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Peruvian Religious Visa

A Guide to Peruvian Visas

Part 8

Priests, nuns, and missionaries who want to stay in Peru to perform religious or missionary activities can apply for a religious visa, called “religioso residente”.

The religious resident visa only allows its holder to carry out activities in the area of pastoral work and care in fields such as health, education and others; it does not allow you to work or receive a remuneration for any kind of professional activity (however, if necessary, you can apply for a work permit separately).

Content overview

Legal background for a religious visa application in Peru

Where to apply for a religious visa

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

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

So, foreigners, who can enter the country visa-free (so, who don’t have to apply for a “real” tourist visa at a Peruvian consulate), should come to Peru as a tourist and then change their immigration status - make a so called Cambio de calidad migratoria (as opposed to a Solicitud de calidad migratoria if you apply from outside Peru) - at Migraciones.

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

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

Important laws and regulations

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

While below under "Requirements for a religious visa application in Peru" you find the necessary documents described in English, the official list of requirements (in Spanish) can be found, for example, in the Decreto Supremo 002-2021-IN on page 38, in article 84-B “Procedimiento administrativo de cambio de calidad migratoria a religioso residente”. As the TUPA is always the more current official document, which contains slight changes compared to the Decreto Supremo, we recommend to use it when looking for the most current official information about the requirements in Spanish. You find the information on page 192, which is page 195 of the PDF.

 

Requirements for a religious visa application in Peru

Below you find the requirements to apply for a religious visa, accurately to make a so-called "Cambio de calidad migratoria" (change of immigration status), in Peru.

Please be aware that Migraciones has the right to request other and/or additional documents at any time.

Required documents to apply for a religious visa include:

  • Passport
  • Antecedentes policiales, penales y judiciales (Police clearance certificate, criminal record and judicial matters check) from your home country or from the country where you legally lived (so with a resident visa) during the 5 years prior to coming to Peru showing that you don't have a record (*) + (**) + (***)
  • Request issued by the religious organization or congregation, which must be recognized by the Peruvian Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, where the applicant finds his home in Peru. The request must be signed by the legal representative of the religious entity and must include name(s) and surname(s) of the applicant as well as the time he or she stays in Peru
  • Sworn statement of the legal representative of the religious organization or congregation affirming the details of the official registration and his/her power of representation or an official document confirming his / her powers.
  • Interpol clearance - Ficha de canje internacional not older than 6 months (see below)
  • Receipt for paid application fee (code Migraciones 07568; concept Cambio de calidad migratoria religioso residente; S/.161.40 since October 22, 2023)
  • "Recibo" (so a water or electricity bill proving your address; doesn't have to be in your name)
  • Form PA - Cambio de Calidad Migratoria (automatically filled in during application)

Explanatory notes for the requirements:

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

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

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

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

Applying for a religious visa is a simple and straightforward process, but might be a little confusing here and there if you are not familiar with the process and the steps involved. Usually, the religious order or mission supports you with your application. So, please see our walk-through below as general guidance, which introduces you to the procedures awaiting you.

 

Last steps before your religious visa application in Peru

Hopefully, you brought the criminal record check already apostilled or legalized from home - see requirements and (*), (**) and (***).

Translation of foreign documents

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

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

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

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

Interpol

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

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

Paying the application fee

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

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

Last preparations

And last but not least, get the request and the sworn statement from your religious entity. Then make PDFs from your passport (page with your personal data), and from all other required documents (max size per document 3MB).

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

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

 

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

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

Migraciones Agencia Digital

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

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

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

Now you are on the main page of the Agencia Digital. Here you can either use the search field or find in the menu on the left under “Cambio de calidad migratoria” the point Religioso residente. Click on it and proceed to the next page.

1st page of the religious visa application

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

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

Data update questionnaire

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You made it!

Back to the 1st page of the religious visa application

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

2nd page of the religious visa application

Here you must fill in some data and/or upload all for the religious visa application necessary documents as PDF.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Under the next tab, you must upload the request from the religious entity and below the sworn statement.

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

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

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

3rd page of the religious visa application

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

4th page of the religious visa application

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Biometric data appointment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Buzon Electronico

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Approval of your religious visa

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

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

 

Getting your Carné (foreigner ID)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Congratulations! You made it!

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

 

Things you should know living in Peru on a religious visa

The religious resident visa (so the residence permit) is valid for one year and then has to be extended. Our article "Residence visa extension" explains how it's done.

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

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

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

Foreigners being in Peru on a religious visa have to be in the country at least 183 days per year, otherwise their resident status is canceled. If you have to be outside the country longer, before leaving apply for the Autorización de estadía fuera del país por 183 días, and you won't lose your residence permit.

