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Peruvian Family Visa

Peruvian Family Visa

A Guide to Peruvian Visas

Part 3

Some family members of Peruvian nationals and foreigners with resident status in Peru have the right to family reunification and can apply for a family visa, the so-called Visa familiar residente. Depending on your relationship to the Peruvian citizen or foreign resident, several family visa sub-types exist.

And before we continue ...

Applying for a residence visa in Peru can feel confusing and overwhelming at first. Requirements, procedures, and the different authorities involved are not always easy to understand, especially for foreigners navigating the process for the first time.

The family visa application involves several steps and requires careful preparation of documents both from abroad and in Peru.

This guide explains the entire process step by step - from the legal background and document preparation to submitting your visa application, receiving your residence approval, and obtaining your Carné de extranjería. With the detailed explanations and practical instructions provided here, you should be able to prepare and submit your application on your own. We also explain important rules and practical aspects of living in Peru on a family visa.

 

Table of contents

 

Family visa types in Peru

In Peru, a family visa can be based either on a relationship with a Peruvian citizen or with a foreigner who already has resident status in Peru. In both cases the visa type is called Visa familiar residente. However, the required documents and specific sub-type may differ depending on the sponsor’s immigration status.

Important:
Currently, same-sex marriages and civil unions are not legally recognized in Peru. Therefore, even if such a marriage or civil union was legally performed abroad, it is generally not recognized by Peruvian authorities, including Migraciones, and cannot be used as a basis for a family visa application. Foreign partners in such situations usually have to apply for another visa type, for example a work visa, retirement visa, or other residence visa, depending on their personal circumstances.

Depending on your relationship to the Peruvian citizen or foreigner with resident status in Peru, several family visa sub-types exist.

  • 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)
  • Minor children of Peruvians or foreigners with resident status (para el caso de hijos menores de edad de peruano/a o extranjero/a residente)
  • Unmarried adult children (18 to 28 years old) who are financially dependent on their parents (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 resident status in Peru who do not have Peruvian nationality (para el caso de padres de peruano/a o extranjero/a residente) (*)

(*) Children born on Peruvian territory to Peruvian or foreign parents are automatically considered Peruvian citizens. They have the right to obtain a Peruvian birth certificate, a Peruvian DNI, and a Peruvian passport.

For many years, foreign parents could not obtain a resident family visa through their minor child born in Peru. However, this changed with the introduction of the 2017 Foreigner Law and a new interpretation of the relevant regulation a few years later.

Before the parents can apply for a resident family visa, the child’s birth must first be registered with Reniec, and the child must obtain both a Peruvian birth certificate and a Peruvian DNI.

 

Legal background for a family visa application in Peru

Where to apply for a family visa

Officially, you can apply for a family visa either from outside Peru or while already in the country, for example while staying as a tourist.

However, the practical situation has changed in recent years. For decades, Peruvian consulates abroad handled residence visa applications entirely, from providing information and issuing application forms to receiving the application and, if approved, granting the residence visa.

Since August 2021, however, Peruvian diplomatic missions abroad generally only handle tourist and business visa applications. Foreigners who wish to apply for a residence visa are now usually referred to Migraciones in Peru.

This means that foreigners who can enter Peru visa-free (in other words, those who do not need to apply for a tourist visa at a Peruvian consulate) typically travel to Peru as tourists and then apply for a change of immigration status, known as Cambio de calidad migratoria, at Migraciones. This is different from a “Solicitud de calidad migratoria,” which is the procedure used when applying for residency from outside Peru.

Foreign nationals who cannot enter Peru visa-free (meaning they must apply for a tourist visa at a Peruvian consulate before traveling) are officially required to apply for their residence visa from outside Peru. In practice, this process can be more complicated, lengthy, and sometimes frustrating.

If you fall into this category, we explain the process in detail in our separate guide on the Peruvian residence visa application from abroad.

Foreign nationals who want to apply for a residence visa in Peru, for example because they are married to a Peruvian, have found work in Peru, or p...

 

Important laws and regulations

For foreigners planning to stay in Peru long-term and apply for a resident visa, several laws and regulations form the legal basis of the immigration system.

The most important ones are Decreto Legislativo 1350, Peru’s “old” Foreigner Law, and Decreto Legislativo 1582, which introduced modifications to this law. Both mainly establish the general framework for immigration matters. More detailed regulations can be found in Decreto Supremo 002-2021-IN published in 2021, as well as in the TUPA (Texto Único de Procedimientos Administrativos) of Migraciones, which is usually updated every year.

Helpful information can also be found on the official Peruvian government website. All these documents are, of course, in Spanish.

While in the section Requirements for a family visa application in Peru below we explain the required documents in English, the official list of requirements can be found, for example, in Decreto Supremo 002-2021-IN, page 44, in article 89-B “Procedimiento administrativo de cambio de calidad migratoria por la de familiar residente”.

Since the TUPA is the most current official document and may contain small updates compared to the Decreto Supremo, we recommend checking it as well when looking for the latest official information in Spanish. In the current version, the relevant section can be found on page 149 for adult applicants and on page 77 for minor applicants.

 

Requirements and documents to apply for a family visa in Peru

Below you find the general requirements and documents needed to apply for a family visa in Peru - more precisely to complete the procedure called Cambio de calidad migratoria familiar residente (change of immigration status to family resident). As the family visa includes several sub-types, additional documents may be required depending on your relationship to the Peruvian citizen or foreign resident.

Please note that Migraciones reserves the right to request additional documents at any time during the evaluation of your application.

Required documents to apply for a family visa include:

  • Passport
  • Clean criminal record (Antecedentes policiales, penales y judiciales) 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 (exception minors) (1) + (2)
  • Official document that proves the family tie
    For example:
    • Married to a Peruvian or foreigner with resident status:
      • marriage certificate (1) + (3) (4)
    • Child or parent of a Peruvian or foreigner with resident status:
      • birth certificate (1) + (3) + (5)
    • Union de hecho, so a legal Peruvian relationship with a Peruvian or foreigner with resident status:
      • Sworn statement indicating the SUNARP registration (1)
  • ID of the family member
    • DNI of the Peruvian family member with correct family address, correct marital status and no pending election fees, or
    • Carné de extranjería of the foreigner with resident status
  • Interpol clearance - Ficha de canje internacional not older than 6 months (see below)
  • Receipt for the paid application fee
    • Authority: Migraciones
    • Code: 07568 - Cambio de calidad migratoria
    • Concept: Cambio de calidad migratoria a familiar residente
    • Fee: S/ 161.40 (2026)
  • Additional required documents depending on the situation
    • Unmarried adult children (up to 28 years):
      • Official certificate of being single, (1) + (3) or
      • Sworn statement in which the applicant declares before a Peruvian notary that they are unmarried, (1) and
      • Enrollment certificate of a Peruvian educational institution (1)
    • Adult children with disabilities
      • Official certificate of being single (1) (3), or
      • Sworn statement in which the applicant declares before a Peruvian notary that they are unmarried, (1) and
      • Document proving a condition of permanent disability and the need for parent’s care (1) (3)

Explanatory notes

(1) Validity period (“expiration date”) of documents in Peru

Something many foreigners don’t expect: in Peru, official documents are often only accepted for a limited time after issuance. Unless stated otherwise:

  • Documents issued in Peru are usually accepted only if issued within the last 3 months.
  • Documents issued abroad are usually accepted only if issued within the last 6 months.

(2) Criminal record check

As we receive many questions about the criminal record certificates required for visa applications in Peru (“Antecedentes policiales, penales y judiciales”), we dedicated a separate article to this topic where we explain in detail which document you need, where to obtain it, and what to watch out for when applying for it.

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

(3) Foreign document rules in Peru

Any foreign document presented in Peru must meet specific formal requirements.

  • Apostille or legalization
    Foreign documents must either:
    • carry an Apostille (if the issuing country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention), or
    • be legalized (if the country is not part of the Convention) through a Peruvian consulate abroad and then the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • Translation into Spanish
    If a foreign document is not entirely in Spanish, it must be translated into Spanish by a certified translator in Peru (see below).

(4) Marriage certificate

Marriage in Peru at a municipality integrated into the Reniec system:

  • Certified copy of your marriage certificate issued by Reniec (not older than 90 days)

Marriage in Peru at a municipality not integrated into the Reniec system:

Some municipalities are not yet integrated into Reniec and only issue local records. If you got married in such a municipality, the local marriage certificate must first be authenticated by Reniec before Migraciones accepts it.

In this case:

  • Step 1: Obtain a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the (provincial) municipality. Inform them that you need the copy for Migraciones-related purposes, so the right stamp is put on the certificate.
  • Step 2: Pay the fee on pagalo.pe or at any Banco de la Nacion branch
    • Authority: Reniec
    • Code 02143 - Certificaciones
    • Concepto: Certificacion de firma;
    • Fee: S/ 31.
  • Step 3: Apply at a Reniec office for the so-called "Solicitud de authenticacion de firmas". Bring the certified copy of your marriage certificate, the payment receipt, ID, and copies. In Lima this can only be done at the Reniec office in Miraflores (Av. Diez Conseco 230) or the Reniec office in Jesus Maria (Jr. Talara 130).
  • Step 4: At Reniec you are handed a form to fill out. Then, just wait your turn in the “Certificaciones” line, hand in your documents and usually within a week or two you can pick up your marriage certificate with another stamp on it. 

Only after this authentication will Migraciones accept the marriage certificate. When you submit your visa application, the document must not be older than 90 days.

Marriage abroad to a Peruvian citizen (registered at consulate)

  • Certified copy of your marriage certificate issued by the Peruvian consulate and legalized by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RREE) in Lima or their provincial offices (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.

Marriage abroad to a Peruvian citizen (not registered at consulate)

If you were married abroad to a Peruvian citizen and the marriage was not registered at a Peruvian consulate, the Peruvian spouse must first register the marriage with Reniec.

For this, the foreign marriage certificate with Apostille or - if the country where the document was issued is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention - legalized by a Peruvian consulate is required (not older than 6 months).

Once in Peru, the foreign marriage certificate must be translated into Spanish and, in some cases, legalized by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RREE).

After the marriage has been registered with Reniec, obtain a certified copy of the marriage certificate issued by Reniec.

Marriage abroad to a foreigner

  • Marriage certificate with Apostille or - if the country in which the document was issued didn't sign the Hague Apostille Convention - legalized by a Peruvian consulate (not older than 6 months).

Once in Peru, the marriage certificate must be translated into Spanish and, in some cases, legalized by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RREE).

