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Peruvian Family Visa

Peruvian Family Visa

A Guide to Peruvian Visas

Part 6

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

And before we continue ...

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

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

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

 

Table of contents

 

Family visa types in Peru

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

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

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

  • Spouses of Peruvian nationals (para el caso de casado/a peruana/o)
  • Spouses of foreigners with resident status (para el caso de casado/a con extranjera/o residente en el país)
  • Minor children of Peruvians or foreigners with resident status (para el caso de hijos menores de edad de peruano/a o extranjero/a residente)
  • Unmarried adult children (18 to 28 years old) who are financially dependent on their parents (para el caso de hijo/a mayor de edad)
  • Adult children with disabilities (para el caso de hijos mayores de 18 años con discapacidad)
  • Parents of Peruvians or foreigners with resident status in Peru who do not have Peruvian nationality (para el caso de padres de peruano/a o extranjero/a residente) (*)

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

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

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

 

Legal background for a family visa application in Peru

Where to apply for a family visa

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

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

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

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

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

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

Peruvian residence visa application from abroad

Peruvian residence visa application from abroad

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

 

Important laws and regulations

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

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

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

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

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

 

Requirements and documents to apply for a family visa in Peru

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

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

Required documents to apply for a family visa include:

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

Explanatory notes

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

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

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

(2) Criminal record check

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

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

(3) Foreign document rules in Peru

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

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

(4) Marriage certificate

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

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

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

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

In this case:

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

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

Marriage abroad to a Peruvian citizen (registered at consulate)

  • Certified copy of your marriage certificate issued by the Peruvian consulate and legalized by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RREE) in Lima or their provincial offices (not older than 180 days)

Already in Peru without a recent copy? At the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (RREE) in Lima, you can get certified copies of birth, marriage, and death certificates registered at a Peruvian consulate abroad.

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

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

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

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

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

Marriage abroad to a foreigner

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

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

(5) Birth certificate

Child of a foreigner with resident status in Peru

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

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

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

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

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

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

In this case:

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

Parent of a foreigner with resident status in Peru

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

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

 

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

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

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

 

Before submitting your visa application

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

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

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

 

Translation of foreign documents

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Interpol

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

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

Interpol - Ficha de Canje Internacional

Interpol - Ficha de Canje Internacional

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

Paying the application fee

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

Payment can be made either:

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

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

Paying administration charges and processing fees in Peru

Paying administration charges and processing fees in Peru

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

For the family resident visa application, you need:

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

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

 

Last preparations

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

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

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

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

  

Submitting your visa application on the Agencia Digital

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

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

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

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

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

Step 1: Access the Migraciones Agencia Digital

Go to the Migraciones Agencia Digital and click on Entrar.

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

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

Click Verificar.

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

 

Step 2: Select the visa application procedure

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

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

Click on the one that applies to continue.

 

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

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

Fill in the required fields:

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

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

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

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

Accept the sworn statement and click Continuar.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Once you have completed this section, click Guardar.

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

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

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

Once you have completed all questions, click Continuar.

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

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

 

Step 4: Upload required documents

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

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

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

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

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

Pago por derecho de trámite (application fee)

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

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

After entering the information, click Validar.

Ficha de Canje Interpol (Interpol clearance)

Under Ficha de canje Interpol, you must upload:

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

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

Documento de vinculo

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

Documento de identificacion del conyuge

Under Documento de identificacion del conyuge, you must enter the DNI number of the Peruvian part of the family or the Carné number of the foreign resident you are related to.

Click on Validar.

Documento de Identificación del administrado

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

Exceso de permanencia (overstay)

There is one final tab called Exceso de permanencia.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Final step

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

 

Step 5: Review and confirm your personal information

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

The only fields you can edit here are:

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

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

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

 

Step 6: Application confirmation

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

Do not continue yet.

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

After submitting your visa application

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

Biometric data appointment

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

Make an appointment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What to expect during your appointment

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

You will only need your

  • Passport, and
  • printed (!) appointment confirmation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Buzon Electronico

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

You can access your Buzón

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

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

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

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

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

Subsanacion - Submitting documents

Subsanacion - Submitting documents

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

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

Extension of a Migraciones deadline

Extension of a Migraciones deadline

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

 

Approval of your visa

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

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

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

You can also check the status of your application:

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

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

asking about the status of your application.

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

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

Congratulations!

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

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

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

 

Getting your carné (foreigner ID)

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

  • Citas en Línea, subpoint recojo de documentos.

Download and print the appointment confirmation.

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

If you urgently need your carné

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

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

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

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

To collect your carné, be on time and bring:

  • passport
  • printed appointment confirmation (if applicable)

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

Congrats! You made it!

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

 

Family visa Peru - FAQs for residents

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

How long is the family visa valid?

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

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

Residence visa extension in Peru

Residence visa extension in Peru

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

 

How long is the carné de extranjería valid?

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

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

Renewal of the Carné de Extranjería

Renewal of the Carné de Extranjería

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

 

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

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

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

 

Can I work in Peru on a family visa?

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

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

 

What should I do if my personal information changes?

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

This includes, for example:

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

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

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

Update your information in the Migraciones database

Update your information in the Migraciones database

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

  

What documents do I need when leaving Peru temporarily?

