73 Comments
Peruvian Family Visa

Peruvian Family Visa

A Guide to Peruvian Visas

Part 6

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

Content overview

 

Family visa types in Peru

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

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

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

 

Legal background for a family visa application in Peru

Where to apply for a family visa

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

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

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

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

Peruvian residence visa application from abroad

Peruvian residence visa application from abroad

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

Important laws and regulations

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

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

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

 

Requirements for a family visa application in Peru

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

Required documents to apply for a family visa include:

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

Explanatory notes for the requirements:

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

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

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

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

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

(***) marriage certificate

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

(****) birth certificate

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

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

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

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

 

Last steps before your family visa application in Peru

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

Translation of foreign documents

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

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

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

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

Interpol

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

Interpol - Ficha de Canje Internacional

Interpol - Ficha de Canje Internacional

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

Paying the application fee

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

Paying administration charges and processing fees in Peru

Paying administration charges and processing fees in Peru

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

Last preparations

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

Migraciones Agencia Digital

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

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

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

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

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

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

1st page of the family visa application

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

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

Data update questionnaire

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You made it!

Back to the 1st page of the family visa application

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

2nd page of the family visa application

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3rd page of the family visa application

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

4th page of the family visa application

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Biometric data appointment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Buzon Electronico

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

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

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

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

Subsanacion - Submitting documents

Subsanacion - Submitting documents

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

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

Extension of a Migraciones deadline

Extension of a Migraciones deadline

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

 

Approval of your family visa

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

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

 

Getting your carné (foreigner ID)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Congratulations! You made it!

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

 

Things you should know living in Peru on a family visa

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

Residence visa extension in Peru

Residence visa extension in Peru

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

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

Renewal of the Carné de Extranjería

Renewal of the Carné de Extranjería

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

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

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

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

Update your information in the Migraciones database

Update your information in the Migraciones database

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

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

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

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

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

 

Other FAQs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Subsanacion - Submitting documents

Subsanacion - Submitting documents

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

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

Extension of a Migraciones deadline

Extension of a Migraciones deadline

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

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

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

 

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

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

Say something here...
characters left
or post as a guest
All comments MUST be in English and will be moderated before publishing.
They will appear below within 24 hours.
Loading comment... The comment will be refreshed after 00:00.
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Leta
    Leta · 29/10/2022
    Eva,
    As I am sure your readers will agree, your assist is not only valuable for content, direction, experience and insight but often comes at a time that is of great relief to the questioner even when the situation remains somewhat challenging. THANK YOU SO MUCH for your prompt and clear response. 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 29/10/2022
      @Leta Thank you so much for your kind words. It's always great hearing that what I do here on LimaEasy is appreciated and helpful. I can't eliminate the challengers and don't know everything, but I hope I can explain the basics, give some insight and probably here and there point someone in the right direction.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Leta
    Leta · 28/10/2022
    Hi all,
    I am US citizen married to Peruvian for 4 years, coming and going to USA. Now I am in Lima and have only 30 day visa due to many days previously this year (immigration at airport were gracious to allow as long as I promised to apply for residency!), I have sent off for the FBI background check (which will take one week but another 7 weeks for Apostille) and have just obtained the Ficha de Canje card from Interpol. Much progress but time is running out and I understand one can't apply for family visa Cambio Migratoria por la de familiar residente on an overstay visa. Thus I thought to go as far as I can while waiting for FBI Apostille. went onto Pagalo and paid for 07568 and have receipt and then went to Agencia Digital and started the questionnaire --- saved info as I went along but my 1 hour ran out!! I logged on again but the info was gone!!. QUESTION #1: can I/should I get an extension on my tourist visa? #2: without the FBI Apostille completed would I be able to get through the questionnaire on Migraciones? What am I to do with so little time remaining on my visa because if I leave Peru, I can't apply outside the country for the family visa and I can't return due to #days this year. 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 28/10/2022
      @Leta Hello Leta,

      Yes, you are right, to apply for a family visa or any other resident visa (accurately to apply for the Cambio de Calidad Migratoria) your stay as a tourist must be still valid on the day you apply on the Agencia Digital. And since August 2021, you can’t extend your stay as a tourist anymore.

      Considering that you already stayed lots of time in Peru this year and most probably will have problems when you leave and try to re-enter, your only option is to apply on the Agencia Digital the latest possible before your stay as a tourist expires.

      So, apply on the last day when your stay as a tourist is still valid (or if you want to make sure nothing goes wrong on the penultimate day). Fill in all required fields and upload all documents you already have. You can leave the field for the criminal record check blank and still can continue with the application process. At the end, make sure your application is correctly sent and keep the confirmation of your application safer than safe.

