and during that time I stayed only 34 Days. So in total (overall) I stayed 164 days in Peru over the two 180 day periods.

    Now I’m thinking of going back to Peru in August. Having read the regulations mentioned in this thread, it seems that by the time the third 180 day period starts (22nd July), I should be clear to re-enter after this as I stayed 164 out of a possible 180 days. Does this seem right? Also do you think I might be banned from re-entering due to overstaying 40 days before?

    Thanks so much for your help!
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 01/06/2022
      @George Hello George,

      I have combined your two comments.

      Anyway, I can’t give you a 100% guaranteed answer, as there are no regulations on how to count the 180-day periods for those visitors who have overstayed. So, here are just my two cents.

      When you returned to Peru in December 2021, you came back before your first 180-day period was over even though you already stayed the 90 days allowed and, when I calculated correctly, only were given 30 days which you “abused” by overstaying 40 days.

      But, when you return in August 2022, you haven’t overstayed the for tourists allowed maximum 183 days in a year (365 days) as laid down by the Foreigner Law Decreto Supremo 1350. So, in my opinion your third 180-day period should start either on July 19, 2022 (after two 180-day periods as described in the publication of the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs) or on July 24, 2022 (after 365 days according to the Foreigner Law).

      If you return to Peru in August, you surely won’t be banned from re-entering and, in my opinion, you shouldn’t even have a problem to get another 90 days as a new 180-day period should start. But it’s always up to the immigration officer how he or she interprets the laws and evaluates your situation.

      I wish you all the best.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Spax
    Spax · 31/05/2022
    Hey Sunflower,

    first of all thanks for this very informative article and all the individual visa-related situations you addressed just as meticulously. You can not imagine how incredibly helpful all that input is. I also have a question. 

    I am from Germany and here on a tourist visa. I am planning to overstay my tourist visa for 2-3 weeks. Since I am planning to go on a domestic flight within Peru after my visa is expired..

    1) Will I have to worry about airlines checking my digital entry stamp? Normally not, right? And I also wont have to go past immigrations either on such a flight, right? 
    2) Upon exiting Peru, how likely is it that an immigration officer will impose an entry ban for Peru on me on top of paying the fine for overstaying? Which consequences could such an entry ban have for traveling other countries within South America? 
    3) If I am detained by the police for whatever reason when my visa is expired already, how likely is it that the police officers can check the digital entry stamp on my passport and what would be the consequences if they notice I am overstaying? 

    Thanks and keep up the good work! 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 31/05/2022
      @Spax Hello Spax,

      Thank you so much for your nice words. Great to hear that the information we publish is helpful.

      Answer to question 1

      Usually, there is no need to worry (even though I would), but especially at the airport, there is always a chance that someone will not only check your passport but also have a look at their computer. But it’s not the airline staff, it might be immigration officers doing random checks or police or the narcotics unit or whoever.

      If everything works as usual, at Lima’s airport you check in on the ground floor, then go to the second floor, pass the security check and  turn right to the gates for the national flights. And no, there are no immigration counters. However, there might be staff checking the passports.

      Personally, I wouldn’t fly nationally on an expired tourist visa and won’t recommend it, but under normal circumstances, you shouldn’t have a problem. But who knows …

      Answer to question 2

      If you haven’t overstayed your tourist visa in Peru (excessively) before and just overstayed two or three weeks, it’s extremely unlikely that they will punish you with a re-entry ban. Pay the S/ 4.60 per overstayed day before you leave, don’t start unnecessary discussion with the immigration officer, be friendly and you should be fine. Personally, I think that’s nothing to worry about. And the re-entry ban for Peru won’t affect travel to and in other South American countries.

      Answer to question 3

      Honestly, I can’t answer this question as there are so many variables that are unpredictable. Depending on the situation, police can and might check your immigration status, but if they just stop you for whatever reason, that’s unlikely; if you are arrested probable. If they find out that you overstayed things can go three ways, here as well depending on the severity of the situation: either you can talk your way out of it or you are asked to pay a bribe and they let you go or they go the official route and issue an “orden de salida” (extremely unlikely as you leave in a few days anyway; but it might be used in combination with a threat of jail and deportation to scare you and get more money out of you).