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

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

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

If you did not generate any income in Peru

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

To do this:

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

If you worked as an employee in Peru

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

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

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

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

If you work independently in Peru

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

When can I apply for permanent residency in Peru?

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

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

 

When can I apply for Peruvian citizenship?

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

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

 

What should I do if I leave Peru permanently?

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

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

 

Special situations and practical tips

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

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

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

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

2. On the Biometric data appointment page

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

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

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

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

To do this:

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

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

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

3. Other options

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

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

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

Enter the following information:

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

How this workaround works

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

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

For example:

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

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

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

Confirmation of your application

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

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

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

What happens next

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

This notification may arrive:

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

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

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

If you already have the document

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

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

Subsanacion - Submitting documents

Subsanacion - Submitting documents

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

If you still don’t have the document

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

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

Extension of a Migraciones deadline

Extension of a Migraciones deadline

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

Should you upload the document before receiving the notification?

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

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

Important

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

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

  

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

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

 

 

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  • This commment is unpublished.
    Martin
    Martin · 02/12/2023
    Hello Eva,

    “Declaración jurada de haber realizado actividades que no impliquen la generación de rentas de fuente peruana”

    FYI, I passed through Jorge Chavez migration last night, presented this form and was told it is not required for a family based resident, but it is required for a business/company based resident.

    Thanks, Martin.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 02/12/2023
      @Martin
      Hello Martin,

      thanks for sharing your experience.

      At least according to the still current regulations foreigners living in Peru on a family visa, 
      - who didn't have any income, are supposed to present the “Declaración jurada de haber realizado actividades que no impliquen la generación de rentas de fuente peruana”
      - who had income must present the "Certificado de Rentas y Retenciones".

      But as said above, the forms are rarely checked if you have a family visa. However, I, living in Peru on a family visa, was one time ask for the form when I wanted to leave and hadn't had it. Immigrations didn't allow me to leave. It took me an hour or so to get it sorted out. So, I recommend better have the form with you than maybe miss your flight.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Jenny
    Jenny · 17/11/2023
    I failed to see and download 'the second page' when Registro de Solicitud de Cambio de Calidad Migratoria was displayed. Could there be a way to find username and password for buzon electronico in this case?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 17/11/2023
      @Jenny
      Hello Jenny,

      yes, there are two options.

      Enter the Agencia Digital. On the main page click on the Buzon Electronico button, which is on the top right of the page or go directly to the Migraciones-SINE website.

      Then click on ¿Olvidaste la contraseña? and you get to the "Verificacion de Datos" page. Here enter your nationality, passport, passport number, last name(s), first name(s) and your birthdate. After submitting your information by clicking on Siguiente, you get an email with the "usario" (username" and a link to reset or create a password.

      If this doesn't work, your only option is to get in contact with Migraciones. For this use the video call on the Agencia Digital. You can find an explanation on how it's done in our Migraciones article under "Start a video conference with Migraciones" https://www.limaeasy.com/peru-guide/glossary-terms-peru/migraciones-immigration-control-peru#migraciones-peru-video-call.

      Hope this helps.

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Jenny
      Jenny · 18/11/2023
      @Sunflower Hi, thank you very much for your prompt reply. I attempted to reset my password on my own more than 10 times over several days, but without success. I can successfully access the link provided in the email. However, when I try to set a new password, I encounter an error message, and the change is never completed. I've tried this on both my PC and smartphone, experimenting with different combinations of passwords (using uppercase, lowercase, and numbers mixed), but the system consistently displays the 'an error occurred' message without specifying the reason. I also attempted at various times, suspecting a possible server-related issue, but without success. I'm wondering if this error is unique to my account or if there is a problem with their system. Is there a way to check and resolve this issue?

      I attempted to contact the migraciones through a video conference yesterday. I waited for a connection from 11 a.m. onwards, but unfortunately, I couldn't get my turn even past 5 p.m. It appears that they leave work after 5 p.m., despite some people still waiting in line. I intended to obtain both the verification code and email information, but the situation proved to be quite frustrating. Could you please clarify the purpose of the verification code? Is it necessary to retain and provide it at some point during the visa acquisition process?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 19/11/2023
      @Jenny
      Hello Jenny,

      for whatever reason sometimes resetting the password doesn't work. Your only option then is to get in contact with Migraciones.

      As explained in our Migraciones article, which I linked in my first reply, best try early in the morning after they open or later in the evening. At least Monday to Friday they should be available from around 08.15-08.30 am to 10.00 pm. There you find as well that in case your ticket shows an approximate waiting time longer than 30 minutes, you best close your ticket and try again, as often after having waited half an hour or so your ticket is canceled and you are disconnected.

      Actually the verification code is not that important. For a few months now you can check the status of your application online on the Migraciones website (not much info there just "pending", "approved" or "dissapproved"). But in case you want to leave the country during the evaluation and approval process of your visa application  you still need it (if they haven't changed the system in the past few weeks) to apply for a travel permit.

      However, there is no way around getting access to your Buzon electronico. Migraciones uses it to send you notifications related to your application. A notification could be the approval of your visa application, which then means you can get an appointment for your carné,  but also could be a request to present/upload missing or additional documents. If you don’t respond or react within the time frame given to you in the notification (usually only 3 to 10 days, most often 5), your application is null and void; in the best-case scenario, you only have to start the procedure from scratch, while in the worst case you could be expelled from the country.

