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Peruvian Family Visa

Peruvian Family Visa

A Guide to Peruvian Visas

Part 6

Some family members of Peruvian nationals and foreigners with a resident status in Peru have the right to a family union and can apply for a family visa, the so-called "visa familiar residente". Depending on your relation, there are several sub-visa types.

Content overview

 

Family visa types in Peru

Depending on your relation to the Peruvian or foreigner with resident status, there are several family visa sub-types. Relatives who can apply for a family visa are:

  • Spouses of Peruvian nationals (para el caso de casado/a peruana/o)
  • Spouses of foreigners with resident status (para el caso de casado/a con extranjera/o residente en el país)
  • Underaged children of Peruvians or foreigners with resident status (para el caso de hijos menores de edad de peruano/a o extranjero/a residente)
  • Unmarried children (18 years to 28 years and dependent on their parents) of Peruvians or foreigners with resident status (para el caso de hijo/a mayor de edad)
  • Adult children with disabilities (para el caso de hijos mayores de 18 años con discapacidad)
  • Parents of Peruvians or foreigners with a resident status that don’t have a Peruvian nationality (para el caso de padres de peruano/a o extranjero/a residente) (*)

(*) Children born on Peruvian territory to not only Peruvian but as well foreign parents are considered Peruvians. They have the right to a Peruvian birth certificate, Peruvian DNI and a Peruvian passport. While for years foreign parents couldn't get a resident family visa through their underaged Peruvian-born child, this has changed with the introduction of the 2017 foreigner law and a different interpretation of the corresponding passage. Before the parents can apply for a resident family visa, the birth of the child has to be registered at Reniec and a Peruvian birth certificate and Peruvian DNI has to be issued. Be aware that unfortunately Migraciones seems to be a bit uncooperative since August 2021, and often gives foreign parents trouble when trying to apply or outright deny the application.

 

Legal background for a family visa application in Peru

Where to apply for a family visa

Officially, you can apply for a family visa if you are still outside Peru or if you are already in the country, for example, as a tourist.

However, while for decades Peruvian consulates abroad handled residence visa applications from giving information and handing out the right forms to fill in, to accepting the application and, if approved, issuing the residence visa, since August 2021, the Peruvian diplomatic missions abroad only handle tourist and business visa applications and refer foreigners, who want to apply for another temporary or residence visa, to Migraciones in Peru.

So, family members of a Peruvian national or foreigner with resident status in Peru, who can enter the country visa-free (so, who don’t have to apply for a “real” tourist visa at a Peruvian consulate), should come to Peru as a tourist and then change their immigration status - make a so called Cambio de calidad migratoria (as opposed to a Solicitud de calidad migratoria if you apply from outside Peru) - at Migraciones (on the Agencia Digital, the Migraciones online platform).

Those family members who cannot enter Peru visa-free (so, who must apply for a “real” tourist visa at a Peruvian consulate), officially must apply for residency from outside Peru; a complicated, lengthy, and sometimes frustrating process. We explain in detail how it’s done in our article “Peruvian residence visa application from abroad”.

Peruvian residence visa application from abroad

Peruvian residence visa application from abroad

Peruvian Visa Types
Foreign nationals who can travel to Peru visa-free, enter Peru as a tourist and then apply for their residence visa at Migraciones in Peru. However...

Important laws and regulations

For foreigners planning to stay longer in Peru and to apply for a temporary or resident visa, the most important laws and regulations are the Decreto Legislativo 1582, which is the current foreigner law and only stipulates general rules, and the Decreto Supremo 002-2021-IN from 2021 and the TUPA, which is updated yearly (last time October 22, 2023) Helpful as well is to check out the Peruvian government website. All these documents are, of course, in Spanish.

While below under Requirements for a family visa application in Peru you find the necessary documents described in English, the official list of requirements (in Spanish) can be found, for example, in the Decreto Supremo 002-2021-IN on page 44, in article 89-B “Procedimiento administrativo de cambio de calidad migratoria por la de familiar residente” on page 44.

As the TUPA is always the more current official document, which contains slight changes compared to the Decreto Supremo, we recommend to use it when looking for the most current official information about the requirements in Spanish. You find the information for adult applicants on page 187, which is page 190 of the PDF, and for minor applicants on page 106, which is page 109 of the PDF.

 

Requirements for a family visa application in Peru

As the family visa has quite a number of sub-visa types, find below the general requirements. Be aware that Migraciones has the right to request other and/or additional documents at any time.

Required documents to apply for a family visa include:

  • Passport
  • Antecedentes policiales, penales y judiciales (Police clearance certificate, criminal record and judicial matters check) from your home country or from the country where you legally lived (so with a resident visa) during the 5 years prior to coming to Peru showing that you don't have a record (exception minors) (*) + (**) + (*****)
  • Official document that proves the family tie (please note: same-sex marriages/civil unions are not possible and not recognized in Peru)
    • if the applicant is married to a Peruvian or foreigner with resident status: marriage certificate (***) 
    • if the applicant is the child or parent of a Peruvian (but not Peruvian himself) or of a foreigner with resident status: birth certificate (****)
    • If the applicant is in a legal Peruvian relationship, a so-called "Union de hecho" with a Peruvian or foreigner with resident status: Sworn statement indicating the SUNARP registration
  • Up-to-date DNI of the Peruvian family member with correct family address, correct marital status and no pending election fees or up-to-date carné de extranjería of the foreigner with resident status
  • Interpol clearance - Ficha de canje internacional not older than 6 months (see below)
  • Receipt for paid application fee (code Migraciones 07568; concept Cambio de calidad migratoria por la de familiar residente, S/ 161.40 since October 22, 2023)
  • "Recibo" (water or electricity bill proving your address; doesn't have to be in your name)
  • Form PA - Cambio de Calidad Migratoria (automatically filled in during application)
  • For unmarried adult children (up to 28 years) additionally: official certificate of being single (*****) or sworn statement in which the applicant declares being unmarried in front of a Peruvian notary and enrollment certificate of a Peruvian educational institution
  • For children with disabilities additionally: official certificate of being single (*****) or sworn statement in which the applicant declares being unmarried in front of a Peruvian notary document proving a condition of permanent disability and the need for parent’s care (*****)

Explanatory notes for the requirements:

(*) As we get many question about the “Antecedentes policiales, penales y judiciales” we dedicated a separate article to the topic where we explain in detail what kind of document you need, where you get it and what to watch out for when applying for it.

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

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

Legal Stuff
One of the requirements to apply for a resident visa in Peru or to change your visa type, for example from a work visa to a permanent resident visa...

(**) That's the official requirement. However, Migraciones always requests the criminal record check from your home country. And, if they are made aware of the fact that you lived in another country during the 5 years prior to coming to Peru, sometimes additionally a check from this country.

(***) marriage certificate

  • If you were married in Peru at a municipality incorporated into the Reniec system: recent certified copy of your marriage certificate issued by Reniec (not older than 90 days)
  • If you were married in Peru at a municpality not incorporated into the Reniec system: Some municipalities in Peru are still not incorporated into the Reniec system and, for example, marriages are registered only on municipal level. So, if you married in such a municipality you must request a certified (!) copy of the marriage certificate from the (provincial) municipality. Inform them that you need the copy for a residence visa application, so the right stamp is put on the certificate. Once you have the document, pay the Reniec fee of S/ 31 under code 02143 “Certificaciones” with concepto “Certificacion de firma” either on pagalo.pe or at any Banco de la Nacion branch. Make copies of the marriage certificate, the payment receipt and DNI, carné or passport. If you apply for your residence visa in Lima, you then must proceed to the Reniec office in Miraflores (Av. Diez Conseco 230) or to the Reniec office in Jesus Maria (Jr. Talara 130) to make the so-called 'Solicitud de Authenticacion de Firmas'. At Reniec you are handed a form which you must fill in and then just wait your turn in the “Certificaciones” line, hand in your documents (Certified copy of your marriage certificate, payment receipt, ID and copies and filled in form) and usually within a week or two you can pick up your marriage certificate with another stamp on it. Only now Migraciones will accept your marriage certificate and when you apply the marriage certificate can't be older than 90 days.
  • If you were married abroad to a Peruvian: certified copy of your marriage certificate issued by the Peruvian consulate (not older than 180 days) - already in Peru without a recent copy? At the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (RREE) in Lima, you can get certified copies of birth, marriage, and death certificates registered at a Peruvian consulate abroad.
  • If you were married to a foreigner abroad: marriage certificate with Apostille or, if the country in which the document was issued didn't sign the Apostille Convention legalized by a Peruvian consulate (not older than 6 months). Once in Peru, the document has to be translated into Spanish and in some cases legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

(****) birth certificate

  • If the applicant is the child of a foreigner with resident status: birth certificate of the child showing he/she is the son/daughter of the foreigner with resident status with Apostille or, if the country in which the document was issued didn't sign the Apostille Convention legalized by a Peruvian consulate (not older than 6 months). Once in Peru, the document has to be translated into Spanish and in some cases legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • If you are the parent of a Peruvian and the birth was registered at a municipality incorporated into the Reniec system: recent certified copy of the birth certificate showing you as the parent issued by Reniec (not older than 90 days):
  • If you are the parent of a Peruvian and the birth was registered at a municipality not incorporated into the Reniec system: some municipalities in Peru are still not incorporated into the Reniec system and, for example, birth are registered only on municipal level. So, if  the Peruvian part of the family was born in such a municipality you must request a certified (!) copy of the birth certificate showing you as the parent from the (provincial) municipality. Inform them that you need the copy for a residence visa application, so the right stamp is put on the certificate. Once you have the document, pay the Reniec fee of S/ 31 under code 02143 “Certificaciones” with concepto “Certificacion de firma” either on pagalo.pe or at any Banco de la Nacion branch. Make copies of the birth certificate, the payment receipt and DNI, carné or passport. If you apply for your residence visa in Lima, you then must proceed to the Reniec office in Miraflores (Av. Diez Conseco 230) or to the Reniec office in Jesus Maria (Jr. Talara 130) to make the so-called 'Solicitud de Authenticacion de Firmas'. At Reniec you are handed a form which you must fill in and then just wait your turn in the “Certificaciones” line, hand in your documents (Certified copy of the birth certificate, payment receipt, ID and copies and filled in form) and usually within a week or two you can pick up the birth certificate with another stamp on it. Only now Migraciones will accept your marriage certificate and when you apply the birth certificate can't be older than 90 days.
  • If you are the parent of a foreigner with resident status in Peru: birth certificate of the foreigner with resident status in Peru showing you as the parent with Apostille or, if the country in which the document was issued didn't sign the Apostille Convention legalized by a Peruvian consulate (not older than 6 months). Once in Peru, the document has to be translated into Spanish and in some cases legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

(*****) Any document required which was issued abroad

  • All foreign documents (even so-called “international” certificates) need an Apostille or, if the country in which they were issued, didn't sign the Apostille Convention have to be legalized by a Peruvian consulate abroad and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Peru. Once in Peru, the document has to be translated into Spanish and in some cases legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Applying for a family visa is a simple and straightforward process, but might be a little confusing here and there if you are not familiar with the process and the steps involved. Please see our walk-through below as general guidance only as requirements and processes change quickly. At least basic Spanish skills are required to fill in forms and understand instructions.