      Enjoy the rest of your time in Peru.

      Greetings

      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Sarah
    Sarah · 29/05/2022
    Hi,

    I returnee to Peru today from the Ecuador border and was thankfully given a month stay. Prior to this I was in Peru from November 2021 to March 2022 and just paid a fine before crossing to Ecuador. I am recently planing to return to Canada for the summer and I asked the lady at immigration if they would allow me to return in September and she said no since the 90 days are over. I am very sad because I started a life here and have a boyfriend as well. I am not sure what my option are to be able to return in the future since it seems that it is only possible until next year. Anybody know or experienced this before? Thank you 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 30/05/2022
      @Sarah Hello Sarah,

      As every country around the globe Peru has laws regulating how long tourists can stay in the country. While for years, Peruvian immigration was quite lax, since August 2021 they seemingly enforce the allowed time foreigners can be in Peru more strictly. So, most nationalities are allowed 90 days in a 180-day period as a tourist; so, up to three months in Peru and at least 3 months out of Peru.

      Unfortunately, you not only overstayed your welcome by at least a month, but additionally re-entered the country before your 180-day period was over. So, you stayed already at least 4 months during your first visit, now you got another month, leaving you with only one month in two 180-day periods.

      While I personally think, you won’t have a problem to enter Peru in September, your return can go two ways: either the immigration officer you have to face, does his/her job by the book and will give you only anything between a few days and a month. Or you are lucky, no-one bothers, and you get another 90 days. The question is if you want to take the risk.

      In my opinion the best would be to wait with your return until November, so a year (two 180-day periods) after you first entered. Then, you can expect to get another 90 days. And if you plan to spend more time in Peru and, as you said, continue with your life here, you should apply for a resident visa. The times of living in Peru on a tourist visa are over.

      Sorry.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Haqdil
    Haqdil · 29/05/2022
    Hello Sunflower.
    First of all thank you very much for the clear information.

    I am a Pakistani living in Germany. My girlfriend is Peruvian. I have been in a relationship for more than 2 years. Since I have a Pakistani passport, I have to apply for a visa every time I want to visit her in Peru. The consulate/embassy of Peru in Germany is aware of my situation as I have applied for a visa there three times already. The last time I was issued a visa valid for one year (Jan 21, 2022 to Jan 20, 2023) with a 183 day stay permit.

    I was in Lima this year on February 15 to March 15th. On March 15th 2022 I have to return to Germany for work and study reasons.

    Now I plan to travel to Peru again in July/August 2022 with the same visa. My visa is valid, but I suspect that it has exceeded the 183 days of the stay permit (which started on February 15 when I first entered Peru this year).
    I don't know how long I can legally stay in Peru (if I go)? or do I also need to apply for an extension? or is there any way to get a longer residence permit (like 2 or 3 years)?

    I asked the consulate here in Germany to give me a longer residence permit so that I don't have to apply for a visa again and again. They answered me that this is not possible.

    Marriage is not an option at the moment because we are both financially unstable. A business is also not possible. But maybe in the future (not right now).
    Can you please give me some information about my situation. I would be very grateful for this.

    Best:
    Haqdil
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 29/05/2022
      @Haqdil Hello Haqdil,

      Usually, tourist visas issued by a Peruvian consulate are single-entry visas; so, you can enter Peru only one (!) time and stay the allowed number of days. Once you leave the country, even when you haven’t stayed the allowed time, you cannot use the visa again and have to apply for a new visa to be able to return. Sometimes, however, multiple-entry visas for tourism purposes are issued by the consulates. With this, you can enter and leave Peru multiple times during its one-year validity as long as you don’t exceed the maximum number of days; so, adding all days of your different visits shouldn't exceed 183 days.

      So, the question is, do you have a single-entry or a multiple-entry tourist visa? If you have a single entry-visa you have to apply for a new one when you travel in July. If you have a multiple-entry visa and just “used” around 1 month, then you can enter Peru again with it and stay up to another 5 months. In case you stay again only once a month, you can return with the same visa, for example, in December and stay another month or until your visa expires in January.

