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.
Content overview
Legal background for a retirement visa application in Peru
Officially, you can apply for a retirement 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...
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 1350 (which only stipulates general rules), the Decreto Supremo 002-2021-IN and the TUPA. 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 retirement 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 46 in article 92-B “Procedimiento administrativo de cambio de calidad migratoria rentista residente”. If you prefer to check out the TUPA you find the information on page 153.
Requirements for a retirement visa application in Peru
Below you find the requirements to apply for a retirement 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 retirement visa include:
- Form PA - Cambio de Calidad Migratoria
- 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 rentista residente, S/.162.50 in 2023)
- Passport
- 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 (*) (**)
- Letter / confirmation 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. (***)
- Sworn statement stating that your pension enters Peru through the banking system (****)
- Recibo, so a water or electricity bill with your address
(*) 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...
(**) All foreign documents need an Apostille or, if the country in which they were issued didn't sign the Apostille Convention (like Canada, for example) they have to be legalized by a Peruvian consulate abroad and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Peru. Additionally, all documents, apostilled or legalized, have to be translated into Spanish by a certified translator in Peru, a so-called traductor publico juramentado, in case they are not solely in Spanish! The translation then has to be legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
(***) 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.
(****) With this sworn statement, you don't affirm that your pension payments are directly deposited in a Peruvian bank account, but that the money you need to live in Peru is "legally brought" into the country using official channels. So, you won't have any problem, for example, withdrawing funds from a foreign account using an ATM or having your pension deposited in an account in your home country and then transferring it to a Peruvian account (which you only get when you have your carné).
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 step-by-step guide below, which should enable you to start and finish this little endeavor on your own, as general guidance only as requirements and processes change quickly. At least basic Spanish skills are required to fill in forms and understand instructions.
Last steps before your retirement visa application in Peru
Hopefully, you brought the letter from your pension fund or social security as well as the criminal record check already apostilled or legalized - see requirements and (*), (**) and (***) above. Once in Peru, these have to be translated by a certified translator, 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. The translation then has to be legalized again by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RREE) in Lima or a RREE branch in the provinces.
But we are not ready yet. Before you can even start your retirement 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 either from a temporary visa o...
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 "Rentista 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...
And last but not least, make PDFs from your passport (page with your personal data and entry stamp), and from all other required documents.
Finally, the time has come to apply for your retirement visa. Be aware that in case you need to leave the country during the application process 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 ...
Please be aware 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 your religious visa in Peru.
Step-by-step guide to apply for a family visa in Peru
One remark before we start: The Agencia Digital, the online platform where you have to submit your application, 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. Additionally, often translation programs have difficulties "understanding" the bureaucratic language used by Migraciones, which results in translations that don't make any sense or are more difficult for you to understand than the Spanish original. If you can't understand the one or other field, enter the description for this field in a translator. If you still can't make sense of it, feel free to leave a comment below and we try our best to explain what to fill in. And to avoid further system errors, we highly recommend to not using a VPN and switching off any ad blockers you might use.
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 "Rentista Residente". Click on it and proceed to the next page.
1st page of the retirement 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 get to a quite extensive questionnaire.
Data update questionnaire
Be aware that you only have 1 hour to complete the questionnaire and as the system doesn’t save your information, even though there is an option to save, once you started you must finish it within an hour otherwise all your progress is gone, and you have to start from scratch. The questions are quite unorganized and partly a bit strange, so to give you an idea what questions you have to answer and might need to prepare for here an overview:
In the first two categories, you have to fill in your personal data including full name (as in your passport!), document with which you entered Peru, document number, gender, marital status, country of birth, if you have a criminal, police or judicial record, if you are pregnant.
The third category asks for your address in Peru, your e-mail address, cell phone number and landline phone number. Here you must upload a “recibo”, so a water or electricity bill to prove that you live at that address. The recibo doesn't have to be in your name, just must show the correct address.
Then you are asked for the information of an emergency contact, including ID, name and e-mail of your emergency contact. This is followed by questions about your employment situation and where you were born (continent, country, town).
In the next category, you have to enter your hair and eye color, height in meters, weight in kilograms, religion, marital status, date of marriage, vaccinations and if you have a disability or disease. You are then asked if you arrived in Peru alone or if someone was accompanying you. If so, you must enter the personal data (passport number, name, last name, birthdate) of that person. Now you are asked if you have lived in other countries previously and in which country before coming to Peru, when you last entered Peru, how you came to Peru (plane, bus, car).
The last questions check your living conditions (are you living in a house, number of rooms, accommodation connected to water, sewage, electricity, and internet), ask for some financial info (bank accounts in Peru or other countries, shares, or stock in Peru, bank loans 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 retirement visa application
Now fill in the data update code and click on Siguente.
