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Peruvian Retirement Visa

Peruvian Retirement Visa

A Guide to Peruvian Visas

Part 7

Foreigners, who receive a state or private pension including social security pension, government pension, employment related pension, union pension, disability pension, etc., so lifetime annuities, other lifelong benefits or a permanent income for the rest of their life from royalties or dividends 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.

Be aware that rental income, income generated from remote / freelance work, capital gains, interests, etc. are not considered permanent income. To fulfill the requirement you must prove that you receive at least US$ 1000 per month "indefinitely", so for the rest of your life.

Additionally, you should know 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

Where to apply for a retirement visa

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”.

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, found work in Peru, want to ...

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 1350, the "old" Foreigner Law, the Decreto Legislativo 1582, the modification of the Foreigner Law, which both only stipulate general rules, as well as the Decreto Supremo 002-2021-IN from 2021 and the TUPA (last updated August 2024). 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”. 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 146.

 

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:

  • 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 (1) + (2) + (3)
  • 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. (3) + (4)
  • Sworn statement stating that your pension enters Peru through the banking system (5)
  • Receipt for paid application fee (code Migraciones 07568; concept Cambio de calidad migratoria rentista residente, S/ 161.40)
  • (Interpol clearance - Ficha de canje internacional not older than 6 months) (6)
  • "Recibo", so a water or electricity bill showing your address (doesn't have to be in your name)

Explanatory notes for the requirements:

First of all, be aware that documents have an "expiration" date in Peru. If not stated otherwise:

  • Documents issued in Peru are usually only accepted when they were issued a maximum of 3 months prior to being submitted.
  • Documents issued outside Peru are usually only accepted when they were issued not more than 6 months prior to being submitted.

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

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

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

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

(2) 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.

(3) 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 Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RREE).

(4) 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. US nationals, who get social security payments, can request a so-called "signed benefit verification letter for Apostille or authentication purposes" from the US Social Security Administration.

(5) With this sworn statement, you don't affirm that your pension payments are directly deposited into 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).

Furthermore, even though still on the requirement list, be aware that since the beginning of 2024, the corresponding field on the Agencia Digital, where you had to upload the sworn statement is gone. To avoid any problems or delays, best make one PDF of the letter from your pension fund and the sworn statement and upload it under the Documentos Especificos tab as explained below.

(6) In 2023, it was ruled that presenting the Ficha de canje from Interpol is an illegal and unnecessary bureaucratic barrier for retirment visa applicants. Even though the Ficha de canje is still listed as a requirement for a retirement visa application on the Peruvian government website and in the TUPA, since the beginning of 2024, the corresponding field on the Agencia Digital, where you had to upload the document before, is gone. So, you can’t submit the Ficha de canje anymore. However, be aware that Migraciones always has the right to ask for additional documents and in some rare cases over the past months requested that an applicant uploads the Ficha additionally.

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 (1), (2), (3) and (4) above.

Translation of foreign documents

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

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.

Paying the application fee

Once you have all your documents documents together, pay the fee of S/ 161.40 for the Migraciones administrative procedure “Cambio de Calidad Migratoria” under code 07568 with concepto "Rentista residente". Our article "Paying administration charges and processing fees in Peru" explains in detail where and how you can pay.

Paying administration charges and processing fees in Peru

Paying administration charges and processing fees in Peru

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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, download the sworn statement and fill it in. Please be aware: If you are in Peru as a tourist you can only legally sign a document in Peru after you were issued a Permit to sign contracts. You can apply for the permit on the Agencia Digital quickly and easily. Our article "Permit to sign contracts (Permiso especial para firmar contratos) in Peru" explains in detail how it's done.

Permit to sign contracts (Permiso especial para firmar contratos) in Peru

Permit to sign contracts (Permiso especial para firmar contratos) in Peru

Legal Stuff
Foreign nationals, who are in Peru as a tourist or hold another temporary visa, can only sign a legally binding document (such as a work contract, ...

So, first get the permit, then sign the sworn statement.

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

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

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

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

 

Step-by-step guide to apply for a retirement 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 not to use 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 not to use a VPN and to switch off any ad blockers or an incognito mode you might use.

And even though we try to keep this guide as up-to-date as possible, due to constant changes to the Agencia Digital not everything might be exactly as described below. So, please see this guide as general guidance only. If you find mistakes or some changes to the process described below, you are more than welcome to share your experience below as a comment (visible to everyone after approval) or to use the e-mail button on the bottom of the page to send a private e-mail.

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 fill in the following fields:

  • Tipo de documento: choose in the drop-down menu the document with which you entered Peru (most probably passport)
  • Numero de documento: enter your passport number
  • Fecha de nacimiento: enter your birthdate (click on the little calendar; to choose the year: click on the down arrow next to the date, then, if necessary, click on the less-than-sign and choose the year; afterwards select the month and the day).
  • Nacionalidad: select your nationality in the drop-down menu (be aware that the nationalities are in Spanish; so, you won't find United Stated or US and must select EE.UU; or you won't find UK and must choose Gran Bretaña (or Inglaterra or Escocia); or no Netherlands but Paises Bajos, no Germany but Alemania, etc.)
  • Ultimo movimiento migratorio de entrada: click on the calendar and choose the date you entered Peru
  • Codigo Captcha: just enter the captcha.

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

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

Register your personal data in the Migraciones database

Before you start your visa application, you first should register your personal data in the Migraciones database.

In the menu on the left find the point “Actualizacion de Datos”. It’s usually quite at the bottom. Click on it and you should be re-directed to the Sistema de Actualizacion de Datos page.

Please note: Some of our readers commented that if they click on the “Actualizacion de Datos” menu point an error message pops up and they can’t get to the correct page to fill in their data. It seems that Migraciones once again is in the process of changing some procedures and forms. So, if you get the error message, just continue with your visa application as explained below.

If you are re-directed you should automatically be on the "Actualicación de Datos Extranjero" page.  Here 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 sex and enter the captcha. Then you get to a quite extensive questionnaire.

Be aware that you only have 20 minutes to complete the questionnaire and once you started you must finish it within this time 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, sex, 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 as well should have to upload the "recibo", so a water or electricity bill showing your address (doesn't have to be in your name).

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, 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 another country.

As soon as you have completed the last page of the questionnaire, the system accepts all your answers, and you are registered. Now, return to the main page of the Agencia Digital.

1st page of the retirement visa application

On the main page of the Agencia Digital 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 you get to the first page of the actual visa application.

Here, select the Migraciones branch or MAC center closest to you which should handle your application (for example, Lima, Cusco, Arequipa, …).

Click on Siguente.

2nd page of the retirement visa application

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

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

To continue with your 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:

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

After entering the data, click on Validar.

Under the "Documento de identificación del administrado" tab, select the document with which you entered Peru (in most cases passport). 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.

Since the beginning of 2024, under the "Ficha de Canje Interpol" tab you only must upload your criminal record check you brought from home.

The “Exceso de permanencia” (excess stay) tab already has a green check in front of it, at least if you apply when your stay in Peru is still valid. Nothing to do here, just skip this point.

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 your 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 retirement visa when my stay as a tourist is expired? below.

Under the last tab, the "Documentos Especificos" you must upload the letter from your pension fund. As the sworn statement is still on the official requirement list and had to be uploaded under this tab as well under a different point, which is gone since the beginning of 2024, I recommend to merge both documents and upload this as one PDF.

Once you filled in all required fields and uploaded all your documents, there should be a green check in front of each tab. Accept the terms and conditions and click on Siguiente.