(5) Birth certificate

Child of a foreigner with resident status in Peru

  • Birth certificate of the child showing that it is the son or daughter of the foreigner with resident status. The document must have an Apostille or - if the country in which the document was issued didn't sign the Hague Apostille Convention - legalized by a Peruvian consulate (not older than 6 months).

Once in Peru, the birth certificate must be translated into Spanish and, in some cases, legalized by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RREE).

Parent of a Peruvian citizen - birth registered at a municipality integrated into the Reniec system

  • Certified copy of the birth certificate issued by Reniec showing you as the parent (not older than 90 days).

Parent of a Peruvian citizen – birth registered at a municipality not integrated into the Reniec system

Some municipalities in Peru are not yet integrated into the Reniec system, meaning that births are registered only at the municipal level. If the Peruvian family member was born in such a municipality, the birth certificate must first be authenticated by Reniec before Migraciones accepts it.

In this case:

  • Step 1: Obtain a certified copy of the birth certificate from the (provincial) municipality. Inform them that you need the copy for Migraciones-related purposes, so the right stamp is put on the certificate.
  • Step 2: Pay the fee on pagalo.pe or at any Banco de la Nacion branch
    • Authority: Reniec
    • Code 02143 - Certificaciones
    • Concepto: Certificacion de firma;
    • Fee: S/ 31.
  • Step 3: Apply at a Reniec office for the so-called "Solicitud de authenticacion de firmas". Bring the certified copy of your marriage certificate, the payment receipt, ID, and copies. In Lima this can only be done at the Reniec office in Miraflores (Av. Diez Conseco 230) or the Reniec office in Jesus Maria (Jr. Talara 130).
  • Step 4: At Reniec you are handed a form to fill out. Then, just wait your turn in the “Certificaciones” line, hand in your documents and usually within a week or two you can pick up the birth certificate with an additional Reniec authentication stamp.
  • Only after this authentication will Migraciones accept the birth certificate. When you submit your visa application, the document must not be older than 90 days.

Parent of a foreigner with resident status in Peru

  • Birth certificate of the foreigner with resident status in Peru showing you as the parent. The document must have an Apostille or - if the country in which the document was issued didn't sign the Hague Apostille Convention - legalized by a Peruvian consulate (not older than 6 months).

Once in Peru, the birth certificate must be translated into Spanish and, in some cases, legalized by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RREE).

 

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

Applying for a family visa in Peru is generally a straightforward process. However, if you are unfamiliar with the procedures and the different steps involved, the whole process can feel confusing and overwhelming at first.

The following step-by-step guide walks you through the entire process and is intended to help you prepare and complete the application on your own. Please keep in mind that it serves as general guidance only, as procedures and requirements may change at any time. Also note that at least basic Spanish skills are necessary to fill out forms and understand instructions during the application process.

 

Before submitting your visa application

Before you can submit your family visa application through the Migraciones Agencia Digital, there are a few important preparations to complete. Some required documents must be obtained in your home country, others have to be issued or processed in Peru.

In addition, foreign documents need to be apostilled or legalized (often only possible in the country where they were issued) and translated into Spanish in Peru, and you must complete the Interpol clearance procedure (Ficha de Canje). You will also have to pay the visa application fee and prepare digital copies of all required documents for upload.

The following sections explain these preparatory steps so you can complete everything in advance and submit your visa application without unnecessary delays.

 

Translation of foreign documents

Once in Peru, all documents issued abroad that are written in a foreign language must be translated into Spanish.

Officially, since the introduction of Decreto Legislativo 1272, which simplified administrative procedures in Peru, a simple translation should be sufficient. In theory, this means you can use any registered translator in Peru.

However, in practice it is still recommended to use a certified translator in Peru, preferably a traductor público juramentado (sworn public translator), as their translations are generally accepted by Peruvian authorities without any issues.

Lists of these government-approved translators - unfortunately most of them are located in Lima only - can be found on the Peruvian government website. Under point 3, simply select the language of your original document and the corresponding list of certified translators will appear.

Another option is checking with the Colegio de Traductores del Perú or simply doing a Google search for registered translators in Peru.

For less common languages, the Peruvian government also lists traductores especiales, translators authorized to translate so-called “special languages” into Spanish. In the text just click Directorio de traductores especiales and select the language of your original document.

If your documents carry an Apostille and are translated by a certified translators, Migraciones should accept them without problems under the rules of the simplified administrative procedures. Nevertheless, many translators still recommend an additional legalization of the translation by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RREE). The reason is that Migraciones does not always apply the simplified procedures consistently. In some cases, documents without the additional legalization have been rejected, and applicants were asked to upload the apostilled and translated documents again - this time with an additional legalization by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RREE) in Lima or at one of its regional offices.

If you decide to skip this additional RREE legalization step, we strongly recommend keeping a close eye on your Migraciones electronic mailbox for any notifications requesting additional authentication (see below).

If your documents are not apostilled but legalized, they must always be authenticated again after translation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RREE) in Lima or at one of its regional offices.

 

Interpol

Before you can even begin the family visa application process, you must also obtain the Ficha de Canje Internacional issued by Interpol in Peru. This clearance confirms that you are not internationally wanted and is a mandatory requirement for nearly all temporary and residence visa applications in Peru. 

As the procedure involves several steps and a visit to an Interpol office in Peru, we explain the process in detail in our separate guide: “Interpol – Ficha de Canje Internacional.”

Before applying for any temporary or residence visa in Peru, all foreigners must first obtain the Ficha de Canje Internacional issued by Interpol. ...

Paying the application fee

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

Payment can be made either:

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

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

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

For the family resident visa application, you need:

  • Authority: Migraciones
  • Code: 07568 - Cambio de calidad migratoria
  • Concepto: Cambio de calidad migratoria por la de familiar residente mayor de edad (adults) or menor de edad (minors)
  • Fee: S/ 161.40 (2026)

Once the payment is completed, keep the receipt safe. You will need it when submitting your application.

 

Last preparations

Prepare digital copies of your documents. Create clear PDF files of your passport (the page with your personal data) as well as of all other required documents. Migraciones currently allows a maximum file size of 3 MB per document, so make sure your scans are readable but not too large.

Once everything is prepared, you are ready to start your family visa application.

One more important point:
If you need to leave Peru while your visa application is being processed, you must first apply for a special travel permit, the Permiso Especial de Viaje (also called Autorización de estadía fuera del país). Leaving the country without this authorization automatically cancels your pending visa application.

Foreign nationals in Peru who have applied for a visa - more precisely, for a change of immigration status (cambio de calidad migratoria) - or a ch...

  

Submitting your visa application on the Agencia Digital

Now it’s finally time to submit your family visa application.

Before getting started, however, there are a few important things you should know about the Migraciones Agencia Digital, the online platform where the application must be submitted.

  • First of all, the platform generally only works when accessed from within Peru.
  • The Agencia Digital is available in Spanish only. While it may be tempting to use automatic translation tools in your browser, we recommend not using them, as they can sometimes cause display or system errors.
  • To reduce technical problems when using the platform, it is also advisable to:
    • disable ad blockers
    • avoid incognito or private browsing modes
    • use a standard browser window

And even though we do our best to keep this guide as up to date as possible, the Agencia Digital is frequently updated and small changes to the process may occur. Therefore, please treat the following walk-through primarily as general guidance.

If you notice that something works differently than described here, you are very welcome to share your experience in the comments section below (visible after approval) or use the email button at the bottom of the page to send us a private message. Your feedback helps us keep this guide accurate and useful for others.

Step 1: Access the Migraciones Agencia Digital

Go to the Migraciones Agencia Digital and click on Entrar.

On the next page, select Extranjero and fill in the following fields:

  • Documento
    Select the document you used to enter Peru or that is registered with Migraciones (usually pasaporte).
  • Número de documento
    Enter your passport number.
  • Fecha de nacimiento
    Enter your date of birth.
  • Nacionalidad
    Select your nationality. Country names are listed in Spanish (for example, EE. UU. for the United States, Alemania for Germany).
  • Último movimiento migratorio de entrada
    Enter the date you last entered Peru.
  • Código captcha
    Complete the captcha.

Click Verificar.

Important:
No matter which forms you fill out in Peru, always enter your personal data exactly as it appears in your passport. Even small differences can cause problems.

 

Step 2: Select the visa application procedure

You are now on the main page of the Agencia Digital.

  • Either use the search bar, or
  • In the left-hand menu, go to Cambio de calidad migratoria and select familiar residente
    • Casado con peruano o extranjero residente if you are married to a Peruvian or foreign resident 
    • Padres de peruano o extranjero residente if you are the parent of Peruvian or foreign resident
    • Hijo menor de edad for underage children.
    • Hijos adultos con dispacidad for adult children with disabilities

Click on the one that applies to continue.

 

Step 3: Choose the Migraciones office and generate your update code

You are now on the Cambio de calidad migratoria - Dependencia page.

Fill in the required fields:

  • Seleccione la dependencia donde desee gestionar su trámite
    Select the Migraciones office that should handle your application (for example, Lima, a MAC center, Cusco, Arequipa).
  • Ingrese código de actualización
    If you do not already have a current data update code, click the link “Obtenga aquí su código de actualización de datos” below the field.

A new tab opens, taking you to the Sistema de Actualización de Datos page.

Click the Sistema de actualización de datos button and fill in the requested fields:

  • Tipo de documento
    Select pasaporte.
  • Número de documento
    Enter your passport number.
  • Nacionalidad
    Select your nationality (listed in Spanish).
  • Sexo
    Select your gender.
  • Fecha de nacimiento
    Enter your date of birth (dd/mm/yyyy).
  • Captcha
    Complete the captcha.

Accept the sworn statement and click Continuar.

You will then be taken to a rather extensive questionnaire. Be aware that you only have a limited amount of time (usually 20 to 30 minutes) to complete all required fields. Once you start, you must finish within this time. If the time expires, all your progress is lost and you have to start again from the beginning.

The questions may appear somewhat unorganized or unusual. From time to time Migraciones changes the questionnaire, moving questions around, adding new ones, or removing others. Therefore, the description below should be seen as general guidance to give you an idea of what kind of information you may be asked to provide.

First, you will be asked to enter personal information, including:

  • marital status
  • country of residence
  • country of birth
  • whether you have any criminal, police, or judicial record
  • your address in Peru (including department, province, district, road type, zone type, street name, and house number)
  • your email address
  • mobile phone number and landline number
  • hair color and eye color
  • height (in meters) and weight (in kilograms)

Next, you must provide the details of an emergency contact, including their passport number, name, mobile phone number, and email address.