If you are living in Peru on a religious visa, you are not allowed to work or receive a remuneration for any kind of professional activity in Peru. However, you can apply for a special authorization to work, the so-called Permiso de trabajo extraordinario, which allows you to work and earn money in the fields of health and education.

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

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

Whenever you, as a foreigner living in Peru on a religious visa (without a special authorization to work), want to leave the country for short or extended periods of time, for example, to go on holidays, you must present the so-called “Declaración jurada de haber realizado actividades que no impliquen la generación de rentas de fuente peruana” at immigrations before you are allowed to leave. So, just download Formulario 1495, fill it in, sign it and show it to the immigration officer when leaving Peru.

In case you have the special authorization to work and earned money, you have to present the "Certificado de Rentas y Retenciones". This form is issued by your employer, who confirms that the income tax corresponding to your earnings was retained according to the Peruvian tax legislation. The physical form, Formulario 1492, is rarely used anymore. Instead, your employer has to enter his/her Sunat Virtual and fill in the Formulario Virtual 1692°, then print and sign it and give it to you. The form expires 30 days after it was filed with Sunat; so, you must leave Peru within these 30 days.

Religious visa holders can get the Peruvian nationality by naturalization after having legally lived in Peru for at least two years.

If you don't want to get the Peruvian nationality or can't because your home country doesn't allow dual nationality, after three years of legal residency in Peru on a resident religious visa, you can apply for a permanent resident visa - make a so-called Cambio de calidad migratoria a permanente residente (religioso residente); no more extensions and an indefinite residency.

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

 

Other FAQs

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

For years, no. You had to be in Peru on a valid visa / stay, for example, as a tourist to apply for any temporary or residence visa, precisely to make the Cambio de calidad migratoria.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you have the document in the correct form when you receive the notification, just upload it. How it's done is explained in our article “Subsanacion - Submitting documents”.

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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  • This commment is unpublished.
    Esther Musonda · 09/08/2023
    I want to apply for a religious visa and it’s my first time doing this process and am really struggling😭😭 
    I can’t even see an email to who I can talk to for help. 
    Please help! 😭🙏
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 09/08/2023
      @Esther Musonda Hello Esther,

      The whole process including the requirements, the steps you have to do before the visa application and then each step of the actual visa application is explained in detail above in the article.

      Are you looking for an e-mail address from a Peruvian authority to help you through the process? Sorry, there is none.

      If you are looking for an e-mail from LimaEasy, just scroll to the bottom of any page and either click on “Contact us” or on the envelope (see attached picture) and fill in the form.

      Anyway, what are you struggling with? What help do you need?

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Michael · 24/03/2023
    I know that for a lot of people the visa approval process is slow and that one of the ways to see if everything is okay (and perhaps speed up the process) is to make a personal appointment in Lima.  Is it possible that an "Agencia Digital" video conference call would be just as helpful for seeing how things are going, or are the videocall staff at Migraciones not able to help with that kind of thing?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 24/03/2023
      @Michael
      Hello Michael,

      yes the processing time of visa applications varies heavily for no apparent reason. Some applications are approved within a few weeks, others take months.

      From feedback I got from our readers on average it takes around three months from application to approval. If you don't hear back from Migraciones four months after your application it might be a good idea to check with them.

      And yes, you can use the chat on the Agencia Digital for that. Over the past few weeks waiting times have improved and if you are lucky you have someone on the chat within 10 to 15 minutes (before it was an hour or more, if someone answered at all). Another option is to call their new callcenter under 1800 from any mobile or landline number.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Michael · 01/03/2023
    Once the visa is approved, do you absolutely need the Carné de Extranjería to be able to leave and return to the country?  Or is there some kind of PDF file you receive that you can use?  Or can you apply for a Permiso especial de viaje if you have to leave the country between the time your visa is approved and the time your appointment is to pick up your Carné de Extranjería?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 01/03/2023
      @Michael Hello Michael,

      Yes, as a foreigner with residence status you need your carné to leave and return to Peru.

      If you have to or want to leave the country during the processing time of your residence visa application which includes the time from visa approval until you have the carné in your hands, you must apply for a special travel permit, the so-called Permiso especial de viaje, officially also known as Autorización de estadía fuera del país before you leave the country.

      You can apply for the permit on the Migraciones Agencia Digital and once approved you are allowed to leave Peru for 30 days without losing your residence visa application progress. You can find more details about the authorization and how to apply for it in our article Travel permit.

      Anyway, if your visa is already approved and you have done your biometrical data appointment already, appointments to pick up the carné, even in Lima, are usually readily available and you could have it within a few days.