3rd page of the retirement visa application

You then get to a page showing the fields of a document called Form PA - Cambio de Calidad Migratoria. If you are already registered the form is already filled in with your personal data. The only fields you can change are your cell phone number and your e-mail address. If you, however, haven't entered your personal data before, just fill in the required fields. Make sure you enter an e-mail address you have unrestricetd access to. If everything is correct, click on “Guardar datos y generar tramite” (Save data and generate procedure).

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

4th page of the retirement visa application

You now get to the "Registro de Solicitud de Cambio de Calidad Migratoria" page, where at first glance you only see a number displayed on your screen and a request to make an appointment to have your biometrical data taken.

Do not continue! First of all save this number! It's 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. 

Then click on the "Descargar" and/or "Imprimir" button to download and/or print the complete "Registro de Solicitud de Cambio de Calidad Migratoria" document before continuing to the appointment page. This document is the confirmation of your successful application. Keep it safe!!!

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

If you later, 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 your file number, the application date and the 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, called Buzon electronico (see below).

If you can’t 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.

 

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 (numero de tramite).

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".

So, just enter your numero de expediente (numero de tramite) and select a free date. If everything works smoothly, you have an appointment.

Download and/or print your appointment confirmation under the “Constancia cita” tab.

And just as an info: Even though difficult to see, next to the “Constancia cita” tab you find the “Cargo tramite” tab, which is crucial if you missed downloading the confirmation of your application or if the login data for the Buzon electronico or the verification code aren't on the document. Just click on the "Cargo tramite" tab and you can download a document containing both.

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. You will only need your printed (!) appointment confirmation and your passport.

The process varies a bit depending on the office. At the Lima Migraciones office, for example, 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, sometimes the appointment time isn't respected and you might have to wait an hour or two until you make it to the counter, where the process is 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) should be on the "Registro de Solicitud de Cambio de Calidad Migratoria", the confirmation of your successful application (see above under 4th page, if the information isn't on the document or you missed downloading it see below to learn how to recover the login data).

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 notification from Migraciones informing you that you haven’t uploaded a required document, that an uploaded document isn’t to their liking or they want an additional document, don’t waste any time.

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

Subsanacion - Submitting documents

Subsanacion - Submitting documents

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

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

Extension of a Migraciones deadline

Extension of a Migraciones deadline

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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 retirement 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.

Anyway, usually, after 2 or 3 months you find a notification in your Buzon electronico (the subjection line should be something like "Notificación tramite cambio de calidad") informing you about the approval of your visa.

Congrats, but we are not finished yet. You still need your carné, your official Peruvian ID.

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 (Notificación expedición del carné) informing you that your carné was issued.

Officially Migraciones has another 30 business days counted from the approval of the visa to send the expedición del carné 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.

 

Getting your carné (foreigner ID)

As soon as you got the official notification that your carné is ready, get going. 

Be aware that in some Migraciones offices you need an appointment to pick up your carné while at others, especially in the provinces, no appointment is needed and you can just show up any time, any day or at a specific day and/or time. Please check with the Migraciones office where you applied. 

If you need an appointment, then just 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.

Please note: Especially in Lima it can be a mission to get an appointment to pick up your carné. Your only option is to try again and again and again, tomorrow, the day after, a week later, ... You could also try to change the Migraciones office, where you want to pick up your carné, and see if there appointments are available.

If, for whatever reasons, you urgently need your carné number or something to prove that you have a carné, but can't get an appointment to pick it up, you can download a document on the Agencia Digital confirming that you have a valid carné despite not having the actual card in your hands yet. On the main page of the Agencia Digital in the left menu, click under "Constancias" on the point "Carné de extranjería". You get a page with the data that is printed on your carné. Below just confirm "Estos son los datos con los cuales se emitirá su constancia ...." by clicking on the little square and click Siguiente. Now, the "Constancia de Emisión de carné de Extranjería" is displayed on your screen.Just download it and, if necessary, print it and you have proof that you have a carné and are legally in the country.

Anyway, to pick up your carné you need your passport. If you have an appointment you as well must bring your printed (!!!) appointment confirmation. Best be at the Migraciones office 15-30 minutes before. 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 retirement visa

The retirement visa (so the residence permit) has an indefinite validity and does not have to be extended. However, be aware that the carné (so, the foreigner ID card) is usually only valid for four years and then has to be renewed. Our article "Renewal of the carné" explains how it's done.

Renewal of the Carné de Extranjería

Renewal of the Carné de Extranjería

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

Foreigners living in Peru on a 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 for 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 "Actualización de datos". Be aware that, in some cases, a new carné has to be issued after the application is approved. The process is explained in our article “Update your information in the Migraciones database”.

Update your information in the Migraciones database

Update your information in the Migraciones database

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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...

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.

 

Other FAQs

Where to find / how to recover your verification code and the login data for your Buzon electronico?

The verification code and the login data for the Buzon electronico are usually printed on the “Registro de Solicitud de Cambio de Calidad Migratoria” document, which you hopefully downloaded after your application and before making an appointment to have your biometrical data taken (see above under 4th page).

If you missed downloading the document or if the login data or the verification code isn’t printed on the document, which for unknown reasons sometimes happens, you can recover both when making an appointment to have the biometrical data taken. After having selected a free date and time for your appointment you get to a page where at the top you find two tabs: the “Constancia cita” tab (click on it to download and/or print the confirmation of your biometrical data appointment) and the “Cargo tramite” tab (click on it and you get the confirmation of your visa application including the verification code and your login data for the Buzon electronico).

And in case you already made your biometrical data appointment and cannot get back to the “Cargo tramite” tap, you can trick the system and make a new “fake” biometric data appointment. So, on the main page in the left menu click on “Citas en linea” and choose “Datos biometricos”. After generating a new “fake” biometric data appointment but before clicking on “Finalizar” you can download under “Cargo tramite” the original document with your login data for the Buzon electronico and your original verification code. Then just leave the page.

In case these options don’t work and you need your verification code, no way around getting in contact with Migraciones. If you however only need your login data for the Buzon electronico, there is one last easy option to recover it: Just enter the Agencia Digital and on the main page at the top click on the Buzon electronico button or use 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 e-mail with the "usario" and a link to reset/create a password.

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

Officially, no. You have 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 rentista, 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 (March 2025) 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 rentista 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.

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

Can I apply for a retirement 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 retirement visa in Peru until you are on the 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.

If you don't have, for example, your criminal record check: Under the Interpol tab, you must upload your "Antecedentes" document, so the criminal record check. The field is mandatory, and you cannot continue with and finish the application without having uploaded the document. As you must upload something there, you could write a short letter explaining that you are waiting for your criminal record check from your home country and uploaded this letter instead of his background check. So, upload a "document" there that makes sense.

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 retirement 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 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”.

Subsanacion - Submitting documents

Subsanacion - Submitting documents

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

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

Extension of a Migraciones deadline

Extension of a Migraciones deadline

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

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

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!

 

 

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  • This commment is unpublished.
    Steve
    Steve · 12/09/2025
    Greeting Eva, many very sincere thanks, again, for the invaluable information that you so generously provide through LimaEasy, and for your response to my query in July!

    If I may please consult you again: can a person who has a retirement visa apply for and subsequently have any of the “Planes del Seguro Integral de Salud” in Perú?

    If so, would you have any additional information, such as which one would apply to those with a retirement visa?

    From what I gathered from the gob.pe website, it would seem that the “SIS Independiente” coverage would apply, but, since you are so well informed and I trust your research and content, I hope that you don’t mind my asking you.

    Many very sincere thanks!