The following section asks about personal aspects, such as whether you have a disability or illness and whether you require medical treatment.

After that, you will be asked questions about your immediate family situation. You must indicate whether you are single or have a partner. If you have a partner, you must enter their personal details, including:

  • passport information (country issuing the passport, type of passport, passport number)
  • name(s) and surname(s)
  • gender
  • date of birth
  • whether your partner is currently in Peru with you

Once you have completed this section, click Guardar.

The next topic concerns your education and profession, including your highest school and academic degree, your profession and occupation, and whether you currently study or work in Peru.

You will then be asked about your living conditions, including the type of housing, since when you have lived there, how many people live in the household, and how many rooms the home has.

The last block of questions relates to financial information, for example whether you have taken out a loan in Peru or if you maintain a bank account in the country.

Once you have completed all questions, click Continuar.

That should be it. A pop-up window should then appear displaying your codigo de actualización. Copy this code.

Return to the original tab with your Cambio de calidad migratoria application, paste the code into the field, and click Siguiente.

 

Step 4: Upload required documents

In this step you must upload all required documents and, where requested, enter additional information. The Agencia Digital organizes the requirements into several tabs. Some tabs only require you to upload the corresponding document(s), while others also ask for additional information.

When uploading your documents, make sure that the file size does not exceed the maximum allowed size (usually 3 MB per document) and that the dcocuments are clear and easy to read.

Important for those wanting to verify the exact requirements:
If you only want to check or verify the current requirements, you can simply click through the different tabs. Once finished, leave the page without submitting anything.

To proceed with your application, click the small arrow next to each requirement. Depending on the document, additional fields may appear. Fill in the requested information and upload the corresponding PDF file.

Note
The fields described below correspond to a family visa application for adults, for example if you are married to a Peruvian. If you are applying for a minor, additional fields may need to be completed and different or additional documents, such as your passport or carné may have to be uploaded.

Pago por derecho de trámite (application fee)

Under Pago por derecho de trámite, you must enter the information from your payment receipt:

  • Número de recibo
    This corresponds to the secuencia de pago on the págalo receipt.
  • Código de verificación
    This is the código de control on the págalo receipt.
  • Fecha de recibo
    This is the fecha de operación on the págalo receipt.

After entering the information, click Validar.

Ficha de Canje Interpol (Interpol clearance)

Under Ficha de canje Interpol, you must upload:

  • the Ficha de Canje Internacional issued by Interpol in Peru, and
  • the criminal record certificate with Apostille and Spanish translation.

Please note that both fields are mandatory, and you cannot continue unless both documents are uploaded.

Documento de vinculo

Under Documento de vinculo you must upload the document proving your family tie (for example, your marriage certificate or birth certificate).

Documento de identificacion del conyuge

Under Documento de identificacion del conyuge, 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.

Click on Validar.

Documento de Identificación del administrado

Under Documento de Identificación, select the document with which you entered Peru (in most cases pasaporte). You are then asked to fill in your passport number, the date of issue and the country of issue and upload a copy of the passport page with your photo and personal data.

Exceso de permanencia (overstay)

There is one final tab called Exceso de permanencia.

If you apply while your stay in Peru is still valid, this tab should already display a green check mark, and you can simply leave it as it is.

If, however, you apply after your stay as a tourist has expired, you should be able to open this tab and upload:

  • a payment receipt for the overstay fine, and
  • a sworn statement explaining the reasons for your overstay.

Once these two documents are uploaded, the check mark in front of the tab should turn green.

However, please be aware that officially you must be in Peru on a valid stay to apply for a Cambio de calidad migratoria. If your stay has already expired, your application will in most cases be denied, even if the system allows you to upload the documents and continue with your application.

So before relying on this option, please read our chapter Can I apply for a family visa when my stay as a tourist is expired?.

Final step

Once all required documents are uploaded, each tab should show a green check mark. Finally, accept the terms and conditions and click Siguiente to continue.

 

Step 5: Review and confirm your personal information

You are now shown a summary page with your personal details already filled in.

The only fields you can edit here are:

  • your mobile phone number, and
  • your email address (make sure an e-mail address is registered that you have unrestricted access to)

If everything is correct, click Guardar datos y generar trámite.

Please note
For whatever reasons, sometimes this page isn't displayed.

 

Step 6: Application confirmation

You are now taken to the Registro de Solicitud de Cambio de Calidad Migratoria page. At first glance, you will only see a number displayed on the screen and a request to make an appointment to have your biometric data taken.

Do not continue yet.

First, save this number! It's your Numero de expediente (file number), which is sometimes also called Numero de tramite. The number usually consists of 2 letters (often an abbreviation of the Migraciones office where you applied; LM for Lima, for example; or CY for Chiclayo, etc.) and 9 digits.

Next, click on Descargar or Imprimir to download and/or print the complete Registro de Solicitud de Cambio de Calidad Migratoria document before proceeding to the appointment page.

This document is the official confirmation that your application was successfully submitted, so make sure to keep it safe.

At the top right of the downloaded document, under the bar code, you will again find your Numero de expediente (file number). At the bottom of the first page, under the signature / fingerprint field, you usually find the Fecha de publicacion (application date) and the Codigo de verificación (verification code).

Additionally, at the bottom of the first page - or sometimes on a second page - you should also find your login data for your Migraciones electronic mailbox, the Buzon electronico (see below).

If you cannot find the verification code and/or the login data for the electronic mailbox on the Registro de Solicitud de Cambio de Calidad Migratoria document, or if you missed downloading it, check below how to recover the login data and the verification code.

 

After submitting your visa application

After submitting your application, there are still a few steps to complete before receiving your residency and Carné de Extranjería. The following sections explain what happens next and what you should watch out for during the processing of your application.

Biometric data appointment

After your visa application, you will be asked to schedule an appointment to have your biometric data taken (photo, fingerprints, and signature). To make the appointment, you must enter a code. This code is your Número de expediente (also called Número de trámite).

Make an appointment

For a long time, getting a biometric appointment in Lima was quite a challenge, as foreign nationals could only register their biometric data at the Migraciones main office in Breña. To improve the situation, Migraciones allowed foreigners to complete this step as well at several MAC centers. As a result, it became much easier to secure an appointment within a reasonable time.

However, at the end of March 2026, Migraciones announced that starting April 1, 2026 (and no, not an April Fool’s joke), biometric data for applicants in Lima will once again only be collected at the main office in Breña. As a result, it can be expected that securing an appointment may become more difficult and require some patience again.

In contrast, at Migraciones offices in the provinces, appointments are usually readily available.

Our recommendation: Use the appointment link provided at the end of your application and try to schedule your appointment immediately.

If you are unable to secure a slot right away or prefer to book it later, you can return to the Agencia Digital and schedule it under Citas en Línea, subcategory Para registro de datos biométricos.

To schedule the appointment, simply enter your Número de expediente, choose a Migraciones office and select an available date. If everything works smoothly, your appointment is scheduled.

Download or print your appointment confirmation under the Constancia cita tab before clicking Finalizar.

As an additional tip: even though it is easy to overlook, next to the Constancia cita tab you will find another tab called Cargo trámite. This tab can be very useful if you missed to download the confirmation of your application or if the login details for the Buzón electrónico or the verification code are missing from your document. Simply click on the Cargo trámite tab to download the Registro de Solicitud de Cambio de Calidad Migratoria document again. The downloaded version should now include both the verification code and the login details for your Buzón electrónico.

What to expect during your appointment

On the day of your appointment, arrive 15-30 minutes early at the Migraciones office you selected when making the appointment.

You will only need your

  • Passport, and
  • printed (!) appointment confirmation

The procedure can vary slightly depending on the office. At the Migraciones office in Lima, for example, you usually receive a number and wait until you are called. 

When it's your turn proceed to the counter, where staff will:

  • record your signature
  • take fingerprints
  • take your biometric photo

Avoid wearing white, pastel or very light-colored clothing, as Migraciones may reject photos where clothing blends into the background. Dark or strong colors are recommended.

Processing times at the Migraciones offices vary. Some applicants have a smooth and quick experience finishing within 30 minutes, while others report waiting one to three hours. So, plan accordingly..

At the Migraciones offices outside Lima, the whole process is usually quick and painless.

After your biometric data appointment, all you can do is regularly check your Buzon electronico and wait for a notification from Migraciones. You may receive a message informing you that a document you uploaded is not accepted, that additional documents are required, or that your visa has been approved.

 

Buzon Electronico

The Buzón electrónico is your personal Migraciones electronic mailbox, which you should check regularly for notifications from Migraciones. These notifications may include, for example, requests to upload missing or additional documents, or messages informing you about the approval or denial of your visa application.

You can access your Buzón

  • by clicking the Buzón button at the top of the main page of the Agencia Digital, or
  • by using this direct link.

Your username (usuario) and password (contraseña) can be found on the Registro de Solicitud de Cambio de Calidad Migratoria, the confirmation document of your successfully submitted application (see Step 6 above). If the login information is not on the document or if you missed to download it, see the section below explaining how to recover the login data.

Please note that notifications sent through the Buzón electrónico are considered officially delivered. If you do not respond within the deadline stated in the message - which is often only five days - your application may be dismissed.

Therefore, if you receive a notification from Migraciones informing you that a document is missing, unreadable, incomplete, or not submitted in the required form (for example missing an Apostille or translation), you should react immediately.

If you already have the requested document, create a PDF file (maximum size 3 MB) and upload it through the Agencia Digital. This process, known as Subsanación, is explained in detail in our article Subsanacion - Submitting documents.

During the internal review of any application submitted via the Migraciones Agencia Digital, Migraciones may determine that a required document is ...

If you don't yet have the requested document and cannot submit it within the deadline, you must still respond to the notification. In this case, you can request an extension of the deadline to submit the document later. This procedure is called Solicitud de ampliación de plazos and is explained in our article Extension of a Migraciones deadline.

If Migraciones asks you to submit an additional document during the internal evaluation of an immigration-related application, you are usually give...

 

Approval of your visa

After submitting your application and completing the biometric data appointment, all you can do is wait for Migraciones to process your application.

The official processing time for resident visa applications is 30 business days. In practice, however, most applicants receive the approval notification in their Buzón electrónico within two to three months.

Nevertheless, it is important to check your Buzón electrónico regularly to make sure you do not miss any notifications, including the approval of your visa - if you are among the lucky ones within three or four weeks.