      Once you have the confirmation, the time stops; if your stay as a tourist expires the next day, no problem. But check your Buzon electronico (login information is at the bottom of your confirmation) every single day!!! As you haven’t uploaded all required documents, usually within only 3 to 5 days Migraciones will send you a notification requesting to upload, in your case, the criminal record check usually as well within a time limit of 3 to 5 days. Take this notification more than serious!!! You must react to it, even if it’s on the last day of the deadline they gave you, otherwise your application is canceled.

      Going this way, you apply when your stay as a tourist is still valid, and you hopefully can buy yourself enough time until your record check arrives. So, if you have the record check before the deadline expires, great, just upload it and all is fine. If you still don’t have it, then the following is a bit of a gamble (worked at the end of last year and the beginning of this year, not sure if now and how exactly).

      Three readers of LimaEasy who were in the same situation as you reported that they were able to get an extension of the deadline. As all three used a lawyer / tramitador for this, I’m not sure how the exact procedure is. But I was told that somewhere in the “depths” of the Mesa de Partes Virtual on the Agencia Virtual there should be the option to apply for this extension, which gives you a max of an additional 30 days to upload the missing document. Once you send the request for the extension, you usually won't hear back from Migraciones, and when you upload your record check within the 30 days, all should be good.

      Wishing you all the best.

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Rianne
      Rianne · 12/11/2022
      @Leta Hello Leta,
      Maybe my sharing of the procedure might be useful and give some ease regarding processing time. I am currently applying for a family visa too, based on my marriage to my Peruvian husband, and am doing the whole procedure myself (in the Trujillo office of Migraciones). 

      I applied online on the last day of my allowed stay as a tourist. I didn't have my international document (similar to your FBI report) at the time. The problem is, that the system will not allow you to continue the online process if you do not upload a document in the required field (so you cannot leave it blank, I tried that). What the system does accept in this field is the same upload of the Ficha de Interpol. So basically, I uploaded it twice. Then I was able to continue to the next menu and apply. 

      It took Migraciones about 30 days to evaluate my uploaded documents. I applied the 23rd of August and got a reply from them on the 27th of September (through e-notification, you will get a login code after you apply). It was a 2 page document requesting to upload additional documents (the FBI document being one of them) within 10 working days. In the meantime I already arranged the document including the translation and legalization by Ministery of Foreign affairs (keep in mind this process takes about 1.5 to 2 weeks). 

      About the request for extension to upload documents (max 30 working days), there is a document that the Migraciones office gave me in hardcopy, not sure if you can find it online. You can upload this doc. on the last day of the 10 working days period granted in the 'Subsanacion' part of the online menu which will apppear at the top left (note: don't upload other documents). I didn't get any official approval of my request for extension, so I am not sure how it is processed (if at all).

      After uploading the documents (at the end of your extension period) Migraciones informed me that the case manager takes about 14 days to evaluate the uploaded documents. It depends if the specific person goes on holiday etc. so it is my assumption that it is pretty flexible... we are in Peru, anything goes. 

      I went to the Migraciones office myself to double check if all the documents were alright (you can only verify this if the case manager is onsite, so you have to be lucky to catch him/her that day), because I aim to travel in December. The case manager made up all kinds of additional requirements (petty, do-able stuff), on the spot so I spent a whole day going back and forth copying, printing and uploading documents in the Subsanacion menu. I am sharing this as I can imagine that the evaluation of your additional document upload and the way that the online system works can buy you some additional time. 

      Meaning: I can imagine that - even if you do not have your complete FBI document on the end of your 30 day extension period - just upload what you have. Maybe the translation or legalization of the document is still in progress so you can upload the English document. You will then have about two weeks more until they send an evaluation of the documents saying there is something missing (I am sure they will find something again). Hopefully by this time you have the official document that Migraciones can process.

      Does this help?

      Please let me know if you have additional questions. I am happy to share what I've learned so far in 'navigating' Migraciones.

      Best of Luck,
      Rianne
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 12/11/2022
      @Rianne
      Hello Rianne,

      you are an angel send from heaven. Thank you so, so much for sharing your experience. This is more than helpful for many in the same situation and especially right now for Leta, who has to apply next week before her stay as a tourist expires (and she only will get her criminal record check in a few weeks)!!!

      I wasn't sure if the extension of the deadline Migraciones gives you to upload missing documents is still in place. You confirmed it is. Wow! Great! And in cases like this, it's good to hear that Migraciones took a month to evaluate your application.