 

Last steps before your family visa application in Peru

Hopefully, you brought all required documents from abroad, such as the criminal record check and - if applicable - your marriage or birth certificate, and so forth, already apostilled or legalized - see requirements and (***) / (****) / (*****) above.

Translation of foreign documents

Once in Peru, all documents issued abroad that are in a foreign language must be translated into Spanish. Even though officially no longer required and a simple translation should be enough (see Decreto Legislativo 1272 about simplified administration procedures) we highly recommend to use a certified translator in Peru, a so-called traductor publico juramentado. You find lists of these government-approved translators on the Peruvian government website.  Just click under point 3 on the language of your original document and the list of translators for your language appears. You can as well use any other translator in Peru who can officially translate your document.

If your documents have an Apostille and were translated by one of the certified translators on the list according to the above mentioned Decreto Legislativo Migraciones should accept them without problems. However, most translators are still recommending an additional legalization of the translation by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RREE), as sometimes Migraciones doesn't apply the simplified administration procedures, rejects documents without the additional RREE legalization and explicitly asks the applicant to upload the apostilled and translated foreign documents this time with another legalization from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RREE) in Lima or a RREE branch in the provinces.

So, if you want to skip the additional legalization by RREE, we highly recommend to keep an eye on your Migraciones electronic mailbox for notifications from Migraciones (see below).

If your documents aren't apostilled but legalized they must be legalized again after the translation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RREE) in Lima or a RREE branch in the provinces.

Interpol

And before you can even start the family visa application process, you first have to get the so-called “Ficha de Canje Internacional” from Interpol in Peru. Find a detailed description of how it’s done in our article “Interpol - Ficha de Canje Internacional”.

Interpol - Ficha de Canje Internacional

Interpol - Ficha de Canje Internacional

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All foreigners must present the "Ficha de Canje Internacional" to Migraciones when changing their immigration status, for example, from a temporary...

Paying the application fee

Once you have the Ficha and all documents together, pay the fee of S/ 162.50 for the Migraciones administrative procedure “Cambio de Calidad Migratoria” under code 07568 with concepto "Familar de residente". As you already paid the Interpol fee, you know how the systems works, otherwise check again in our article "Paying administration charges and processing fees in Peru".

Paying administration charges and processing fees in Peru

Paying administration charges and processing fees in Peru

Legal Stuff
All administration charges, processing fees and fines government agencies, public authorities and entities levy in Peru have to be paid at the Banc...

Last preparations

And last but not least, make PDFs from your passport (page with your personal data), and from all other required documents (max size per document 3MB).

Finally, the time has come to apply for your family visa. Be aware that in case you need to leave the country during the processing time of your family visa application you have to apply for a special travel permit (Permiso especial de viaje, officially as well called Autorización de estadía fuera del país) before you leave the country, otherwise your application is null and void.

Travel Permit (Permiso Especial de Viaje / Autorización de Estadía fuera del País )

Travel Permit (Permiso Especial de Viaje / Autorización de Estadía fuera del País )

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Foreigners in Peru who applied for a visa - to be precise who applied for a change of their immigration status (cambio de calidad migratoria) or a ...

 

Step-by-step guide to apply for a family visa in Peru

One remark before we start: The Agencia Digital is in Spanish only. We highly recommend to not using a translation program which automatically translates the page from Spanish to your preferred language to avoid system errors. And to avoid further system errors, we highly recommend to not using a VPN and switching off any ad blockers you might use.

Migraciones Agencia Digital

Once you have done all the preparation work, open the Migraciones Agencia Digital and click on Entrar.

On the next page, select "Extranjero". Then choose in the drop-down menu the document with which you entered Peru (most probably passport), enter your passport number, your birthdate, nationality, the date you entered Peru and the captcha. Click on Verificar.

No matter which forms you fill out in Peru, always enter your personal data exactly (!!!) as in your passport!

Now you are on the main page of the Agencia Digtal. Here you can either use the search field or find in the menu on the left under “Cambio de Calidad Migratoria” the points:

  • Familiar Residente: Casado con peruano(a) o extranjero(a) residente (resident family married to a Peruvian or foreign resident)
  • Familiar Residente: Padres de peruano(a) o extranjero(a) residente (resident family parents of Peruvian or foreign resident)
  • Familiar Residente: hijos(as) adultos con dispacidad (resident family adult children with disabilities)
  • hopefully as well Familiar Residente: hijo/a menor de edad (resident family underage children). For whatever reason sometimes the point for the underage children isn't displayed. If so, use the search function. If still nothing pops up, and for all other family visa types, please contact Migraciones through the Agencia Digital (either use the chat / phone function or make an appointment under Citas en linea, Informes) for information about the application process.

Choose the one that applies and proceed to the next page.

1st page of the family visa application

Here, you first have to select the Migraciones branch which should handle your application (for example, Lima, Cusco, Arequipa, …). In the second field, you must enter a “data update code” which you most probably don’t have. Below this field is a quite small link.

Click on it and and you are re-directed to the Sistema de Actualizacion de Datos page. Choose Option 2. On the next page fill in your nationality, select the document with which you entered Peru (most probably passport), enter your passport number, and your birth date, select your gender and enter the captcha; you can leave the field with the "preinscription code" blank. Then you get to a quite extensive questionnaire.

Data update questionnaire

Be aware that you only have 1 hour to complete the questionnaire and as the system doesn’t save your information, even though there is an option to save, once you started you must finish it within an hour otherwise all your progress is gone, and you have to start from scratch. The questions are quite unorganized and partly a bit strange, so to give you an idea what questions you have to answer and might need to prepare for here an overview:

In the first two categories, you have to fill in your personal data including full name (as in your passport!), document with which you entered Peru, document number, gender, marital status, country of birth, if you have a criminal, police or judicial record, if you are pregnant.

The third category asks for your address in Peru, your e-mail address, cell phone number and landline phone number. Here you must upload a “recibo”, so a water or electricity bill to prove that you live at that address. The recibo doesn't have to be in your name, just must show the correct address.

Then you are asked for the information of an emergency contact, including ID, name and e-mail of your emergency contact. This is followed by questions about your employment situation and where you were born (continent, country, town).

In the next category, you have to enter your hair and eye color, height in meters, weight in kilograms, religion, marital status, date of marriage, vaccinations and if you have a disability or disease. You are then asked if you arrived in Peru alone or if someone was accompanying you. If so, you must enter the personal data (passport number, name, last name, birthdate) of that person. Now you are asked if you have lived in other countries previously and in which country before coming to Peru, when you last entered Peru, how you came to Peru (plane, bus, car).

The last questions check your living conditions (are you living in a house, number of rooms, accommodation connected to water, sewage, electricity, and internet), ask for some financial info (if you have a bank account in Peru; if you have taken out a loan in Peru; if you have a bank account in another country; if you hold shares in a company in Peru) and want to know if you have a car and a driver’s license in Peru or other country.

As soon as you have completed the last page of the questionnaire, the system accepts all your answers and sends the data update code to your e-mail.

You made it!

Back to the 1st page of the family visa application

Now fill in the data update code and click on Siguente.

2nd page of the family visa application

Here you must fill in some data and/or upload all for the family visa application necessary documents as PDF (max size per document 3MB).

Those who just want to verify the requirements or double check if the requirements have changed can do so on this page. Then just click through the tabs but do not upload any documents and do not click on Siguente; once you finished just leave the page.

To continue with your family visa application, click on the little arrows next to each requirement, and certain fields appear depending on the requirement. Just fill in the fields as requested and upload the corresponding document.

Under “Pago por derecho de tramite” you are asked to enter certain information of the bank receipt

  • numero de recibo (number of the receipt) which is the "secuencia de pago" on the pagalo receipt
  • codigo de verficación (verification code) which is the "codigo control" on the pagalo receipt
  • fecha de recibo (date) which is the "fecha de operación" on the pagalo receipt.

If you don't know where to find the requested bank information on your receipt, click on the question mark. After entering the requested info click on Validar.

Under the Documento de Identificación tab, select the document with which you entered Peru (in most cases passport), fill in required data and upload a copy.

Under the Interpol tab, you must upload the Ficha de Canje from Interpol and the criminal record check you brought from home. Be aware that both fields are mandatory, and you can’t continue without having uploaded both documents.

Under the Documento vincular tab, you must upload the document proving your family tie (for example, your marriage certificate).

And you must enter the DNI number of the Peruvian part of the family or the Carné number of the foreign resident you are related to.

If you, for example, apply for an underage child other documents, such as your passport / carné must be uploaded.

There is one last tab “Exceso de permanencia” (excess stay). If you apply when your stay in Peru is still valid, this tab has already a green check in front of it and you just leave it as it is.

If you, however, apply when your stay as a tourist is expired, open the tab and you should be able to upload the payment receipt for your overstayed days and a sworn statement explaining the reasons for their overstay. Once these two documents are uploaded the check in front of the tab should turn green. Before counting on this option please read our chapter Can I apply for a family visa when my stay as a tourist is expired?.