      When I understand your current situation correctly, your center of life at the moment is in Germany and you just come to Peru for short visits. In this case applying for a residence visa makes little sense, as once you got residency you must be in Peru for at least 183 days per year, otherwise you lose your residency again. So, at least for now I don’t see any longer-term visa options for you, simply because you don’t stay long periods of time in the country.

      However, to make your life and your travel to Peru easier, you should apply for a multiple-entry tourist visa in case you don’t have one already. If you already have one, visits to the Peruvian consulate for re-applying are just once a year, so not too bad.

      Sorry.

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Haqdil
      Haqdil · 01/06/2022
      @Sunflower Dear Eva
      Thank you very much for responding in details
      Yes, I have a multiple entry visa for 1 year validity ( I had it twice)
      What I understood that 183 stay permit starts once I enter Peru, either I stay complete 183 or not but then the visa validity will be only up to 183 from the date of entry.

      I asked the embassy about it. Below is the reply
      "Your visa is for multiple entries so you can re-enter during the period
      several times, as long as it does not exceed 183 days in total"

      So does that mean 183 days of total stay ? any time when I am not in Peru is not considered? (as you mentioned above)?

      So there is no other way from which I can ask for Temporary/permanent resident for a longer time?

      Thanks

      Best:
      Haqdil
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 01/06/2022
      @Haqdil Great that you have a multiple-entry visa. Then you can stay in Peru 183 days in a year; so, all days from all your visits are added and shouldn't exceed 183 days. The time you aren't in Peru is not considered.

      As mentioned above, you stayed already one month, now you have 5 more months left until your visa expires. You can stay July and August in Peru, so another 2 months, still leaving you with 3 months that you could spend in Peru until your visa expires.

      And no, there is no way to apply for a resident visa if you aren't in Peru for at least 183 days in a year. If you, however, plan to complete a semester or two in Peru, then you could apply for a temporary or resident student visa which is valid for one year and then has to be extended for which you, of course, have to be in Peru.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Jamin Julie
    Jamin Julie · 25/05/2022
    Hi sunflower, do you have a reliable email address i could use to contact immigration ? Thank you 😊 
  • This commment is unpublished.
    MarkM
    MarkM · 24/05/2022
    Hi sunflower, thanks for the useful article! Wondering if you could advise on my situation. I'm an Australian here on the tourist 90 day visa, already been here for 1.5 months, and need to be here for the month of August which is currently 2 months away (3 months including staying in August).  I have a flight back home end of August, and I'll stay outside of Peru until 183 days have passed when I'll come back with all the necessary documents to apply for a family visa as my finance is Peruvian. So Im deciding if I should leave right away to Chile avoiding any overstay, leave to Chile in a few weeks and risk just a week or so overstay, or just stay and have about 2-3 months overstay. Main concerns are if it will cause any problems 1) getting back in on another tourist visa after the 183 days, and 2) cause any issues applying for the family visa. Do you have an opinion on what would be best?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 25/05/2022
      @MarkM Hello Mark,

      What a tricky situation.

      You said that you are already in Peru for 1.5 months, so 45 days. That means you entered the country around April 10, and, if you got 90 days, have to leave latest July 9. Correct? So, until the end of August, when you plan to leave, you would overstay less than 2 months.

      I can’t tell you what’s the best, guaranteed successful and less risky way to handle your situation as there are so many unpredictable variables. In my opinion you have two options, which one is the best for you, I don’t know; that’s up to you to decide:

      Option 1

      Just overstay, pay the fine (S/ 4.60 per overstayed day) when you leave and return earliest 90 days after you left. You are allowed to stay a maximum of 90 days in a 183-day period: so, three months in Peru, three months out of Peru. I think, it isn’t necessary to stay out of Peru for half a year, as you wrote. You paid the fine for overstaying your welcome and your infringement should be compensated by that.

      As things stand today (this might or might not change in the future) you shouldn’t have a problem re-entering Peru after your stay in Australia and getting another 90 days. But be aware that it’s always at the discretion of the immigration officer you have to face how many days he or she gives you. If you are having trouble, just schmooze a bit, tell them you are getting married and blablabla. If you don’t overdo it and the immigration officer has a heart, this usually works.

