Peruvian Work Visa

Foreigners who have a valid and legally signed work contract with a Peruvian company that has been approved by the Peruvian Ministry of Labor or who have a legally signed service contract with a Peruvian company can apply for a work visa in Peru.

Depending on the type of employment or service agreement, Peru offers different work visa types, including temporary and resident work visas.

And before we continue ...

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

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

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

Table of contents

• Work visa types in Peru
• Legal background for the work visa application in Peru
  • Where to apply for a work visa
  • Important laws and regulations
• Requirements and documents to apply for a work visa in Peru
  • temporary work visa
  • resident work visa
    • for employees (trabajador dependiente)
    • for independent service providers (trabajador independiente)
• Step-by-step guide to apply for a work visa in Peru
  • Before submitting your application
    • Signing a work or service contract with a Peruvian company
    • Approval of a work contact by the Peruvian Labor Ministry
    • Translation of foreign documents
    • Interpol - Ficha de Canje
    • Paying the visa application fee
    • Last preparations
  • Submitting your visa application on the Agencia Digital
    • Step 1: Access the Migraciones Agencia Digital
    • Step 2: Select the visa application procedure
    • Step 3: Choose the Migraciones office and generate your update code
    • Step 4: Upload required documents
    • Step 5: Review and confirm your personal information
    • Step 6: Application confirmation
  • After submitting your application
    • Biometric data appointment
    • Buzon Electronico
    • Approval of your work visa
    • Getting your Carné (foreigner ID)
• Work visa Peru – Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
  • FAQs for temporary workers
  • FAQs for resident workers
• Special situations and practical tips
  • Where to find / how to recover your verification code and the login data for your Buzon electronico?
  • Can I apply for a work visa if my stay as a tourist is expired?
  • Can I apply for a work visa if I don't have all required documents?

Work visa types in Peru

Peru offers different work visa types depending on whether you plan to work in the country temporarily or live and work in Peru long-term.

Temporary work visa - Trabajador temporal

The temporary work visa in Peru is a multiple-entry visa that allows you to work in the country for up to 183 days within a 365-day period.

This visa is mainly intended for foreigners who have a work contract with a Peruvian company lasting less than 12 months and want to work in Peru on a short-term basis without the intention of establishing long-term residence in the country.

In addition, the temporary work visa is often used when a work contract includes a probation period and it is not yet clear whether the foreign employee will stay and work in Peru long-term.

If the probation period ends successfully and the contract is extended to 12 months or more, you can later apply for a resident work visa in Peru.

Resident work visa (dependent) - Trabajador residente dependiente

The resident work visa (dependent) is intended for foreigners who plan to live and work in Peru long-term as an employee of a Peruvian company.

To apply for this visa, you must have a valid work contract with a duration of at least 12 months without a probationary period.

The resident work visa is initially valid for one year, allowing you to legally live and work in Peru during this time. After the first year, the visa must be renewed annually.

After three years of legal residency in Peru on a resident work visa, you can apply for permanent residency. The permanent resident visa is valid indefinitely, as long as you do not leave Peru for more than one consecutive year.

Resident work visa (independent) - Trabajador residente independiente

The resident work visa (independent) is intended for foreigners who plan to live in Peru long-term and work as an independent service provider for a Peruvian company.

To apply for this visa, you must have a valid service contract with a Peruvian company lasting at least 12 months without a probationary period.

Like the dependent work visa, the resident work visa (independent) is initially valid for one year, allowing you to live and work in Peru during this time. After the first year, the visa must be renewed annually.

After three years of legal residency in Peru, you can apply for permanent residency, which is valid indefinitely as long as you do not leave Peru for more than one consecutive year.

Legal background for the work visa application in Peru

Where to apply for a work visa

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

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

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

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

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

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

Peruvian residence visa application from abroad

Peruvian 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 in Peru long-term and apply for a resident visa, several laws and regulations form the legal basis of the immigration system.