Once you filled in all required fields and uploaded all your documents, there should be a green check in front of each tab. Click on Siguente.

3rd page of the family visa application

You then get to a page showing the fields of the Form PA - Cambio de Calidad Migratoria already filled in with your personal data. The only fields you can change here are your cell phone number and your e-mail address. If everything is correct, click on “Guardar datos y generar tramite” (Save data and generate procedure).

4th page of the family visa application

You now get the "Registro de Solicitud de Cambio de Calidad Migratoria" displayed on your screen. That's the confirmation of your successful application. Download and/or print the form and keep it safe (if downloading isn't possible, make a screenshot of the complete page, don't miss the second page)!!!

At the top right of the document under the bar code you find your Numero de expediente (file number), which sometimes is also called Numero de tramite. It consists of 2 letters (usually some abbreviation of the Migraciones office where you applied; LM for Lima, for example; or CY for Chiclayo, etc.) and 9 numbers. At the bottom of the first page, under the signature / fingerprint field, the Fecha de publicacion (application date) and a Codigo de verificacion (verification code) are shown.

If you later want to check the status of your application online, which can be done here or if you, for example, want to apply for a travel permit to leave the country while the approval of your application is still in process, you will need these numbers / codes.

Additionally, at the bottom of the first page you as well find your login data for the Migraciones electronic mailbox (see below).

If you didn't print or save the page when you had the chance during your application, retrieving your file number is usually simple as it's the code you see on your screen when you are asked to make an appointment for your biometric data (see below). But getting the verification code can be a mission as you must get in contact with Migraciones.

Please note: a few of our readers commented that they couldn’t find the verification code and/or the login data for the electronic mailbox on the Registro de Solicitud de Cambio de Calidad Migratoria. However, once they made the appointment for the biometric data they were able to download the Formulario PA - Cambio de calidad migratoria, which contained the verification code and the login data. So, if the Reigistro page wasn't displayed or if you can’t find the information on the Registro page, probably check as well the Formulario, which you hopefully downloaded as well, before trying to get in contact with Migraciones.

 

Biometric data appointment

Following the confirmation of your visa application you are asked to make an appointment for having your biometric data (photo, fingerprints, signature) taken with a provided code. This code is your numero de expediente (file number).

As waiting times sometimes can be long, especially in Lima, we suggest following provided link and make the appointment immediately. If you want to make it at a later time, you can enter the Agencia Digital and make an appointment under "Citas en Linea", subpoint "para registro de datos biometricos".

On the day of your biometric data appointment, be at the Migraciones office you selected when making the appointment 15 - 30 minutes before your appointment with your documents. Usually you will only need your printed (!) appointment and passport, but to be prepared for any unforeseen events you may want to take the folder with all other documents with you.

At the door you just have to show your appointment and passport. At the Lima Migraciones office you get a ticket with a number on it. Then just join the line and wait until your number is shown on the screen. When it's your turn proceed to the counter where you have to sign on a signature pad, you are digitally fingerprinted and a biometric photo is taken.

Do not wear a white shirt or a top in light or pastel color! Migraciones might refuse to take your photo. Best wear a simple black shirt or something in a dark or strong color.

There were times when the process at the Migraciones office in Lima was quick and astonishingly well organized and you were done in less than half an hour. However, over the past few months some foreigners reported that their appointment time wasn't respected and they had to wait for anything between one and three hours until they made it to the counter where the process was quick and smooth. So, plan accordingly. At the Migraciones offices in the provinces, the whole process is usually quick and painless.

After your biometric data appointment, all you can do is check your Buzon electronico (see below) regularly and wait until you get a notification from Migraciones either telling you that they aren't happy with a document you uploaded or that a document is missing or that your visa is approved.

 

Buzon Electronico

The Buzon Electronico is your personal Migraciones electronic mailbox which you should check regularly for notifications from Migraciones (for example, request to upload missing or additional documents, approval or denial of your visa application, etc.).

You can access your Buzon by clicking on the "Buzon electronico" button on the top of the main page of the Agencia Digital or by using this direct link. The username (usario) and password (contraseña) is on the "Registro de Solicitud de Cambio de Calidad Migratoria" page, the confirmation of your successful application (see above under 4th page).

Be aware that notifications sent via the buzon are considered "officially delivered". If you don't react to a deadline Migraciones usually gives in these notifications (in most cases only 5 days), your application can be dismissed. So, if you get a notication from Migraciones informing you that you haven’t uploaded a required document, that an uploaded document isn’t to their liking or they want an additional document, don’t waste any time.

If you have the document, make a PDF of it (max size 3MB) and upload it on the Agencia Digital. How this so-called Subsanación is done, is explained in our article “Subsanacion - Submitting documents”.

Subsanacion - Submitting documents

Subsanacion - Submitting documents

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During the internal evaluation and approval process of any application on the Agencia Digital, Migraciones may discover that you haven’t uploaded a...

If you don’t have the document yet and won’t be able to submit it within the deadline, you still have to react and can apply for an extension of time to hand in the document later. The process is called “Solicitud de ampliación de plazos” and explained in our article "Extension of a Migraciones deadline".

Extension of a Migraciones deadline

Extension of a Migraciones deadline

Legal Stuff
During the internal evaluation and approval process of your visa application (Cambio de calidad migratoria) or of the application for the extension...

 

Approval of your family visa

Officially the processing time of residence visa applications is 30 business days. However, according to feedback we got from our readers, it usually takes around two to three months until you get a notification from Migraciones in your Buzon with the official resolution that your visa was approved.

Nevertheless, check your Buzon regularly as you might belong to the lucky ones that get their approval within three or four weeks after application. On the other hand, in case you haven't heard anything from Migraciones 4 months after your application, you should check with them what's going on.

 

Getting your carné (foreigner ID)

After 2 or 3 months (sometimes, if you are lucky, already after few weeks, or if Migraciones is busy, after only 4 months or so) you get a notification in your Buzon electronico informing you about the approval of your visa.

Usually, this first notification states to wait for further instructions on how to pick up your carné. So, once again check your Buzon regularly and wait for a second notification from Migraciones informing you about the "expedición de carné".

Officially Migraciones has another 30 business days counted from the approval of the visa to send this notification. However, some of our readers shared that they had to wait only a couple of days, others three or four weeks, and a few even 2 months. Either way as soon as you got the official notification that your carné is ready, get going. 

Enter the Agencia Digital. On the main page in the left menu under "Citas en linea", subpoint "para recojo de documentos" make an appointment to pick up your carné. Once again, download and print the confirmation and keep it safe.

Be aware that at some Migraciones offices in the provinces no appointment is needed.

On the day of your appointment, be at the Migraciones office you selected 15-30 minutes before your appointment. To pick up your carné you just need your passport and your printed appointment. Migraciones personal will point you in the right direction where you are handed your carné.

Congratulations! You made it!

To familiarize yourself with your carné we highly recommend to read our glossary article Carné de Extranjería - Peru’s ID Card for foreigners.

 

Things you should know living in Peru on a family visa

The family visa (so the residence visa) is valid for one year, in case you are married to a Peruvian two years, and then has to be renewed. Our article "Residence visa extension" explains how it's done.

Residence visa extension in Peru

Residence visa extension in Peru

Legal Stuff
In Peru, a residence visa, so the permit allowing you to live in the country (not the carné, the card), is usually valid for only one (1) year and ...

The carné (so the Peruvian foreigner ID card) is usually valid for four years and then must be renewed. For more details, check out our article "Renewal of the carné".

Renewal of the Carné de Extranjería

Renewal of the Carné de Extranjería

Legal Stuff
When your Peruvian residence visa is approved, you get the Carné de Extranjería, your Peruvian foreigner ID. The carné, so the card (not the reside...

Foreigners living in Peru on a family visa have to be in the country at least 183 days per year, otherwise they lose their resident status. In case you have to be outside Peru for longer, before leaving the country, apply for the Autorización de estadía fuera del país por 183 días,  so you won't lose your residency.

If you are living in Peru on a family visa, you are allowed to work as an employee or independently.

If any information provided when applying for your family visa changes, Migraciones must be informed about it within 30 days. So, if you get a new passport, change your name, move to a new address, etc. you have to apply for a so-called "Actualización de datos". Be aware that, in some cases, a new carné has to be issued after the application is approved. The process is explained in our article “Update your information in the Migraciones database”.

Update your information in the Migraciones database

Update your information in the Migraciones database

Legal Stuff
If any of your information, which is printed on your carné or which is registered in the Migraciones database, changes, you must apply for a so-cal...

Even though not always enforced, if you as a foreigner living in Peru on a family visa want to leave the country for short or extended periods of time, for example, to go on holidays you must present a tax form before being allowed to leave Peru. If you didn't have any earnings or other income in Peru, you must present the so-called “Declaración jurada de haber realizado actividades que no impliquen la generación de rentas de fuente peruana” at immigrations before you are allowed to leave. So, just download Formulario 1495, fill it in, sign it and show it to the immigration officer when leaving Peru. If you, however, had any kind of income as independent or dependent worker in Peru, you must present the so-called "Certificado de Rentas y Retenciones" at immigrations before you are allowed to leave. This form is issued by your employer, who confirms that the income tax corresponding to your earnings was retained according to the Peruvian tax legislation. The physical form, Formulario 1492, is rarely used anymore. Instead, your employer or client has to enter his/her Sunat Virtual and fill in the Formulario Virtual 1692°, then print and sign it and give it to you. The form expires 30 days after it was filed with Sunat; so, you must leave Peru within these 30 days. If you work independently, receive an income from Peruvian sources and pay your income tax directly to Sunat, you have to fill in Formulario 1494 “Declaración jurada de haber pagado directamente el impuesto”, sign it, attach a receipt proving you paid your income tax and present it at immigrations before leaving.

Those having received the family visa through marriage with a Peruvian can get the Peruvian nationality, apply for a so-called Nacionalización por matrimonio, after having legally lived in Peru for at least two years.