      And again, as things are today (which might change or not) you don’t have a problem applying for your residence visa when you have overstayed your tourist visa before (at least if you haven't overstayed excessively, meaning a year or more).

      Option 2

      Leaving for Chile for me only makes sense if you can ensure that you then don’t overstay. So, let’s assume you leave today. That means you stayed in Peru 45 days of your 90 allowed days in the 183-day period. When you return, you should at least get the remaining 45 days. But, as already mentioned above, it’s always up to the immigration officer, so he or she can give you only 10 days or 30 days or only the remaining 45 or, if you are really lucky, another 90 days.

      If you leave for Chile shortly before your tourist visa expires and try to return before your 183-day period is over, things can go two ways: upon returning to Peru

      - either the immigration officer is doing his/her job by the book, scolds you and only gives you a few days (unfortunately I don’t have feedback on how strict they are at the land borders, at the airport in Lima people usually only get anything between 3 and 30 days in such cases)

      - or you are lucky, no one bothers, and you get another 90 days.

      So, the question is if you are willing to take the risk.

      No matter how you decide, I highly recommend using your time in Peru and in Australia to prepare as much as possible and already get appointments before you return where necessary. When you return to Peru, you only get a max of 90 days and getting through the steps for your marriage, getting your marriage certificate and the Interpol ficha, which you need for your family visa application, takes time which you don’t have and obstacles or delays, which you can’t afford, are nothing uncommon. So, plan ahead and hope everything works smoothly.

      All the best.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Lili
    Lili · 24/05/2022
    Hi Sunflower,

    Do you have any idea how could I possibly get a temporary residency in Peru? I entered as a tourist and I have already overstayed for nearly 3 months. I would like to stay longer and if possible open a business together with my friend, but I am not sure that is possible at the moment while I have an "illegal status". Thanks for the article, it was really helpful 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 24/05/2022
      @Lili Hello Lili,

      As long as you are in Peru on an expired tourist visa, you will have problems getting anything substantial done, but you can still get as much information about options as possible and probably even prepare as much as possible for a possible setup of a company and / or the application for a resident visa.

      Anyway, to apply for residency, you have to be in the country on a valid visa. So, before you can apply, you have to leave the country. The question is if you can fulfil the requirements for a certain resident visa and for which. Married to a Peruvian or child of a Peruvian? Then you could apply for a family visa. Or are you employed by a Peruvian company? Then apply for a work visa. Are you considering studying in Peru? Then the visa formación is the right one… Do you have all necessary documents? If not, try to get them.

      If none of this applies to you, you wrote, you think of opening a business. That’s a good start. For quite some time now it is possible to set up a Peruvian company as a foreigner (be aware that you need a Peruvian (silent) partner who owns a small percentage), then employ yourself as the general manager, get your contract approved by the Peruvian Labor Ministry and then apply for a resident work visa. I highly recommended to discuss the details with a trusted Peruvian notary or lawyer, as you should be aware of all implications and, if you are going this way, need everything to work smoothly.

      So, if no other resident visa fits you, in your situation I would first contact a notary (or lawyer) and prepare as much as possible for setting up your company on your expired tourist visa. Once all the preparation work is done, you need to leave the country, return to Peru and hope that the immigration officer you have to face gives you enough days to complete the setup of your company, get your contact approved and apply for your visa.

      I wish you all the best.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Alex
    Alex · 28/04/2022
    I entered Peru on March 20, 2022. I would like to stay more than 90 days, but have not budgeted for the fees I would accrue. If I leave at or just before my 90 days are up, and go to Ecuador, how soon could I come back to Peru for another 90 days? 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 28/04/2022
      @Alex Hello Alex,

      According to a publication by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RREE) which you can find at the end of this article above the comments as “Attachment” in an English translation or here as original, most nationalities can stay up to 90 days in a 180-day period in Peru as tourists; so you can stay up to three months in Peru and then have stay at least three months out of Peru.