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

While in the section Requirements for a work visa application in Peru below we explain the required documents and procedures in English, the official list of requirements can be found in the following legal sources:

Temporary work visa

In the Decreto Supremo 002-2021-IN, page 33, in article 75-C
“Procedimiento administrativo de cambio de calidad migratoria trabajador temporal”.

Since the TUPA is the most current official document and may contain small updates compared to the Decreto Supremo, we recommend checking it as well when looking for the latest official information in Spanish. In the current version, the relevant section can be found on page 88.

Resident work visa (dependent and independent)

In the Supreme Decree DS N° 002-2021-IN, page 42, in article 88-B
“Procedimiento administrativo de cambio de calidad migratoria trabajador residente”.

Since the TUPA is the most current official document and may contain small updates compared to the Decreto Supremo, we recommend checking it as well when looking for the latest official information in Spanish. In the current version, the relevant section can be found on page 131.

Requirements and documents to apply for a work visa in Peru

Below you find the official requirements and documents needed to apply for a work visa in Peru - more precisely to complete the procedure called Cambio de calidad migratoria (change of immigration status).

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

Required documents for a temporary work visa

• Passport
• Legally signed work contract with a Peruvian company approved by the Peruvian Ministry of Labor, with a duration of less than 12 months or including a probation period (the approval must not be older than 30 days)
• Interpol clearance - Ficha de canje internacional issued not more than 6 months ago (see below)
• Sworn statement declaring that you do not have a criminal record in Peru or abroad 
• Sworn statement of the legal representative of the company declaring that he or she is responsible for hiring staff and explaining the need to employ a foreign worker
• SUNAT registration (RUC - Peruvian tax number) of the Peruvian company employing you (4)
• Receipt for the paid application fee
  • Authority: Migraciones
  • Code: 07568 - Cambio de calidad migratoria
  • Concept: Cambio de calidad migratoria trabajador temporal
  • Fee: S/ 22.20 (2026)

Required documents for a resident work visa in Peru

Dependent (!) resident work visa (trabajador dependiente)

• 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)
• Legally signed work contract with a Peruvian company approved by the Peruvian Ministry of Labor, with a duration of at least 12 months (the approval must not be older than 30 days). Approval exceptions apply for “exonerated workers” (see explanation above)
• Interpol clearance - Ficha de canje internacional issued not more than 6 months ago (see below)
• Sworn statement of the legal representative of the company declaring that he or she is responsible for hiring staff and explaining the need to employ a foreign worker
• SUNAT registration (RUC - Peruvian tax number) of the Peruvian company employing you (4)
• Receipt for the paid application fee
  • Authority: Migraciones
  • Code: 07568 - Cambio de calidad migratoria
  • Concept: Cambio de calidad migratoria trabajador residente
  • Fee: S/ 161.40 (2026)

Independent resident work visa (trabajador independiente) 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)
• Legally signed service contract with a Peruvian company with a duration of at least 12 months
• Interpol clearance - Ficha de canje internacional issued not more than 6 months ago (see below)
• Sworn statement of the legal representative of the company declaring that he or she is responsible for hiring staff and explaining the need to employ a foreign worker
• SUNAT registration (RUC - Peruvian tax number) (4)
• Receipt for the paid application fee
  • Authority: Migraciones
  • Code: 07568 - Cambio de calidad migratoria
  • Concept: Cambio de calidad migratoria trabajador residente
  • Fee: S/ 161.40 (2026)

Explanatory notes

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

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

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

(2) Criminal record check

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

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

Legal Stuff

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

(3) Foreign document rules in Peru

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

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

(4) RUC

Even though no longer on the official requirement list, if you are applying for a temporary work visa or a dependant resident work visa the system might ask you to enter the RUC number of the company employing you. Ask your company for it. If you are applying for an independant resident work visa, the system might instead ask for your personal RUC number. However, a personal RUC can usually only be obtained from SUNAT once you already have your resident visa. If this situation occurs, you should check with Migraciones on how to proceed with the application.

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

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

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

The tricky part, especially if you are not working for a large international company that assists with immigration procedures, is usually the preparation required before you can actually submit your visa application. Several important steps must be completed in advance before Migraciones allows you to apply for the work visa.