    Best wishes,
    Steve

    PS  I will be applying for this visa later this month.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 12/09/2025
      @Steve
      Hello Steve,

      thank you so much for your nice words. But unfortunately, insurances (and taxes) aren't my strong suit.

      Anyway, here is some general info. The Peruvian Seguro Integral de Salud (SIS) is a public health insurance program that provides free or subsidized medical coverage to Peruvians and foreigners with legal residency who do not have access to other health insurance, especially those in vulnerable or low-income groups. It covers preventive care, emergencies, tests, treatments, hospitalizations, surgeries, and essential (!!!) medicines in public health facilities. 

      There are no copayments or deductibles. If you are enrolled, all covered services are free of charge at public health facilities. The only potential costs are for services, medicines, or procedures not included in SIS coverage.

      So, you should be able to enroll. And assuming you are over 60 years the SIS Independiente plan is the only SIS plan you can join.

      But the question is, whether this is really the right health insurance for you. In an effort to provide public care to Peru's poor and extremely poor, the Ministry of Health introduced SIS in 2002. And while this program improved a lot over the years, you should be aware that it mainly provides basic and emergency care and has its limitations and challenges. Facilities might not be up to par with what you are used to, only medication from the official Essential Medicines List is available and covered, long waiting times for non-urgent consultations and specialist appointments are common. 

      Depending on your budget and age a private health insurance or an insurance plan offered by private clinics in Peru might be a better fit. 

      I hope everything works smoothly with you visa application.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Stephanie Moore
    Stephanie Moore · 26/08/2025
    I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU, EVA, FOR YOUR QUICK RESPONSE.  I UPLOADED THE ENTIRE SOLICITUD THIS MORNING AND IT ALL WORKED AND I HAVE AN APPT. FOR NEXT WEEK.  IT’S GREAT TO HAVE A “GO TO” PERSON/PERSONS AND LIMAEASY HERE IN PERU.  MANY BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL!!!!!
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 26/08/2025
      @Stephanie Moore
      It's so great to hear that now everything went smoothly.

      And whenever there is another hurdle feel free to send me a message and I try my best to help.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Stephanie Moore
    Stephanie Moore · 24/08/2025
    Hi—Thank you so much for the exceptional guidance you are providing on your website.  I thought I was doing pretty good since I got a green check on each of the Dependencia Items except the first one:   “Recibo de Pago por Derecho de Tramite.”   I paid with págalo.pe and entered the Número de Recibo, Código de Verificación and the Fecha de Recibo per your instructions for the Constancia de Pago de Tasas, but after validating the info, I keep getting this message on the bottom of this section that says, “EL RECIBO NO PERTENECE AL TRIBUTO ACTUAL.”  What does that mean??  I used the codes indicated on págalo.pe:  07567 - Formulario PA - Solicitud de calidad migratoria which generated the Concepto:  Solicitud de Calidad Migratoria Rentista Residente.  That is what I am applying for.  Can you PLEASE tell me what the problem is because my 90 day tourist visa expires on September 1, 2025 and I have uploaded the most important docs but I can’t get to the next section because I don’t have a green check mark for the Pago por Derecho de Trámite.  WHAT TO DO?????
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 24/08/2025
      @Stephanie Moore
      Hello Stephanie,

      unfortunately the e-mail address you used isn't correct. So, I hope you get my reply. 

      Anyway, if you are outside Peru and want to apply for a residence visa, you apply for an immigration status, make a so-called Solicitud de calidad migratoria. On pagaglo.pe you use the code 07567 for the payment of this procedure. 

      But you are already in Peru and therefore already have an immigration status (tourist). So, you don't have to apply for an immigration status anymore, but for a change of it. In your case, you therefore must pay on pagalo.pe under code 07568 for a Cambio de calidad migratoria. 

      So, you paid for the wrong procedure (the message you get says - freely translated - that the receipt doesn't belong to the procedure you apply for) and therefore the system won't accept the data from your receipt.

      The only thing you can do now is to pay the correct procedure (Migraciones, code 07568 Cambio de calidad migratoria, concepto: Cambio de calidad migratoria rentista residente). 

      As soon as you made the payment for the correct procedure and enter the information from the new receipt, you should be able to finish your application with no further problems.

      And when I remember correctly somewhere on the Agencia Digital you can request a refund of the wrong payment (it should be under "devolución de pagos").

      Greetings
      Eva


    • This commment is unpublished.
      Stephanie Moore
      Stephanie Moore · 25/08/2025
      @Sunflower Thank you, Eva….I just caught the error in using the wrong code, but you are way ahead of me.   Thank you for such a quick reply and have a great day!!!!!
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 25/08/2025
      @Stephanie Moore
      All good, Stephanie. Sometimes it's a bit complicated in Peru.

      So, I hope now everything works smoothly and you can finish your application.

      All the best
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Steve
    Steve · 20/07/2025
    Greetings, Eva!

    Many very sincere thanks for the wealth of useful information that you so generously provide for all to benefit from!

    Here is a data point that I hope that you feel can be useful, accompanied by some friendly tips.

    I plan to apply for a Peruvian Retirement Visa. With a USA passport, I arrived in Lima in March 2025, was granted 90 days, and left Peru after around 75 days later (approximately 15 remaining.). I returned to Lima about five weeks later and was again granted 90 days. Here are some factors that may have helped me have another 90 days.

    Before going further, it is imperative to note the following:
    1) I was 100% respectful and 100% honest.
    2) The entire conversation was held in Spanish, at a native-speaker level.
    3) Nothing that I said or did questioned the officer’s authority, agency, or personal worth in any way. The exchange was based on a mutual treatment with respect and dignity. At all times my attention was 100% there, and I always made respectful eye contact.
    4) Everything I said was super concise, to not occupy even a single additional second. The officer has a job, there are other people waiting, and everyone’s time has worth.
    5) This was my experience, on this occasion, with a specific immigration officer, among many other factors and variables, and it worked out this way for me.

    As you state on your website, an immigration officer can give you up to 90 days upon entering, fewer, or none. By paying attention to what you share on your website, I was well informed on various aspects, including that I could not be in Peru more than 183 days of 365.
     
    When asked if I had been in Peru previously, I said, yes, and that I arrived in March and left in June. When the officer repeated March with a touch of concern, I nicely stated that since the maximum is 183 days per 365, that even if I was generously granted another 90 days, that the total would still be under this limit.
     
    As my passport was returned to me, the officer told me that I was given the 90 days, I gave my sincere thanks, and moved on. The whole thing, including photo and prints took barely more than two minutes.

    Since the application for a Peruvian Retirement Visa runs on a new clock, I plan to wait at least 45 days, perhaps even 60 before applying. If I may ask you, what do you think of this?
     
    Many many thanks, and best wishes!
    Steve
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 20/07/2025
      @Steve
      Hello Steve,

      thank you so much for your nice words. It's great to hear that the information we provide here on LimaEasy is useful. 

      Thank you as well for sharing your experience and some tips that surely will help others. 

      Speaking Spanish is certainly an advantage, but even just trying to communicate in Spanish can be helpful. However, in my opinion, the most important thing is to be respectful and friendly acknowledging the authority of the immigration officer, while also making it clear that you know the rules. Anyway, you seem to be a pro already in doing so and got your 90 days. Congrats.

      I'm not sure what you mean with "the application for a Peruvian Retirement Visa runs on a new clock". After you applied for your retirement visa and got your file number, your time as a tourist stops. So, even if your stay as a tourist expires during the evaluation and approval process, you remain legal in the country until Migraciones approves (or denies) your residence visa. If they approve your visa you become a resident, if they deny your visa (usually before they do this they will give you the chance to "correct" your application by uploading, for example, a rejected document in the correct form) you must leave the country within 15 days.