      If you leave Peru and try to re-enter the country before your 180-day period is over or rather before your three months you are supposed to stay outside Peru, two things can happen:

      - either the immigration officer you have to face doesn't bother and just lets you in giving you another 90 days

      - or he/she is doing his/her job by the book, might give you a hard time (so be prepared for some discussion) and only allows you to return to Peru for a few days.

      As land borders only opened in mid-February 2022, after being closed for nearly 2 years, I can’t tell you how strict or relaxed the officials are there at the moment. Over the past months travelers, who already stayed their allowed 90 days in a 180-day period, reported that when trying to re-enter the country at Lima’s airport (!) before their 180-day period was over, that they were scolded and only given anything between 7 and 30 days.

      So, leaving Peru and trying to re-enter a few days later is a huge gamble which might not pay off taking the costs for travel to Ecuador, staying there, the stress and uncertainty into account.

      If you want to make sure that you get another 90 days, only come back to Peru three months after you left.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Sara
    Sara · 23/03/2022
    Hi Sunflower,

    I am currently staying in Peru with no visa, as my plan was to leave before 90 days. I want to travel to Bolivia via land border, but now it looks like I will be leaving at the 90th or 91th day. So maybe there will be one day overstaying. Should I try to avoid this, or can I just pay the fee? (I don't mind that, but want to make sure I can cross the border). 

    Have a nice day!

    Sara
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 23/03/2022
      @Sara Hello Sara,

      As you are leaving exactly 90 days after you entered Peru or probably just overstay a day, I, personally, would do nothing at all, just proceed to immigrations at the border and see if they even bother. However, as the land borders just re-opened in mid-February I'm not sure how strict they are.

      So, as you probably will travel by bus and try to avoid any complications and delays at the border, it might be a good idea that, in case you overstayed, you pay the fine for the one overstayed day of S/ 4.60 beforehand on pagalo.pe. So, if immigrations tries to give you a hard time because of the one overstayed day, just show them your payment receipt. That should end all discussions.

      Have a nice trip.

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sara Vestergaard
      Sara Vestergaard · 23/03/2022
      @Sunflower Hi Eva,

      Thank you so much. I will pay the fee just to be sure 😊

      Thank you!

      Kind regards,
      Sara 
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Margharita
    Margharita · 16/03/2022
    Hello Sunflower,

    First of all, thank you for all the information you have provided :)

    I entered Peru in October last year and received a 90-day visa. Strangely enough, the border control officer assured me that it was possible to extend to 183 days - I only found out later that this option was not valid at that point in time anymore.

    Since I had planned to stay longer than 90 days anyway, I contacted MIGRACIONES through their online chat to inquire about my options. I was informed that I could stay simply longer paying the daily fee of 4.60 Soles until accumulating 183 days.

    My question is, what could possibly happen if I overstayed another 30 days or so? Would I just have to pay the fee of [(183+30)-90]*4.6 soles? Most likely I would be unable to return within a year, that's clear to me. But apart from that, could there be any other, more severe, legal actions (such as "salida obligatoria del pais" etc.)?

    Thank you for your time.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 17/03/2022
      @Margharita Hello Margharita,

      I’m always stunned at how “creative” the answers of Peruvian immigration officers and Migraciones are. Often, they lack any legal or factual basis and just show a huge deficit of knowledge regarding the Peruvian foreigner law, publications of the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, current regulations, and changes.

      Anyway, at the moment, most foreign nationals are allowed to stay in Peru as a tourist 90 days; there is no extension and no overstaying until having accumulated 183 days isn’t that bad or a big deal.

      You should be aware that from the day your tourist visa (which isn’t a “real” visa, but rather an authorization to enter for tourism purposes for x days) expires, you are illegally in the country. The Peruvian foreigner law speaks of a “situación migratoria irregular”.

      However, as things stand today, Migraciones is quite lax regarding foreigners overstaying. No matter if they overstay a week, a month, 3 months, half a year, or even a year, they usually just have to pay a fine - which is the first level of sanctions - of S/ 4.60 (2022) per overstayed day when leaving and won’t get sanctioned in any other way.

