Retirees and pensioners who receive a state or private pension or other benefits (for example a disability pension) of at least US$ 1000 per month or the equivalent in any other currency can apply for a permanent residency in Peru called Rentista Visa.
For each dependent (such as a spouse) who should be included in the visa, the proof of an additional US$ 500 is required.
Please be aware that you are not allowed to work or receive a remuneration for any kind of professional activity in Peru when living in the country on a retirement visa and that you must have a clean criminal record.
Applying for a retirement visa
Officially, you can apply for the retirement visa at a Peruvian consulate abroad or at Migraciones in Peru. However, some diplomatic missions, especially in countries where nationals can enter Peru as a tourist without having to apply for a tourist visa at a consulate first, either don’t or prefer not to issue resident visas or processing times can be long as Migraciones in Peru has to approve the application. And even if you already get your retirement visa abroad once in Peru you still have to deal with Migraciones, even though to a lesser extent, to get your carné.
So, most people planning to live in Peru as a retiree enter the country 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 at a consulate) - at Migraciones.
Requirements for a Peruvian retirement visa
In mid-July 2021, the new TUPA (Texto Unico de Procedimientos Administrativos; Single Text of Administrative Procedures) went into effect, which is mainly based on the Peruvian Supreme Decree DS N° 002-2021-IN. This new legislation changes a few immigration processes, procedures, and requirements for some Migraciones paperwork.
So below, find the requirements according to the July 2021 TUPA. As the document is quite confusing, we recommend that those who prefer to read the original requirements either check out the official website of Peru or better the corresponding text passage of the Supreme Decree DS N° 002-2021-IN on page 46 in article 92-A “Procedimiento administrative de solicitud de calidad migratoria rentista residente” (when applying at a Peruvian consulate) or in article 92-B “Procedimiento administrative de cambio de calidad migratoria rentista residente” (when applying in Peru). However, please be aware that Migraciones has the right to request other and / or additional documents at any time.
Anyway, as soon as you arrive in Peru, you should get organized and start the whole process. Please note that you have to be in the country on a valid visa (for example, a tourist visa or "authorization to enter as a tourist") when applying for the visa in Peru.
Here now are the requirements and a walk-trough of the application process in Peru.
Required documents to apply for a retirement visa include, but may not be restricted to:
- Interpol clearance - Ficha de canje internacional (see below)
- Receipt for paid application fee (code Migraciones 07568 S/.162.50 in 2022)
- Passport
- Letter from your pension fund or social security stating that you receive a monthly income of at least US$ 1000 or the equivalent in any other currency. This letter needs an Apostille from the respective public institution in the country of origin or, if the country which issued it didn't sign the Apostille Convention (like Canada) has to be legalized by a Peruvian consulate abroad and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Peru). Once in Peru the document has to be translated into Spanish by a certified translator. (*)
- Sworn statement stating that your pension enters Peru through the banking system; see sample letter on page 383 of the Tupa PDF document
- Antecedentes policiales, penales y judiciales (Police clearance certificate, criminal record and judicial matters check) issued in the country of origin and, if the applicant lived in another country before coming to Peru, in the country of residence covering the last 5 years (**)
- Sworn statement issued by a notary in Peru stating that you wish to apply for a rentista visa and confirming that you can fulfil the requirements and don't intend to work. (***)
(*) Before (!!!) leaving your home country request the document from your pension fund or social security and get it apostilled if your country signed the Apostille Convention; otherwise, it has to be legalized by different authorities in your home country and the Peruvian consulate. The problem with both processes is that the letter needs an official signature to be apostilled or legalized. As most pension statements are generated automatically, they are usually not signed. So, it might be quite a mission in your home country to get it signed. One of our readers informed us that for US citizens with this problem, the US Embassy in Lima was very helpful and issued a notarized letter officially confirming the authenticity of the document that was accepted by the Peruvian immigration office; however, others weren't so lucky and the embassy wouldn't or couldn't do anything
(**) 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...
(***) Even though not on the requirement list neither of the old law nor now of the new law, Migraciones asked for this sworn statement for years. So, best prepare yourself that you might have to present it. Notaries usually have this form document (Declaracion jurada) on hand. Be aware that before you are able to sign it legally in Peru, you have to apply for a permission to sign contracts (permiso especial para firmar contratos). Since January 2018, this can be easily done online. Our article "Permit to sign contacts in Peru" explains how it works and what you need.