      Not knowing your circumstances, I don't know why you want to wait with your application another month or two. If you have all required documents together, I don't see any reason for that. 

      But, if you want you could apply on day 89 of your stay as a tourist - you never know what happens in Peru, so I highly recommend not waiting until the last day - the Agencia Digital might not work or you don't have power or your phone/laptop/PC breaks .... And be aware that the documents you must submit have an "expiration date".  Documents issued in Peru are usually only accepted when they were issued a maximum of 3 months prior to being submitted. Documents issued outside Peru are usually only accepted when they were issued not more than 6 months prior to being submitted. So, make sure that the document proving your pension and your criminal record check not only have an Apostille and are translated in Peru by a certified translator but aren't older than 6 months when you submit your application. 

      Thanks again and all the best.

      Greetings
      Eva 


    • This commment is unpublished.
      Steve
      Steve · 21/07/2025
      @Sunflower Hello Eva,

      Many sincere thanks for your prompt response, for the encouragement, and for the additional insightful information!

      I apologize for not being clear about the “new clock” comment. What I meant is exactly what you stated: that once the application is in, that my time as a tourist stops, yet I am still in the country legally.

      The delay in the application would be on account of the apostilles still being in the works, so waiting to apply gives more time for them to be received, to subsequently present a proper application.

      The “expiration date” on my documents should be well within the limits you kindly reminded me of. Thank you for being so thorough!

      Many thanks again, and all the best to you as well!

      Best,
      Steve
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 21/07/2025
      @Steve
      Hello Steve,

      now I understand. Yes, in your case it makes sense to wait with the application until you get the document(s) back with Apostille and have them translated by a certified translator in Peru. 

      As said before you can apply on any day as long as your stay as a tourist is still valid on the day you finally apply. So, if you wait a month or two or even until day 89 you are fine. 

      However, just to make sure and avoid any unpleasant surprises later, I highly recommend to confirm that you really got 90 days on the Migraciones website under Consultas en Linea TAM Virtual. In the drop-down list choose your travel document, I assume you entered Peru with your passport, and enter the passport number. Afterwards, choose in the drop-down list your nationality; be aware that the names are in Spanish, so you won’t find, for example, United States or US, but have to look for EE.UU (Estados Unidos). Then just enter the day you entered Peru and the captcha. Click on “Verificar”.

      You now get your TAM virtual displayed on the screen showing: your personal details registered, the point of entry, the day you entered and the number of days you are allowed to stay (Tiempo de permanencia).

      And if for whatever reasons the Apostille and translation takes longer than expected or the immigration officer didn't register the full 90 days and your time as a tourist is less than expected, you could apply without the Apostille. As explained above in the article under Can I apply for a retirement visa if I don't have all the required documents? you could upload the document without Apostille; Migraciones will send you a notification requesting to upload the document with Apostille and translation. If the time Migraciones gives you to upload the document isn't enough you could then apply for an extension of the deadline, which gives you another 30 days. By then you surely should have the document. The details are explained above. Only do this if your stay as a tourist is about to expire.

      If you really got the 90 days wait and hope that you get your document(s) back before your stay as a tourist expires. 

      Greetings
      Eva

    • This commment is unpublished.
      Steve
      Steve · 22/07/2025
      @Sunflower Hello Eva,

      Many very sincere thanks for your prompt response, for the additional insightful information, and for being so patient and thorough.

      While waiting for my checked bag at the airport, I verified that I indeed had been given 90 days. Thank you for including the link to the TAM Virtual, complete with instructions, just in case.

      I am precisely following your advice, to give the apostilles plenty of time, and am prepared to proceed in the manner you kindly suggest, if need be.

      Many sincere thanks for your very generous and well-informed guidance!

      Greetings,
      Steve
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 22/07/2025
      @Steve
      I hope everything works out smoothly and you soon become a resident of Peru.

      All the best

      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Billie
    Billie · 04/07/2025
    Hello,

    Thank you all for the wonderful website. I was able to get my carnet with minimal confusion myself due to your help. There were plenty of people more than willing to take my money just to provide simple information that you have made easily accessible. 

    I just applied for my son's carnet as well (today actually!). Hopefully his process goes as smoothly as mine did. He is 14. I was wondering if you could tell me, if I get citizenship before he is 18, will he be able to get citizenship based on that as well? We would really love to stay here so I want to start planning as soon in advance as possible.

    Thanks again, you guys are great!



    P.S. A few notes on my experience in the hopes it can help someone:

    They did not require me provide any information on a bank account or proof that I had an account, which I have seen listed in some places as a requirement. I just provided the sworn statement that the income would be entering the country legally. 

    I did get my Ficha de canje, and uploaded it together with my FBI clearance. I did not make any payment for the appointment with Interpol and they did not request any receipt. 

    My income is through the VA and I had some confusion about the actual requirements for proof of income because it is now difficult to get an actual signed letter. I made my appointment with the regional office for a proof of income letter. When I spoke to the guy that wrote it for me, I made sure that he put "income for life" in plain language in the letter. It wasn't signed manually but they notarized it on the spot. I was hesitant because the letter didn't have an official signature, but there was no issue for me. I am assuming that something similar could be done for the folks on Social Security. This was all done at the end of December, 2024 and it took two weeks for the whole process once I submitted my paperwork.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 04/07/2025
      @Billie
      Hello Billie,

      thank you so much for your nice words. It's always great to hear that the information I provide here on LimaEasy is helpful. Applying for a residence visa in Peru is in most cases a simple and straightforward process, at least if you know the requirements, how the system works and what MIgraciones puts emphasis on. Usually, there is no need for an immigration lawyer or tramitador. Anyway, I'm happy I could guide you a bit through the process so you could do everything on your own. Congrats!

      Regarding citizenship: as of today (things might change in a year or two or not) there are three ways to apply for the Peruvian nationality after having lived in Peru as a legal resident for at least two years: 1) by being married to a Peruvian, 2) by having the Spanish nationality or 3) by "naturalización". 1) and 2) don't apply to neither you nor your son. So, after two years of legal residency in Peru you can apply for la nacionalidad peruana por naturalización. 

      One of the requirements is that you must be of legal age (18+). So, before your son isn't 18 years he cannot apply for the Peruvian nationality. Another one is that you must prove an income of 10 UITs, which in 2025 equal S/ 53.500. There might be an exception for proving the income for foreign family members dependent on a Peruvian; so, when you have your Peruvian nationality you should check with Migraciones directly. 

      Assuming that you applied for a family visa based on being the child of a resident for your son, after three years of legal residency your son could apply for a visa residente permanente. No more extensions of the residence visa and while not the Peruvian nationality at least an indefinite resident permit. 

      And thank you so much for sharing your experience. Especially how you successfully handled the notarization of your proof of pension income surely is helpful to others as well. So, I will add this in the article above.

      I really hope, everything works out smoothly for your son as well.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Rod
    Rod · 28/06/2025
    I have my Carnet de Extranjeria but when I went through the process some months ago with Interpol/Peruvian police in Arequipa they indicated that once the FBI has verified my criminal history (or lack thereof) I need to bring that document back to them. Do you think that it needs apostilled and translated? The apostille is an issue because I am in Peru. Translation is however not an issue. 
    Your advice would be appreciated.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 28/06/2025
      @Rod
      Hello Rod,

      I never heard before that you have to bring the additional FBI check to Interpol once you received it. Are you sure you understood correctly? If so, I'm not sure what's going on at the Interpol office in Arequipa but they seem to invent additional requirements on the go. 