      But, you never know what happens; regulations and their execution can change from one day to another, or for whatever reason you are checked by not so friendly police or immigration officers, or you are at the wrong time, in the wrong place, with the wrong person and this with an expired visa. Not good. And then level 2 (salida obligatoria with re-entry ban for up to 5 years or without) or level 3 (expulsion with re-entry ban for up to 15 years or without) sanctions that the Peruvian foreigner law (Decreto Legislativo 1350, see article 54, 57 and 58) stipulates could or might be enforced.

      Nevertheless, when it comes to foreigners, officials are instructed to always use the principle of proportionality and first always the “mildest measure”, which would be the overstay fine. And personally, I only know of a few cases who got a re-entry ban for excessively, meaning a year and more, overstaying and just a handful of people who were sanctioned with a salida obligatoria /deportation (mostly for being involved in criminal activity, not following Peruvian laws, etc.)

      So, all in all, while I highly recommend not overstaying your welcome and respecting the time you were given to stay in Peru, honestly, as things are today (!!!), it doesn’t make a difference if you overstay 90 or 120 days. The situation is the same, the possible consequences as well. Before leaving, you have to pay the S/ 4.60 per overstayed day.

      Let’s assume you entered Peru on October 15, 2021, and got 90 days, which means you can stay until January 13, 2022. Starting January 14, 2022, for every day you stay longer you have to pay the S/ 4.60. Let’s assume you leave on April 14, 2022, you have to pay for 90 days overstaying, so  S/ 414; or if you stay until May 4, 2022 (calculated from January 14 you overstayed 110 days) you have to pay S/ 506.

      To pay the fine you can either walk up to immigrations at the airport or at the border, they will calculate the overstayed days for you, and you pay the fine at the Banco de la Nacion branch or online on pagalo.pe, return to them and then usually can leave. Or you calculate the overstayed days yourself, enter pagalo.pe, on the top of the page select “Migraciones” and then “00675 Multa Extranjeros - Exceso Permanencia (por dia)”, on the next page under concepto choose the year 2022, enter your passport number and the number of days you overstayed and pay. When leaving Peru, just show the payment receipt.

      Greetings
      Eva


    • This commment is unpublished.
      Margharita
      Margharita · 17/03/2022
      @Sunflower Hello Eva,

      Thank you so much for your detailed answer. I very much appreciate that.

      I overstayed once before, in 2014. Of course, as you mentioned, Peruvian regulations were somewhat different back then. It really was not much of an issue to pay the fee and pass the migrations office in the airport.

      However, considering the recent regulatory changes after the pandemic, I felt like things have become a little more strict - especially when exceeding 183 days within a 365-day period.

      As from what I know, and as already mentioned by you, the Decreto Legislativo N°1350 is the current regulation in action, where chapter 2 (De las conductas y sanciones a nacionales y extranjeros) states the possible sanctions that may be implemented by migraciones. Perhaps you could kindly share your point of view on the following information?

      Article 56 ("Multa") A states that a foreigner will have to pay a fee (0.1 % of UIT per day) when having overstayed at the moment of departing from Peru. This sounds a lot like the situation of a tourist arriving at the airport and having overstayed an X amount of days.

      Article 57 ("Salida obligatoria del país") B states that a foreigner will be prompted to leave Peru in case the granted duration of stay was exceeded and not extended within the stipulated period. That somehow sounds a lot like Article 56 A; However, I understand that Article 57 B is rather applied to cases when e.g. a "carné de extranjería" was not renewed within the necessary period (every 2 years or so). Perhaps I should also add that a tourist "visa" de facto cannot be extended, hence Article 57 cannot be applied to somebody with a tourist visa.

      Article 58 seems mainly applicable to tough cases such as using false travel documents, comitting certain crimes, and ignoring the request to leave the country (Article 57).

      Well, these are my interpretations and I am far from being a specialist in migratory law :D
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 17/03/2022
      @Margharita Hi again,

      I’m not an immigration specialist or lawyer either and my interpretation as well as yours (sorry) is irrelevant, but it’s important that we know the laws in case we need them. Unfortunately, the person in charge is the immigration officer you have to face when you enter or leave; you are at his or her mercy and can only pray that he/she knows the current regulations and has a heart.