You can also check the status of your application:

If you haven’t received any notification after about four months, you may want to follow up with Migraciones. You can do this

  • by calling the MAC hotline 1800, or
  • by visiting the Migraciones office or MAC center you selected during your application (you may need an appointment), or
  • by sending an email to infomac [@] pcm.gob.pe

asking about the status of your application.

Another option is to submit a so-called Solicitud de celeridad de trámite, which is a request for expedited processing.

Usually, however, after two to three months you will find a notification in your Buzón electrónico (the subject line is often something like Notificación trámite cambio de calidad) informing you that your visa has been approved.

Congratulations!

However, the process is not finished yet, as you still need to obtain your Carné de extranjería, your official Peruvian ID.

The first notification normally instructs you to wait for further instructions on how to pick up your carné. So once again, keep checking your Buzón electrónico and wait for a second notification from Migraciones (usually titled Notificación expedición del carné) informing you that your carné has been issued.

Officially, issuing the carné can take up to 30 business days, but according to reports from applicants the waiting time can range from a few days to about two months.

 

Getting your carné (foreigner ID)

Once notified that your carné is ready, log in to the Agencia Digital and book a pickup appointment under:

  • Citas en Línea, subpoint recojo de documentos.

Download and print the appointment confirmation.

Note
Some Migraciones offices outside Lima may not require appointments for pickup.

If you urgently need your carné

Especially in Lima, getting an appointment to pick up your carné can sometimes turn into a real test of patience. Slots are often fully booked, and availability can appear and disappear quickly. Unfortunately, there is no shortcut here - your only option is to keep checking the system again and again: later the same day, the next day, or a few days later. Persistence usually pays off.

If, for whatever reason, you urgently need proof of your carné but can’t secure an appointment to collect the physical card, there is a practical workaround. You can download a document from the Agencia Digital confirming that you have a valid residency and carné, even if you don’t yet have the card in hand.

To do this, log in to the Agencia Digital and, on the main page, go to the left-hand menu. Under “Constancias” select Carné de Extranjería. A page will open showing the data printed on your carné. At the bottom of the page, confirm the statement “Estos son los datos con los cuales se emitirá su constancia…” by ticking the small box and then click Siguiente.

You will then see the "Constancia de Emisión de Carné de Extranjería” on your screen. Download it and, if necessary, print it. While it doesn’t replace the physical card, it serves as official proof that you have a valid residency and carné.

To collect your carné, be on time and bring:

  • passport
  • printed appointment confirmation (if applicable)

Staff will direct you to the collection counter where your new card is handed over.

Congrats! You made it!

To familiarize yourself with your Carné de extranjería, we highly recommend reading our glossary article Carné de Extranjería - Peru’s ID Card for foreigners.

 

Family visa Peru - FAQs for residents

If you live in Peru on a family visa, there are a few important rules and obligations you should be aware of. The following questions and answers explain the most important aspects of maintaining your residency, traveling abroad, working, and dealing with Migraciones.

How long is the family visa valid?

The family visa - the permit that allows you to legally live in Peru - is usually valid for one year, in case you are married to a Peruvian two years. After this period, it must be extended to maintain your legal resident status.

Our article “Residence visa extension” explains the extension process in detail.

In Peru, a residence visa - so, the permit that allows you to legally live in the country - is usually valid for only one (1) year and must then be...

 

How long is the carné de extranjería valid?

The Carné de Extranjería, the physical Peruvian ID card issued to foreign residents, is usually valid for four years (minors three years). After that, it must be renewed.

For more information, see our article “Renewal of the Carné.”

When your Peruvian residence visa is approved, you receive a Carné de Extranjería, Peru’s foreigner ID card. While many residents assume the card a...

 

How long can I stay outside Peru without losing my residency?

Foreigners living in Peru on a family visa cannot stay outside the country for more than 183 days within a 365-day period, otherwise their resident status may be canceled.

If you need to stay abroad for longer, you must apply for the Autorización de estadía fuera del país por 183 días before leaving Peru. With this authorization, you will not lose your residency status.

 

Can I work in Peru on a family visa?

Yes! If you are living in Peru on a family visa, you are allowed to work both as an employee and independently.

Unlike some other residence visas, the family visa does not restrict professional activities, so you may take up employment with a Peruvian company, work as an independent contractor, or run your own business. However, as with any professional activity in Peru, you must comply with the applicable tax and labor regulations.

 

What should I do if my personal information changes?

If any information provided during your visa application changes, Migraciones must be informed within 30 days.

This includes, for example:

  • receiving a new passport
  • changing your address
  • other relevant personal information

To report such changes, you must apply for an Actualización de datos (update of registered information). In some cases, a new Carné de extranjería may be issued after the update is approved.

Our article “Update your information in the Migraciones database” explains the process in detail.

If any personal information printed on your carné or registered in the Migraciones database changes, you must request an Actualización de datos (up...

  

What documents do I need when leaving Peru temporarily?

When leaving Peru temporarily, you must present your passport and valid Carné.

In addition, foreigners living in Peru on a family visa may be required to present a tax declaration form before being allowed to leave the country. Although this requirement is rarely enforced, in practice, it is still part of the official regulations.

The document you need depends on whether you generated income in Peru or not.

If you did not generate any income in Peru

You must present the Formulario 1495 - “Declaración jurada de haber realizado actividades que no impliquen la generación de rentas de fuente peruana.”

To do this:

  • Download Formulario 1495,
  • Fill in and sign the form
  • Present it to the immigration officer when leaving Peru (only if requested)

If you worked as an employee in Peru

You must present a Certificado de Rentas y Retenciones before leaving the country. This document is issued by your employer and confirms that the corresponding income tax has been withheld according to Peruvian tax law.

Today, the physical form Formulario 1492 is rarely used. Instead, the employer must:

  • log into Sunat Virtual
  • complete Formulario Virtual 1692
  • print and sign the document and provide it to the employee

The certificate is valid for 30 days after being filed with SUNAT, meaning you must leave Peru within those 30 days.

If you work independently in Peru

If you generate income from Peruvian sources as an independent worker and pay your income tax directly to SUNAT, you must complete Formulario 1494 - Declaración jurada de haber pagado directamente el impuesto (or the equivalent Sunat Virtual form).

Fill in and sign the form, attach the payment receipt proving that you paid your income tax, and present both documents to the immigration officer before leaving Peru.

 

What happens to my family visa if I divorce or separate?

If your family visa in Peru is based on a marriage and the relationship legally ends, the consequences depend on your current immigration status and the basis of your residency.

If you still hold a regular family resident visa based on marriage, the visa is normally tied to the marital relationship that served as the basis for your application. As long as the marriage legally exists (which it does even if you are separated), the basis for the visa remains. However, if the marriage legally ends through divorce, the basis for the visa generally no longer exists. In most cases, Migraciones will therefore not extend the family visa once it expires. Before your residence expires, you usually must either change to another visa type or leave Peru.

If you have already obtained permanent residence (residente permanente), the situation is different. Permanent residence is generally independent of the original reason for your residency. Therefore, a divorce usually does not affect your permanent resident status, and you can normally continue living in Peru as long as you comply with the general residency rules.

If you have children with your Peruvian spouse, another option may exist. In this case, it may be possible to change your family visa from one based on marriage to one based on being the parent of a Peruvian child, provided the child has Peruvian nationality and the birth is properly registered in Peru. However, if your residency is already based on being the parent of a Peruvian child, a separation or divorce from the other parent normally does not affect your family visa, as the qualifying relationship with the child still exists.

As immigration situations can differ depending on personal circumstances, it is recommended to check with Migraciones or an immigration professional if your marital status changes while you are living in Peru on a family visa.

 

Can I change from a family visa to another visa type in Peru?

Yes. Foreigners living in Peru on a family visa can apply for a Cambio de calidad migratoria to another residence visa category if they meet the requirements.

In general, it is possible to change, for example, to:

  • permanent residency after meeting the required residency period.
  • another family visa type (for example, from a family visa based on being married to a Peruvian to a family visa based on being the parent of a Peruvian)
  • a retirement visa (rentista residente)

Before applying, make sure that you meet the specific requirements of the new visa type, as the documentation and conditions may differ.

You can apply for this change of immigration status while you are still in Peru, without having to leave the country. The process is done through the Migraciones Agencia Digital and requires submitting all documents corresponding to the new visa category.

However, timing is important. You should apply while you are still legal in Peru, so before your family visa expires.

 

When can I apply for permanent residency in Peru?

After three years of legal residency in Peru on a family visa, you can apply for permanent residency.

This process is called Cambio de calidad migratoria a permanente residente (familiar residente). Once approved, you receive indefinite residency and no longer need to extend your visa each year.

 

When can I apply for Peruvian citizenship?

Family visa holders can currently apply for Peruvian citizenship by nationalization after two years of legal residency in Peru.

However, a new nationality law approved in August 2025 increases the required residency period to four years. The law is not yet in force, but it may become applicable in the near future.

 

What should I do if I leave Peru permanently?

If you plan to leave Peru permanently, you must cancel your residence visa with Migraciones.

After the cancellation is approved, you will receive an Orden de salida, which gives you 15 days to leave the country.

 

Special situations and practical tips

While the application process usually runs smoothly if you follow the steps above, some applicants encounter special situations or technical issues during the process. The following sections explain common edge cases and practical solutions that may help if something doesn’t go as expected.

How to find or recover your verification code and Buzón electrónico login data

1. On the Registro de Solicitud de Cambio de Calidad Migratoria document

The verification code and the login details for your Buzón electrónico are usually printed on the Registro de Solicitud de Cambio de Calidad Migratoria document. This is the confirmation document of your successfully submitted application, which you should have downloaded after submitting your application and before making the appointment for your biometric data registration (see Step 6 above)

2. On the Biometric data appointment page

If you missed to download this document or if the verification code or the login details are not printed on it - which for unknown reasons sometimes happens - you can usually recover both when making your biometric data appointment.

After selecting a date and time for your appointment, you will be taken to a page that shows two tabs at the top:

  • Constancia cita
    Click here to download or print the confirmation of your biometric data appointment.
  • Cargo trámite
    Click this tab to download the confirmation of your visa application, which should include your verification code and the login data for your Buzón electrónico.

If you already scheduled your biometric appointment and cannot return to the Cargo trámite tab, there is another workaround. You can create a new “dummy” biometric data appointment to access the document again.

To do this:

  • Go to the Agencia Digital.
  • In the left menu click Citas en línea and select Datos biométricos.
  • Create a new appointment by selecting a date and time

You will be taken to a page that shows the Constancia cita and the Cargo tramite tab at the top.