If you don't want to get the Peruvian nationality or can't because your home country doesn't allow dual nationality, after three years of legal residency in Peru on a family visa, you can apply for a permanent resident visa - make a so-called Cambio de calidad migratoria a permanente residente (Familiar Residente); no more extensions and an indefinite residency (and the good thing for relatives of Peruvians or foreigners with a resident status, no proof of own income is necessary).

And finally, if you as a foreigner living in Peru on a family visa, are leaving Peru permanently, you have to cancel your residence visa. Once the application is approved, you have 15 days to exit the country.

 

Other FAQs

Can I apply for a family visa if my stay as a tourist is expired?

For years, you had to be in Peru on a valid visa / stay, for example, as a tourist to apply for any temporary or residence visa, precisely to make the Cambio de calidad migratoria.

But during the visa application on the Migraciones online platform there is a tab labeled "Exceso de permanencia" (excess stay), which suggests that foreigners who overstayed their time as a tourist in Peru can still apply for a Cambio de calidad migratoria and just have to upload a payment receipt for their overstayed days and a sworn statement explaining the reason for their overstay.

While in November 2022 Migraciones informed us in writing that this tab does not apply when you change your immigration status from tourist (!) to family, at the beginning of 2023 one of our readers reported that someone at Migraciones suggested this option. So, he could apply for his visa while being in Peru on an expired stay as a tourist. He uploaded the payment receipt for his overstay fine and a brief explanation why he couldn't apply on time (criminal record check took many months), could finish his application and a couple of months later, Migraciones approved his visa.

Hearing this, we tried to find out more. A few other foreigners in the same situation confirmed that someone at Migraciones they spoke to suggested this option, but our search for any official confirmation in writing that you can apply for a temporary or residence visa while being in Peru on an expired stay as a tourist was in vain.

As Migraciones doesn't have an e-mail address anymore where they answer such questions in writing, we called and first were told "No, you have to be in the country on a valid stay". Then when we asked the lady we were talking to more detailed questions, she seemingly quickly spoke to someone else, and then suddenly said "Yes, it is possible.", but she couldn't give us any further details. The whole call didn't really inspire confidence.

So, at the moment (February 2024) officially you still have to be in the country on a valid stay to apply and therefore we can't guarantee that it's possible to change your immigration status from tourist to family if you are in Peru on an expired stay as a tourist.

We always recommend to not overstay and, in case you plan to apply for a residence visa but don't have all required documents yet, instead of overstaying suggest applying for your visa using a little trick. We explain how it's done below.

If for whatever reason you can't apply while your stay as a tourist is valid, it might be worth personally checking with Migraciones if you can apply despite being in the country on an expired stay before you leave the country and try to return to "renew" your stay as a tourist.

If you have any current information about this topic or would like to share your experience, please let us know either using the comment function at the end of this very long article or our contact form. Thank you!

Can I apply for a family visa if I don't have all the required documents?

Officially, no, you can't as on the Agencia Digital, the Migraciones online platform where you have to apply, the fields to upload the required documents are mandatory and you can't continue with and finish your application without having uploaded all documents.

But, even though we can't and won't recommend it, if your stay as a tourist is about to expire and you must apply until a certain date, depending on the document that you don't have yet, there might be a possibility to "cheat" the system. However, you should have a solid plan to get the document as required, because the time to present it is limited. And here, how it's done.

Follow the instructions of our Step-by-step guide to apply for a family visa in Peru until you are on the 2nd page of the family visa application. Here you must fill in some data and/or upload all for the family visa application necessary documents as PDF.

If you don't have, for example, your criminal record check: Under the Interpol tab, you must upload the Ficha de Canje from Interpol and the "Antecedentes" (criminal record check). Both fields are mandatory, and you cannot continue with and finish the application without having uploaded both documents. As you can't leave the field for the Antecedentes blank anymore, you must upload something in the Antecedentes field. One of our readers just uploaded the Ficha de Canje a second time, another reader wrote a letter explaining that he is waiting for his criminal record check from his home country and uploaded this letter instead of his background check. So, upload a "document" there that makes sense.

The same applies if, for example, you don't have your Ficha de Canje from Interpol, because you couldn't get an appointment in time. Instead of the Ficha upload, for example, a letter explaining your situation.

Or, if you don't have your Peruvian marriage certificate, because Reniec takes its time to register your foreign marriage. Just upload, for example your foreign marriage certificate, perhaps a copy of your Reniec tramite and a short explanation.

Or if you have the document, but not yet the Apostille or translation, you could upload the document as it is.

Then continue to upload all other required documents and finish the application process as described in our Step-by-step guide above.

On the 4th page of your family visa application you get the "Registro de Solicitud de Cambio de Calidad Migratoria" with the "numero de expediente" (your file number), the "fecha de publicacion" (application date) and a "codigo de verificacion" (verification code) displayed on your screen. That's the confirmation of your successful application. You made it. As soon you have this confirmation, your time as a tourist stops and even if your stay as a tourist expires during the processing time of your visa application you won't have any problem.

Now, depending how quickly Migraciones reviews your application and documents, the following happens:

As you haven't uploaded all required documents or not in the form Migraciones requires, Migraciones will send you a notification (can be as quick as a few days after your application or a month, two or three later) requesting that you upload the document. Be aware that these notifications, which are send through the Buzon electronico, are considered officially delivered. Usually, Migraciones only gives you a short deadline of 5 to 10 days to upload the requested document. You must react to the notification, even if it's on the last day of the deadline they gave you (which might be wise to do if you still need more time), otherwise your application could be dismissed.

If you have the document in the correct form when you receive the notification, just upload it on the Agencia Digital (not the Mesa de Partes!). How it's done is explained in our article “Subsanacion - Submitting documents”.

Subsanacion - Submitting documents

Subsanacion - Submitting documents

Legal Stuff
During the internal evaluation and approval process of any application on the Agencia Digital, Migraciones may discover that you haven’t uploaded a...

If you still don't have the document at the end of the deadline Migraciones gave you, then you can apply for an extension of the deadline (max. 30 days). The process is called Ampliacion de plazos and explained in our article “Extensions of a Migraciones deadline”.

Extension of a Migraciones deadline

Extension of a Migraciones deadline

Legal Stuff
During the internal evaluation and approval process of your visa application (Cambio de calidad migratoria) or of the application for the extension...

In case you have the document ready before you hear from Migraciones you can upload it immediately on the Agencia Digital under Subsanacion. But we were told by others, who went through the process that they still got a notification later to upload the document again.

If you decide to go that route, check your Buzon regularly and, if necessary, react to any notification! And, while this "cheating" worked for many others, things might change and Migraciones could dismiss your application (which you could appeal). Anyway, be aware that it will definitely delay the approval of your visa by weeks or even months.

 

We from LimaEasy are not the Peruvian immigration authority Migraciones or a Peruvian consulate. All information is published to our best knowledge and should be seen as general guidance introducing you to Peruvian procedures. All information is subject to change, as regulations, requirements, and processes can change quickly without prior notice! Therefore, we recommend checking the current regulations with the nearest Peruvian consulate or, if you are already in Peru, with Migraciones!

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!

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  • This commment is unpublished.
    Kailan
    Kailan · 09/08/2023
    Hi Eva,

    Thanks for your previous answer. I have my Interpol appointment booked in Trujillo and hope it goes well. I had 2 questions regarding the translation of the police certificate from my country (UK - ACRO), and the other question about the DNI of my wife. 

    1. Who exactly do I need to get to translate my police certificate? My Apostille has Castellano on it already, do I still need to translate it? The ministry's list of approved official translators have not replied to our emails and I cannot wait longer; if not them, who can I contract?

    2. It says the DNI of my wife needs to be updated (makes sense). We just moved so she needs to update it anyway, and she hasn't updated since we married because she is waiting for tramites needed to be able to register the marriage. Until she does this she cannot change her DNI. The Reniec and other bodies are not providing her with these tramites needed to register the marriage, so she cannot do this and *may* not be able to do this before my tourist visa deadline. Other than the DNI / marriage registration part, I will have everything ready (once I have the Interpol certificate done). How do I get past this 'updated and in date DNI' problem when she cannot get it changed within that time frame and due to the Peruvian government not getting her tramites done?

    Is there another options, or can I just submit my application with her pre marriage / previous address DNI? I am confused on how necessary this is - I don't think we'll be able to get it done in time (not for lack of trying).

    What are your thoughts about this? I would be grateful for your time and advice here!

    Kailan
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 09/08/2023
      @Kailan Hello Kailain,

      Apostille and translation

      An Apostille only verifies the legitimacy, genuineness, and origin of a document, so, certifies that this document is real and was issued according to the regulations of the Hague Apostille Convention in the issuing country. And even though the labels of the Apostille might be as well in Spanish, the document itself still is in English. Therefore, it must be translated into Spanish. Peruvian regulations require that this translation must be done in Peru. So, even if your police check was an “international” document with labels in different languages as common the Europe, Peru would still request a translation into Spanish in Peru.

      I don’t know why no translator answers, but you can as well choose any other translator doing official translations (traducciones juradas). To avoid any further complications, I highly recommend using a traductor jurado. I’m not sure if you want to have the translation done in Trujillo or in Lima. In Lima, you could try, for example, traductores.pe or limac.com.pe or search on the website of the Colegio de Traductores.

      DNI and marriage certificate

      Honestly, I’m confused. Your wife “hasn’t updated [her DNI] since we married”. So, did she register your marriage at the Peruvian consulate and change her DNI after you married or not? Does her DNI under “estado civil” still shows “soltera” (or divorciada, viuda) or “casada”?