      So, you must get the user and password for your Buzon. If you can't get through to Migraciones on the Agencia Digital chat, you might want to check if you can get an appointment soon to speak with someone at the Migraciones office (on the Agencia Digital in the left menu under Citas, subpoint Para informes).

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Jenny
      Jenny · 20/11/2023
      @Sunflower Hello Eva,

      I was finally able to secure my turn this morning during my initial attempt. They promptly provided me with the verification code and email information.

      However, I encountered an unexpected issue when the provided password didn't work. Upon attempting to log in, it displayed 'incorrect password.' I realized there might have been some changes to the original data, and the only reason for the change I could think of was my attempt to reset the password. So, I decided to try resetting the password once more, and as expected, encountered an error message. Despite this, I proceeded with signing in using the password I had set for the reset, and surprisingly, it worked. Now, I'm wondering why I didn't try that approach initially, ignoring the error message.

      I'm a bit confused about their attendance hours. According to their website, it now states they operate from 8 am to 5 pm. As far as I can tell, I can't obtain a ticket for a video call after 5 pm. When you mentioned they work until 10 p.m., I'm wondering if we might be referring to a different type of help center, or if there has been a recent change in their operating hours. Please correct me if I'm mistaken.

      Fortunately, I discovered that no notifications have been sent to my "buzon electronico" yet. I anticipate completing the remaining visa process more smoothly with the extensive and detailed information provided on this website. I truly appreciate your work, it has been immensely helpful. Many thanks to you.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 20/11/2023
      @Jenny
      Hello Jenny,

      thanks for sharing your experience. Never heard that you just can ignore the error message and still sign in. Interesting. Anyway, great that you now have access to your Buzon electronico. If you uploaded all documents correctly during your application and Migraciones is happy, you will only get a notification when your visa is approved.

      Then I tried to check the current(!) opening hours for the videollamada option on the Agencia Digital. In vain. I couldn't find anything, which was published this year. I have to look into this. So, thanks a lot for making me aware of a possible change. And yes, Migraciones loves to change things around (this applies as well to procedures and forms/fields) without informing anyone about it, which makes keeping the info here on LimaEasy uptodate a nightmare.

      There is another call center, the AloMac. They can only give foreigners general information about visa applications, visa extensions and other Migraciones related processes but not information about current applications (if nothing changed). Their number is 1800, opening hours are 08.00am to 08.00pm and they now as well have a WhatsApp number 981 317 379 and an e-mail address infomac @ pcm.gob.pe.

      Anyway, hope after this little obstacle all goes well with your application and you soon have your carné in your hands.

      All the best
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    MB
    MB · 10/11/2023
    I have read this website extensively over the years, and even moreso recently whilst in the process of applying for a residence visa and want to give my sincere thanks to Eva and other contributors on this site, whos help is absolutely invaluable. I absolutely could not have done this entire process without the help of this website!! I share my own experience below which will hopefully be of use to your website and other commenters.

    I applied for the family visa via marriage on 11/10, one day before my 90 days as a tourist were up. At the time, I didn't the marriage certificate, ficha or police certificate from my home country ready, so instead I just uploaded receipts, appointments and short explanations of why I didn't yet have anything.

    The biometic appointment was very simple. My appointment was at Lima Carabaya and I turned up 1 hour early. Although it was completely full inside and outside I was allowed straight in and my number was called after about 15 or 20 minutes. The actual taking of fingerprints etc was quick and done within 10 minutes and I was out.

    Due to the lack of appointments in Lima for the ficha I went to Arequipa. I turned up at 11am and was just the third person they had seen all day. One thing they asked for which isn't mentioned in the article was proof of entry into the country. At least in this office, they'll direct you to a place across the street where they'll print this off for you. Again the whole process was done within 30 minutes and I was handed my ficha there and then.

    I uploaded my marriage certificate from Reniec and the ficha on 28/10. Then on 31/10 I for some reason had a notification in the Buzon asking me for a birth certificate to prove a family tie within 5 days. I just requested an additional 30 days and then on 8/11 uploaded the police certificate from my home country. Then yesterday, I video called migraciones and explained about the previous notification and that I thought it had been sent in error. The person from migraciones was extemely helpful and said they'd send an email to the area that deals with it to look into, and amazingly 4 hours later my visa was approved.

    The entire process really is quite simple, but only thanks to the clear explanations and advice on this website. Thank you Eva!!
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 10/11/2023
      @MB
      Hello MB,

      first of all, congrats! You made it and are now a legal resident of Peru. 

      Thank you so much for your praise! It's always great to hear that what I'm doing here really helps foreigners through the Peruvian bureaucratic jungle.

      And thank you so much for sharing your recent experience going through the family visa application, which is invaluable for our readers but me as well. I never heard that Interpol requires the proof of entry, but will add it to our Interpol article as a "may be needed".

      Wishing you all the best.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Martin
    Martin · 02/11/2023
    I have a question if and when you find the time to reply. Much appreciated.

    A holder of a 'carnet de extranjería' with valid residence can travel outside of Peru for 182 days, then return to live in Peru for, 7 days, then travel outside of Peru for another 182 days, then return to live in Peru for, 7 days, and will legally maintain their valid 'carnet de extranjería' resident status. Correct?