Applying for a retirement visa is a simple and straightforward process, but might be a little confusing here and there if you are not familiar with the process and the steps involved. Please see our walk-through below as general guidance which should offer enough information that you don't need to hire a lawyer or so-called tramitador, but can start and finish this little endeavor on your own. However, be aware that requirements and processes change quickly and at least basic Spanish skills are required to fill in forms and understand instructions.
Getting started …
Hopefully, you brought the letter from your pension fund or social security as well as the Police clearance certificate, criminal record and judicial matters check already apostilled or legalized - see requirements and (*) and (**) above. Once in Peru, this has to be translated by an official translator (and if you only have a legalization on the document, the translation has to be legalized again by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Lima). You can find a list of these state-approved translators either on the website of your embassy in Peru or here.
When this is taken care of, you have to get the sworn statement issued by a notary - see requirements and (***). First apply for the “Permit to sign contacts” and when you have it, visit a notary.
Foreign visitors, who entered Peru as tourists or temporary visa holders such as temporary students, have to apply for a special permit called “Per...
Make PDFs from your passport (page with your personal data) and all other documents.
And the last step before you can finally apply for your retirement visa is getting the so-called “Ficha de Canje Internacional” from Interpol in Peru. Find a detailed description on 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 – either from a temporary visa o...
Applying for a retirement visa in Peru
Once you have the Ficha and all documents together, pay the fee of S/ 162.50 (2022) for the Migraciones administrative procedure “Cambio de Calidad Migratoria” under code 07568 with concepto "rentista residente" at any Banco de la Nacion branch / ATM or on pagalo.pe. 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 and processing fees government agencies, public authorities and entities levy in Peru have to be paid at the Banco de la...
Then it's time to apply for your retirement visa - if you need to leave the country during the application process, you have to apply for a special travel permit before you leave the country, otherwise your application is null and void.
Open the Migraciones Agencia Digital. Choose "Extranjero" and enter the data requested. Enter your personal data exactly as in your passport.
On the next page you find on the left under “Cambio de Calidad Migratoria” the point “Rentista Residente”. Click on it.
Then just follow the steps as indicated; nothing you can do wrong. Always check that all personal data you entered (or was automatically filled in) is 100% correct and as in your passport.
During the process - under “Pago por derecho de tramite” - you are asked to enter certain information of the bank receipt (click on the little arrow and the fields appear). If you don't know where to find the requested bank information on your receipt, click on the question mark.
Under “Documento de identificacion adminstrado” (click on the little arrow and the fields appear - here you can as well just check which documents are necessary and then leave the page without finishing the process), you have to upload requested documents as PDF.
At the end of the process - if everything works smoothly - you get the confirmation of your application. Download this document and / or print it and keep it safe!
At the bottom of this document, you find the login data for the “Buzon Electronico” which you should check regularly for notifications from Migraciones (for example, request to upload missing / other documents, approval of your visa or appointment for taking your biometrical data / photo, fingerprints, signature).
Getting your Carné (foreigner ID)
Once you get the confirmation that your retirement visa was approved, pay the fee of S/ 49.90 on pagalo.pe under code 07561-Formulario F-SPE-001 for the registration in the foreigner database and issuance of the carné; concepto Expedicion de carné de extranjeria
Then once again enter the Agencia Digtal to do the online registration under “Inscr. Reg. central extranjeria”. As before, just follow the steps as indicated. Check that all information is correct. At the end, you get a confirmation which you should download and / or print and keep safe!
Usually, around the same time, you receive an appointment for getting your biometrical data (photos, signature and fingerprints) taken. As the appointment is usually within 3 to 5 days after the message was sent to you, we highly recommend checking your buzón electronico regularly to not miss anything. Be aware that in Lima, the biometrical data is taken at the Migraciones office on Jr. Carabaya and not at the main office in Breña.
Be at the office 15 - 30 minutes before your appointment with all your documents (passport, appointment, application, approval). The process is quick and astonishingly well organized; you should be done in less than half an hour. The staff usually tells you when you should make an appointment to pick up your carné, but often a message is sent as well via the buzón electronico, so keep an eye on that. Expect to wait 10 - 14 days while your carné is in the process of being issued.
Then make an appointment on the Agencia Digital under “Citas en linea” to pick it up. Once again, download and / or print the confirmation and keep it safe!
On the day of your appointment, arrive at Migraciones 15 - 30 minutes early. Take your passport and confirmation(s) with you. Migraciones personal will point you in the right direction where you are handed you carné.
Congratulations! You made it!
As long as you don't leave Peru for more than 183 consecutive days in a 365-day period, you have an indefinite residence permit. You are exonerated from extending your visa every year.
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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· 22/06/2022@Nick Hello Nick,