  • Click Cargo trámite
  • Download the original Registro de Solicitud de Cambio de Calidad Migratoria document containing your verification code and Buzón electrónico login data.
  • Leave the page without confirming the appointment; so do not click Finalizar, just leave the page.

3. Other options

If none of these options work and you need the verification code, you will have to contact Migraciones.

However, if you only need the login details for your Buzón electrónico, there is one last easy way to recover them.

Go to the Agencia Digital and click the Buzón electrónico button at the top of the page (or use the direct link). Then click “¿Olvidaste la contraseña?” to access the Verificación de datos page.

Enter the following information:

  • your nationality
  • passport 
  • passport number
  • last name(s)
  • first name(s)
  • date of birth

After submitting the form by clicking Siguiente, you will receive an email containing your username (usuario) and a link allowing you to create or reset your password.

 

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

Officially, no. To apply for a Cambio de calidad migratoria (change of immigration status) in Peru, you must be in the country on a valid stay, for example as a tourist.

However, during the application process on the Migraciones Agencia Digital, there is a tab labeled Exceso de permanencia (overstay). This tab suggests that foreigners who have overstayed their authorized stay may still be able to apply for a Cambio de calidad migratoria by uploading:

  • the payment receipt for the overstay fine, and
  • a sworn statement explaining the reason for the overstay.

In 2022, Migraciones informed us that this tab does not apply to the Cambio de calidad migratoria process from tourist to a residence visa and that applicants must be in Peru on a valid stay when applying for a residence visa.

However, in 2023, there were reports of cases where Migraciones staff explicitly suggested this option to foreigners who had already overstayed their tourist stay but still wanted to apply for a residence visa. In some of these cases, the applicants uploaded the required documents - including the payment receipt for the overstay and an explanation - and their visa applications were later approved.

Over the past few years, we have contacted Migraciones several times regarding this issue and received contradictory answers, ranging from “No, you must be in the country on a valid stay” to “Yes, it may be possible.”

That being said, according to the official rules, you must be in Peru on a valid stay when applying for a Cambio de calidad migratoria from tourist to a residence visa. Even if the system allows you to upload all required documents and submit the application, in most cases the application will likely be denied. Therefore, you should not rely on this option.

We always recommend avoiding overstaying your authorized stay in Peru. If you plan to apply for a residence visa but are still missing some of the required documents, it is usually better to submit your application before your tourist stay expires using a small workaround. We explain this option in the next section below.

If, for any reason, you cannot submit your application while your tourist stay is still valid, it may be worth personally checking with Migraciones to see if there is any possibility of applying later despite the overstay before leaving the country and attempting to return to Peru to renew your tourist stay.

If you have recent information about this topic or would like to share your experience, please let us know using the comment section at the end of this article or through our contact form.

 

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

Officially, no. On the Agencia Digital, the Migraciones online platform where you must submit your application, the fields for uploading the required documents are mandatory. You normally cannot continue with or complete your application unless all required documents are uploaded.

However, even though we cannot and do not recommend it, there may be situations where your tourist stay is about to expire and you must submit your visa application before a certain date. In such cases, and depending on which document is missing, it may be possible to temporarily upload another document in its place to complete the application.

If you choose this option, you should already have a solid plan to obtain the missing document quickly, because the time you will later get to submit it is usually very limited.

How this workaround works

Follow the instructions in our step-by-step-application guide above until you reach Step 4, where you must enter information and upload all required documents as PDF files.

If you are missing a document, you cannot leave the upload field empty. Instead, you must upload something that explains the situation.

For example:

  • Missing criminal record certificate
    Under the Interpol tab, you must upload the Ficha de Canje from Interpol and your criminal record certificate (Antecedentes). Both fields are mandatory.
    If you don’t yet have your criminal record certificate, you could upload:
    • the Ficha de Canje a second time, or
    • a signed letter explaining that you are still waiting for the document from your home country.
  • Missing Ficha de Canje from Interpol
    If you couldn’t get an Interpol appointment in time, you could upload:
    • a letter explaining the situation, and
    • your appointment confirmation with Interpol.
  • Missing Peruvian marriage certificate 
    If you don't have your Peruvian marriage certificate, because Reniec takes its time to register your foreign marriage, you could upload:
    • your foreign marriage certificate
    • a copy of your Reniec tramite and a short explanation.
  • Missing Apostille or translation
    If you already have the document but not yet the Apostille or official translation, you could temporarily upload the document in its current form.

After uploading the placeholder document, continue the process and complete your application as described in the guide above.

After uploading the placeholder document, continue the process and complete your application as described in the guide above.

Confirmation of your application

In Step 6 of the application process, you can download the Registro de Solicitud de Cambio de Calidad Migratoria document. It contains:

  • your Número de expediente (file number)
  • the Fecha de publicación (application date)
  • the Código de verificación

This document confirms that your application was successfully submitted. Once you receive this confirmation, your tourist stay is effectively paused, meaning that even if your tourist stay expires while your visa application is being processed, you won’t have any problems related to overstaying.

What happens next

Because the required document was not submitted correctly or was missing, Migraciones will eventually send you a notification requesting the document.

This notification may arrive:

  • within a few days, or
  • several weeks or even months later, depending on when your application is reviewed.

The notification will be sent to your Buzón electrónico and is considered officially delivered. In most cases, Migraciones gives you only five days to upload the requested document.

You must respond to the notification within the deadline, even if it is on the last day. If you fail to respond, your application may be dismissed.

If you already have the document

If you have obtained the requested document in the correct form, simply upload it through the Agencia Digital.

This process, known as Subsanación, is explained in our article Subsanación - Submitting documents.

During the internal review of any application submitted via the Migraciones Agencia Digital, Migraciones may determine that a required document is ...

If you still don’t have the document

If you are unable to obtain the document within the given deadline, you can apply for an extension of the deadline (up to 30 additional days). This procedure is called Ampliación de plazos.

You can learn more about this process in our article Extension of a Migraciones deadline.

If Migraciones asks you to submit an additional document during the internal evaluation of an immigration-related application, you are usually give...

Should you upload the document before receiving the notification?

If you receive the missing document before hearing from Migraciones, you technically can upload it immediately through the Subsanación option in the Agencia Digital.

However, several applicants reported that they still received a notification later requesting the same document again. For this reason, it is usually better to wait until you receive the official request.

Important

If you decide to use this workaround, check your Buzón electrónico regularly and respond immediately to any notification from Migraciones.

While this method has worked for many applicants in the past, procedures may change, and Migraciones could still reject the application (which could then be appealed). In addition, submitting documents later will almost certainly delay the approval of your visa, sometimes by several weeks or even months.

  

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

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

 

 

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  • This commment is unpublished.
    SM · 15/03/2024
    I am about to apply for the family Vias but concerned about the DNI having the "correct family" address. We have been using my spouses mothers address as our "permeant address" because that is where my wife still has all of all of here mail sent to and it is where she is registered with her work, and the address she uses on her tax returns ect. This is also the address on her DNI. We have the Recibo water/eletricity bill for this address as well. This address should be fine to uses on my application?  
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 15/03/2024
      @SM
      Hello SM,

      yes, use your mother in law's address. You shouldn't have any problems if all (!!!) documents you submit have the same address.

      So, make sure this address is on the Ficha de Canje from Interpol, used during the application as your residence in Peru, is on the recibo, etc.

      All the best!

      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Camila · 15/03/2024
    Hi, first of all thanks for the great info, it´s proving very useful.
    Do you have any info on when the appointments for biometric data are uploaded? At the moment the calendar shows 2-3 weeks but all in red/unavailable.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 15/03/2024
      @Camila
      Hello Camila,

      getting an appointment is a nightmare. Right now Migraciones is closing their Carabaya branch in Lima, where everything related to foreigners was handled for the past year, and is moving all foreigner related matters, including taking the biometric data, back to the Migraciones main office in Breña.

      Before this Migraciones released new appointments every other day, latest every week. How it's done now, I don't know. Sorry.

      So, the only thing you can do is to try again, and again, and again, and later, the next day, ..... In between change your browser and clear your cache.

      Good luck!

      Greetings
      Eva

    • This commment is unpublished.
      Camila · 22/03/2024
      @Sunflower Hi Eva and all, happy to share that I received a notification yday with an appintment today (about 24 hr notice) for the biometric data. There are still no appointments available online but perhaps this means they are handing them out manually now.

      And another question please; I havent seen any info about whether digital apostilles are allowed, do you know anything about this?

      thanks!
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 23/03/2024
      @Camila
      Hello Camila,

      that's great news. I think that the closure of the Carabaya branch had a huge impact and at least they are trying to manage the chaos.

      As you only have to upload a pdf document the digital Apostille shouldn't be a problem. But, if your document isn't in Spanish it must be translated by an official translator in Peru. And as far as I know lots of translator still want the original printed document for translation. You might need to find someone who can do Traducciones Oficiales Digitales or Traducciones Certificadas Digitales.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Julius · 15/03/2024
    Hello, thanks for all the useful information contained in this website. I already have my "carne de extranjeria", which is valid until 2026. Next month, I will leave Peru for around 150 consecutive days.
    Question 1: Am I correct in understanding that I don't need to obtain a travel authorization? I understood that I don't need it because I already have my carne, and I will not be outside Peru for more than 183 days.
    Question 2: Do I need to report anything to migraciones? Upon my return to Peru I will be in the same address, but I wonder if they will interpret that my 150-day trip equals to a temporary change of address. 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 15/03/2024
      @Julius
      Hello Julius,

      if you have a carné you do not need a travel permit to leave (and return) to Peru. 

      And if you do not stay out of the country for more than 183 consecutive days, there's nothing you have to do. You won't have any problem when returning. No-one will bother with your address. When you leave and later when you return just show your passport and your carné.

      However, I'm not sure if you are aware that there is a difference between the expiration date of your carné (so the card), which is printed on the card next to "Caducidad", and your expiration date of residence visa (called Vencimiento de Residencia), which you must check online; either use the QR code on the back of your carné, check on the Agencia Digital in the left menu on the main page under Consultas en Linea, subpoint Carné de Extranjería or on the Migraciones website on the Consultas en Linea Carné page.

      The card is usually valid 4 years, but the residence visa only 1 or in case of foreigners married to a Peruvian mostly 2 years. So, best check when your residence visa expires and if necessary and possible extend it before you leave.

      You find more information about the carné in our article Carné de Extranjería and about the possibly necessary extension of your visa in our article Residence visa extension in Peru.

      I hope I could answer your questions.

      Have a nice weekend
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Steven M · 03/03/2024
    Hello, Just wanted to confirm that basically the only document I need apostilled as a US citizen is my FBI check. Although my passport is "issues in USA" I just need to have it with me and to be valid for 6 months but it does not need to be apostilled.  