    The law states;
    'for more than 183 consecutive days within a period of 365 days'.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 02/11/2023
      @Martin
      Hello Martin,

      I fear it's not that easy.

      First of all the Peruvian Foreigner Law, Decreto Legislativo 1350, and the new TUPA, nowhere state how long foreign residents must be in Peru to not lose their residency; both only state how long you can be outside the country without losing your residency.

      In the Foreigner Law, article 33 "Perdida de la calidad migratoria de residencia por ausencia del territorio nacional" under point 1 you can read "Foreigners with any resident immigration status except permanent lose it if their absence from the national territory is more than 183 consecutive days in a 365-day period".

      The new TUPA describes on the page "Autorización de estadía fuera del país por mas de ciento ochenta y tres (183) días calendario consecutivos (para residentes excepto Residente Permanente) that this procedure "allows foreigners with a resident immigration status or temporary residence permit to remain outside the country for more than 183 consecutive calendar days, for reasons of emergency or force majeure, without losing residence visa or temporary residence permit".

      If these two regulations can be interpreted that foreign residents in Peru can stay outside Peru for half a year, return for a few days and leave the country again for half a year, I don't know and doubt it. 

      Residence visas are intended only for foreigners who plan to live in Peru long-term and whose center of life is in Peru; in case of a family visa additionally to be united with the family member(s). If you are in Peru only for a few days or weeks per year, this surely isn't the case.

      And even though not in the official regulations Peruvian immigration lawyers often say or you can read it in other publications that foreign residents can be outside the country for 183 días consecutivos o alternados , or as well for 183 días consecutivos o accumulados (so, 183 consecutive or alternating or accumulated days).

      I don't know which of these statement is correct. However, I know of two cases where foreign residents who tried to do the same as you had trouble re-entering the country as a resident. Even though not what the Foreigner Law and TUPA state, they were told that foreign residents must be in Peru for at least half a year per year, can only leave the country for 183 days in a year and that all the days they were outside the country in a 365-day period (starting with the first departure) are accumulated.

      So, to hopefully get a 100% correct answer if your plan to return to Peru every half year for just a few days and remain a resident works, I highly recommend to check with Migraciones.

      Greetings
      Eva


    • This commment is unpublished.
      Martin
      Martin · 02/11/2023
      @Sunflower Thanks for the detailed reply Eva. Good to know about the experience of your friends. Okay, I'll consider the law to mean days accumulated, per year, beginning with first departure. So 183 residing inside Peru accumulated and never 183 days consecutive outside. Best wishes.
  • This commment is unpublished.
    yves
    yves · 29/08/2023
    After being married to a Peruvian for 2 years, you can apply for citizenship. You mention if you don't want citizenship, you can get permanent residence.  What are the pros and cons for both these options? What are some reasons why one would choose not to get citizenship?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 29/08/2023
      @yves
      Hello Yves,

      In my opinion the advantage of getting the Peruvian nationality is being a Peruvian in Peru with the same rights as every other Peruvian. You don’t have to worry about your visa anymore, no extensions. Even though you never find the Peruvian passport on the “most powerful passports” list, in Latin American countries, and especially in other member countries of the Andean Community it has huge perks, including traveling only with your DNI and no or simplified residence visa options. Additionally, there are countries around the globe allowing Peruvians to enter visa-free for tourism while passport holders of so-called western countries have to get a visa. Furthermore, you can get politically active, vote and be voted.

      One of the disadvantages of getting the Peruvian nationality is as well being a Peruvian in Peru. You are not the foreigner anymore, but the system, the faults, the people, …. are yours now and when times get tough you are treated like very other Peruvian, even though you might still be seen as the extranjero/a or gringo/a. As you most probably have another nationality as well the visa obligations still in place for Peruvians in a number of countries won’t affect you much. And you not only can vote, you are obligated to vote (or pay a fine).

      The permanent residence visa is a great option for foreign nationals whose home country does not allow double nationality, who can’t meet the financial requirements (only applies if you go through the naturalization process; does not apply if you go through the Nacionalización por matrimonio process!), or who, for whatever (personal) reasons, don’t want to become a Peruvian national. If you have a permanent residence visa, you have an indefinite permit to live in Peru, however, only if you don’t leave the country for more than a year. You remain a foreigner.

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      yves
      yves · 01/09/2023
      @Sunflower What a thorough reply Eva, thank you! You mentioned simplified access to member countries of la Communidad Andina. Do these benefits also extend to MERCOSUR member countries? 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 01/09/2023
      @yves
      Hello Yves,

      Peru is not a full member of Mercosur, just an associated member. However, in Peru there is, for example, a special residence visa for nationals from Mercosur countries. I don't know if this applies in return to Peruvians in full member countries as well. However, some of the other associated Mercosur member countries, such as Chile, for example, have bilateral agreements with Peru, which include traveling only with a DNI for tourism.

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      yves
      yves · 30/09/2023
      @Sunflower Hi Eva, if getting citizenship is not a good option, there is the option of getting Permanent resident of familiar, correct? Do you know if the financial requirements are the same as someone apply for permanent resident. For example there is aneed to demonstrate solvencia economica of 49000 soles. Does this requirement apply as well if you are married to a peruvian, currently on a residente familiar visa?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 30/09/2023
      @yves
      Hello Yves,

      if you are married to a Peruvian you can apply for a family visa (make a so-called cambio de calidad migratoria por la de la familiar residente) as explained above. 