      Honestly, this additional FBI check incl. the money order for it is outdated anyway as for years now you have to present a criminal record check when applying for the visa. So, it's just ridiculous. Therefore many other Interpol offices now don't require the money order for the additional FBI check anymore, but ask if you already have the criminal record check with Apostille and translation and if so, no need for the money order and another FBI check.

      Anyway, to answer your question: I don't know as this never was and isn't a thing to do. Often - thanks to the Peruvian postal service - this additional check never reaches the recipient or arrives months later. And getting an Apostille on it is a headache as it must be send back to the US for the Apostille and then back to Peru.  

      Personally, I wouldn't do anything: you got your Ficha de Canje and your visa/carné. So, I don't see any reason to go back to Interpol. The envelope with your FBI check could be lost in the mail. If you are not comfortable with this, you could check with Interpol (if they really ask for this document, you could offer them a copy of the criminal record check that you used for your visa application to avoid additional delays and expenses).

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Jen
    Jen · 22/06/2025
    I have a question about the extra $500 per month requirement for dependents. I am confused about who is included on the application. I have one dependent, but he is already a Peruvian citizen and doesn't need a visa to stay in Peru. However, he would show up under my nuclear family and who I came to Peru with on the register data page. I do have the extra income to provide for him, but I didn't have his Social Security letter translated because I didn't think I needed it (and to save money). Should I get it translated before my tourist visa expires? His name on his Social Security letter isn't written exactly like his Peruvian passport or his USA passport, either, (they put his middle initial and no 2nd last name), so I hope it doesn't create problems. However, my name as written in my passport is at the top as his caregiver, and the requirement (if it applies) should only be that I show access to $500, and it shouldn't have to have his name at all, right? So far, I just had translated my own Social Security letter and the FBI letter and am ready to apply for the rentista visa. I don't have a lot of time left before my tourist visa expires.

    Thank you so much for all your help.

    Oops. I just checked, and they left out my middle name on my son's SSA letter. I don't know why they shortened our names. I can't change it, so I hope I am not going to have problems. It does show the same address as the other letter and his date of birth to prove it is me and him.

    If he was not already Peruvian, what is the process to "include" him in the application for residency? That is why I didn't think I needed to worry about the extra $500 because he doesn't need a visa, but now I am worrying after seeing the register data page.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 22/06/2025
      @Jen Hello Jen,

      Honestly, that’s tricky and I don’t know how Migraciones will evaluate the dependent on your social security letter.

      Your son is Peruvian, he entered Peru as a Peruvian and doesn’t need a visa. So, don’t make things more complicated than they already are by “including” him in a visa process, which he doesn't need.

      But he is on your benefits verification letter as a dependent and therefore Migraciones might (or not) want to see proof from you (!), not from your son, of an additional US$ 500. So, if your letter (not yours + your son’s) shows US$ 1500 or more you are fine. Don’t overthink, upload your letter and you are good.

      If your letter shows less than US$ 1500 there could be a problem waiting for you. You have two options: just upload your social security letter, hope nobody cares and check your buzón electronico regularly. If Migraciones isn’t happy, they will send a notification, and you can react immediately. As they usually only give you 5 days to reply, you then must apply for an extension of the deadline, can get your son’s letter translated and upload it. If Migraciones accept your son’s “income” as yours is a different matter as you (!) must proof the income not your son. And that the names are not spelled correctly on your son’ s letters makes the whole thing even more unpredictable.

      Or go on the offensive, get your son’s letter translated and upload both as one PDF and hope Migraciones accept it as your income and overlooks the name discrepancies.

      Not knowing before that you (!) possibly can’t fulfill the income requirements for the rentista visa, I recommended it as it’s usually so easy to apply for. But if your letter shows less than US$ 1500 you could still forget about the rentista visa and apply for a family visa based on being the mother of a Peruvian. But before considering it and jumping out of the frying pan into the fire first check on the Agencia Digital in the main menu on the left if you can find under “cambio de calidad migratoria” and “residente familiar” the subpoint “para el caso de padres de peruano/a”. If yes, consider if it might be better to apply for the family visa (you will need the DNI of your son and, not sure, but I think as well his Peruvian birth certificate (you could check this on the second page of the visa application, where you have to upload all the documents); if it's needed and if he was registered at Reniec in Peru you can get it online in minutes). 

      If the subpoint  “para el caso de padres de peruano/a” isn't in the menu, don’t try to apply for the family visa and go for the rentista visa.

      I hope everything works out.

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Jen
      Jen · 22/06/2025
      @Sunflower To clarify, I get slightly more than $1,000 in my own full name from Social Security. I could meet the rentista visa on my own (without dependents). However, my son would be listed under my personal datos. He would be in my nucleo familiar. Also, he would show as arriving with me to Peru. Therefore, I am not sure if this means he is included on my application or not. I am not trying to include him because he doesn't need a visa. Is there a spot somewhere else in the application process where you list people that you want to include to get residency? (I haven't got that far yet.) Otherwise, I am afraid they would use my personal datos section. If they do count him as a dependent, then he has his own SSA letter with me listed as his caregiver which would meet that, except for the names being shortened with the omission of middle names.

      Going the family visa has its own can of worms. They never like that my name on his birth certificate and DNI never matches my passport because I didn't keep my maiden name when I married. Also my passport number on his birth certificate is not the same number as my current passport (but I have my old passport to prove it is me). It is a huge headache, but I followed your advice and got a notarized, apostilled affidavit that explains I am one and the same person before and after marriage with my name changes, etc. I just haven't had it translated because of the cost. I only translated what I knew I would need. I don't have a current copy of his birth certificate, though. I might run out of time before I could get one, so I would probably go for the rentista visa and if they don't accept it, could I appeal and then ask for a family visa? I thought the family visa would be riskier than the rentista because he is a minor and didn't live in Peru before we came (although his DNI has a Peru address).

      TLTR: My big question is how does migraciones know who is counted on the rentista visa? Is there a section to add dependents on the rentista part and not just personal datos? Because I do not want to include him, but I see no way out of that in my personal datos section--which by the way, I still haven't completed because I haven't been able to do it in 20 minutes. 

      Thank you so much for all your time to read this and respond, as well as all the helpful info on your website. You help so many people, and I am grateful.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 22/06/2025
      @Jen
      Jen, I think we talk past each other.

      Your son can't be included in your visa application. It's not possible. First he is Peruvian and there is no need for a visa for him, second there is no option. And that he entered the country with you is irrelevant. 

      The problem is that he appears on you benefits verification letter as a dependent and is living with you in Peru. This officially (!) means that you (!!!) must proof US$ 1000 for you and US$ 500 for each dependent - officially no matter if the dependent needs a visa or not. So, if Migraciones only finds there US$ 1000, the person evaluating your application could (or not) deny it as you don't meet the income requirement for you and a dependent. You only meet your income requirements. 

      And as the second benefits verification letter shows your son as the beneficiary  it might not be accepted as your (!!!) income, even though you get the money. Your name must be on the letter as beneficiary. 

      I cannot tell you how the person evaluating your application interprets the regulations and your unusual circumstances. If you are lucky, nobody bothers that there is a dependent on your letter and that you can only proof the US$ 1000. But it is possible that a) your son is evaluated as a dependent, which b) could (!) mean you (!!!) - not you and your son; you alone on the letter issued in your name- must prove US$ 1500.