      Anyway, thank you again for taking the time to write here in such detail.

      I just have one question. You said your FBI report (which I assume had an Apostille) needed to be legalized by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Is this correct? I thought you just have to get the certified translation in Peru and then it's accepted.

       Thanks again, Rianne.

      Have a great weekend
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Hollie
    Hollie · 17/10/2022
    Hello,

    I am an American citizen. I’ve been with my Peruvian partner in the US for 8 years and we would like live in Peru together for the long term. We are open to marriage but are wondering if it is the only option we have in order for me to become a resident.

    I am also wondering if I will need to pay taxes by becoming a resident while working for a company based in the US.

    Can you advise what are my options? How long in advance should we begin the process of applying for residency before moving to Peru?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 17/10/2022
      @Hollie Hello Hollie,

      The easiest, quickest, least complicated, and least stressful option is to marry your Peruvian partner and then apply for a family visa in Peru.

      But, of course, depending on your circumstances and preferences, which I don’t know, there might be other options. Are you planning to work in Peru for a Peruvian company and can get a work contract? If so, you could apply for a resident work visa (doesn’t really make sense doing so, as with the family visa you already have a permit to stay long term and a permission to work without having to jump through all the bureaucratic hoops of the work visa). Or are you and / or your partner planning to open your own company in Peru? Then you could employ yourself and apply for a work visa (as above, not really wise as you only make things more complicated than they could be). Or are you planning to invest a larger amount (at least S/. 500,000) in Peru? Then you could apply for an investment visa (here as well, with a family visa you already have your permit to stay long term in Peru and can, if you wish, invest, but don’t have to). Or if you receive a pension, you could apply for a rentista visa (you must provide proof of getting a state or private pension of at least US$ 1000 per month and you are not allowed to work in Peru when on a rentista visa)…

      Anyway, as already mentioned above, getting married and then appling for a family visa based on being married to a Peruvian is in most cases the best option which offers the most possibilities with the smallest bureaucratic hurdles in Peru.

      My knowledge regarding taxation in cases like yours is limited and I’m not familiar with US taxes. So, I highly recommend getting in contact with an expat tax expert specialized in Peru and US taxes. Therefore, here just some general information.

      Peru and the US have not signed a tax treaty, making it difficult to generally say how various income generated in Peru or the US is taxed in the other country.

      As resident of Peru, you are required to pay income tax on your worldwide income (so, on income generated in Peru and abroad) on a progressive scale from 8% to 30%. So, if you live in Peru and work for a US company earning money in the US, your income must be taxed in the US anyway, but officially is additionally considered foreign source income by the Peruvian income tax law. However, most US Americans I know, leave their US income in an account in the US and pay as required US taxes, but don’t declare their foreign income to the Peruvian tax authority and just withdraw from an ATM. While in lots of cases this surely is borderline or outright wrong according to the Peruvian tax law, as things stand today, the Peruvian tax authority doesn’t pursue such cases.

      On the other hand, if you generate income and pay income tax in Peru, then there are several exemptions that you pay less or no income tax in the US.

      Overall, please seek legal advice from a specialist!

      Usually, Peruvian consulates abroad do not issue resident visas anymore. So, you enter Peru as a tourist and then start the application process in Peru. How it’s done, is explained in detail above.

      The most important thing before leaving the US is to get organized, get all your and your Peruvian partner’s documents in order and prepare whatever possible, so once you arrive in Peru you just have to finish the last steps before being able to apply for your resident visa. As you usually only get 90 days when you enter Peru as a tourist and must apply before your stay as a tourist expires, time is often an issue.

      So, in case you decide to marry, best marry in the US (or marry in Peru before moving there). If you marry in the US (best keep your last name and do not take your husband’s surname!), get your US marriage certificate and then register your marriage at a Peruvian consulate in the US. There you are then issued a Peruvian marriage certificate. When you apply for your family visa in Peru, a marriage certificate issued abroad can’t be older than 6 months. So, either marry half a year before your actual application in Peru (which might be difficult to exactly plan) or get a new copy of your Peruvian marriage certificate a couple of months before heading to Peru (not sure, but I think the Peruvian consulate must legalize it).

      If you marry in Peru (in our article Marrying in Peru you find the details), you must register your marriage at Reniec and present a marriage certificate not older than 3 months when applying for your family visa. Be aware that it is nearly impossible to get everything together for your marriage in Peru, then marry, get everything together for your family visa application and apply within the three months you are given as a tourist. So, if you want to marry in Peru, best make one trip to Peru to marry (little obstacle at least one partner must live in Peru otherwise most municipalities won’t marry you and you should plan at least a good 2 or 3 months from start to having your Peruvian marriage certificate) and another to finally move and apply for your resident visa.