      After three years of living in Peru on a family visa you then can apply for a permanent family visa (cambio a calidad migratoria permanente residente - casado con peruano).

      While, for example, those foreigners who live in Peru on a work visa or an investment visa, have to prove a yearly income of S/ 49,500 (2023) to change to a permanent residence visa, the proof of "solvencia economica" is not required for those who apply for a permanent residence visa based on being married to a Peruvian. 

      The requirements to apply for a permanent residence visa based on being married to a Peruvian include:

      - passport
      - valid carné (must have lived in Peru 3 years on a family visa)
      - DNI of the Peruvian spouse
      - ficha de canje from Interpol 
      - criminal record check from your home country
      - Peruvian marriage certificate
      - declaration that you are still married signed by the Peruvian spouse
      - payment receipt

      That's it; at least as of today.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Ivan Akinfiev
    Ivan Akinfiev · 26/08/2023
    Hello Eva,

    I have an Algerian friend (female) who will be doing an online (Utah) marriage with a Peruvian-American who is currently serving in the US army (in Alaska) but usually resides in NJ.

    He says that he lost his DNI as a kid and that there is now a process that he has to go through (with his father having a PoA and being assigned to do this process) to "re-establish his citizenship". Once this is done,

    If the two get married but neither are in the same country, how can this marriage be transcribed? Would it be enough for him to go to the consulate in NJ (USA) with a scan of her passport to register the marriage?

    And then, would he be given a Peruvian marriage certificate?

    I presume that he will. If he mails it to her in Algeria, how can she travel to Peru? Algerians need visas to Peru... How can she provide an Interpol background check to the consulate of Peru in Algiers if she has not yet been to Peru?

    How do folks who need visas to enter Peru do INTERPOL background checks?

    Are there any issues that you can foresee with what they are trying to do?

    Kind regards,
    Ivan A
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 27/08/2023
      @Ivan Akinfiev Hello Ivan,

      Reading your lines, I’m confused and not sure what your Algerian friend and her Peruvian-American fiancé are trying to do. And I have lots of questions.

      Anyway, the first thing that makes me wonder is what you mean by “he lost his DNI as a kid”. If he (or most probably his parents) just lost the DNI, so the ID card, then there is no re-establishing his citizenship necessary. As he had a DNI before, I assume his birth was correctly registered at Reniec in Peru or a Peruvian consulate, so he just has to apply for a new DNI. And as fingerprints and a biometric photo must be taken, his father (is he in Peru?) can’t do anything, the fiancé must be present.

      If, however, his parents not just lost the DNI but renounced the Peruvian nationality on behalf of their son when he was a kid, that’s a completely different story. While the Peruvian-American fiancé has the right to get his Peruvian nationality back, he must apply for a Recuperación de la nacionalidad peruana either at a Peruvian consulate or at Migraciones in Peru.

      A lengthy, nerve-wracking process which will take many, many months and involves, if you apply from abroad, the Peruvian consulate, and then Migraciones in Peru and the different divisions of the Peruvian Ministry of the Interior. There have been some slight changes in the process at the beginning of this year, which you can find in the Decreto Supremo 004-2023-IN, scroll down to Articulo 28 and following.

      I’m not really familiar with all the state and federal laws in the US. However, when I remember correctly (I might be wrong) an online marriage as allowed in Utah where both spouses aren’t present with the officiant at the ceremony is a so-called proxy-marriage and not valid under federal law until the marriage is consummated, so until the couple had “marital relations” after (!!!) the ceremony, which is only possible when both are at the same place after they were married. So, as your Algerian friend can’t come to the US, does her then husband plans to visit her in Algeria to consummate the marriage?

      Anyway, I have never seen a marriage certificate of a Utah proxy-marriage and don’t know if it somewhere states that it was celebrated without the spouses being present. And I don’t know if Peru accepts and registers such marriages. This might be a good question to ask at a Peruvian consulate or at Reniec in Peru. 

      However, usually to register a marriage at a Peruvian consulate, you need the US marriage certificate in paper form, a digital copy won’t be accepted. And yes, if the Peruvian spouse registers the marriage at a Peruvian consulate or at Reniec, the other spouse doesn’t have to be present and, if the other spouse is a foreigner, a copy of the passport of the foreign spouse is enough. And yes, once the marriage is registered, a Peruvian marriage certificate is issued.

      As explained above in the Family visa article under Legal background for a family visa application, the requirements and process for a family visa application as described in the article only apply to those who are in Peru and apply for their visa at Migraciones in Peru.

      As your Algerian friend cannot enter Peru visa-free, she cannot come to Peru and apply for the family visa in Peru. Officially, she must apply, or correctly her husband or another trusted person must apply for her, for her family visa while she is still being outside Peru; a complicated, lengthy, and sometimes frustrating process. The requirements and application process are explained in our article Peruvian residence visa application from abroad.

      And if you check the requirements for a Family visa application from abroad as described in the article, no Ficha de canje issued by Interpol in Peru (that’s not a background check!) is necessary, just a criminal record check from her home country.

      And yes, there are some issues the couple could encounter. Both, of course, can get married, but a huge question is, if the Peruvian consulate or Reniec in Peru accepts a proxy-marriage as this is not a thing in Peru.