    Also stressing about my documents being vaild when I apply.
    I plan to apply on April 29th 2024.

    FBI Check run: Nov 16th 2023 
    FBI Apostile recived: Feb 15th  2024
    FBI Translation done: March 4th 2024

    Interpol done: Feb 28th 2024

    Passport Apostile received: Jan 12th 2024

    If the FBI and Interpol are good for 6 months then should be fine and I have like two weeks of buffer right? 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 03/03/2024
      @Steven M Hello Steven,

      For the family visa application you need your criminal background check with Apostille. Once in Peru it must be translated.

      Your passport /copy of it doesn’t need an Apostille. The passport should be valid at least 6 months. That’s it.

      Then, assuming you apply for the family visa based on being married, the question is where did you get married and where did you register your marriage.

      If you married outside Peru and had your marriage registered at a Peruvian consulate, then you need a legalized copy of your Peruvian marriage certificate from the consulate (no Apostille needed), which, once in Peru, must be authenticated by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

      If you married in Peru (or outside Peru) and had your marriage registered at Reniec in Peru, then you just need a copy of the Peruvian marriage certificate from Reniec.

      And yes, documents have an expiration date in Peru. Generally, documents issued in Peru are accepted if they were issued not more than three months before the application. Documents issued abroad can’t be older than 6 months.

      So, FBI check from November should just meet the criteria of not being older than 6 months (issued abroad), the Ficha de Canje from Interpol (issued in Peru) is fine.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Greg · 20/02/2024
    hello, my family visa application was denied, as I have applied for two extensions waiting for the criminal records from the US . Does anyone know how to file an appeal?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 20/02/2024
      @Greg Hello Greg,

      Sorry to hear that.

      You now have 15 days counted from the day the denial was issued to appeal the Migraciones decision. The tramite is called “Solicitud de reconsideración de tramite”.

      I’m not 100% sure but when I remember correctly, it’s 15 business days. And depending on how far along your application for the criminal record check is, it might be wise to submit the appeal on day 13 or 14, This way you gain another 2 weeks time, then it might take a few days or a week or two until they decide, so until then you hopefully have your FBI check with Apostille and can upload it.

      And just yesterday I got another confirmation from one of our readers that Migraciones now seems to not only accept FBI criminal record checks, but as well notarized background checks issued by your home state. Often you can apply for this check online and without having to submit fingerprints and it is issued within days. Additionally, this check can then be apostilled by the state's Secretary of State much, much quicker. In some states getting the background check with Apostille is a matter of only 2 or 3 weeks. In case your FBI check and Apostille is still in the beginning stages might be worth looking into.

      Anway to apply for the Reconsideración de tramite download the form letter on the government website. Fill it in and signed it. 

      Then enter the Agencia Digital.

      On the main page click on Mesa de Partes at the top right corner.

      - Click on the little circle in front of Persona natural, enter your e-mail address, confirm your e-mail address and enter your cell phone number. Accept the terms and conditions and click on Siguiente.

      - Under Tipo de solicitud select Solicitudes en General.

      - Under Sub-tipo select Reconsideración de Cambio de Calidad Migratoria

      - Under Seleccione una dependencia choose the Migraciones office where you applied for your visa.

      - Under Asunto de la solicitud write something like Recurso de Reconsideración and your tramite number

      - Under Tipo de documento select Carta

      - Under N° de Folio write the number of pages you upload below.

      - Under Adjuntar archivos upload
      the filled in and signed form letter
      if you want another personally written letter explaining your situation and asking to give you a bit more time
      perhaps your Peruvian marriage certificate (your Peruvian spouse has a right to a family union)
      if you have by then your criminal record check (even if it’s without an Apostille or without translation) or the proof that you already applied for it.

      - When you have uploaded all documents click on registrar, download the confirmation and start praying that a) Migraciones will reconsider their decision and b) that your criminal record check arrives soon.

      Check your Buzon daily to not miss any notification from Migraciones.

      Hope this helps.

      All the best

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Greg · 25/02/2024
      @Sunflower Thank you soooo much! I'll let everyone know how it goes. 
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Emma · 12/02/2024
    Hello Eva, 

    I was wondering if a foreigner with a working resident status - of only a year, not a permanent resident status - could also apply for the family visa for their foreign spouse? 

    Or would this visa be restricted to people who have permanent resident visas only?

    Many thanks
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 12/02/2024
      @Emma
      Hello Emma,

      if you have a resident (!) work visa your husband and kids can apply for a family visa.   No need for a permanent resident work visa, the permanente residente (trabajador), which you only get after 3 years of living in Peru on a resident visa. As soon as your resident work visa is approved and your carné is issued, the spouse and kids can apply for the family visa.

      Your spouse should bring your marriage certificate (for kids bring the birth certificate)  and a criminal background check (for adults). All documents, which where issued outside Peru, need an Apostille and must be issued less than 6 months before the application for the family visa.

      Be aware that same-sex marriages or same-sex civil unions are not accepted in Peru, so in such cases a spouse cannot apply for the family visa.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Jack · 06/02/2024
    Hello im currently in lima living with my wife and my 90days are up on March 3. When I went to interpol i was told the officer that all i needed to do was send my fingerprints and they never informed me of the need for an apostille or anything. Had i known one it would take months to get the background check back and two it requires an apostille i would have elected to send the fingerprints myself and receive my response online. But unfortunately the interpol officers didn’t explain any of that and I had never found your website prior to now.


    I have a couple questions if i may, I have seen online multiple websites recommending an apostille from the dc secretary of state rather than an apostille from the department of state and apparently for a lot of hague countries that works fine and even though i know the standard and the proper way to go about it is department of state there is a difference of a few months for the two. Do you have any information or experience about whether or not this would be accepted? Also once i get the apostille, regardless of the where i get it done it does have to be translated here in peru. Do i need the original copy translated or is a copy of the apostilled document also acceptable to be translated since its only being uploaded to the migraciones portal anyways. This would significantly cut down on the time. 

    I have the option to return home for about a month sort this out and then return to renew my visa. Would immigrations give me a problem with assigning me another 90 days if I returned back so soon? Assuming i explained that im married to a peruana and returned home for a document to complete my carnet process?

    My final two options im considering are utilizing the trick you have mentioned on this page of uploading my untranslated and unapostilled document hoping that migraciones one takes a while to review it and then two i request the 30 day extension and have the document by then.

    Or alternatively overstaying and paying the fee and offering the receipt as well as the explanation to migraciones that I was waiting on my background check and was simply doing everything in my power to not have to leave my wife so i decided to overstay and pay per day until i had the documentation from my government. 

    Are any of these good options or is it best to just return once i have the documentation? Im honestly not looking forward to a 700 dollar plane ticket if this is the case.

    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 06/02/2024
      @Jack
      Hello Jack,

      sorry, that you only now found LimaEasy. 

      In our Interpol article under subpoint "Additional record check for US, Canadian and Australian citizens" we explicitly point out to not wait for the additional check Interpol requires you, as US citizen, to apply for. While taking weeks or even months, the criminal record check you get back does not  meet the requirements from Migraciones and does not have an Apostille on it, so will be rejected.

      The different ways to get an Apostille in the US doesn't bother Migraciones. The document needs an official Apostille, a translation by an official translator in Peru and then it will be accepted. However, the question is who is in charge in the US to put an Apostille on your FBI check. Honestly, even though I tried, I don't understand the rules regarding which US document can be apostilled on state level and which must be apostilled on federal level. As far as I know documents issued by a US state, such as vital records, can be apostilled by the state's secretary of state; federal documents, however, such as the FBI background check must get the Apostille from the US Department of State.

      And, unfortunately, yes, you will need the FBI check with Apostille in paper form in Peru as the translator must put his signature, stamp and seal on it (and might recommend an additional legalization by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

      If you leave Peru to sort out your criminal record check and return, no-one can guarantee that you will get another 90 days even though you are married to a Peruvian. Depending on how long you already stayed as a tourist in Peru over the past 365 days, you might need good negotiation skills to persuade the immigration officer to let you enter or you just have to tell him/her that you didn't manage to apply for your family visa as a document was missing or you are allowed to enter without any trouble and might even get another 90 days.

      If you decide to arrange your FBI check from Peru - our Antecedentes article might be helpful here https://www.limaeasy.com/peru-guide/legal-stuff/international-document-corresponding-to-the-antecedentes-policiales-penales-and-judiciales-needed-for-a-resident-visa-application-in-peru - start now (!!!) to get the FBI check and the Apostille. Then I highly recommend to apply for your family visa before your stay as a tourist expires, but not too early. So, if your stay as a tourist expires March 3, apply for your family visa using the little trick mentioned above between February 29 and March 2. This already gives you a headstart of 3 weeks. And this process is the easiest and safest way to bend the rules without too much problems arising later. And if Migraciones is quick with evaluating your visa application, you still can extend the deadline they will give you at least for 30 days; if necessary even for an additional 30 days. 

      So, if you apply for the FBI check today plus 3 weeks until you must apply for the family visa plus at least one or two weeks (or even months, you never know with Migraciones) until you get the notification to upload the background check with Apostille plus 5 days until the end of the deadline plus 30 days first extension of the deadline plus, if necessary, another 30 days for a second extension, will give you at least 2 to 3 months (if not more, in case Migraciones is slow). In this time frame you should be able to get the FBI check. As you prefer not to leave Peru, I think it's the best option.

      As Migraciones might not allow you to apply for your family visa once your stay as a tourist is expired, I recommend not overstaying. As described above applying for a family visa while being on an expired stay as a tourist in most cases is not accepted and only sometimes works. So, it's up to you but it's a gamble. I would rather apply without having the FBI check. 

      Hope this helped and wish you all the best.

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Jack · 06/02/2024
      @Sunflower Okay only one question more if you know, say i am granted the additional 30 days or even two 30 day extensions for my carnet application and for some reason still havent obtained the document due to processing times which seems unlikely but possible knowing the US Government. Do the remaining days that i stayed count as overstay if my application is dismissed? Or are those waived because i had an application in progress?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Jack · 06/02/2024
      @Sunflower Also lastly how rude of me to not say thank you, i am just so preoccupied with the headache of a process obtaining a carnet is. Thank you so much for all your help and your knowledge you are an angel!
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 06/02/2024
      @Jack
      Usually the 30-day extension isn't actively granted. Once you applied for the extension you most probably won't hear from Migraciones again and should either upload the document latest 30 days later or apply for a second extension. Check out our Extension of a Migraciones deadline article. It's explained in detail there.