      To save time in Peru, your Peruvian partner should, if applicable, get his DNI and passport in order while still being in the US. So, after your US marriage and the registration of your marriage at the consulate, he should, for example, change his marital status on his DNI or, if applicable, have election fees paid or waived, etc. However, check with the Peruvian consulate how long these changes take; in some cases it might be quicker to do once in Peru.

      The same applies to you, check that your passport is valid for another few years, so you don’t have to worry about renewing it in the near future in Peru. Even though not necessary for the family visa application, I always recommend having at least a copy of your birth certificate (with Apostille) and depending on your circumstances probably as well a copy of your highest degree (with Apostille) when moving to a foreign country. Most probably you won’t need it, but you never know and getting these documents while being abroad can be a nightmare.

      Then the most important thing before leaving the US, get your FBI background check. As far as I know, it takes anything between a few days to a month or so until the FBI issues the document and then, depending on the workload another few weeks to get the Apostille. So, here you should probably start 2 months before leaving the US.

      That’s all you can do before moving to Peru. Once in Peru, do not waste time. Your then husband should immediately change the address on his DNI to a Peruvian one and, if still necessary, his marital status. In the meantime, you first should get your appointment at Interpol and get an official translation of your FBI background check. Then follow the steps as described above.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    June
    June · 21/09/2022
    Hello Eva, Thanks for your amazing articles. I wonder if you can help with this question. IThank you in advance for any help!
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 21/09/2022
      @June Hello June,

      I just answered your mail. And sorry, no.

      But probably I can help or someone here might have the answer.

      Greetings
      Eva

  • This commment is unpublished.
    Leroy
    Leroy · 01/09/2022
    Hi Eva,

    I’m currently in the process of changing my migratory status “Cambio de calidad migratoria - Familiar Residente - Familiar Residente: Casado con peruano(a)”. I have just finished uploading all the required documents to the “Migraciones Agencia Digital” website. Once I submitted the application it auto generated the F-007 (Some details prefilled) and also provided me with a code to make an appointment for biometric scans.

    I have 3 questions:
    1. Is the biometric scans part of the change of migratory status ie. “Cambio de calidad migratoria”? There were no appointments in Lima for biometric scans for 6 weeks. I’m wondering if I have to wait until these scans are completed before my migratory status is changed/approved and I can apply for the carné de extranjeria?
    2. The migraciones website said the F-007 form is to be submitted once the application is approved, is this correct? I couldn’t see anywhere to where to uplod this form on the migraciones agencia digital website at the moment. *note as per Anil’s comments below FYI couldn’t see a download button for this form when it was generated so I had to print screen.
    3. Is there a certain length of time all the documents submitted are valid for? Eg. Its almost been 3 months since my Australian police check (Antecedentes policiales, penales y judiciales) was issued and apostilled. I hoping This doesn’t expire.

    Thanks in advance for your help. Your website is a great resource and very helpful for foreigners.

    Leroy
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 01/09/2022
      @Leroy Hello Leroy,

      Thanks for your nice words about LimaEasy.

      Answer to your first question:

      According to the legislation, the appointment for having your biometrical data taken is not part of the approval process for changing your immigration status from, in your case, tourist to family. It belongs to the issuance of the carné de extranjería part.

      But for the past year alone, there have been three major changes. First, applicants had to download an app, take their biometrical data in the app and then transfer their data during the resident visa application process onto the Agencia Digital. Without submitting your biometrical data, no application. Then a few months ago Migraciones announced that the biometrical data is taken in person as it was before Covid, and that the applicant had to make an appointment on the Agencia Digital after he/she received the approval. This method only worked a couple of months and Migraciones started to send applicants an email with an appointment. From Anil I heard for the first time that the system allowed you to make an appointment right after the application.

      So, with this being said and being used to Peruvian bureaucracy, I'm slowly but surely getting confused. But as you didn’t make an appointment after your application, I highly recommend making one as soon as possible on the Agencia Digital (under Citas en Linea) as waiting times are long right now and once your resident visa is approved you otherwise have to wait ages to finally have your biometrical data taken and your carné issued.

      Answer to your second question:

      Due to my immigration status, I don’t have access to this part of the Agencia Digital and can’t check how and where what has to be done or uploaded making it impossible for me to answer your question. Here we have the same problem as above over the past year there have been constant changes. The last time I was able to catch a glimpse which was at the beginning of 2022, in the upper part of one page there was a red download and next to it upload button for the form, below the option to upload all other necessary documents. This seems to have changed.