      Then, you said that the Peruvian-American fiancé is serving in the US army and lives in the US. So, wouldn’t it make more sense to apply for a visa in the US? Why are they considering applying for a family visa for her in Peru? One problem could be that to apply for a family visa in Peru, the Peruvian part of the couple, in this case the Peruvian-American husband, must live in Peru and the couple’s “center of life” must be in Peru. So, is the guy planning to leave the army and the US and move to Peru? If not, your Algerian friend cannot apply for a family visa.

      Or is the couple thinking that Peru is just a stepping stone, where your Algerian friend can easily get a family visa, on the way to the US, where it’s super difficult to get one? Then be warned, applying for a visa for the US in Peru is, under normal circumstances, already a nightmare and may take many months to a year or even more. If US authorities see the proxy marriage celebrated in the US and the Peru detour, they surely won’t be happy.

      Greetings
      Eva

    • This commment is unpublished.
      Ivan Akinfiev
      Ivan Akinfiev · 27/08/2023
      @Sunflower Good evening Eva,

      Utah marriage certificates do not state that the couple was married online, they are physically indistinguishable from the kind of document that a couple of two people who have never left Utah would get.

      You are correct in that US immigration law requires the two parties to the marriage to consumate a marriage for it to be valid for immigration purposes, but it does not need to be consumated in Algeria (or any specific country/jurisdiction).

      Algeria is an Islamic republic, it does not recognise marriages between Muslim women and non-Muslim men so the marriage is considered null and void over there... Getting a (tourist or any kind of) visa to Algeria is also close to impossible for him, so Peru would be better than neighbouring Tunisia (on the other side of the planet for the husband-to-be) as he has family there.

      I spoke to him, he said that he just needs to renew his DNI. I advised them to do the online marriage, update his civil status and then order the plastic with his civil status listed as casado instead of solteiro. If you get a DNI at a consulate, does it mention your address outside of Peru?

      His father has some real estate in Peru, what are the sort of documents that he'd need to make while in Peru so that she could get an invitation to come and join him?

      Can he pay for her visa/services and send the receipts electronically/by post or can the fees for the family visas be paid by her at the consulate?

      If she makes herself a criminal record extract in Algeria (it'd be in French or Arabic), I presume the consulate would accept the French version for the issuance of the visa. It would get apostilled. She'd arrive in Peru with the document, get it translated into Spanish and apply for residency... After one year, would she be able to use the same criminal record from Algeria (with apostille and translation) + INTERPOL/Peru criminal record from inside of Peru or would she need someone in Algeria to make her another criminal record statement and mail it to Peru?

      Thanks again,
      Ivan A
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 27/08/2023
      @Ivan Akinfiev
      Hello Ivan,

      reading this, it seems to me overall good news.

      I didn't know that Algeria now requires a visa for tourism. My husband and I traveled a lot through North Africa, however, over 25 years ago and we have been to Algeria a couple of times. Can't remember that we applied for a visa back then, but when I checked now, yes, nearly all foreign nationals have to apply for a visa. So, sad, beautiful country.

      Anyway, if the future husband just needs to get a new DNI, the process should be easy and painless, though if he applies at a consulate might take a bit. As he didn't get a new DNI immediately after his was lost, he should check the exact requirements with the Peruvian consulate where he wants to apply.

      And yes, his new DNI will have his US address on it and he will be registered at the consulate as Peruvian living abroad. That's a problem. As stated before to apply for a family visa for a foreign spouse the Peruvian spouse must live in Peru and the couple must have their center of life in Peru. So, at one point the husband must travel to Peru and change the US address on his DNI to a Peruvian address at Reniec.

      If the Utah marriage certificate looks like a "normal" US marriage certificate, I don't see any obstacles for registering the marriage at a Peruvian consulate and honestly, wouldn't even mention that it was an online marriage.

      And I'm not sure, if you read the article I linked above about the application of a residence visa from abroad. All is explained in detail there.

      First of all no invitation letter is necessary to apply for a family visa from abroad and having one won't help or speed up the process. If you, however, think of applying for a tourist visa, which must be done at a Peruvian consulate (the one in charge would be in in Rabat Morocco), so your Algerian friend can come to Peru as a tourist and then apply for a family visa while in Peru, then an invitation letter can be used instead of a hotel booking or tour reservation. The letter must be legalized by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be accepted.

      Then the payment of visa fees and the process of applying for a family visa for a foreigner who can't come to Peru without a visa is done online. It's explained in detailed in above linked article. A consulate is not involved (only once the visa is approved, then it must be picked up at a Peruvian consulate). The person applying for the foreigner doesn't have to be the husband, could be anyone that is able to go through Peruvian bureaucracy or an immigration lawyer, but the person must be in Peru. So, does the husband.

      Another point: Algeria didn't sign the Hague Apostille Convention, so you can't get an Apostille on the criminal record check issued in Algeria. In such cases the document must be authenticated the traditional way by the competent authority(s) in Algeria and then legalized by a Peruvian consulate.

      In general, documents issued in Peru are only accepted when they were issued less than three months before the submission of an application; document issued abroad are only accepted when they aren't older than 6 months.