      In case your marriage was already registered at a Peruvian consulate, then your wife’s DNI should show “casada”. No need to register your marriage again at Reniec in Peru, just the change of address is necessary. But then you need to get a certified copy of your marriage certificate either from the consulate where she registered your marriage or, as you are already in Peru, from the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

      In case your marriage wasn’t registered at any Peruvian authority, your wife’s DNI should still show “soltera” (or divorciada, viuda) and you only have your UK marriage certificate. Then I wonder for what tramites she is waiting that are needed to register your marriage? There are no tramites to do before she can register your marriage (at least if she wasn’t married before and is so still after Peruvian law, but then you might have bigger problems that won’t be resolved within a few weeks). Anyway, usually the only things she needs to register your marriage at Reniec in Peru, are the application form, your UK marriage certificate with Apostille and official translation done in Peru, her DNI and proof when she entered Peru, as there is no entry stamp anymore, she can simply print out her TAM virtual showing when she entered Peru (she only has 90 days for a simplified registration of the marriage celebrated abroad at Reniec, see attached picture). 

      So, where is the problem? Why does “Reniec and other bodies” - which other bodies, no one else involved when you want to register your marriage - denies registering your marriage. As Peruvian your wife has the right to get her marriage celebrated abroad registered; of course, she must fulfill the requirements.

      So, it seems to me that there must be something else delaying the process and the change of address then is the least of your problems.

      DNI updated or not, the biggest issue I see at the moment is something different. The most important required document to apply for a family visa for those who are married to a Peruvian, is the Peruvian (!!!) marriage certificate. When your wife doesn’t get Reniec to register your UK marriage, you have no basis to apply for your visa. Your UK marriage certificate will not be accepted. So, no matter what you / your wife do, priority number 1 is getting your marriage registered now, otherwise no family visa for you.

      Application for your family without required documents

      With this being said, officially you need to upload all required documents on the Migraciones Agencia Digital when you submit your application. The fields where you upload the documents are mandatory and you can’t continue and finish the application without having uploaded all documents.

      However, there is a “workaround”, which is explained in detail above in the article under the last point Can I apply for a family visa if I don't have all the required documents? So best read it first to understand what I write below.

      So, if you don’t have sorted out your wife’s DNI and your Peruvian marriage certificate and must apply while you are still legal in the country, when you are on the 2nd page of the family visa application just enter the DNI number of your wife in the corresponding field and for the moment don’t worry about the wrong estado civil and wrong address (when she gets a new DNI the number will be the same). And under the Documento de vincular tab upload your translated UK marriage certificate with Apostille. You could add on the PDF that you are in the process of registering your marriage with Reniec (might want to add the tramite number) and are waiting that the Peruvian marriage certificate is issued. Then continue as normal with the application as described above in our guide.

      When you are going that route, I can’t stress enough that you must have a plan or best have already started to get the Reniec mess sorted out. No-one can tell you how quickly Migraciones checks your application. It can be a few weeks or many months. But if your application is evaluated, they will, of course, see that your wife’s DNI isn’t in order, and that you haven’t uploaded your Peruvian marriage certificate. They will then send you a notification requesting that you must upload the correct documents within 5 days. If you don’t do it, your application can be canceled. Anyway, it's all explained above.

      Greetings
      Eva

    • This commment is unpublished.
      Kailan
      Kailan · 09/08/2023
      @Sunflower Hi,

      To clarify, we are waiting on a trámite which is proof that she hasn’t already registered it at a consulado. The reniec when she went to register the certificate (with the proof of immigration entry status) was denied on the grounds she ALSO needs a proof of not having previously been registered at a consulate.

      She did this about 25 working days ago and they haven’t replied. The Reniec are telling her she cannot register it until she gets this further check, and they are simply ignoring her (despite having applied more than the 15-20 working day promise they gave for turnaround).

      So, the Reniec is denying it being registered and the people at RREE are not replying in giving her the trámite. We cannot contact RREE, and the Reniec are saying they need that before we can register.

      The marriage was held in Denmark; when we went, they don’t have a Peruvian consulate in the country that is open; the closest one being Sweden which wasn’t open when we were there. 

      We have like 10-20 days until the 90 days for the marriage certificate is reached, and the same amount of time before my tourist visa is up. She needs this registered in order to change her DNI. 

      Can you give me further advice on how we can proceed? The system is ridiculous as we have no way of contacting. She’s made further requests for the check as there has been no response - this has been unfulfilled too. 

      Final clarity: we did a video call with the digital migrations agency and they repeated the same as the Reniec that this is necessary, so if we can’t get it we simply can’t register it and therefore I can’t apply for my visa? 

      I’m stressing,
      Kailan



    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 09/08/2023
      @Kailan
      Ok. First of take a deep breath and relax. Things are slowly getting clearer.

      I assume Reniec wants to have a Constancia de No Inscripción, which is issued by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RREE). According to the RREE website it takes 15-20 días hábiles aproximamente until you get notified by e-mail and then can download the document.  

      Just as a side note: One thing to learn, the "plazo" you are told and even is set by higher up authorities never is correct. The evaluation and approval process of a residence visa application, for example, is supposed to only take 30 working days, people are often waiting 3 or 4 months or even longer. So, expect that you have to wait another week or two or three until you get the document.

      Anyway you could try to call the RREE call center under 204-3337 Opcion 2 Atencion de consultas e informacion de estado de tramite (hope the number is still correct). Hopefully you can reach someone, can explain your situation and get help.

      Then, usually this document is not required for the registration of a marriage celebrated abroad. I just checked the government website and the Reniec website to double check. Do you have any idea why Reniec is giving you such a hard time? That's very unusual. As described above your wife should only need her DNI, the marriage certificate with Apostille and translation and proof when she entered the country. I had a few Peruvian/foreigner couples over the past months who registered their marriage with just these documents within a week or two at Reniec. No problems.

      Have you tried it at another Reniec office? Or you could ask at Reniec to at least accept your application for registering the marriage before the 90 days are up (show them the application number for the Constancia de No Inscripcion with the date) and hope that they accept the application and are willing to help.

      Honestly, I'm not sure, what happens when your wife doesn't register the marriage within the 90 days. Many, many years ago there was another option in such cases called Inscripcion extraordinaria. With all the changes over the past few years, I don't know, if this is still the same. Nevertheless, that is something you could ask at Reniec. As your wife has the right to get her marriage registered there must be a way to do so even after the 90 days deadline is up.

      And yes, without a Peruvian marriage certificate, no family visa for you. As said before, you must get Reniec to register your marriage. But as explained as well, you could apply for the visa without having your marriage certificate, which most probably will give you another month or two or even three until Migraciones evaluates your visa application and asks you to submit it. That could be enough time to sort out RREE and Reniec.

      And the last option could be a lawyer, but usually, if he hasn't good contacts to the Registro Civil Consular at RREE and Reniec, you might waste money for nothing. And he must be quick.

      And one last recommendation: always be nice and friendly with anyone who have to deal with at any authority in Peru. Freaking out or being unfriendly make the situation worse. Ask for help, for solutions, for ways to make it work.

      All the best
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Kailan
      Kailan · 11/08/2023
      @Sunflower Hey,

      Super grateful to be receiving your advice (first of all). So, the update is that after you made things clear in the advice you gave in your last response, our action plan is to storm the Reniec guns blazing (with a king and nice attitude but assertive to get the task completed) tomorrow, and if they still say she needs this check that she hasn't previously registered it in the consulate ON TOP OF the immigration record (which we already have), then we will try another Reniec branch in a different district. 

      If they stick to her needing that while the RREE are not responding to her multiple requests to get the added check received, I am not sure how we proceed. I will respond to this feed once we know more, so anyone else facing the same horror can gain insight into this in the future.

      Interpol done yesterday in Trujillo; all went smoothly - just a long 5 hour wait in total to get everything done. 

      Thanks; will update once we know more.
      Kailan
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 11/08/2023
      @Kailan
      Good plan !!!

      Probably print out (or show them on your phone) the "requisitos" for registering a marriage celebrated abroad from the government website and the infograph (I posted above) which was published a few months ago on the Reniec Facebook page. Might help to convince them that their Constancia de No Inscripción is usually not required and might get them to be a bit more cooperative and willing to help.

      Really hope that everything works out.

      All the best
      Eva

      P.S. And yes, please share what's going on
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Bill
    Bill · 31/07/2023
    The website messed up, so I am asking this question again. I have uploaded the documents to the government website and I have the numbero de tramite, but I have lost the verification code. What do I do? 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 31/07/2023
      @Bill
      Hello Bill,

      the only thing you can do now is to get in contact with Migraciones. The easiest and quickest way is to use the video conference option on the Agencia Digital. How it's hopefully successful done is explain in our Migraciones article.

      You just have to give them your numero de tramite and they have your verification code in seconds.

      Greetings
      Eva

  • This commment is unpublished.
    Stefan Herzberg
    Stefan Herzberg · 21/07/2023
    Hi Eva,
    I consulted with you and Everything went fine. German papers arrived fast and  Immigration Office in Cusco was also easy and cooperative.My Status  (based on the fact that my wife is Peruvian ) was approved on April 19th. When I got the carnet I was told that this  is the date to calculate the 183 days.
    My question is if “183 days  in a year” means that I have to be in Peru these days in 2023 or the rule means 183 days out of 365 days since approval of the new immigration status. In my case until April 18 3024.
    Thank for your response 
    Greetings 
    Stefan 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 22/07/2023
      @Stefan Herzberg
      Hello Stefan,

      great hearing back from you and congrats on now being a legal resident of Peru.

      The 183 days are not counted per calendar year.

      They are usually counted from the day your residence visa was approved. So, if your family visa was approved on April 19, 2023 you can be outside Peru for a max of 183 days until April 18, 2024. 

      Have a nice weekend

      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Steven L Mclaurin
      Steven L Mclaurin · 24/08/2023
      @Sunflower Hello  Eva!  In the The DECRETO SUPREMO  Nº 002-2021-IN, it states that it is "Consecutive days" out of the country.  As I understand this it means that per 356 days form the start of my family visa I can be out of the country for more that 183 days as long it's not in one trip.  Are other rule being enforce or are people have different experiencing info form immigration when being gone for more that 183 in a 356 days?   