      Additionally, I now heard from a few of our readers different versions on how they did it; a few told me, yes, you download the form during the application process, fill it in, sign and fingerprint it and upload it again. Others told me they couldn’t find the form, didn’t do anything and their visa was approved without any objections from Migraciones while others received a message from Migraciones through the Buzon electronico to download the form on the government website, fill it in, sign, fingerprint and upload it through the Mesa de Partes on the Agencia Digital which they did. Now I read from you that you got the form after you submitted your application.

      Anyway, personally I wouldn’t do anything at the moment, just regularly check your Buzon. In case Migraciones is missing the form, they will contact you and request that you upload it (filled in, signed and fingerprinted) within a certain time frame (usually only 3 to 5 working days).

      Answer to your third question:

      Usually, documents issued in Peru are accepted if they are not older than 3 months, documents issued abroad shouldn’t be older than 6 months. But if the person who handles your application has a bad day, doesn’t know the regulations or whatever, he or she might invent other time spans. Anyway, if your Antecedentes weren’t older than 3 months when you submitted your application, no need to worry. They should be accepted with no problem.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Anil
    Anil · 27/07/2022
    Hi, I am in the process of changing my resident status as I am married to a Peruvian. I filled the information in the Agencia Digital, however, I did not get the option of downloading Form F-007 as mentioned in this blog. After uploading my documents, it directly gave me the option of taking appointment "cita" which I did. I got the appointment although have to wait for more than a month. I checked all the data and sections while filling the form and I was particularly careful not to make any mistake. Is Form F-007 not required recently? Just wanted to be 100% sure. Another question I have is, usually how many days do they take to respond whether my application is approved or not and where do they notify (email or buzon electronico)? Thanks so much.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 27/07/2022
      @Anil Hello Anil,

      Unfortunately, as I have no access to this part of the Agencia Digital due to my immigration status, I can’t check if they changed something again (they must have as you said you could already make your appointment for having your biometric data taken after you submitted your application) or send you a screenshot.

      You said you are changing your resident status. So you are already a resident and are changing your visa type? Or did you mean that you are changing your immigration status from, I assume, tourist to family?

      If the latter is the case, when I remember correctly on the top of the page where you uploaded all other documents, you should have downloaded the form, printed it, filled it in, then signed and fingerprinted it and uploaded it again.

      If you haven’t done so, you should check your buzon electronico as all communications is done through it. So, in case something with your application isn't to the satisfaction of Migraciones, a document is missing, or whatever they will contact you there.

      Right now, the only thing you should do, check your buzon regularly. If they don’t request the form, don’t do anything. If you get a notification that the form is missing, download it here, fill it in, sign and fingerprint it. Then enter the Agencia Digital, go to the Mesa de Partes and upload the form.

      And I can’t tell you how long the approval process of your resident will take. Over the past few months, I heard from people who waited anything from 4 weeks to 6 months.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Tristan
    Tristan · 14/07/2022
    Hi! Just wondering do I have to have my biometrics appointment before my visa expires or once the registration has been successfully completed can I have the biometrics taken outside the time the my visa would have expired? Thanks very much!!
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 14/07/2022
      @Tristan Hello Tristan,

      Sorry, I don’t understand. Which visa are you talking about? The tourist visa?

      No matter if you are in Peru on a “real” tourist visa issued by a Peruvian consulate or travel visa-free to Peru and got an authorization to enter and stay for x (up to 90) days - this is nothing more than an entry in a database and granted automatically when you enter - it has to be valid on the day you submit the application for your resident visa on the Agencia Digital and get the confirmation of the application.

      Then time stops. If a day later your “tourist visa” expires no problem. As the appointment for getting your biometrical data taken is sometime during the approval process of your residency, most often at the end of it, your “tourist visa” not necessarily has to be valid at that point. And as the approval process sometimes takes many weeks or even months, the “tourist visa” of most foreigners is expired by the time they get the biometrical data appointment.

      Or do you already have a resident visa? If you have to extend your residence permit usually no new carné is issued, so no appointment for biometrical data is necessary. If you, however, for whatever reason need a new carné, then similar to above you just have to make sure that your residency is still valid when you apply for the new carné, if it expires at some point later and is already expired on the date of appointment for the biometrical data no problem.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Stephen
    Stephen · 01/06/2022
    Hi, how does a spouse to a Peruvian that is abroad (not in Peru) secure a Family Visa to enable him travel to Peru
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 01/06/2022
      @Stephen Hello Stephen,

      you can apply for a family visa at any Peruvian consulate abroad and just get your carné once you arrived in Peru.