      And what does she want to do after one year for which she needs  her criminal record check? Extend her family visa? For that neither a criminal record check from her home country nor the Ficha de canje from Interpol (which isn't a criminal record check!!!) is necessary.

      Only if she wants to get the Peruvian nationality, so apply for a so-called Nacionalización por matrimonio, after two years living in Peru legally or if she's planning to apply for a permanent residence visa after three years, she will need a new criminal record check from Algeria and a new Ficha de canje from Interpol in Peru.

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Ivan Akinfiev
      Ivan Akinfiev · 28/08/2023
      @Sunflower Hello again!

      I hope the back and forth isn't annoying you...

      A few things:

      It turns out that there is both a Peruvian consulate in Algeria (25 minutes away from her house by taxi - Are you 100% sure that it won't be able to issue her a visa and that a trip to Morocco is necessary?), and an Algerian consulate in Peru: https://embargelia-pe.org/

      The idea is to get her Peruvian citizenship ASAP as the Algerian document grants more problems than benefits to it's holder... Paperwork is super cheap and easy to fix in Algeria, it would be better to provide more paperwork whilst in Algeria (legalisation of documents by the Algerian MoFA doesn't cost anything) and wait a few months, and fly to an already-set up situation than trying to get into Peru ASAP and then running around, gathering documents...

      Algeria and Morocco closed their land borders to each other in 1994 because Morocco bombed a hotel in Algeria (or was it vice-versa?). Nonetheless, citizens of the two countries do not need visas to visit the other country (how ironic) but the flight costs about as much as the flight to Spain (there are no direct flights from Algeria to Peru so a stop-over in Spain would be required)

      Can the husband get a "emergency return travel document" (containing the DNI number), leave the US on his US passport, fly down to Peru and enter with that travel document then get a Peruvian ID mentioning that he is married and with a Peruvian address? That would surely save a lot of time... are IDs and passports cheaper if made inside of Peru?

      An Algerian 20-something unemployed girl wouldn't qualify for a tourist visa to, even, perhaps Turkey, are you sure that she can get a tourist visa to Peru?



      If you happen to know: do airlines require people who are citizens of countries who's citizens require visas to Peru to show return flights to be allowed onto flights towards Peru (with a stopover in the middle) or would just a one way flight be enough?

      Thank you so much for all the support you keep giving!
      Ivan
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 28/08/2023
      @Ivan Akinfiev
      Hello Ivan,

      yes, you are right. There is a Peruvian consulate in Algiers. Half asleep yesterday evening I missed it on the RREE map, had the map on small and the marker seemed to be in the Mediterranean. Sorry. That will make things so much easier. 

      And yes, I remember 1994 very well. While there had been tensions between Morocco and Algeria for decades, especially because of the the West Sahara, back then Morocco accused Algeria of bombing a hotel in Marrakesh and introduced visa requirements for Algerians. Algeria responded with closing its borders to Morocco. My husband and I were in Algeria at the time trying to cross the border to Morocco to get home. Were stuck there until some lovely Algerians showed us a small border post to the north, where after the typical conversation and some delicious mint tea we were allowed to leave the country as we foreigners had nothing to do with their politics. Fun times.

      Anyway, yes, there is an Algerian embassy in Lima. Not sure what you hope they might do for your Algerian friend once she is in Peru. So, as you mentioned the best is to come prepared.

      As things change quickly in Peru and it's impossible to keep up with all the changes, I just checked the requirements to get the Peruvian nationality based on being married to a Peruvian again. See the Peruvian government website. When your Algerian friend wants to apply for the Peruvian nationality, at least as of today, she doesn't have to submit a new criminal record check anymore. A sworn statement that she doesn't have a criminal record (there are forms on the government website for all the necessary sworn statements and she can just fill them in, sign them and have them authenticated at any notary in Peru) seems to be enough. One thing less to worry about.

      Just to make it clear, she will need a criminal record check issued in Algeria and legalized for her family visa application, but not when she applies for the Peruvian nationality (according to current regulations).

      For the past two years or so getting a Peruvian passport or correctly getting the appointment to get a new passport in Peru is a nightmare, getting one at a consulate can take anything between 3 to 6 months. If you get a passport in Peru it's, when I remember correctly,  less than S/ 100 (so about US$ 27).

      Can't remember the name, but there is a document a consulate can issue so a Peruvian can travel back to Peru.

      Be aware, for decades Peruvians had to enter (and leave) Peru on their Peruvian passport. This changed a while back. Now Peruvians can enter with their Peruvian passport and are then in the country as Peruvian. But they can as well enter on another passport. However, then they are in the country as a tourist for a max of 90 days. Depending on what needs to be done in Peru and on how long he wants to stay in Peru, this might be an option. As he most probably won't get an appointment for a new passport on time, he then could get a new passport immediately 2 or 3 days before he is leaving Peru if he can show a flight ticket out of the country. 

      I don't know if your Algerian friend qualifies for a tourist visa. If she can fulfill the requirements and presents a convincing and conclusive story during her interview (don't tell them she is married to a Peruvian!), why not. The requirements include

      Valid passport
      Round-trip ticket
      Hotel reservation, tourist package reservation or invitation letter
      Proof of sufficient funds
      Passport photos
      Proof of legal residency in the area or country under the consulates jurisdiction
      Receipt for paid application fee

      Might be an option to get her out of Algeria quicker as soon as the future husband has his Peruvian documents in order. I just had contact to someone from the Middle East whose wife applied for his family visa in February of this year. His visa was finally approved at the beginning of August and he picked up his visa last week. That's a long time, so other options might be worth checking out.