      As said before, you could just apply and hope for the best. If there are not happy, you could upload your son's letter and again hope for the best. If they are still not happy and there is no other option your application could be denied and you have to leave the country within 15 days.

      If you feel better, probably talk to Migraciones before your application (call 1800 or make an appointment on the Agencia Digital), explain your situation and hope that you have the pleasure of speaking to someone that is knowledgeable and can tell you if it makes sense to apply or not. 

      All the best
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Jen
      Jen · 23/06/2025
      @Sunflower OK, I am going to apply for the family visa as the parent of a Peruvian child. That subpoint is there. Do you think I will need a new Ficha de Canje? I put on the form I filled out at Interpol that I would be applying for the rentista visa, but the document I got from them is rather generic and only said something like I had no record. I really hope it isn't a problem. I have had a lot of problems in this process. I should just barely get my son's birth certificate back from the Ministry of Foreign Relations before my tourist visa expires. I wish I had a time machine so I could go back and not make some of the mistakes I have made in this process.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 24/06/2025
      @Jen
      Hello Jen,

      Great that you have the menu point on the Agencia Digital, so you shouldn't have problems with the application itself.

      The Ficha de Canje shouldn't be a problem. So don't worry about that.

      The old passport number on your son's birth certificate shouldn't be a problem either. If Migraciones make it a problem and send you a notification because of it, you can always prove that you are the same person with a copy of your old passport. So, I wouldn't worry about it.

      The different name can be a problem, but here you already were proactive and got a paper stating that you are the same person. This should be enough. You could make one PDF of the birth certificate and this document and upload it when you apply to avoid a notification from Migraciones. Or just upload the birth certificate and wait what happens. 

      If one day before your stay as a tourist expires you don't have your son's birth certificate, apply without it and upload a copy of the old birth certificate or if you don't have this a letter explaining that you are waiting for a copy from RREE instead. The old birth certificate / letter will be rejected and Migraciones will send you a notification requesting to upload a recent copy of your son's birth certificate. But, uploading the old one / letter allows you to continue and finish your application before your stay as a tourist expires. All explained in detail, for example, in our family visa article under Can I apply for a family visa if I don't have all the required documents?

      Once you submitted your application and have your numero de tramite your time as a tourist stops, and you don't have to worry about that anymore.

      The most important thing is that you check your Buzon electronico regularly to not miss any notification and any deadline. If you can't make a deadline, request an extension. 

      Unfortunately we can't turn back time, but you are doing exactly what is necessary to "survive" in Peru: one way isn't working, so you are taking another.

      From the bottom of my heart I wish you all the best and hope that everything works out. Expect another hurdle been thrown in your way, but don't give up.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Jeff Chauvet
    Jeff Chauvet · 10/06/2025
    Sunflower, I wish to thank you for all of the excellent information I have found here. For me it has been a long Journey. I have lived in Peru 5 of the past 7 years. Overstaying my Visa for nearly $2500 in overstaying fines. I am married to a Peruvian citizen. The Peruvian government was very gracious in accepting my fines , and allowing me to return in as little as 45 days. For those attempting to obtain a resident visa in Peru. Come with your apostillized documents in hand. It will take as much as a week to get them translated. Get your ficha de canje from your appointment with Interpol. Passport photo. Your statement that all of your money will come through the banking system. You will need a utility bill with your address on it. Pay the 161.40/soles fee. Scan all the documents separately. 3 mb max per page. Get yourself someone who is computer literate and speaks Spanish to help you fill out the application online. Now you are ready to apply. It is not possible to correctly navigate the website if you do not have strong Spanish speaking skills. The process is time consuming, and will cost you some money. If you come prepared it will cost much less. In Lima a lawyer will do it for you for $5000. If you use the tips I have given here from my own experience, you will save yourself time , aggravation, and a lot of money. By all means use the information on applying for residence visas found here on limaeasy. Good luck! 
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 10/06/2025
      @Jeff Chauvet
      Hello Jeff,

      thank you so much for your nice words and tips for our readers.

      I hope everything works out for you.

      All the best

      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Jon Gould
    Jon Gould · 04/06/2025
    I am in the process of applying for a Peruvian Rentista Visa.  My question regarding my pension.  I have established a checking account in Peru.  Am I required to have my monthly pension check directly deposited into my Peruvian checking account?  I would prefer to have my pension check deposited into my USA checking account.  Currently it is easier and cheaper for me to withdraw money from my USA account while I am in Peru.  From reading the notes, it sounds  like direct deposit of the pension check into a Peruvian account is not required.  I just want clarification.  Thank you.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 05/06/2025
      @Jon Gould
      Hello Jon,

      you are right. Your pension doesn't have to be deposited directly into your Peruvian account. You can have your pension check deposited into your US account and then, for example, transfer money from there into your Peruvian account or use an ATM in Peru.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Jen
    Jen · 02/06/2025
    I just arrived in Peru, but the immigration officer at the airport only gave me 30 days when I asked for 90. She said that I am only allowed 90 days per YEAR and for 2025 I have already used many of those days since I was here during January and February (I arrived in December.) I explained that I should be allowed 90 days out of every 180 days, and I had already stayed a little more than 90 days outside the country. However, I could not convince her, and appealing to supervisors did not help.

    So I need to act fast to apply for either a retirement visa or family visa. I think I would be eligible for both. I am the parent of a Peruvian child (still a minor), and I receive more than $1,000 per month from Social Security. I was married to a Peruvian, but he died, so I can't use the marriage route, but I am still a family member of a Peruvian who is with me. I do not plan on working no matter which visa I get. Do you have any advice? Which visa would be easier to get? I was worried about the availability of Interpol appointments, but if retirement visas don't need that, then that would help me. I already have my FBI background check and social security benefit letter both apostilled. I still need to get them translated. I am confused about the sworn statement. Does that need to be notarized or anything? Written inside Peru? In Spanish? My son also receives Social Security for his support, but he came into Pe
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 03/06/2025
      @Jen
      Hello Jen,

      To begin with a short explanation of the time foreigners can stay in the country as a tourist. According to the Peruvian foreigner law, in general, tourists can stay in Peru for up to 183 days in a 365-day period.

      However, this doesn’t mean that all foreigners can stay the full 183 days in a 365-day period or that you get the complete 183 days when you enter the country.

      A publication issued by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RREE), which is based on agreements Peru has with different countries, limits and, in some cases, divides the general 183 days per year allowing most foreign nationals to stay in Peru as a tourist for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.

      If you check out the list , you will see that for most foreign nationals, who can travel to Peru visa-free, you find 90/180, which means they can stay up to 90 days in a 180-day period, for a few 180/365, so up to 180 days in a 365-day period and 90/365 (up to 90 days in a 365-day period).

      I don't know how long you have already stayed in Peru within the last 365 days. But as the immigration officer said that you are only allowed 90 days per year I assume you are from the US. Under Estados Unidos de America you will on the list only 90, so 90 days. The list doesn't state if it's in a 180- or 365-day period. This leaves lots of room for interpretation and uncertainties.

      Over the past over three years, I regularly get e-mails or comments stating that someone or an immigration officer said/showed some document that US Americans (and a few other foreign nationals) can only stay 90 days in a 365-day period.

      I've never seen such a document explicitly stating 90/365 for US Americans nor could I find it on any official site. I even contacted Migraciones and the Peruvian General Consulate in Washington to get official information but they confirmed that US Americans can stay visa-free as a tourist for 183 days per year and the 90 means 90 days in a 180-day period.