      But be aware the family visa is not intended to travel to Peru or for short-term stays. It's a resident visa requiring to be in Peru at least 183 days in a year; if you are not in the country this half year you lose your residency again.

      If you just want to visit and travel in Peru for up to 3 months, you can enter the country as a tourist and don't have to go through all the red tape necessary for getting a family visa.

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Patricia
      Patricia · 06/06/2022
      @Sunflower Hi Eva, I came to the Peruvian Consulate here in Denver, USA to apply for a family visa and the answer was unfauvorable, they said it doesn’t exist.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 06/06/2022
      @Patricia Hello Patricia,

      that's an interesting answer and seems really strange.

      You probably should show or send them two Peruvian laws:

      First of all the Peruvian Foreigner Law, Decreto Legislativo 1350, published in the official Peruvian gazette El Peruano on January 7, 2017. Under Titulo IV Procedemiento administrative migratorio Capitulo 1 “Visa y Calidad Migratoria" on page 61 of the document you find in article 29º “Tipos de Calidades Migratorias” under point “i” the “Familiar de residente”, so the family visa. So, yes, it does exist.

      Additionally send or show them the Supreme" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.limaeasy.com/index.php?option=com_jreviews&format=ajax&url=media/download&m=1766Y&1654548535007">Supreme Decree DS N° 002-2021-IN published in the official Peruvian gazette El Peruano on March 24, 2021 which updates above mention Legislative Decree 1350. On page 43 of the document (page 25 of the PDF) in article 89-A you find the requirements for the family visa when applying at a consulate (“Procedimiento administrative de solicitud de calidad migratoria de familiar residente”).

      So, it seems the visa exists. And I'm living proof of it as I have one.

      Are you sure they said it doesn't exist? Or do they probably don't process applications for it, which might be strange as well.

      So, not sure how I can help.

      Greetings
      Eva


    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 06/06/2022
      @Sunflower Patricia, I just checked the website of the Peruvian consulate in Denver. And it seems they only issue tourist and business visas, no resident visas. So, you might want to check out the Peruvian consulate general in Washington if they issue resident visas or apply in Peru.

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Stephen
      Stephen · 13/06/2022
      @Sunflower Thank you Eva,
      From correspondence, the embassy in Ghana wrote that, they don't issue family visa, so i applied for a tourist visa to enable enter Peru, to start the process. I was not granted tourist Visa, answer was that i was not eligible, even with my Peruvian marriage certificate, i was really sad but my wife was heartbroken. The embassy replied i should apply in 6 months time again. I need help on how to get reunited with my wife as fast as possible.. i learnt the family Visa process is mostly done in Peru, that the embassy would issue a tourist Visa to enable one enter Peru to carry out the process. 
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Mikayla
    Mikayla · 28/05/2022
    Hi, I'm still trying to get a background check issued in the US but my tourist visa expires in 2 weeks. When does the process start where I am not allowed to leave the country? I've uploaded all my other documents to the platform but haven't submitted yet since I still need the other background check. It will take probably 4 weeks to mail and get back. Do I need to leave the country and come back in, or since I've started uploading documents do I have to stay? I don't want to get in trouble for overstaying, or for leaving if it nulls the application.  However, if just uploading documents doesn't start the process, then I'll need to leave. But I am at the end of my 183 day limit in the country this year. So I'm afraid if I leave and try to come back in they won't let me. I've also asked if I can get an extension for my tourist visa and they said they don't allow extensions. What do I need to do? Will I be ok staying, or will I be allowed back in if I leave?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 28/05/2022
      @Mikayla Hello Mikayla,

      Do not overstay, not even by a day when you plan to apply for residency. Your tourist visa must be still valid on the day you apply, otherwise your application will not be accepted. And no, there are no tourist visa extensions anymore.

      However, you are safe as soon as you have submitted your application and got the confirmation which is immediately sent to you by Migraciones. Even if your tourist visa expires a day later, no problem. So, if you just have uploaded documents, but haven't finished your application and submitted it, I recommend doing so a few days before your tourist visa expires.

      A few days later, you will get a message from Migraciones requesting to upload the missing background check within 3 to 5 days or so (on the bottom of your application confirmation you find the access data to your buzón electronico, check it every day to not miss anything).

      As by then you still don't have your background check and can't upload it, immediately respond to this message asking for a 30 day extension of the deadline to submit your background check. I'm not sure, if you can directly respond to the message or have to use the Mesa de Partes Virtual on the Agencia Digital. Usually, you don't get an answer to your request, but can assume it's granted if you don't get a notification saying otherwise.