      Additionally, yes, Migraciones tries for ages to regulate and organize immigration issues and enforce the laws. But whenever they closed a loophole, another would pop up, something unforeseen would happen, and corruption plays a part as well. But since August 2021 they really seem to be stricter, however land borders just opened a month ago and it will be interesting to see if and how enforcing the stricter regulations work there.

      Article 56 just lists the cases for which foreigner can be sanctioned. For example a) exceso de permanencia (excess of your temporary stay, so overstaying your tourist visa). And yes, according to the law the fine has to be paid “at the moment” you leave the country. But the law is from 2017. Back then, pagalo.pe wasn’t a thing, and you just went to the airport or border. The immigration officer would give you a piece of paper with the days you overstayed and send you to the nearest Banco de la Nacion to pay. You returned with the receipt and could leave (you still can do it this way today). Now, you as well can pay before going to the airport / border or at the immigration counter with the pagalo.pe app.

      As already mentioned above, the payment of the fine for overstaying is a first level sanction, the mildest measure to penalize those visitors staying longer than allowed; and everyone overstaying no matter the time has to pay.

      Then, you have another sanction, let’s call it level 1.5, that isn’t mentioned in the foreigner law in this context (only in the context of the salida obligatoria and the expulsion), the re-entry ban. No matter how long you overstayed, additionally to the overstay fine, the immigration officer can penalize you for overstaying and impose an entry ban for half a year or a year or two years... It’s completely up to him/her. Someone just recently posted a comment (not sure if it was here on the visa extension page or elsewhere on LimaEasy) sharing that he overstayed once for quite some time, just paid the fine and left with no further problems and then overstayed excessively another time and got a re-entry ban.

      Article 57 explains in which cases a salida obligatoria can be imposed on foreigners. b) is not meant for foreign residents (carné holders), but for foreigners who are in “an irregular migratory situation because of exceeding their temporary stay (“encontrase en situación migratoria irregular por exceder el tiempo de permanencia”), so exactly for people like you who overstayed their tourist visa. Nowhere does the text mention “extension”, but “regularización”, so getting your immigration status in order. This could be done by extending your tourist visa, which isn’t possible anymore, or by applying for a resident visa.

      So, yes, if you overstay your tourist visa, legally it’s possible to order a compulsory departure. Is it common? No. As the salida obligatoria doesn’t make sense when you are already at the airport or border leaving the country and Migraciones doesn’t look for overstayers, they first have to find you when you are in Peru. Usually that doesn’t happen. But if you for whatever reasons end up in a random police control, have an accident, or whatever when being in Peru on an expired tourist visa, a compulsory departure - though rare - is a possible measure (or a threat a not so nice official could use to convince you to better support him financially).

      Article 58 yes, exactly

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Margharita
      Margharita · 23/07/2022
      @Sunflower Hello Sunflower,

      It's been a while since I asked you for advice here. However, in the meantime, I returned to Europe (without any issues), and I'd like to report my experience regarding overstaying in Peru on a tourist visa. I hope that may be of help to any fellow tourists, even though I recommend not overstaying as a tourist in Peru.

      As mentioned above, I arrived in Lima in October 2021, expecting to be able to stay in Peru for a maximum number of 180 days. However, shortly after my arrival, I learned that tourist visas are now only issued for a maximum number of 90 days. Since I had not planned to return to Europe before April 2022, I contacted the Superintendencia de Migraciones and asked for advice. I was told that I could overstay and that I'd only have to pay a daily fee of 0.1 % UIT per day (approx. 4.60 soles). I ended up staying in Peru until late May 2022, therefore overstaying a total number of 120 days.
      Once at the airport, I only had to pay the corresponding fee at Migraciones, and I was free to board my plane. The officer at Migraciones only indicated that I overstayed quite long and that regulations had recently changed (max. 90 days of stay on a tourist visa instead of 180 days as before). Apart from that, he was really nice and understanding. Though other officers may respond differently, who knows!
      Due to my long overstay, I was afraid that I may be banned to come back to Peru for a certain amount of time. However, I inquired with the officer, who said there was no issue at all considering I had paid my fee of 120*4.6 soles.

      What did I learn? Well, it's always good to thoroughly review Peru's travel regulations for tourists, as they seem to change quite frequently.