      Page 3- 
      “Artículo 63. Pérdida de las calidades migratorias
      (…)
      a) Por más de ciento ochenta y tres (183) días
      consecutivos en un plazo de trescientos sesenta y cinco
      días (365), contabilizados desde su primera salida del
      país durante el periodo de residencia otorgado.
      Para la calidad migratoria otorgada en virtud de los
      convenios o tratados internacionales de los cuales el Perú
      es parte, que se encuentren a cargo de MIGRACIONES,
      así como para la calidad migratoria de familiar de residente
      por vínculo con peruano, el plazo de ciento ochenta y tres
      (183) días consecutivos se contabiliza dentro del periodo
      de residencia otorgado.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 25/08/2023
      @Steven L Mclaurin
      Hello Steven,

      yes, the foreigner law Decreto Legislativo 1350 and the Decreto Supremo 002-2021-IN both state that you lose your residence visa when you are outside Peru for more than 183 consecutive days.

      However, I know of three foreigners with resident status in Peru who traveled outside Peru on numerous trips never being outside the country for more than  two or three months per trip, but for more than 183 cumulative days per 365-day period. Immigration at the airport told them that they can only leave Peru for 183 cumulative days per 365-day period and then lose their residence visa. Two foreigners were lucky and the immigration officers let them enter as a resident; the third had a really hard time, had to speak to the supervisor and show the laws before he finally, after an hour discussion, was allowed to re-enter Peru as a resident.

      That's one of the cases where the law and regulations are super clear, but immigration officers seem to interpret them differently.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Susan
    Susan · 17/07/2023
    When do your tourist visa days stop being counted? When you upload the documents or do the biometrics?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 17/07/2023
      @Susan
      Hello Susan,

      your time as a tourist stops as soon as you have completed (!) the application for your family visa on the Agencia Digital and got the "Registro de Solicitud de Cambio de Calidad Migratoria" with your Numero de expediente (file number), the Fecha de publicacion (application date) and a Codigo de verificacion. See above under our Step-by-step guide (first to fourth page).

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    James Thomas
    James Thomas · 14/07/2023
    Hello Eva
    I've looked through all the Family Visa information and the comments section but didn't see anything related to our situation.  Perhaps you could clarify. 

    We are a same sex couple legally married in the USA.  I am a US citizen and my husband is Peruvian and living in Peru.  We know that Perú does not perform same sex marriages but will Peruvian immigrations respect a legal same sex marriage from a country where it is legal?  We would like to pursue the Family Visa process if so.  

    If that's not possible could I pursue an Investment Visa as I purchased an apartment in Peru for more than the s/500,000 threshold but we have both our names on the contract and title as we are married?

    Thank you in advance for your advice

    James
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 14/07/2023
      @James Thomas
      Hello James,

      Unfortunately to this day, the Peruvian Constitution defines marriage as a stable union between a man and a woman. Same-sex marriages are not possible in Peru and same-sex marriages performed abroad aren’t recognized.

      To apply for the family visa based on being married to a Peruvian you would need a Peruvian marriage certificate (your foreign marriage certificate won't be accepted). For that you either would have to get your foreign marriage registered at a Peruvian consulate or at Reniec in Peru. But as Peru does not accept same-sex marriages Peruvian authorities will refuse to issue the Peruvian marriage certificate to your husband and you.

      And without a Peruvian marriage certificate Migraciones will deny your application for a family visa based on being married to a Peruvian. Sorry.

      I'm sure that your husband and you are better informed than I am, but already in 2018 the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in Costa Rica ruled that countries in the region that signed the American Convention on Human Rights (which Peru has) should legalize same-sex marriages or unions, supporting marriage equality in Latin American countries. And despite efforts from many people in Peru to push the topic, until today nothing changed. But let's hope that Peru soon legalizes same-sex marriages.

      And unfortunately, I as well have bad news for your plan B. To apply for an investment visa, you must invest 500,000 Peruvian Soles into an existing Peruvian company or set up a new company with a capital investment of this amount. Buying an apartment won't do. Additionally, you must present a business plan which should include that you employ a certain amount of Peruvians.

      But depending on your circumstances, there might be another option. You or your Peruvian husband (which would make things easier) could, for example, set-up a "normal" company in Peru. This company could employ you and you then could apply for a work visa. It's a workaround, which worked fine for many. But I highly recommend to properly inform yourself about all the pros and cons (including tax related matters, finances, payroll, etc.) using an immigration lawyer and, if necessary, additionally a notary who knows what he/she is doing.

      Wishing you all the best.

      Greetings
      Eva

  • This commment is unpublished.
    Bill
    Bill · 29/06/2023
    If you have your FBI background check and you are getting it apostilled, can the apostilled version be emailed back to you, or does it have to be physically mailed back to you? 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 29/06/2023
      @Bill
      Hello Bill,

      even though you only have to upload your criminal record check as PDF when you apply on the Migraciones Agencia Digital, you should have the original as translators attach the translation to it and put another seal on it. I'm not sure if translators make the translation and seal it when they just have a digital copy or a printout of the original. You could check with the translator you plan to use.

      Additionally, even though officially no longer required if you use a certified translator often they still recommend to get an additional legalization of the translation from the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Here you need the original document with original Apostille sticker and certified translation with seal.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Maria
    Maria · 15/06/2023
    Hi Eva i got married to a peruvian citizen in the US. I already got the marriage certificate apostilled in the US and we went to Reniec. Do i have to translate the document to Spanish and get it legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? Thank you
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 15/06/2023
      @Maria
      Hello Maria,

      yes, all foreign documents that are not in Spanish must be translated into Spanish in Peru to be accepted by any Peruvian authority.

      It's all explained above under point "Translation of foreign documents" https://www.limaeasy.com/peru-guide/peruvian-visa-types/peruvian-family-visa#translation-of-foreign-documents.

      You should check with the Reniec office,
      - if they are ok with a simple translation of your US marriage certificate (and if they then want an additional legalization of the translation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) or
      - if they specifically want a certified translation by a so-called traductor publico juramentado (and perhaps in addition as well a legalization of the translation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Patrick Kiernan
    Patrick Kiernan · 01/06/2023
    Hello,

    Thanks for the provide such invaluable information on this site.

    I'm Irish and entered Peru as a tourist on April 1st. 

    My wife (Peruvian) and I got married on April 12th. 
    We're expecting our first child on June 16th.

    I live and work in Dublin. Our plan is to move to Dublin as soon as my wife gets her Irish visa. 

    When I entered on April 1st I was given 90 days which brings me to the end of June. 
    I want to be able to stay until Aug 12th or Sept 2nd.

    Is applying for the family visa (caso de casado/a peruana/o) the correct approach? Thanks



    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 01/06/2023
      @Patrick Kiernan
      Hello Patrick,

      first of all congrats on your marriage and soon being a dad.

      Honestly, if you only want to stay until August or September, applying for a family visa is not worth it. Even if you applied today, you might just get the approval by that time.

      So, the question is, how long does it take for your wife to get the Irish visa? If it takes longer, are you planning to return to Peru?

      Depending on the circumstances, you could leave Peru when your stay as a tourist is about to expire and return a few days later hopefully getting another 90 days (or less), or you could overstay (not recommended if you plan to return in a few months), or you could apply for the family visa just to stay legal in the country (as soon as you apply your time as a tourist stops) until you leave.

      Greetings
      Eva


    • This commment is unpublished.
      Patrick Kiernan
      Patrick Kiernan · 01/06/2023
      @Sunflower Thanks Eva!

      We expect her to have the Irish visa and be ready to go by early September. We will also need to apply for an Irish passport for our soon-to-be born son - not sure how long that will take but hopefully ready by early September or before.

      There may be delays with the above and if so I do plan to return to Peru for max a month for the rest of 2023.

      Sounds like applying for the family visa is worth it since it will allow me to stay.

      Was just wondering if there is something more suitable for me to apply for to extend my stay. Thanks.

    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 02/06/2023
      @Patrick Kiernan
      Patrick, no there is no way that you can extend your stay as a tourist. You could leave the country and return hoping that you get another 90 days. But that's a gamble.

      And yes, applying for the family visa might be worth it in your case, if you have all required documents and are willing to do the preparation work, even though the visa most probably won't be approved and you won't have your carné before you leave. Just make sure when you apply for the family visa that your stay as a tourist is still valid. And once you applied on the Agencia Digital and got the confirmation of your application, time as a tourist stops. So, you are still legal in Peru.

      However, if you don't have your carné before you return to Ireland, you must apply for the travel permit before you leave. With this permit you can leave without having to pay the overstay fine (as you haven't overstayed as a tourist), but officially only can stay outside Peru for 30 days. If you don't return to Peru within 30 days, your visa application is canceled, which, I assume, isn't a problem for you.

      On the other hand, if your visa application was approved quickly and you got your carné, be aware that you can only leave Peru for 183 days otherwise you lose your residence visa again. If you are already certain that your move to Ireland is permanent and you won't return to Peru to live within the half year, you must cancel your residence visa before you leave.

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Patrick
      Patrick · 02/06/2023
      @Sunflower
      However, if you don't have your carné before you return to Ireland, you must apply for the travel permit before you leave. With this permit you can leave without having to pay the overstay fine (as you haven't overstayed as a tourist), but officially only can stay outside Peru for 30 days. If you don't return to Peru within 30 days, your visa application is canceled, which, I assume, isn't a problem for you.
      Correct - assuming the next time I come to Peru I can enter as a tourist?

      On the other hand, if your visa application was approved quickly and you got your carné, be aware that you can only leave Peru for 183 days otherwise you lose your residence visa again. If you are already certain that your move to Ireland is permanent and you won't return to Peru to live within the half year, you must cancel your residence visa before you leave.
      What happens if I don't cancel my residence visa before leaving and just leave and let it expire?

      Thanks,
      Patrick 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 02/06/2023
      @Patrick
      1. Yes, next time you come to Peru, you can enter as a tourist. Your application is canceled.