      However, as in many countries around the globe it’s always at the discretion of the immigration officer how he/she evaluates you /your situation/your travel history and how many days he/she is willing to let you stay as a tourist in Peru. You are not entitled to stay the full 90 days in a 183-day period or the full 183 days per year. It's completely up to the immigration officer if he/she lets you enter and how long he/she allows you to stay.

      With this being said, if you have the option to apply for a residence visa and if you plan to stay at least half a year per year in Peru, best apply for residence visa. 

      As time is an issue, apply for the one you already have all documents. So, as you already have your social security letter and your criminal record check with Apostille go for the rentista visa and just get both documents translated, pay the fee for the visa application and, just to make sure, fill in the sworn statement. That should be it. 

      Which visa is better for you, I can't tell you. But if you want to switch from rentista visa to family visa at one point (because you want to work, for example) you can still do so any time, but hopefully then with less time pressure.

      It seems that your comment was cut off. I really, really hope that your son entered Peru on his Peruvian passport. Then he is in Peru as a Peruvian, can stay in Peru as long as he wants and doesn't have to prove anything. 

      All the best

      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Jen
      Jen · 03/06/2025
      @Sunflower Thank you for your reply. Yes, I am from USA. I think the immigration officer interpreted the law to be 90/365. I think I will apply for the rentista visa. Should I make or try to make an appt for interpol just in case they ask for it, or is this not needed at all for rentista visas? Yes, my son entered Peru with his Peruvian passport. Thank you so much for all you do with this website. You are a big help to so many people, including me.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 03/06/2025
      @Jen
      Thank you so much for your nice words. it's always great to hear that the page really helps foreigners getting through Peruvian bureaucracy. 

      And good that your son entered as a Peruvian, one worry less. 

      As said before, the rentista visa is a good option, especially as you already have required documents, and gives you a permanent residency from day 1. The only downside is not being able to work. If your circumstances change, you can always switch to a family or other residence visa later. But I think now it's important that you get your visa application done before your stay as a tourist expires.

      If nothing changed over the past few months the field on the Agencia Digital where you had to upload the Ficha de canje from Interpol during your application is gone. So, you cannot upload the document anymore. As things change quickly in Peru without prior notice you could check yourself on the Agencia Digital if the field is still gone (due to my immigration status I have no access to this part of the Agencia). 

      So, enter the Agencia Digital, in the left menu on the main page look for "Cambio de calidad migratoria” and there click on "Rentista Residente". You get to the first page of the actual visa application. Here, select the Migraciones branch or MAC center closest to you which should handle your application (for example, Lima, Cusco, Arequipa, …). Click on Siguente and your are on the 2nd page of the retirement visa application. On this page you find taps where you must fill in some data and/or upload all for the retirement visa application necessary documents or where you can just verify the current requirements.

      Just click through the tabs but do not upload any documents and do not click on Siguente; once you checked all tabs/requirements just leave the page completely. If the Ficha de canje tab is still gone, I would risk it and apply without the Ficha. However, be aware that Migraciones always has the right to ask for additional documents and could request later that you upload the Ficha. 

      So, if Migraciones evaluates your application and isn't happy that you haven't uploaded the Ficha, they will send you a notification requesting that you upload the document within a few days. As it isn't possible to get an appointment that quickly, you can then apply for an extension of the deadline Migraciones gave you, which gives you an additional 30 days, get an appointment and the Ficha and upload it. No problem. 

      Greetings
      Eva 
  • This commment is unpublished.
    MJ
    MJ · 02/06/2025
    Hi, thank you so much for your information on the rentista visa. My husband and I are entering Lima 25 of july as tourist (we dont need a visa for 90 days as tourists) and want to change our immigration status when we get to Peru. We where hoping to apply for the rentista visa, but as I can see in the earlier comments we won't qualify as we have a passive income from house renting, and active income from our job in our home country that we will keep and work remote - and not a pension. Is that correct?

    Can I ask you for other possibilities given our situation? We have return tickets back home in April 2026, so we will be staying for 9 months in first.

    I have explored the opportunities for digital nomad visa, but if I understand correct this is not yet available. Do you know when it will?

    Will we have any problems when entering Peru since our return date in April is longer than the 90 days we are permitted without a visa? I have talked to the embassy in Norway and they say we should apply once we're in the country, but I am not sure what's the best way forward, and find it really difficult to get information since I dont speak spanish yet.

    Thank you!
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 02/06/2025
      @MJ
      Hello MJ,

      to apply for a rentista visa in Peru you need any type of a state or private pension, lifelong benefits or a permanent (!) income for the rest of your life from royalties or dividends of at least US$ 1000 per month or the equivalent in any other currency.

      Passive income, such as rental income or income generated from remote work, is not considered a permanent income. So, I'm sorry, but with your type of income you cannot apply for a rentista visa in Peru.

      And yes, unfortunately, the digital nomad visa is still not available. It was already introduced in November 2023 in the modification of the Foreigner Law, Decreto Legislativo 1582, but to make it available, it must be included in the corresponding Migraciones administrative regulations, called TUPA, which for all Migraciones procedures include details of the application process, required documents and specific eligibility criteria. Until today, this didn't happen. It seems that the Peruvian government either forgot about the digital nomad visa, which many foreigners are looking forward to, or is still working on defining the regulations, required documents and criteria to be met for the Digital Nomad Visa. All we can do is continue to wait and hope for any official information. If there are any changes I will update our Digital Nomad Visa article immediately. 

      According to the foreigner law, foreign nationals can stay in Peru as a tourist a maximum of 183 days in a 365-day period. A publication issued by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs divides / limits this max for most foreign nationals, who can stay in Peru visa-free, to 90 days in a 180-day period (or 2 times 90-days in two 180-day periods). 

      You should be aware that you do not have a right to get the full 90 days in half a year when you enter or be allowed to stay the max allowed 183 days per rolling year. It's always at the discretion of the immigration officer if he/she lets you enter, how he/she evaluates your case and how long he/she is willing to let you stay.

      With this being said, 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 tourist visa or temporary authorization to stay as a tourist 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.

      When entering the country, Peruvian immigration officials hardly ever ask to see this proof. The ones executing above regulations are usually the airlines. As they could be held responsible and have to fly you back, if denied entry to Peru, most airlines require a return or onward flight ticket to even let you check-in to your flight to Peru. As your return ticket is dated 9 months after you enter Peru, you might get problems when checking in to your flight to Peru. So, best check with the airline. Some airlines as well accept a reservation for a return flight, a few are happy with a bus ticket and there are as well airlines that let you fly with just a one-way ticket.

      If your airline requests a return or onward ticket, which reflects the allowed time as a tourist, you could always make a reservation for one, print the confirmation, and then depending on the agency, you either don't pay it and let it expire or cancel it within a certain time. Other options include buying a fully refundable ticket or, more affordable, "renting" a ticket.

      Not knowing your situation and plans it's difficult to recommend other residence visas. As you are already married, marrying a Peruvian and applying for a family visa isn't an option. I assume as well that you don't plan to study in Peru, so no student visa either. You could apply for an investment visa, if you are willing to invest a substantial amount in a Peruvian company. Or if you consider working for a Peruvian company, even as an independent service provider, you could apply for a work visa. Other than that it's nearly impossible from the info I have to apply for a residence visa in Peru.

      One last option, which I do not recommend, especially because you want to stay such a long time in Peru, is to overstay your time as a tourist. Please read our article Peruvian overstay fine for tourists to learn about the consequences and fines involved. 