      And even if you still don't have the FBI check when your second extension is over, Migraciones will send another notification telling you to upload the document now, giving you another 5 days. Only if you don't react will they at one point dismiss your application, which you could appeal, which would give you another few days or a week or two.

      So, the key is to use every day you have wisely. Therefore I recommended to start the FBI check process now (!!!), apply for the family visa as late as possible, but before your stay as a tourist expires, react to a Migraciones deadline on the last day, .... This way you can gather a day or two or a week here and there, which you might need.

      And no, once you applied for your family visa your time as a tourist stops. Even if your stay as a tourist expires during the evaluation and approval process, no problem, no overstay fine, even if they would dismiss your application. You usually then get 2 weeks to leave the country (or appeal the decision, of course on the last day, ....).

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 06/02/2024
      @Jack
      All good. I hope everything works out. And if you have more questions, I'm more than happy to answer them.

      All the best
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Ethan · 02/02/2024
    Hey LimaEasy,

    I am an American applying for the Peru Family Visa. I have all my documents ready and just need to apply. On the first page of the application with the "Datos del Beneficiario", There is a prompt I need to fill in that says "Oficina Consular". I am slightly confused on what to put here. Do i simple put the "US. Embassy in Lima" as my response?

    Thanks,
    Ethan
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 02/02/2024
      @Ethan
      Hello Ethan,

      honestly I'm confused as well. You want to apply for a Cambio de Calidad Migratoria familiar residente in Peru on the Agencia Digital? Where did you find "Datos del Beneficiario" where you must fill in a consulate?  The datos del beneficiario are the personal data of the beneficiary, so you.

      On the first page of the Agencia Digital you have to select "Extranjero". Then choose in the drop-down menu the document with which you entered Peru (most probably passport), enter your passport number, your birth date, nationality, the date you entered Peru and the captcha.

      After clicking on verificar choose in the menu on the left "Cambio de Calidad Migratoria" and the family visa type that applies, for example, Familiar Residente casado con peruana.

      Then on the first page of the actual application for the family visa you have to select the Migraciones branch and enter the verification code.

      Or are you talking about the Data update questionnaire? But as far as I know no Datos del Beneficiario, where you must fill in a consulate. On the first page of the data update questionnaire you are asked for the datos del beneficiario (your data); first you have to fill in your personal information including your gender, marital status, country of residence, country of birth, confirm that you don't have a  record, then your passport number, where it was issued, your full name and your address.

      Or are you talking about the form PA - Cambio de Calidad Migratoria? You don't have to fill in the form anymore. it's automatically filled in when you apply.

      Or are you outside Peru and want to apply for the family visa from abroad (make a so-called solicitud de calidad migratoria de familiar residente ?

      Could you send me a screenshot, so I can see where you are and what your are trying to do?

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Ethan · 02/02/2024
      @Sunflower Eva,

      I am so sorry. About 10 minutes after I sent my message I realized I clicked on a slightly different link in Migraciones. Once I clicked the correct one, everything went smoothly and I was able to complete it.

      Thank you so much for the response and your website has been a huge help for me in this process.

      Best,
      Ethan
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 02/02/2024
      @Ethan
      That's great news.

      I hope everything else now goes smoothly.

      Have a great weekend.

      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Mike · 29/01/2024
    I (USA) married my wife (Peruvian) in the US. We registered our marriage at a Peruvian consulate in the US, and they gave us an acta de matrimonio with RENIEC's logo, the consular seal, and some fancy stickers from the consulate/RREE. Is this document sufficient proof of our marriage, or do I also need to get it legalized by RREE here in Peru?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 29/01/2024
      @Mike
      Hello Mike,

      The marriage certificate that was given to you by the Peruvian consulate is most probably an "acta de matrimonio legalizada". 

      When you are in Peru it must get "over-authenticated" by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RREE). So, RREE confirms with their seal and signature that the document was correctly issued by a Peruvian consulate and that the person at the consulate, who signed it, is authorized to do so.

      As the document is already in Spanish it doesn't have to be translated.

      Be aware that documents issued abroad are only accepted by Migraciones within 6 months of the issuance.

      Greetings
      Eva

    • This commment is unpublished.
      Mike · 19/02/2024
      @Sunflower FYI for future readers: following the letter of the law, Sunflower is correct-- you need to take the acta de matrimonio issued by the consulate to be legalized again in Peru.

      In practice, an agent from Migraciones told me on a videocall to just submit the acta de matrimonio (exactly as issued by the consulate) and then, if they reject it, submit the exact same document a second time. I can't claim to understand why they'd suggest this, but following those instructions they accepted my acta de matrimonio without needing to have it further legalized by RREE.

      Maybe the idea here was to keep trying until you get a reviewer who doesn't really care?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 19/02/2024
      @Mike
      Hello Mike,

      thanks for sharing your experience.

      Yes, we usually describe here the "letter of the law" as then you are on the safe side and won't encounter longer than usual delays or problems.

      Honestly, I didn't know that if they rejected a marriage certificate issued by a Peruvian consulate abroad which wasn't legalized by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and you just upload it again that then it is / might be accepted. And no, as so many other things that doesn't make sense.

      Anyway, even though getting the RREE legalization isn't such a big deal, it's always good to know the one or other loophole.

      So, I hope your visa is soon approved and you get your carné.

      All the best
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Alfred · 08/01/2024
    Regarding the criminal background check, as an American, would the local police department be sufficient or would I have to do an FBI record check with apostille (potential 12-week wait)?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 08/01/2024
      @Alfred
      Hello Alfred,

      US Americans need an “FBI Criminal Record Check” which is done in the US by the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

      Once issued the document must be apostilled in the US by the Department of State, Office of Authentications.

      Greetings
      Eva

    • This commment is unpublished.
      Mike · 19/02/2024
      @Sunflower I was successfully approved using a background check from my home state. I have heard from several others that this worked for them too (even one who used a county background check!). Migraciones accepted it without question.

      Using a state background check is SUBSTANTIALLY faster, easier, and cheaper than an FBI check. Perhaps most importantly for those already in Peru, many states do not require fingerprints to generate a background check! You could get an apostilled background check in a week or two fully by mail.

      Steps:
      1. Order a notarized background check from your state's law enforcement agency. It is likely you can do this online and have it mailed to you, or directly to the state's Secretary of State.
      2. Get the background check apostilled. Since this is a document issued by your state (not the federal government), it can only be apostilled by the state's Secretary of State. I was able to take it into their office and it was apostilled while I waited. Most states also offer the option to service requests via mail.
      3. Once in Peru, have it translated to Spanish. It must be done by a translator who is "juramentado" (most official, but more expensive and slower) or "colegiado" (faster and cheaper). I went with colegiado and still don't really understand why there are 3 different levels of translation available in this country.

      I was able to get everything in order in about an hour. Granted, I had to travel to my state's capitol, but if I hadn't it would have taken just a week or two.

    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 19/02/2024
      @Mike
      Hello Mike, 

      that's great info! Thank you so much for sharing!!!!

      Over the past few weeks I was told by a couple of other readers as well that they were successful with submitting a background check from their home state, which was apostilled on state level, but I never got such a great explanation.

      I will add this option in our "International document corresponding to the Antecedentes policiales, penales and judiciales in Peru" article. Super helpful, much easier, cheaper and quicker.

      Thanks again.

      Eva


    • This commment is unpublished.
      Alfred · 27/06/2024
      @Mike Thanks for the information, Mike. I’m currently waiting for the FBI background check for apostille but it’s taking forever. I may return with just the state background check. The municipality that married us took my birth certificate and I was told to get a new one (?) So I’m waiting on a new one to get apostilled as well.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 27/06/2024
      @Alfred
      Hello Alfred,

      while it's always good to have a birth certificate with Apostille on hand when living abroad, to apply for a family visa in Peru based on being married to a Peruvian you will not need it.

      You will need among others (see the requirements above in the article) your Peruvian marriage certificate and your background check from your home country with Apostille.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Jenny · 08/01/2024
    After uploading all the documents required, I failed to check emails recently and just found out there was a mail for Biometric data appointment, and the appointment day has alerady passed. What do I do in this case? :(
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 08/01/2024
      @Jenny
      Hello Jenny,

      Migraciones sent you a notification with a fixed appointment to get your biometric data taken? Interesting, this wasn't done for the past two years. Since August 2021, applicants had to actively make an appointment.

      Anyway, as you missed the appointment the only thing you can do now is make a new appointment. So enter the Agencia Digital. On the main page in the left menu click on "Citas en Linea" and choose the subpoint "para registro de datos biometricos".

      Then just don't miss your appointment again and you should be fine.

      All the best.

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Jenny · 09/01/2024
      @Sunflower That's right, they scheduled an appointment on their own and notified me of the date to attend. I was completely unaware of this procedure. I'm guessing they probably wanted to expedite the process on their side, considering that my documents were in order. I have now found the section for applying for a new appointment and have scheduled one for two weeks later. I have attached a PDF file of my new appointment through the subsanación to inform them that I am actively working on resolving the issue. I really hope they won't make an issue out of my failure to attend the first appointment.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 09/01/2024
      @Jenny
      Hello Jenny,

      thanks for getting back to me. That's really, really interesting. As said before, well over two years ago it was common practice that Migraciones sent fixed appointments to applicants. But I haven't heard of this since August 2021. Not sure if you are an isolated case or if they, as so often, changed their processes once again or if they did this because the appointment system didn't work properly over Christmas and New Year.

      And no, I don't think you have to worry and they won't make an issue out of missing the appointment. But, honestly, I doubt that they sent the appointment to expedite the evaluation and approval process of your visa application. Usually there is no such thing as expediting any visa application and it's usually luck, even if you uploaded all required documents to their satisfaction, if your visa is approved within just a couple of weeks or only within months. So, don't be surprised or worried if you don't hear anything from Migraciones for a few weeks or even a couple of months after you had your appointment.

      Hope everything works smoothly now.

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Jenny · 24/01/2024
      @Sunflower Hi Eva,

      Thanks to your prompt help, I had no trouble getting another appointment for biometrics and have successfully registered as well.

      I submitted a notarial certificate from the embassy for my self-translated documents at their additional request. Now, they're requiring another translation by certified translators for that 'notarial certificate'    :<

      In the recent email I received, they specified that I should turn in "la certificación de notarial de ingles traducidos al idioma castellano por traductor público juramentado o traductor colegiado en el Perú", and "la legalización por las oficinas consulares del Perú y por Relaciones Exteriores."