      2. If you don't cancel your residence visa and stay outside Peru for more than 183 days, it should be canceled automatically. But usually it isn't completely. When you return to Peru after over half a year, you can enter as a tourist. However, depending on how long you have been abroad the immigration officer might allow you to enter as a resident and tells you to apply for the extension of your visa immediately or he tells you to cancel your residence visa. Another point is that your residence visa is still in the system even though expired. This might mess up the Agencia Digital. And if you are planning to apply for a new family visa in the future, you must cancel your old residence visa before you can do so.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Maria
    Maria · 26/05/2023
    Hi Eva do you know whether it’s possible to send my Interpol documents through the post office instead of DHL ? Also, do you know how long it takes for Interpol to process the fingerprints in the US? Will it take longer than 3 months? Would i still be able to start my visa application(through marriage) or would i have to wait for the results from Interpol? Thank you
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 27/05/2023
      @Maria Hello Maria,

      From Interpol Peru you get the Ficha de Canje usually on the day of your appointment. So, I assume you mean the documents for the additional check “required” for US Americans, Canadians and Australians.

      As explained in detail in our article Interpol - Ficha de Canje this additional check has nothing to do with issuing the ficha de canje and is not needed for your visa application at Migraciones (you already have your FBI check with Apostille) and the approval of your visa. Getting the results back from this additional check may take many weeks or even months and the criminal record check you get back supposedly does not meet the Antecedentes requirements from Migraciones and does not have an Apostille on it.

      So, you can send the documents with the normal postal service or don’t send them at all. You won’t need the results as for your family visa application you only need the Ficha de Canje and the FBI check with Apostille that you will bring with you.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Vale
    Vale · 30/04/2023
    Hi,

    I am hoping to move to Peru in 2 months (beginning of July) to be with my boyfriend, but I want to ensure I am doing it correctly with the visa process. I am a US citizen and will freelance as an architectural designer remotely with US-based clients. I recently was in Peru for the month of March and received only 60 days to visit as a tourist, of which I only used 31 days. 

    I'm not sure what the best route is, and I'm open to all options... except getting married, we'd rather do it when we're ready instead of feeling forced due to legal reasons.

    I am also seeing that there are documents that I need to have arranged/translated before leaving the States, so I'm sure I need to start that process this week if I want to stick with my timeline. 

    I appreciate any advice you can offer. Thank you! 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 01/05/2023
      @Vale
      Hello Vale,

      as a tourist you can stay a max of 183 days per year. However, when you enter the country you only get up to 90 days in a 180 day period. So, you can stay two times 90 days.

      If you want to move permanently to Peru, your only option to stay legally in the country is to apply for a residence visa. Peru has a few different residence visa including family, work, student, retirement, religious, investment, investigation, humanitarian, special for nationals of Mercosur countries, ... But there is no visa for freelancers or people who have foreign income.

      So, depending on your circumstances you must try to find a way that you are able to fulfill the requirements of one of the available residence visa.

      Family, you must be married or related to a Peruvian. As you don't want to marry, this one is out.

      Student, you must study at a Peruvian university. Not sure if you plan on doing this.

      Religious, you must find your home in a religious entity in Peru. I assume this one doesn't apply to you.

      Humanitarian and Special doesn't apply as well.

      Investigation, you must be a professional in science or technology and work in Peru in this field. So, I assume doesn't apply.

      Investment, you must invest S/ 500,000 in a new or established company in Peru, must have a business plan, must employ a certain number of Peruvians, .... Not sure, if this could be an option for you.

      Retirement, you must present proof of receiving at least US$ 1000 per months from a private or public pension fund (accepted are as well employment related pension plans, lifetime annuities or other benefits) or have a permanent income of at least US$ 1000 for the rest of your life. Please note: Rental income, for example, or income generated from remote work is not considered permanent income. However, there is a loophole. If you can present a certificate from a company guaranteeing you a dividend payment until the day you die of at least US$ 1000, you could qualify for the retirement visa. So, you could, for example, create your own company in your home country and if it's making enough profits pay yourself dividends from this company. If the monthly dividends are at least US$ 1000 per months, you could issue yourself this certificate and apply for the visa. I highly recommend getting legal advice and support from an experienced immigration lawyer to try this route.

      Work, you must either have a work contract or service contract with a Peruvian company. Not sure, if you are looking for a job. But even if not, the work visa could be a real and viable option for you. You could, for example, establish a company in Peru, have the company employ you and issue you a work contract. Quite a number of freelancers I know went this route. Here as well, I highly recommend to talk to a notary and/or immigration lawyer in Peru, so that you first get a general introduction into establishing and running a company in Peru and then into all your rights and (tax) obligations before starting this endeavor.

      As the family visa is out, be aware that no matter which residence visa you try to make fit your circumstances, the preparation work is nothing you can do in a few weeks. And no matter which residence visa you apply for, the most important document you need from home is your FBI criminal record check with Apostille. However, be aware that it can't be older than 6 months when you finally apply for your visa. And depending on the necessary preparation work and the residence visa there might be other documents you need from the US, as well with Apostille.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Maria
    Maria · 19/04/2023
    Hi Eva i was reading the requirements on the application for the family visa on this website (limaeasy) where it asks for your bank statement and employment status—do i need to ask for any official bank statement/receipt from my bank in the US? Also, if i’m self employed do i need to show proof? 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 19/04/2023
      @Maria
      Hello Maria,

      I'm confused. Where in the requirement list above in the article Family visa did you find that you need bank statements and employment status???

      No, both are not requirements to apply for the family visa.

      However, when you apply for your family visa you must fill in a questionnaire. So, you have to answer if you have a bank account in Peru; your answer most probably is no. Next question is if you have taken out a loan in Peru; I assume no. Then you are ask if you have a bank account in another country. Here you most probably have to say yes. And they want to know if you hold shares in a company in Peru; I assume your answer is no as well. You just have to answer simple questions. No requirement, no need for proof.

      Regarding your employment status you have to answer if you are working, when you started, what position you have, etc. No requirement, no proof is necessary. And it's up to you how you answer these questions. You are applying for a family visa, so no need to say that you work. If you are not working in Peru and your earnings are not deposited in a Peruvian account you should really think about it how you answer as once you have your residence visa officially you must pay taxes on your worldwide income. So, if you have income in the US, for example, the Peruvian tax authority won't know about it until you tell them. Depending on your circumstances you could just fill in n/a (no aplica) and later, after you settled in Peru and spoke to someone who is much more knowledgeable than I am when it comes to taxes change your employment status or leave it as it is.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Maria
    Maria · 13/04/2023
    Hi Eva I just got my FBI fingerprint submission back and I'm waiting for the document to be apostilled--but I have a question--the FBI fingerprint letter states that "the result of the search is only effective for the date the submission was originally completed (March 20,2023) " . So does this mean that Migraciones will give me trouble and request a new one? do you know any US citizens who've already submitted this document and had trouble with it?

    Also, do I need any other documents aside from: 1. the FBI fingerprint + Apostille + translation 2. Register US marriage with RENIEC 3. Interpol appointment 4. Make PDF of all these documents??

    I'm still in the US so I'm hoping that whatever other document I need to apply for residency through marriage to a Peruvian I can get done here so that I don't have to wait in Peru for the documents to arrive. Please advise. Thank you again for all your help!!! :-)

     (I'm sorry if you're seeing this the second time but I couldn't find my comment or see if you replied and I don't get any notifications for some reason!)
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 13/04/2023
      @Maria
      Hello again,

      I just published your other comment and replied to it.

      Here my reply:

      That’s great. So you have your FBI criminal record check and now only the Apostille is missing.

      And yes, on every report you find that “the result of the search is only effective for the date the submission was originally completed”. This means that if you applied on March 20, 2023 the FBI can only confirm that you don’t have a criminal record until March 20, 2023. They can’t confirm that you won’t have any encounters with the law in the future. How could they?

      Anyway, nothing to worry about. Migraciones will accept the document if it was issued not more than six months before the application.

      And as described above for the family visa application you only need from the US

      - your passport with a validity of at least six months on the day you enter Peru; if it’s only valid a year or so, I would apply for a new one before leaving the US, so you don’t have to worry that your passport expires during the application / approval process or soon after that which means you would have to apply for a new US passport in Peru and then have your Peruvian ID card, the carné de extranjería, changed, shortly after you got it. So, if necessary get a new US passport and you are good for the next 10 years.

      - the FBI criminal record check with Apostille

      That’s it.

      Once in Peru you additionally need the following

      - Ficha de Canje from Interpol
      - Certified copy of your Peruvian marriage certificate
      - Receipt for paid application fee
      - Up-to-date DNI of your husband

      Just follow the description above. Every step is explained.

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 13/04/2023
      @Maria Sorry, that you don't get our notifications. I just checked and saw that you used a gmail address. For whatever reason gmail either sends our notifications to your spam folder or doesn't deliver them at all. We are working on a solution.
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Martin Odenell
    Martin Odenell · 05/04/2023
    Hi Eva.

    A question.
    After two years of residency, 183 days per year,
    a resident can apply for Peruvian citizenship.

    On what start date does the two year count begin ?
    The arrival date as a tourist?
    Or the date the residency is first approved?
    Or the 'Emision / Date of issue' on the carnet ?
    I assume the latter.

    Thanks.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 05/04/2023
      @Martin Odenell
      Hello Martin,

      yes, after at least two years of legal residency (!) on a family visa through marriage with a Peruvian you can get the Peruvian nationality by applying for the Nacionalización por matrimonio.

      Your two year count does not start when you first entered as a tourist, but when your residence visa was first approved and you were registered in the Migraciones database RIM as a resident.

      So, if you check your carné on the back you find the Fecha inscripción (the date you were registered) and the Fecha emision (the date your carné was issued); both dates are usually only a few days apart.

      You can find the requirements for the Nacionalización por matrimonio on the Peruvian government website. Be aware that even though there you can read that the processing time of the application only is supposed to be 30 business days, in most cases the whole process takes much, much longer.

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Martin Odenell
      Martin Odenell · 06/04/2023
      @Sunflower Thanks Eva,

      The latest Carnet has only two dates on the front of the card:
      -Date of issue.
      -Date of expiry.
      (I also have an old carnet with multiple dates on the back).

      Approximately how long can a valid 'Nacionalización por matrimonio' process take to complete ?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 06/04/2023
      @Martin Odenell
      They changed the carné again? And no dates anymore on the back?