Before submitting your visa application

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

One of the most important steps is having a valid work contract or service contract with a Peruvian company. In the case of an employee work visa, the contract usually must also be approved by the Peruvian Ministry of Labor before it can be used for the visa application.

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

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

Signing a work or service contract with a Peruvian company

After finding a Peruvian company willing to employ you and sponsor your work visa, or a company that wants to hire you as an independent service provider, the most important step in the process is signing a valid work or service contract.

If you sign a work or service contract with a Peruvian company while still abroad, make sure that the contract is legalized by a Peruvian consulate before traveling to Peru. If the contract is not in Spanish, it must be translated into Spanish by an official translator once you are in Peru.

If you are already in Peru as a tourist, you must first obtain a so-called Permiso para firmar contratos, also referred to as Permiso especial para suscribir documentos, before you can legally sign the contract. Since January 2018, this permit can easily be requested online. Our article Permit to sign contracts in Peru explains the process step by step.

Permit to sign contracts in Peru

Legal Stuff

Foreign nationals who are in Peru as tourists or hold another temporary immigration status are not allowed to sign legally binding documents unless...

Once you have received this permission, you can legally sign the work or service contract.

If you entered Peru as a business traveler, however, you usually do not need the permit to sign contracts, as this authorization is already included in your immigration status.

Approval of work contract by the Peruvian Labor Ministry

Once the work contract is correctly signed, it usually must be approved by the Peruvian Ministry of Labor (Ministerio de Trabajo y Promoción del Empleo) before it can be used for a work visa application.

However, there are some important exceptions.

Contracts with citizens of Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Spain only have to be registered with the ministry, but they do not require formal approval.

In addition, certain foreigners are considered exonerated workers (trabajadores exonerados). This includes foreigners who are married to a Peruvian and already hold a family visa, as well as foreigners who have permanent resident status in Peru. In these cases, the work contract does not require approval by the Ministry of Labor.

For exonerated workers, some employment regulations that normally apply to foreign employees also do not apply. For example, Peruvian companies are usually limited to having no more than 20% foreign employees on their payroll, and the salaries paid to foreign workers may not exceed 30% of the company’s total payroll.

Finally, service contracts for independent workers do not require approval by the Ministry of Labor.

Applying for the contract approval

Over the past years, the procedure for approving a work contract has been simplified and is now done online through the Registro Nacional de Contratos de Trabajo de Personal Extranjero website of the Peruvian Ministry of Labor. The process is completed on the SIVICE platform (Sistema Virtual de Contratos de Extranjeros).

The website can be a bit confusing, and detailed information is somewhat limited. If you scroll down to the very bottom of the page, you will find a green button labeled “Ir al Sistema.” Clicking this button redirects you to the SIVICE platform, where the application for the approval of the work contract can be started. Alternatively, you can use this direct link to the SIVICE page. 

If you want to get an overview of the procedure beforehand, the Ministry of Labor provides a video explaining how the SIVICE system works. There is also a manual available for download (usually displayed as a blue button near the “Ir al Sistema” button).

Processing time of contract approval

Usually, the evaluation process takes about 5 to 7 business days, so the contract approval is often issued within a week or two. However, longer waiting times have occasionally been reported.

With the exception of the cases mentioned above, you can only apply for a temporary work visa or a resident work visa (dependent) once the work contract has been approved by the Ministry of Labor.

As mentioned earlier, service contracts used for the resident work visa (independent) do not require approval by the Ministry of Labor.