      Anyway, if you wait another week before submitting your visa application plus around 3 days they need to respond plus 30 days extension, this should give you enough time to get your background check, including Apostille, and upload it before the extension time runs out. Problem solved.

      By the way, check out the comment below from Ryan (18.03.2022), he was worried about the long processing time, but did exactly what I recommend above.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Mick
    Mick · 11/04/2022
    Hi, above it states "The document needs an Apostille or has to be legalized in the country of origin". Is this an either or situation? Does the document have to go to a ministry in the issuing  country for apostille and then to peruvian embassy for legalizaton or is the apostille sufficient on its own? Thanks
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 11/04/2022
      @Mick Hello Mick,

      The Apostille is nothing more than a specialized certificate verifying the legitimacy, genuineness and origin of a document. While the traditional method for authenticating documents to be used abroad, the legalization, involves numerous individual authentications of the document by increasingly higher authorities in the country where it was issued as well as the foreign Embassy or Consulate of the country where the document is to be used, the Apostille greatly simplifies and quickens the authentication process as usually only two (issuing and competent) or three (issuing, higher and competent) authorities in the country of origin are involved and no further authentication by the foreign Embassy or Consulate of the country where the document is to be used, or in the foreign country where the document is to be used, is necessary.

      But a document can only be apostilled if the country where it was issued and where it is to be used signed the "Apostille Convention" (Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents). Around 120 countries worldwide did so including Peru; however, Canada, most countries in Africa and some in the Middle East and Asia didn't.

      So, if the document was issued in a country that signed the Apostille Convention, you should get an Apostille; simpler, quicker and cheaper and, once in Peru, it only has to be translated by a certified translator, if it isn't in Spanish, and is accepted. If you just use an official translator in Peru, the translation has to be over-authenticated by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RREE).

      If the document was issued in a country that didn't sign the Apostille Convention, you have to follow the steps in the country of origin including as last step the Peruvian consulate to get the legalization. Then once in Peru the documents has to be over-authenticated by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and translated (and perhaps over-authenticated once more by RREE).

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Ryan
    Ryan · 18/03/2022
    Hi, I entered Peru in June last year with the intention to get married. We did do so in September. I however had to leave the country for a day and come back in, in order to still be on a valid visa. I needed that to sign the marriage contract. I received another 90 days which ran out on December 7th. I submitted my application for the marriage visa on the 2nd of December. I however did not have the completed police clearance certificate yet. Mine still needed the apostille. We were advised though to send in the application while still legal in the country. 

    A few days later we received a notice from migration that I have 5 days to submit the apostilled document. It was not ready yet so we were advised to ask for a 30 day extension. I did that, but did not receive any confirmation from them that it had been granted. My contact said that as long as they did not send me a notice to say my application was denied, the extension was granted.

    I finally received the apostilled document back a month later and sent it to them. Took forever since I am from South Africa and our systems are really slow. It has been months now and I have not received any communication through the Buzon electronico from migration. My contact said the only thing is to wait, since the process can be long and that as long as their is no notice of the application being denied it is still in process.

    It seems odd though to have had no notice from them in over 3 months. Do you perhaps know if this is normal and what I can do in this situation please?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 18/03/2022
      @Ryan Hello Ryan,

      You did everything by the book. Perfect. In my opinion, you and the person advising you did a great job. Personally, I would have done the same things / given you the same advice.

      And yes, I would expect a notification from Migraciones either approving or denying your request for the extension of time they gave you to hand in your background check. But I have to agree with your contact, no news is good news. So, if you haven’t received anything from Migraciones denying your request, consider it approved and as long as you sent them the missing document within the 30 days, all good.

      And even though the processing time for a resident visa application is supposed to be 30 business days (add to that another 30 days for your extension request; officially your application is on hold for that time), as far as I know, it takes anything between 2 and 5 months at the moment until resident visa applications are approved. So, you are still well in time. And yes, it’s a nerve-wrecking waiting game, but I have to agree once more with your contact; as long as you haven’t received a notification that your resident visa application was denied, it’s still in process.

      Unfortunately, there is not a lot you can do. Wait, pray, hope for the best, check your buzón regularly. In case you haven’t heard anything from Migraciones by mid-/ end April, I personally would get in contact with them (best use the chat on the Agencia Digital).