      Regarding one-way/return tickets: Peruvian law requires that foreign visitors (!) need a return or onward passage out of the country if they aren't residents, proving that they leave the country when the visa or temporary authorization to enter expires. But the law doesn't state that this return or onward passage must be an airline ticket; it could be anything proving that you leave Peru when the time comes. Peruvian immigration officials hardly ever ask to see this proof. The ones executing above regulations are usually the airlines and they have different policies.

      In general, if your Algerian friend gets a tourist visa then she definitely needs a return ticket. If she however has her family resident visa stamp in her passport, Peru doesn't require the proof of a return or onward passage and, usually, airlines won't ask for it.  I don't know the rules for countries your friend might transit through. So, best check with the airline and let them confirm in writing their policies, so if she has problems when checking in to her flight, she has something "official" in her hand.

      Greetings
      Eva

  • This commment is unpublished.
    Chris
    Chris · 26/08/2023
    Hi Eva thankyou for your quick and kindly reply. 

    Sorry i do have another tricky question.

    If I am overseas and need to change my Foreign passort, i will therefore need to update my Carne de Extranjeria with this change as per your detailed article. However the problem is that  i will not be able to pick up my new Carne as i am out of country.  

    Am I able to enter to Peru (on my new passort ) and show my old Canre and old passort? ... and then pick-up my new Carne in Lima Immigration? If not can I have my wife pick it up and then send it to me? I know I should do it myself now before I leave however the time frame may be too short.

    Hopefully that makes sense ?

    Cheers Chris 

    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 26/08/2023
      @Chris Hello Chris,

      Interesting question to which I don’t know the answer.

      Before the introduction of the Agencia Digital, you could only change the information on your carné or in the Migraciones database when you were in Peru. So, if you got a new passport while being abroad, you would clear immigration upon your return by showing your old passport (even if it was canceled or expired or in case it was stolen a police report), your carné and your new passport, and then apply for the necessary changes and a new carné at Migraciones within 30 days.

      Even though now possible with paying online and applying through the Agencia Digital, I don’t know if it's allowed to apply for the Actualizacion de datos when you are not in Peru.

      So, sorry, that’s a great question to ask Migraciones. Please share the answer.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Chris
    Chris · 25/08/2023
    Hi Sunflower, 
    I would like to say that after 5 months of submitting all paperwork and more paperwork I have finally obtained my Carne de Extranjeria (married to peruvian). 
    In retropect a fairly simple procedure, however, being unfamiliar with the process, it was somewhat frustrating due to not being given all information needed by immigration. It  seemed they only gave info when at the end of each step they deemed i had completed. This meant alot of running around back and forth.  
    At first I had alot of problems with the Digital platform. When initially filling in my details to obtain a preregistration code, a unresolvable digital glitch occurred which immigration could not fix and therefore I was stuck. Neither being able to go back and start again nor deleting it altogether. I lost count how many frustrating  face to face visits I had as well as video calls to immigration. None were able to help. Anyway all in all it worked out after a lot of running around.

    I do have a question regarding travel to other South American countries in particular Chile. Is it possible to travel with the Carne de Extranjeria only or is it conjunction with my passport. I ask as I am unsure if I have to get a visa as my passport is Australian and as such we need visas now. However having a carne from Peru I am unsure where I stand? Thought I'd ask before heading to another Embassy.

    All the best and good luck!
    Chris 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 26/08/2023
      @Chris Hello Chris,

      Yes, the family visa application is a quite easy and straightforward process; at least if you know the requirements, have all documents as required by Migraciones and, of course, know how the system works. As long as I deal with Peruvian authorities, and that’s nearly 20 years, they never give you all information about a process when you ask, which results in lots of frustration and running back and forth as you experienced. That’s’ the reason I tried to explain the whole process as detailed as possible in above article. However, there is always the possibility of something going wrong and that’s when the “fun” starts, especially as in such cases Migraciones often seems to be unable to help in a timely manner. Sorry, you had to go through this.

      Anyway, you made it. Congrats.

      Regarding your question: Peruvians can travel with only their DNI to member countries of the Andean Community, which include Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador. This as well applies to foreign residents of Peru, who can travel only with their carné.

      Chile is not a “full” member of the Andean Community, just an associated member. Nevertheless, Peruvians can travel to Chile (and Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) for tourism with only their DNI thanks to bilateral agreements. As far as I know (I might be wrong!) the agreement with Chile does not include foreign residents.

      So, to be 100% sure, I would ask at the Chilean embassy if you, as an Australian, can only travel with your carné or need your passport (and a tourist visa).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

      Apostille and translation

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

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

      DNI and marriage certificate

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

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

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

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

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

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

      Application for your family without required documents

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

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

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

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

      Greetings
      Eva

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

      I’m stressing,
      Kailan



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

      Really hope that everything works out.

      All the best
      Eva

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

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

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

      Greetings
      Eva

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

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

      The 183 days are not counted per calendar year.

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

      Have a nice weekend

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Thank you in advance for your advice

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

      Wishing you all the best.

      Greetings
      Eva

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

      Greetings
      Eva

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