2nd page of the retirement visa application
Here you must fill in some data and/or upload all for the retirement 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 retirement 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. If you don't know where to find the requested bank information on your receipt, click on the question mark.
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 letter from your pension fund and below the sworn statement. And finally, fill in the required information of your passport and upload a copy.
Once you uploaded all your documents, click on Siguente.
3rd page of the retirement visa application
You then get to a page showing the fields of the Form PA - Cambio de Calidad Migratoria already (partly) filled in. If and where necessary and/or possible, complete the fields and check that all information is 100% correct. Then download and/or print the form (if downloading isn't possible, make a screenshot of the complete page)!!!
At the bottom, under the signature / fingerprint field, the "fecha de publicacion" (application date) and a "codigo de verificaion" (verification code) is 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 this code. Additionally, you as well find your login data for the Buzon electronico (see below) at the bottom of the page.
Print the page, sign and fingerprint it, and keep it safe until you pick up your carné.
If you didn't print the page when you had the chance during your application, retrieving especially your verifiaction code is nearly impossible. But as you will need the PA form when picking up your carné you can download the Form PA - Cambio de Calidad Migratoria on the government website, fill it in, sign and fingerprint it, and bring this with you when you pick up your carné.
4th page of the retirement visa application
You now get to a page "Registro de Solicitud de Cambio de Calidad Migratoria" where you are asked to make an appointment for having your biometrical data (photo, fingerprints, signature) taken with a provided code. This code is your numero de expediente (file number). 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. Download and or print the page and keep it safe. Once you leave this page, you can't return to it. And if you haven't saved your file number, it's a nightmare to retrieve it.
As waiting times sometimes can be long, especially in Lima, we suggest to follow 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".
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.).
The username (usario) and password (contraseña) is on the PA form (see above under 3rd page). If you didn't download or print the form, you can get your login details by entering the Agencia Digital and on the main page at the top clicking on Buzon Electronico or using this direct link. 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" and a link to reset or create a password.
Getting your Carné (foreigner ID)
Biometrical data appointment
On the day of your biometrical data appointment, be at the office 15 - 30 minutes before your appointment with your documents (usually only your printed appointment and passport is needed, but to be prepared for any unforeseen events you may have the folder with all other documents with you). 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. The process is quick and astonishingly well organized; you should be done in less than half an hour.
Then all you can do is check your Buzon regularly and wait until your visa is approved.
Registration in the foreigner database
As soon as your application is 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 under concepto "Expedición del 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.
Picking up your carné at Migraciones
Then make an appointment on the Agencia Digital under “Citas en linea”, subpoint "para recojo de documentos" to pick up your carné. 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, all documents, confirmation(s) and receipts with you. Migraciones staff will point you in the right direction where you are handed your carné.
Congratulations! You made it!
Things you should know living in Peru on a retirement visa
The retirement visa (so the residence permit) has an indefinite validity and does not have to be renewed. However, be aware that the carné (so, the foreigner ID card) is usually only valid for four years and then has to be renewed.
Foreigners living in Peru on a retirement visa have to be in the country at least 183 days per year, otherwise they lose their resident status. If you have to be outside the country longer, before leaving apply for the Autorización de estadía fuera del país por 183 días, and won't lose your residence permit.
If you are living in Peru on a retirement visa, you are not allowed to work or receive a remuneration for any kind of professional activity in Peru.
Your pension payments are exempted from taxation in Peru.
If any information provided when applying for your retirement visa changes, Migraciones must be informed about it within 30 days. So, if you get a new passport, change your name, move to a new address, etc. you have to apply for a so-called "modificación de datos en el registro central de extranjería". Be aware that, in some cases, a new carné has to be issued after the application is approved.
As you already have an unlimited residence permit, you can't change to the Peruvian "Permanente residente" visa.
And finally, if you, as a foreigner living in Peru on a retirement 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.
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!
And if you find something wrong on this page, please help us to keep this guide as up to date as possible and contact us either below with a comment or use our contact form. Thank you!
41 Comments
· 21/01/2023@ANTHONY RAYNERHello Anthony,For the retirement visa application you don't need bank statements. You need a letter/confirmation 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. And to get an Apostille on any document, it has to be officially signed. So, no official signature from someone who has the authority to sign such documents (in your case an official from the social security office), no Apostille and without an Apostille (and translation in Peru and legalization by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), the letter from social security won't be accepted by Migraciones in Peru.As most pension statements are generated automatically, they are usually not signed and finding the right person who can sign your letter might be a mission. I don't have personal experience how the process works in the US, but a quick Google search revealed that you have to contact the Social Security Administration and obtain a signed copy. You can either visit the closest Social Security office or you can obtain the letter from the SSA's online website located here: http://www.ssa.gov/.Hope this helps.GreetingsEva