Translation of foreign documents

Foreign documents required for a resident work visa application, such as the criminal record certificate, must be translated into Spanish if they are issued in another language.Temporary work visa applicants typically do not have to submit foreign documents, so in many cases no translation is required.However, if any document issued abroad is part of your application and is written in a foreign language, it must be translated into Spanish before it can be accepted by the Peruvian authorities.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Interpol

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

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

Interpol - Ficha de Canje Internacional

Legal Stuff

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

Paying the application fee

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

Payment can be made either:

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

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

Paying administration charges and processing fees in Peru

Legal Stuff

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

For the work visa application, you need:

• Authority: Migraciones
• Code: 07568 - Cambio de calidad migratoria
• Concepto:
  • Temporary work visa: Cambio de calidad migratoria trabajador temporal
  • Resident work visa: Cambio de calidad migratoria trabajador residente
• Fee:
  • Temporary work visa: S/ 22.20
  • Resident work visa: S/ 161.40 

Last preparations

If you are applying for a temporary work visa, you must complete and sign a Sworn statement declaring that you do not have a criminal record in Peru or abroad. As explained above, foreigners staying in Peru as a tourist can only legally sign documents if they have a valid Permit to sign contracts (permiso para firmar contratos). Therefore, make sure your permit is still valid when signing the sworn statement.

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

Once everything is prepared, you are ready to start your work visa application. Even though, according to Peruvian law, the company employing you must support the work visa process and many companies handle the paperwork through their lawyers or HR departments, it can still be helpful to understand the application procedure yourself.

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

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

Legal Stuff

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

Submitting your visa application on the Agencia Digital

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

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

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

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

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

Step 1: Access the Migraciones Agencia Digital

Go to the Migraciones Agencia Digital and click on Entrar.

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

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

Click Verificar.

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

Step 2: Select the visa application procedure

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

• Either use the search bar, or
• In the left-hand menu, go to Cambio de calidad migratoria and select
  • Trabajador Temporal, or
  • Trabajador Residente.

Click on the one that applies to continue.

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

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

Fill in the required fields:

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

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

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

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

Accept the sworn statement and click Continuar.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Once you have completed this section, click Guardar.

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

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

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

Once you have completed all questions, click Continuar.

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

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

Step 4: Upload required documents

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

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

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

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

Pago por derecho de trámite (application fee)

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

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

After entering the information, click Validar.

Documento de Identificación (ID document)

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

Ficha de Canje Interpol (Interpol clearance)

Under Ficha de canje Interpol, you must upload:

• all applicants: the Ficha de Canje Internacional issued by Interpol in Peru, and
• temporary work visa applicants: the sworn statement declaring that you do not have a criminal record in Peru or abroad.
• resident work visa applicants: the criminal record certificate with Apostille and Spanish translation.

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

Contrato (Contract)

Under Contracto you must upload:

• Temporary or dependent resident work visa applicants:
  • work contract approved by the Labor Ministry 
• Independent resident work visa applicants
  • service contract

Documentos especificos

Under Documentos especificos you must upload the sworn statement of the legal representative of the company.

Ficha RUC

If you are applying for a temporary work visa or a dependant resident work visa you must enter the RUC number of the company employing you.

If you are applying for an independant resident work visa, the system might instead ask for your personal RUC number. However, a personal RUC can usually only be obtained from SUNAT once you already have your resident visa. If this situation occurs, you should check with Migraciones on how to proceed with the application.

Exceso de permanencia (overstay)

There is one final tab called Exceso de permanencia.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Final step

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

Step 5: Review and confirm your personal information

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

The only fields you can edit here are:

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

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

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

Step 6: Application confirmation

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

Do not continue yet.

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

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

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

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

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

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

After submitting your visa application

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

Biometric data appointment

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

Make an appointment

For a long time, getting an appointment in Lima was quite a challenge. Fortunately, biometric data can now also be registered at several MAC centers, not only at the Migraciones office. As a result, it is usually much easier to secure an appointment within a reasonable time. At the offices in the provinces appointments are usually readily availbale.

Nevertheless, we recommend using the provided link at the end of your application and scheduling the appointment immediately.

If you prefer to make the appointment later, you can return to the Agencia Digital and book it under Citas en Línea, subcategory Para registro de datos biométricos.

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

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

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

What to expect during your appointment

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

You will only need your

• Passport, and
• printed (!) appointment confirmation

The procedure can vary slightly depending on the office. At the Migraciones office in Lima, for example, you usually receive a number and wait until you are called. At some MAC centers, however, you may first have to queue with other visitors at the check-in counter before being allowed to enter.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Buzon Electronico

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

You can access your Buzón

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

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

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

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

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

Subsanacion - Submitting documents

Legal Stuff

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

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

Extension of a Migraciones deadline

Legal Stuff

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

Approval of your work visa

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

The official processing time for temporary and resident visa applications is 30 business days. In practice, however, most temporary work visa applicants receive the approval notification in their Buzón electrónico within four to six weeks, while resident visa applicants usually wait two to three months.