      Anyway, as said above the official processing time should be 30 business days. And I don't know how long it takes Migraciones / Ministry of the Interior / Office of the president (who must sign all approvals) at the moment.

      Before Corona foreigners going the nacionalización route waited anything between a year or even two. Last I heard they improved things and foreigners should have the approval within half a year. But just a couple of weeks ago I spoke to a Peruvian whose wife is a foreigner and it took him 5 or 6 visits (nearly 3 months) until Migraciones finally accepted the application and necessary documents. His story reminded me of when I first applied for my family visa many years ago and requirements would change with every Migraciones visit.


      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Martin Odenell
      Martin Odenell · 08/04/2023
      @Sunflower
      Correct, only two dates on the front of latest CE card.

      A three months plus wait for Naturalization. Yikes...
      I guess the Permanent resident route could take equally as long.

      Thanks for the information.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 08/04/2023
      @Martin Odenell
      The 3 months I wrote about above were the time it took that Migraciones accepted all documents and with that the application. The approval takes much longer.

      And surely the change of immigration status from family resident to permanent family resident will be much quicker, but can only be started after 3 years of legal residency.

  • This commment is unpublished.
    Martin Odenell
    Martin Odenell · 01/04/2023
    Hi again Eva.

    My residency is close to done. The process took approximately 70 calendar days from the day I first arrived as a tourist. It's a complicated process to manage on par with the complexity of applying for residency in other countries. Thanks yet again for your informative pages, they helped me a lot to prepare the correct documents before I arrived, in particular the apostilled police check and also what to do when I applied online within Peru.

    Some additional tips:

    ---

    Migracciones video conference.

    If you wish to speak with a friendly Migracciones agent using a
    https://agenciavirtual.migraciones.gob.pe/agencia-virtual/identidad
    video conference 'Incio video conferencia' I suggest calling/connecting around 8:30AM soon after their office opens. Getting connected later in the day can prove difficult.

    ---

    Residency approval.

    When Migracciones first approves your residency they will send you a message in your 'Buzón Electrónico de Migraciones' letting you know that the residency is approved. I believe this message means all your documentation and biometrics are in order and Migraciones does not require any further information from you. The message will also state to wait for instructions on how to pick up the 'Carnet De Extranjeria'.

    I was waiting weeks for these instructions to arrive, so I 'video conferencia' called Migracciones and they kindly explained the following: When the residency documents and biometrics are first approved, Migraciones then has 30 working days to register and process an internal document related to your application. I waited 25 calender days for the second notification to arrive. This is a second approval and contains instructions on how to pick up the 'Carnet De Extranjeria'.

    Good luck.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 04/04/2023
      @Martin Odenell
      Hello Martin,

      sorry for getting back to you so late.

      And a huge thanks for sharing your experience. Around January Migraciones has changed the process again and it seems that now, after the approval of the visa, the applicant isn't required to do the registration anymore but Migraciones does it. And once they are finished they will send you the second notification.

      Before I got your info I heard of waiting times for this second letter of a few days to a couple of weeks, but never of 25 days. That's long.

      Anyway, congrats you made it through.

      All the best in Peru
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Mark
      Mark · 22/05/2023
      @Sunflower Hi Eva,

      Do you know what would be the process if I have received my residency approval letter, but while waiting for the carnet letter I have to travel out of the country? Would I come back in just showing the approval letter?

      Many thanks

      - Mark
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 23/05/2023
      @Mark
      Hello Mark,

      if nothing changed over the past few months, your application process is only finished when you got your carné .

      So, to leave the country you must apply for a Autorización de estadía fuera del país por 30 días. It's an easy, quick and straightforward process which is explained in our article Travel permit.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Maria
    Maria · 24/03/2023
    Hi does anyone know if i can schedule an appointment with Interpol in the US to get my background check from them instead of waiting to do it in Lima and then having to pay DHL ? Also, i’m confused on one part about getting all my documents apostilled—does Migraciones require me to apostille my USA birth certificate as well? 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 24/03/2023
      @Maria
      Hello Maria,

      Interpol doesn't issue a background check neither in Peru nor in the US. The Ficha de Canje is a document issued by Interpol certifying that a person isn’t an internationally wanted fugitive, so hasn’t an international wanted persons notice (Red Notice). You must apply for it at Interpol in Peru. You find more information on the process in our article Interpol-Ficha de Canje.

      Next to the Ficha de Canje you need a criminal record check. Assuming you are from the US you need an “FBI Criminal Record Check” or a “Identity History Summary” which is issued in the US by the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). You should get this before (!!!) leaving the US and have it apostilled in the US.

      I assume you are a bit confused because, among other nationalities, US citizens are required to do an additional criminal record check for which the international money order is needed. According to the Interpol office in Lima, this check has nothing to do with issuing the ficha necessary for Migraciones and the approval of your visa.

      You should be aware that getting the results back from this additional check may take many weeks or even months and the criminal record check you get does not have an Apostille on it. So, waiting to get this check back and use it for the "Antecedentes" requirement to apply for a residence visa is not recommended and counterproductive as you most probably will run out of time on your stay as a tourist before you get the document and have it sent and returned with Apostille. So, better come prepared to Peru bringing your FBI criminal record check already with you or apply for it on your own when already in Peru.

      Then I wonder on what base are you planning to apply for a family visa? If you aren't the daughter of a Peruvian (then you could get the Peruvian nationality which would make things much easier) or if you aren't the daughter of a foreigner with resident status in Peru, you won't need your birth certificate.

      Anyway, you might want to check out the article above under Requirements for all documents you need for your family visa application (don't miss the explanatory notes). And, as explained above, all required documents issued outside Peru must have an Apostille, then must be translated in Peru into Spanish and the translation must be legalized by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Maria
      Maria · 25/03/2023
      @Sunflower Hi Eva. No i just got married in the US  to a Peruvian citizen and i got it apostilled at the secretary of state and he took it to Reniec and i’m waiting on my fbi background check to be apostilled. Yes this process has been extremely confusing but i was following the requirements list on this website and it said my birth certificate has to be apostilled to submit to Migraciones. Do i not need to get that done? Thank you so much for your help i sincerely appreciate it. Dealing with Migraciones is so exhausting and trying to get a hold of them is even worse! Each agent gives you a different response! 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 25/03/2023
      @Maria
      Hello Maria,

      not sure which website your are talking about, but above in the article under the requirements it clearly states that you need a document that proves the family tie. So, a marriage certificate if the applicant is married to a Peruvian or foreigner with resident status", which applies to you; a "birth certificate if the applicant is the child or parent of a Peruvian, but not Peruvian himself or of a foreigner with resident status, which doesn't apply to you.

      So, you don't need your birth certificate if you apply for a family visa based on being married to a Peruvian.

      For now, it seems everything is done correctly. You married in the US and had your US marriage certificate apostilled. I assume your husband had it translated in Peru and now applied to have your marriage registered with Reniec. As soon Reniec completed the process your husband gets your Peruvian marriage certificate. He should make sure that he gets a certified copy of the Peruvian marriage certificate. One requirement done.

      Then you already applied for your FBI record check. When you have it, this must be apostilled as well and you are ready to come to Peru. When you are in Peru, the FBI check must be translated as well. Next requirement done.

      Then you must get an appointment at Interpol for the Ficha de Canje. When you go to Interpol in Lima you get the Ficha de Canje on the same day. Next requirement done. You don't need the additional check for your family visa application; so don't let anyone confuse you.

      Now, the only things left to do is make PDFs of all documents and pay the application fee, which can be easily done online as described above. Last requirements done.

      And then you just must apply on the Agencia Digital.

      I know it all seems confusing and strange at first. But read the article slowly and just follow the steps (don't miss the links to other articles, which as this article explains everything in detail).

      If you are getting overwhelmed or don't know what to do,  just send me a message and I try my best to clarify any doubts.

      All the best
      Eva


    • This commment is unpublished.
      Maria
      Maria · 12/04/2023
      @Sunflower Hi Eva I just got my FBI fingerprint submission back and I'm waiting for the document to be apostilled--but I have a question--the FBI fingerprint letter states that "the result of the search is only effective for the date the submission was originally completed (March 20,2023) " . So does this mean that Migraciones will give me trouble and request a new one? do you know any US citizens who've already submitted this document and had trouble with it? 

      Also, do I need any other documents aside from: 1. the FBI fingerprint + Apostille + translation 2. Register US marriage with RENIEC 3. Interpol appointment  4. Make PDF of all these documents??

       I'm still in the US so I'm hoping that whatever other document I need to apply for residency through marriage to a Peruvian I can get done here so that I don't have to wait in Peru for the documents to arrive. Please advise. Thank you again for all your help!!! :-) 

      P.S. this will be my third time applying for a visa here (the first two times I applied was through a work visa and it didn't work out) so I'm really hoping this time I have all my documents sorted out!  
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 13/04/2023
      @Maria Hello Maria,

      That’s great. So you have your FBI criminal record check and now only the Apostille is missing.

      And yes, on every report you find that “the result of the search is only effective for the date the submission was originally completed”. This means that if you applied on March 20, 2023 the FBI can only confirm that you don’t have a criminal record until March 20, 2023. They can’t confirm that you won’t have any encounters with the law in the future. How could they?

      Anyway, nothing to worry about. Migraciones will accept the document if it was issued not more than six months before the application.

      And as described above for the family visa application you only need from the US

      - your passport with a validity of at least six months on the day you enter Peru; if it’s only valid a year or so, I would apply for a new one before leaving the US, so you don’t have to worry that your passport expires during the application / approval process or soon after that which means you would have to apply for a new US passport in Peru and then have your Peruvian ID card, the carné de extranjería, changed, shortly after you got it. So, if necessary get a new US passport and you are good for the next 10 years.

      - the FBI criminal record check with Apostille

      That’s it.

      Once in Peru you need additionally need the following

      - Ficha de Canje from Interpol
      - Certified copy of your Peruvian marriage certificate
      - Receipt for paid application fee
      - Up-to-date DNI of your husband

      Just follow the description above. Every step is explained.

      Greetings
      Eva

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