      Happy travelling!
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 23/07/2022
      @Margharita Hello Margharita,

      so good hearing from you again. And a huge "Thank you" for sharing your experience with us which surely is extremely helpful for others in similar situations.

      I'm so happy that despite overstaying for 4 months, you ended up with a nice immigration officer and everything went well.

      Thanks again.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Charles
    Charles · 11/03/2022
    Hi Sunflower,
    I've read through this entire thread and first want to say that all the information and answers you've provided are incredible. Something that I haven't seen mentioned here is the how to extend one's visa by crossing a land border. For example, crossing the Peru/Ecuador border from Tumbes to Huaquillas. Do you know anything about that?
    I came to Peru last year, and my stay expired November 20. I came to Peru for my girlfriend, I proposed while I was here, and now we're going to get married. I've already had many additional expenses related to the wedding, and my budget is extremely limited. So, I'm considering leaving by land to save money.
    Do you have any knowledge on this? Anything you can share would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 11/03/2022
      @Charles Hello Charles,

      Thank you so much for your nice words. You made my day! And congratulations on getting engaged.

      As this article was first written and intended to inform about the “real” visa extension that was possible between May 2018 and March 2020 for those that didn’t get their 183 days when they entered and then was regularly updated and as crossing the border to get a new tourist visa technically isn’t an extension, it never came to my mind to add the border-hopping option here. But you are right, as things stand today, mentioning it here as well makes sense. So, thank you for your input.

      I already wrote a few paragraphs about border hopping on our Tourist visa page. In short: Since August 2021, when Migraciones started counting again and you could only enter Peru by plane (the land borders were still closed) travelers, who already stayed their allowed 90 days in a 180-day period, reported that when trying to re-enter the country at Lima’s airport before their 180-day period was over, that they were scolded and only given anything between 7 and 30 days.

      As land borders only re-opened in mid-February 2022, we will have to see if and how the stricter rules are applied there. Be aware that it’s always at the discretion of the immigration officer you have to face if you may enter at all and how many days you get.

      In your case, it’s still a gamble to try returning to Peru when you haven’t stayed outside at least 3 months, but in my opinion, your chances are not so bad; the question is, how many days are you getting.

      As, depending on the days you are given, time is an issue (even if you get another 90 days, time might be short), personally I would try to arrange everything possible before I leave. So, get all your papers and other necessary documents for your marriage ready, best try to get a date, then have everything ready for the family visa application (best get already now an appointment for the Ficha de Canje from Interpol), so once you are married and get your marriage certificate, you can immediately without losing valuable time you might not have, apply for your residence visa (your tourist visa must (!!!) still be valid at that point).

      When you return to Peru, be nice and friendly, have copies of all the papers and anything proving that you are engaged, plan to marry as soon as you are back in Peru and then apply for your residency with you. If necessary and you have to discuss with the immigration officer and / or bargain for every single day, you have some proof in your hands and can show the officer “look, my Interpol appointment is on that day, I marry on this day …. Then cross your fingers that the immigration officer has a heart and gives you at least 30 but hopefully another full 90 days.

      All the best!

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 11/03/2022
      @Sunflower
      Charles, what I completely forgot. When I understood correctly, your visa is already expired since November. So before you can leave, you have to pay for each overstayed day in 2021 S/ 4.40 and for each overstayed day in 2022 S/ 4.60. You can do so at the border at a Banco de la Nacion branch (might not be directly at the border, might be closed at the time you are crossing) or pay on pagalo.pe under Migraciones - 00675 Multa extranjeros exceso de permanencia (pro dia) - choose correct year.

    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sigurd
      Sigurd · 03/05/2022
      @Sunflower For Pagalo.pe, do you need a Peruvian credit card or how is the payment submitted practically? On some Peruvian web sites, they don't accept international Visas and MasterCard. While others do. 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 03/05/2022
      @Sigurd Hello Sigurd,

      Any - Peruvian or international - Visa, Master or American Express debit or credit card is accepted.

      You find more info about paying with pagalo.pe in our article Paying administration charges and processing fees in Peru.

      Greetings
      Eva

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05
Apr
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03
May
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