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Tania
    Tania · 21/05/2025
    Hello, thank you for all the wonderful information it has been a great help ! Once you are accepted and receive your carné de extranjería I understand you must remain a total of 183 days with in a year period in Peru. Is it correct that you count the days starting by the issue date on your carné card not from a calendar year ?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 21/05/2025
      @Tania
      Hello Tania,

      no, your days outside Peru are not per calendar year but per 365-day period. The big question is - and that seems to differ from immigration officer to immigration officer - when the 365-day period starts. Usually, immigration officers take as start date for the 365-day period the date your visa was approved or the date your carné was issued. However, I was told by a few of our readers that the immigration officer used the date when they first left the country.

      And be aware that according to the Peruvian Foreigner Law, article 33.1 (I attached a screenshot), foreigners with any resident immigration status, except permanent residency, lose the residency if their absence from the national territory exceeds 183 consecutive (!) days within a period of 365 days.

      While the article clearly states consecutive days, in practice immigration officers often interpret it as cumulative days. Usually all days a resident foreigner is outside Peru are added and if these exceed 183 days in a 365-day period the foreigner may not be allowed to enter as resident anymore and the resident visa is canceled.

      And even though the retirement visa is valid indefinitely and doesn't have to be extended it still isn't considered a permanent resident visa. There has been some discussion over the past years to change that, which would allow rentistas to be outside the country for 365 days instead of 183, but today it's still considered a temporary visa and the 183 days apply.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Theodore Anderson
    Theodore Anderson · 29/04/2025
    I have read mixed information on this visa. Are you sure in 2025 that rental income from my primary residence (house in the U.S.) doesn't count?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 29/04/2025
      @Theodore Anderson
      Hello Theodore,

      yes, I'm sure. 

      According to Peruvian regulations to apply for a retirement visa the applicant

      - must receive a state or private pension including social security pension, government pension, employment related pension, union pension, disability pension, etc.

      or

      - must prove a lifelong permanent income from royalties, dividends, or similar.

      So, you must prove that you get at least US$ 1000 for the rest of your life.

      Rental income, interests, etc. are not considered permanent income.

      While before 2021, Migraciones was more relaxed about the requirement allowing rental income, capital gains, etc. as proof, for the past few years they are strict requesting either a letter from social security or from a private/state pension or a confirmation of a lifetime permanent income.

      There are a few immigration lawyers and facilitators (called tramitadores in Peru) still claiming that they can get you a rentista visa with passive income, such as rental income. Be careful. I know only one person who went with a lawyer I don't know, who really managed to get the rentista visa based on having rental income (for that a "donation" was made to one person at Migraciones), all the others who tried didn't get the visa.

      However, you could always check with an official source, such as a Peruvian consulate or, perhaps better as they decide, Migraciones, the Peruvian immigration authority.

      Greetings
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Gregory Murphy
    Gregory Murphy · 20/04/2025
    Thank you so much for all of this information!  I was just about to initiate the process for obtaining a Peruvian retirement visa after reading, on 2 other websites, that investments and interest earned could be the basis for passive income.  Now I see on this website that is not an option?  I just want to verify if sufficient money in the bank earning more than the required amount ($1,000 per month) in interest would not be considered.  I am surprised that someone cannot just show proof of a large amount of money in a savings account as a basis for obtaining the aforementioned visa.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 20/04/2025
      @Gregory Murphy
      Hello Gregory,

      I already replied to your FB post  but here again.

      According to the Peruvian regulations to apply for a retirement visa the applicant

      - must receive a state or private pension including social security pension, government pension, employment related pension, union pension, disability pension, etc.

      or

      - must prove a permanent income for the rest of his/her life from royalties or dividends.

      So, you must prove that you get US$ 1000 for the rest of your life no matter what happens.

      Rental income, interests, etc. are not considered permanent income.

      While before 2021, Migraciones was more relaxed about the requirement allowing rental income, capital gains, etc. as proof, for the past few years they are strict requesting either a letter from social security or from a private/state pension or a confirmation of a lifetime permanent income.

      There are a few immigration lawyers and facilitators (called tramitadores in Peru) still claiming that they can get you a rentista visa with passive income. Be careful. I know only one person who went with a lawyer I don't know, who really managed to get the visa (for that a "donation" was made to one person at Migraciones), all the others who tried didn't get the visa.

      Another option for you could be an inversionista visa (investment visa). So, if you have S/ 500,000 (about US$ 130,000) you could invest it in a Peruvian company and then apply for a resident visa.

      Or we are all still waiting for the implementation of a digital nomad visa. It's already in the new foreigner law but they seem to still work on the requirements.

      Greetings
      Eva

    • This commment is unpublished.
      Gregory Murphy
      Gregory Murphy · 21/04/2025
      @Sunflower Thank you so much!  It looks like my mother, who also wants to live in Peru (she's been to the country many times in the past to visit me during my almost 7 years of living on the country in the past), could be the sponsor of the rentista visa with her own social security: as it would be over the $1,500 required for someone + 1 dependent.  Do you know if there are age, or any other type of, restrictions for dependents on this visa?  In other words, would an almost 50 year old son be allowed as a dependent?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 21/04/2025
      @Gregory Murphy
      Hello Gregory,

      having a plan B is always good in Peru. However, I fear that yours won't work.

      Usually, the dependent only can be a spouse, a minor child, an unmarried adult child (18 years to 28 years) dependent on the rentista visa holder, or an adult child with disabilities.

      However, as I couldn't find anything specific in the regulations and laws that clearly specifies the requirements for the dependent, I recommend that you contact either Migraciones, the Peruvian immigration authority, or a Peruvian consulate abroad. They - hopefully - know the answer.

      All the best
      Eva
  • This commment is unpublished.
    PC
    PC · 26/03/2025
    I am looking at the Rentista Visa for myself, wife, and two children with the goal of naturalizing as Peruvian citizens. Will my children, who will be younger than 18 after we stay the required time in Peru be allowed to naturalize as citizens at the same time as us?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 27/03/2025
      @PC
      Hello PC,

      I assume that you plan to apply for a retirement visa and once your visa is approved your wife and children for a family visa.

      The retirement visa allows you to live in Peru indefinitely. The family visa is valid for two years and then can be extended; after three years a change to a permanent resident visa is possible.

      Anyway, as over the past 3 or 4 years foreigners living for two consecutive years on a retirement visa in Peru had problems applying for the Peruvian nationality, best check with Migraciones or the Peruvian consulate if it's even possible when the time comes. Lot's can change in a few years.

      Additionally, be aware that - at least at the moment - minors cannot apply for the "nacionalidad peruana por naturalización". So, the foreign applicant must be at least 18 years old and must have lived in Peru as a legal resident for at least two years. Furthermore, if the applicant isn't married to a Peruvian or isn't in the country on a religious visa, he/she must show a yearly income of 10 UITs (in 2025, this equals S/ 53,500). And you must pass an exam mostly about Peruvian history.

      Greetings
      Eva
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Cool Moon
      Cool Moon · 20/04/2025
      @Sunflower So now it is impossible for retirement visa holders to apply for citizenship after two consecutive years stay in Peru?  Any recent change in laws about that?
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sunflower
      Sunflower
      • LimaEasy
       · 21/04/2025
      @Cool Moon
      Hello Cool Moon,

      I didn't say that it impossible, I just shared that over the past few years Migraciones is interpreting the regulations differently (no law changes, just a different interpretation) than before and is reluctant to accept applications for the Peruvian nationality from rentista visa holders.  

      If this will be the case tomorrow, or in a month or a year, I don't know. Therefore I recommend(ed) to contact Migraciones or a Peruvian consulate to get an official statement and plan accordingly.

      All the best.

      Greetings
      Eva

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