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

You can also check the status of your application:

• in the Agencia Digital under Historial de trámites, or
• on the Migraciones website under Consulta de estado de trámite.

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

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

asking about the status of your application.

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

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

Congratulations!

For temporary work visa applicants, this usually completes the process. Temporary work visa holders normally do not receive a Carné de extranjería, as the visa only authorizes a temporary stay and work activity in Peru.

For resident work visa applicants, however, the process is not finished yet, as you still need to obtain your Carné de extranjería, your official Peruvian ID.

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

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

Getting your Carné (foreigner ID)

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

• Citas en Línea, subpoint recojo de documentos.

Download and print the appointment confirmation.

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

If you urgently need your carné

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

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

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

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

To collect your carné, be on time and bring:

• passport
• printed appointment confirmation (if applicable)

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

Congrats! You made it!

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

Work visa Peru - Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

FAQs for temporary workers

How long can I stay in Peru on a temporary work visa?

A temporary work visa allows you to stay and work in Peru for up to 183 days within a 365-day period. The exact validity period is usually linked to the duration of your approved work contract or your probation period.

When can I start working in Peru on a temporary work visa?

Officially, you are only allowed to start working once your work visa has been approved by Migraciones. Even if you already signed a work contract and submitted your visa application, you are not legally authorized to work until the visa approval notification is issued.

In practice, however, some companies allow foreign employees to start working earlier while the visa application is being processed.

Can I extend a temporary work visa in Peru?

Yes. A temporary work visa can generally be extended as long as the conditions for the visa are still met.

Can I change from a temporary work visa to a resident work visa?

Yes. If your employer offers you a work contract with a duration of at least 12 months and without a probation period, you can apply for a change of immigration status to a resident work visa (trabajador residente) while you are in Peru.

Do temporary work visa holders receive a Carné de extranjería?

No. Temporary work visa holders normally do not receive a Carné de extranjería, as the visa only authorizes a temporary stay and work activity in Peru.

Can I work for more than one company on a temporary work visa?

No. A temporary work visa is linked to the specific work contract and employer used for the visa application.

FAQs for resident workers

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

How long is the resident work visa valid?

The resident work visa - the permit that allows you to legally live in Peru - is usually valid for one year. After this period, it must be extended to maintain your legal resident status.

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

Residence visa extension in Peru

Legal Stuff

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

How long is the carné de extranjería valid?

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

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

Renewal of the Carné de Extranjería

Legal Stuff

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

When can I start working in Peru on a resident work visa?

Officially, you are only allowed to start working once your work visa has been approved by Migraciones. Even if you already signed a work contract and submitted your visa application, you are not legally authorized to work until the visa approval notification is issued.

In practice, however, some companies allow foreign employees to start working earlier while the visa application is being processed.

Do resident work visa holders need a Peruvian tax number (RUC)?

Yes, Yes. Once you have obtained your resident work visa and your Carné de extranjería, you must register for a Peruvian tax number (RUC) and obtain a SOL password (Clave SOL). Both are issued by SUNAT, Peru’s tax authority.

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

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

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

What should I do if my personal information changes?

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

This includes, for example:

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

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

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

Update your information in the Migraciones database

Legal Stuff

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

Can I change my employer on a resident work visa?

Yes. If you change employers while holding a resident work visa, you usually do not have to apply for a new visa. Instead, you must report the change to Migraciones and request an Actualización de datos (update of your immigration data) so the new employer and work contract can be registered in the system.

What documents do I need when leaving Peru temporarily?

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

In addition, foreigners living in Peru on a resident work visa may be required to present a tax declaration form before being allowed to leave the country.

If you worked as an employee in Peru

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

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

• log into Click on link to read more...