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Micheal · 01/03/2023
      @Sunflower Thanks for clarifying that!  
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Michael · 20/03/2023
      @Micheal Another question (and thanks as always for all your help!)  Once the card is ready, is there a time limit for picking it up?  (Am I in trouble if I wait for two months?)  I'll be in other cities in Peru during April and May, and if my card is ready the first week of April, I'm not sure if I would be ready to pick it up until the first week of June.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 20/03/2023
      @Michael
      Hello Michael,

      no, there is no time limit for picking up the carné. When Migraciones informs you that your residence visa is approved, they will as well send you information about the steps to take to pick up your carné which includes making an appointment.

      While usually appointment to pick up the carné are readily available, especially in Lima sometimes it takes a while until you get one.

      Anyway, as long as you don't want to leave the country, you won't have any problem picking up your carné a couple of months later.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Christopher · 08/12/2022
    If I am moving on a religious visa with my family (Wife, and 2 year old son). Do we all fall under one application?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 08/12/2022
      @Christopher
      Hello Christopher,

      no! You, your wife and your son must apply separately.

      You first must apply for the religious visa. Once your application is approved and you have your carné, your wife and son can apply for a family visa.

      Your wife applies for a family visa as spouse of a foreigner with resident status (para el caso de casada con extranjero residente en el país); she needs your marriage certificate with Apostille and a criminal record check with Apostille from your home country.

      Your son (or better you in his name) applies for a family visa as an underaged child of a foreigner with resident status (para el caso de hijos menores de edad deextranjero residente); he will need his birth certificate showing you as his father with Apostille and he won't need the criminal record check as he's a minor.

      Gretings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Christopher · 04/01/2023
      @Sunflower Thank you so much for your quick response! Don’t know what I would have done without your help.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 05/01/2023
      @Christopher
      Hello Christopher,

      Always happy to help and always great to hear that the info we provide here on LimaEasy is helpful.

      If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me any time.

      All the best.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Michael · 26/11/2022
    About the required visa renewal process once a year... in theory, does renewing the visa require a police check, apostille, letter from agency, etc. every year, or are those documents only required for receiving the visa for the first time?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 26/11/2022
      @Michael Hello Michael,

      A resident visa in Peru is usually valid for one year (in very few cases two years) and then has to be renewed; you must make a so-called “prórroga de residencia”.

      Depending on the type of resident visa you have, you must present/upload a few documents, but no, you won’t need a criminal record check from your home country with Apostille for the renewal.

      On the Peruvian government website, you find the requirements for the renewal of resident visas according to the visa type. As you wrote here on the religious visa article, I assume you are looking for the requirements for the renewal of this  visa, which are:

      - Form
      - Sworn statement that you don’t have a criminal record
      - Sworn statement of the legal representative of the congregation or religious entity
      - Request issued by the legal representative of the congregation or religious entity, including your full name and the time you plan to stay in Peru.

      However, if you want to change your visa type, so, you are not renewing your religious visa but, for example, want to change from a religious visa to a family visa, then you need to completely fulfill the requirements including, for example, a criminal record check from your home country with Apostille.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Michael · 15/10/2022
    Just some clarification about the "Cambio de calidad migratoria:"  The 162.50 fee can be paid online, right?  And once that's done online, I don't have to worry about any fees for staying longer than 90 days in Peru?  In theory, does this change in status mean I can stay in Peru as long as it takes within reason?  (For example, maybe it takes 5 months to complete the visa process, but I'm sure the government would get suspicious if I stay in Peru for a year and haven't made any progress)
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
      · 15/10/2022
      @Michael Hello Michael,

      Yes, as described above under Last steps before your visa application you can pay online on pagalo.pe.

      But the S/ 162.50 are the application fee for the change of your immigration status (so, for the resident visa). Paying this fee does not change your status, does not extend your stay as a tourist, and does not allow you to stay beyond the time you were given when you entered.

      On the day you apply for the change of your immigration status (so, for the resident visa) on the Agencia Digital, your stay as a tourist must be still valid!

      Only when you completed the application process on the Agencia Digital and received the confirmation of your application (as described above under Finally, applying for your visa) time stops.

      So, if you got 90 days when you entered Peru as a tourist, you must get all the required documents together and apply within these three months for your resident visa (for the cambio de calidad migratoria). Once you did the application process on the Agencia Digital and got the confirmation, then it doesn’t matter if your stay as a tourist expires a day after or during the whole approval process. So, even though your stay as a tourist might expire during the processing time of your application, you are good until Migraciones approves (or denies) your application.

      Greetings
      Eva

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