      I'm confused about the part that says 'la legalización por las oficinas consulares del Perú y por Relaciones Exteriores.' Do I have to get legalization both by oficinas consulares 'AND' Relaciones Exteriores? Where even are oficinas consulares? I would really appreciate your advice and opinions on this.

      Thanks, as always.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 24/01/2024
      @Jenny
      Hello Jenny,

      if a document you submit isn't in Spanish it must be translated by an official translator. You can't self-translate documents. See above in the article under subpoint "Translation of foreign documents". https://www.limaeasy.com/peru-guide/peruvian-visa-types/peruvian-family-visa#translation-of-foreign-documents

      And if a document was issued abroad it either must get an Apostille in the country where it was issued or must be first legalized by the Peruvian consulate in this country and then once it was translated in Peru again by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RREE).

      A notarial certificate of your foreign document is not the same as an Apostille or a legalization. Usually, documents without Apostille or legalization are rejected.

      The only thing you could try now is get the document translated by an official translator and then get a legalization from the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RREE). If you are lucky, RREE legalizes the document and Migraciones accepts it then. If not, no way around getting an Apostille in the country where it was issued.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Phil · 03/01/2024
    I have a question regarding the Biometric data appointment in Lima. I wasn't able to book an appointment mid December 23 because they were already full and no new appointments for January 24 were available. I checked again on the second of January and now the appointments for January are there but all are unavailable.

    Is this to be expected or are they just not yet available?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 03/01/2024
      @Phil
      Hello Phil,

      honestly, I don't know if the appointments you can see now for January are already taken or if there is a problem with the appointment system (some other official websites have similar issues at the moment).

      I would try again a few times over the next days and if still nothing changes, you might want to contact Migraciones and ask what's going on. I haven't heard anything about Migraciones being super busy at the moment, so there should be a free appointment available. Usually, you can get an appointment for the biometric data within a couple of weeks.

      Sorry, I couldn't help.

      Greetings
      Eva



    • This commment is unpublished.
      Phil · 06/01/2024
      @Sunflower
      Thanks, now some appointments opened up.
      And also a big thanks for this page. It was immensely helpful!!!

      Just as a side note. I didn't get the password for the buzon until I now made the appointment for datos biometricos (like one month after).
      But I was able to go to the buzon and request a new password with "Olvidaste la contaseña".

    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 07/01/2024
      @Phil
      Hello Phil,

      that's great news. So, it seems that the system had a hiccup over the turn of the year.

      Usually, the username and password for the buzon is printed on the bottom of the confirmation of your application. I never heard that you get the password only after making the appointment for the biometrics. That's interesting. Did they send you an e-mail? Or how did you receive it?

      And yes, in case you don't get the username and/or password for the buzon, the Olvidaste option is great and usually works fine. I explained it in our Buzon article.

      Anyway, I'm happy that you now have an appointment for getting your biometric data taken and hope from now on everything works smoothly.

      All the best.

      Greetings
      Eva


    • This commment is unpublished.
      Phil · 07/01/2024
      @Sunflower
      When I finished my application I downloaded the pdf which contains my application number. This pdf only had one page and there is no password at the bottom. Not sure if I had missed saving another pdf.
      The pdf I was able to download now after making the appointment is called:
      FORMULARIO PA - CAMBIO DE CALIDAD MIGRATORIA
      It contains information about me, a declaración jurada and at the end of page 1 a field to be signed by me. On the second page it contains my username and password to login to the buzon.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Phil · 13/02/2024
      @Phil Some feedback on this.
      I'm leaving Peru for a short travel and needed the permiso de viaje.
      For that I also needed the verification code which I thought I missed because I didn't get that pdf after finishing the applciation.
      So I tried to make a cita de video llamada. Best is to be really fast at exactly 08:30:00 AM it opens. So I was in the queue at place 6, it got down to place 2 but then started to switch from place 2 to 3 for like 10 minutes and then from place 1 to 2 for 10 minutes. Then a window came saying establishing connection and then a small pop up on the bottom said it failed and I should try again in a few minutes. I waited 30 minutes with the establishing connection window open but nothing happened. So I canceled and tried again now in queue number 150. When it got down to 6 again 1.5h later I lost connection and had to try again. Some hours öater I again got to the windows with establishing connection but again it didn't work. I tried one last time but didn't make it until 5pm when they close. So on the next day I tried again with the same issues. (I used chrome browser on a PC, but I think it's a problem on their side).

      Disheartened I checked again my documents and actually found the code!
      I got it after making the cita biometricos in the document called FORMULARIO PA - CAMBIO DE CALIDAD MIGRATORIA.
      It is on the first page at the bottom right.
      So I went to the agency again and applied for the permiso de viaje, which was done in under a minute.

      Thanks again for you page!
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Kailey K · 03/01/2024
    Hello - just thought I would leave this comment here about how to change your email for the account. In my case, I no longer had access to the email that was indicated when I did the forgot password option. They tell you to initiate a video call on the Agencia Digital , but I think it's silly to not just share. 

    It's simply sending an email to asistenciaenlinea@migraciones.gob.pe
    with a pdf that has your request detailed, your signature, and the date. I just sent mine so I don't have feedback yet, but once I know I'll reply to this comment as well. 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 03/01/2024
      @Kailey K
      Hello Kailey,

      thank you so much for taking the time to write to us and share what you found out.

      The Migraciones e-mail address asistenciaenlinea@migraciones.gob.pe is usually intended for all "technical" problems users might experience while using the Agencia Digital. I never heard that you can use it when you don't have the username and password (I assume to access the Buzon electronico) anymore.

      So, please let me know if it works, so I can share it.

      Thanks again.

      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Kailey · 04/04/2024
      @Sunflower Yes it did work they sent me instructions and I was able to change my email from there. 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 04/04/2024
      @Kailey That's great news. Thanks again for sharing, Kailey.
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Steven M · 31/12/2023
    Hello! How long does it typically take to be ready to apply for a family visa after getting married in Peru? I am planning to apply for my Family visa basically right after getting married. I know that my partner will have have to update her DNI? I am doing a civil wedding at the San Borja municipality so hoping thats smooth to get it reregistered in Reniec. 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 01/01/2024
      @Steven M
      Hello Steven,

      it depends how well organized you are, how quickly Reniec issues the Peruvian marriage certificate and/or if you are ok with trying your luck and apply while you don't have all required documents.

      You need the Ficha de Canje from Interpol. While you can make the appointment now you should have the appointment at a date a day or so after your marriage. As you want to apply for a family visa, one of the requirements to apply for the Ficha de Canje is to present the marriage certificate. So, while a day or so after the marriage you still won't have the Peruvian marriage certificate, you will have a document issued by the municipality or notary proving your marriage. That should be accepted by Interpol.

      Then you must get your marriage registered at Reniec. Depending on the branch and work load the process usually takes between 2 and 4 weeks. Once the marriage is registered your wife can change her marital status on her DNI.

      In case your time as a tourist is running out and you can't wait any longer until Reniec registers your marriage and changes your wife's DNI, you could apply for the family visa without having all required documents as explained above Can I apply for a family visa if I don't have all the required documents?

      All in all you could apply for your visa already a few days after your marriage by playing the system a bit or you could wait until your marriage certificate is issued, your wife's DNI is changed and you get the Interpol appointment when all your documents are in order (I assume anything between 4 and 6 weeks).

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Anthony Wolff · 07/12/2023
    Hello, I am British and married to a Peruvian lady. We currently live in the UK but wish to go to live permanently in Peru. Rather than apply for a retirement visa, the so called family visa seems to be less complicated. So my question is do you think after having thoroughly read your explanation that I could apply myself or would it be easier to get professional help. If the latter can you recommend someone you know is reliable a reasonably priced. We have already spoken to the Peruvian consulate in London and they will do the necessaries regarding our marriage certificate and advise my wife to get her DNI card in order though a special website. Does this visa for example require proof of income from my or my wife's side or both as is required in the retirement visa? Can I apply for the family visa on a website before I travel to Lima? Looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks., Anthony
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 07/12/2023
      @Anthony Wolff
      Hello Anthony,

      honestly, if you are married to a Peruvian and come to Peru prepared with a fresh copy of your Peruvian marriage certificate issued by the consulate in the UK (I assume there your marriage was registered) and your Acro check with Apostille, the application for a family visa is usually easy and straightforward.

      Yes, dealing with Peruvian bureaucracy isn't always pleasant and there might be the one or other hurdle to overcome, but in general nothing you - probably with the help of your wife and our guide - can't conquer yourself.

      And no, as immigration lawyers or so-called tramitadores unfortunately aren't consistent in their knowledge, performance and price structure, I can't and won't recommend anyone. Prices got ridiculous over the past years, while the application process was simplified.

      Anyway, no, as you can see above in the requirement list, you don't need to prove any income when you apply for a family visa based on being married to a Peruvian. Your wife, as Peruvian, has the right to live in Peru whenever and however she pleases. Additionally, she has the right to a family union with her husband, who doesn't have to prove anything other than being married to her.

      And even though you could apply while still being in the UK, your wife then should already be in Peru and must apply for you. The process for applying from outside Peru is long and frustrating, so usually only nationals of countries who can't travel to Peru visa-free do so. I highly recommend that you do not go that route.

      The easiest for you is to get your documents in order (Peruvian marriage certificate issued and legalized by the consulate, Acro check with Apostille), travel to Peru with your wife, enter the country as a tourist, your wife as a Peruvian. Then get the translation of your Acro check, the over-authentication of your marriage certificate and the Interpol clearance. After that just apply for your family visa online on the Agencia Digital.

      Hope this info helps. If you have any more questions, you know where you find me.

      All the best

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Anthony Wolff · 12/12/2023
      @Sunflower Thanks Eva. Great information.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Anthony Wolff · 12/12/2023
      @Sunflower Following your kind reply, do you know whether the AVRO needs to be translated into Spanish and/ or apostiled (done by the Legalisation Office of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO))?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 13/12/2023
      @Anthony Wolff
      Hello Anthony,

      your Acro check must be apostilled in the UK. As I'm not from the UK, I don't know how it's done, but you can check out the UK government website, where it's explained. If you don't want to deal with it, you as well can use one of the many Apostille Services in the UK.

      The translation of your document, however, must (!) be done in Peru. I explained it in the article above under "Translation of foreign documents". https://www.limaeasy.com/peru-guide/peruvian-visa-types/peruvian-family-visa#translation-of-foreign-documents

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Anthony Wolff · 16/12/2023
      @Sunflower Thanks yet again, Eva

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