      All the best, including lots of patience

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Aude
      Aude · 21/06/2022
      @Sunflower Hello, I would like to share my experience on that topic. I send my papers for this visa on march 24th 2022, on April the 8th they ask me the apostille that I didn’t have at that time, I send it back less than 5days after their request. After 30 Dias habiles, no news from them. I waited  10more days and I went to the office of migraciones  in huancayo. I told them that I had no news after the 30 days and they took my biometric info ( picture and prints) and They told me to wait 15 to 20days to get my papers. 5 days later it was ready, and I was able to take an appointment to pick it up ! 
      My advice would be to nicely insist if you don’t have it yet ;) 
      it could be more difficult in Lima than province . I wish you good luck ! 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 21/06/2022
      @Aude Hello Aude,

      thank you so much for sharing your experience with Migraciones in Huancayo. Seems to me they are more organized and especially a lot quicker than in Lima who according to reports from applicants are behind about 6 months. It's insane at the moment.

      So, I can only congratulate on receiving your family visa and carné so quickly.

      Greetings
      Eva


  • This commment is unpublished.
    Mick
    Mick · 04/03/2022
    Hi I'm in the process of applying for the family Visa and I'm wondering if anyone on here experience with getting police clearance from Canada? If anyone has information regarding this could you please provide a detailed step-by-step process of how you we're able to get this when you are already located in Peru. Thank
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 04/03/2022
      @Mick
      Hello Mick,

      sorry, I can't help you here, but this is what the Royal Canadian Mounted Police says:

      "From outside Canada

      To submit fingerprints to the RCMP's Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS) from outside of Canada, you must first contact the local police of jurisdiction where you are staying outside Canada and who can provide you with a copy of your fingerprints. Ensure you get the name and address of the police agency as well as the signature and name of the official taking the fingerprints. Also ensure all ten fingers are taken with black ink.

      Next, you must contact an accredited company [CCRTIS-SCICTR @ rcmp-grc.gc.ca. for a list of accredited companies] within Canada who can convert the paper fingerprint forms taken outside of Canada and submit them to CCRTIS electronically."

      I have no idea, if you can get your fingerprints taken in Peru at a police station; worth a try. Or you could ask at the Canadian embassy if they know where you can get this done (they themselves most probably won't do it and might not be helpful). Otherwise you unfortunately have to get back to Canada to do it there. What a pain.

      Greetings
      Eva


  • This commment is unpublished.
    Fernando
    Fernando · 19/01/2022
    Hi, my wife and I just went through the process and we can confirm that they are enforcing the police clearance certificate. We obtained this document from the FBI and had to legalize it in a Peruvian consulate in the US. Thereupon in Peru, we had an official translation service translate the document into Spanish and then legalize the document once again in the Ministry of Foreign Relations.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 19/01/2022
      @Fernando
      Hello Fernando,

      thank you so much for your feedback.

      Greetings
      Eva

Peru Newsflash

Peru Event Calendar

Previous YearPrevious MonthNext YearNext Month
April 2024
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

Upcoming Events in Peru

01
May
Labor Day in Peru
01
May
Virgin of Chapi celebration in Arequipa
03
May
Festival of the Crosses
12
May
Mother's Day in Peru
19
May
Pentecost - Festival Señor de Choquekillka in Ollantaytambo

More in the Peru Event & Entertainment Calendar

Latest Content...

Latest Video

Maria Reiche - Memories

Maria Reiche - Memories

Submitted by: Tintin
05 December 2021
Listing: Maria Reiche (1903-1998)

Long Reads...

  • Peruvian Archaeology

    The Mystery of the Nazca Lines in Peru

    In the 1920s, when people first flew across southern Peru, they made an astonishing discovery. Stretching below them,…
  • Peruvian Personalities & Founders

    Francisco Pizarro González (1474-1541)

    Francisco Pizarro, a peasant from Spain, was one of the least well-equipped conquerors in history. However, in the name…
  • Peruvian Archaeology

    The colorful Fabrics and Textiles of Peru

    Europe’s first knowledge of Peruvian textiles was acquired following the Spanish invasion of Peru in 1532, when the…
  • Peruvian Legends, Myths & Tales

    The Jeweled Frog and the Condor

    By a quiet pond, at the side of a cloud-topped mountain in Peru, lived a small green frog and his large green family.…
  • Peru Info

    Peruvian Economy

    The Peruvian economy is an emerging, social market economy highly dependent on foreign trade and classified as an upper…

lima·easy - /ˈli mə/ - /ˈi zi/

Copyright on all Contents, Composition & Design by LimaEasy (te-media ®)
© 2006 - 2024
This website is made by te-media - Creative Digital Solutions. All profits we make from it through advertising and other channels go back into the project.
te-media also publishes:

In loving memory of "Jack" & "Lola"