General Info

• Travelers need a passport valid at least half a year with at least 2 free pages in the visa section when entering Peru.
• The maximum stay in Peru on a tourist visa is 183 days (per year)!
• You can’t extent your tourist visa once you entered Peru!
• Peruvian tourist visa are single entry visa only!
• Like in most countries around the world you are not allowed to work on a tourist visa!
• In case you need to sign any important contracts (work contract, apartment purchase, sometimes even a marriage certificate…) you need a permission to sign contracts otherwise the papers aren’t legal! You can get this permit quite easily at the Immigration Office “Dirección General de Migraciones y Naturalizacion”, Av. España 734 in Breña.

According to Peruvian law foreign visitors must have a return or onward ticket /passage when entering the country. While this law isn’t enforced by Peruvian immigrations, airlines often demand to see a return or onward ticket when checking in for a flight to Peru. If you can’t provide one, most airlines refuse boarding the plane. So in case you are planning to leave Peru for example by bus, check with the airline, if they accept a bus ticket or similar to avoid unpleasant surprises at the airport.

Do I need a Tourist Visa for Peru?

In general citizens of the countries in the listing below do NOT have to apply for a visa at an embassy or consulate before entering Peru. A passport valid at least six months with at least 2 free pages in the visa section is enough to get a Tourist Visa (actually it’s only an entry stamp) directly at the border or the airport. Children should travel on their own passport with photo. Below listed countries can get a tourist visa at airport immigrations or any other Peruvian border without applying for it at an embassy or consulate (for a more detailed listing, please check out our pdf document “Visa Obligation for Foreign Nationals in Peru” above as published by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs):

• North America: Citizens of the United States, Canada and Mexico.
• Central America: Citizens of most Central American countries (exception Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic).
• South America: Citizens of all South American countries.
• Europe: Citizens of all countries within the European Union and Switzerland.
• Africa: Citizens of South Africa.
• Asia: Citizens of Brunei, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand
• Oceania: Citizens of Australia and New Zealand

Also have a look at the following PDF document with a detailed country listing:

Peruvian Tourist Visa Requirements & Procedures

Nationals of a few other countries (see our pdf document “Visa Obligation for Foreign Nationals in Peru” above as published by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs) need a visa even for tourism purposes. Peru doesn’t offer online visa application, so these nationals have to apply for their tourist visa at the Peruvian Consulate that has jurisdiction over their domicile or country of residence.

Unfortunately especially in Africa and Asia, the continents where most residents have to apply for a tourist visa, there are only a few Peruvian Diplomatic Missions. So finding the correct one and applying for the visa can be a mission. As the Peruvian Foreign Ministry unfortunately doesn’t publish which consulate has the jurisdiction over which countries, we recommend getting in contact with the nearest Peruvian Consulate in case there is none in your country of residence. Check out our section “Peruvian Embassies & Consulates Worldwide” to find a Peruvian Diplomatic Mission close by.

Visa requirements for a tourist visa include, but may not be restricted to:

• Application Form.
• Valid Passport.
• Round Trip Ticket.
• Hotel Reservation, Tourist Package Reservation or Invitation Letter.
• Proof of sufficient funds.
• In some countries personal interview.
• In some countries proof of legal residency.
• Passport photos.
• Application Fee.

Extension of Peruvian Tourist Visa

Since July 2008 it is NOT possible to extend your tourist visa once you have entered Peru!!! When arriving at the airport or border, make sure you get a visa for the time you intent to stay. After Peruvian law the maximum time for a tourist to stay in the country is 183 days per year.

Expired Tourist Visa

If your tourist visa is for whatever (intentional or unintentional) reasons expired, you don’t have to fear extreme consequences. When leaving the country you will be asked to pay a “fine” of US$ 1. – per day since the expiration of your visa. Depending on where you leave the country, you can pay this fee at a branch of the “Banco de la Nación” (i.e. within the vicinity of the airport). After that you get your exit stamp and can leave Peru.

If you can’t pay this fee you will be held in custody until someone pays it for you. Better be prepared and have the cash in US Dollar on hand.

Of course we would like to advise you, to have your visa up-to-date at all times! Even if you usually don’t get any trouble, there is always a slight possibility someone will check your passport. In the worst case scenario this might lead to your arrest and deportation to your home country.

Please note: LimaEasy has no affiliation with the Peruvian Government or any Peruvian Embassy / Consulate abroad. All visa information is published to our best knowledge, but subject to change without prior notice! Therefore we recommend checking the current regulations before your trip to Peru with the nearest Peruvian Consulate or Embassy!

Business Visa for Peru

Regardless of the nationality, anyone travelling to Peru for business purposes, especially when business contracts or agreements are signed or business related financial transaction are made, has to apply for a business visa at a Peruvian Consulate before entering the country. The Peruvian business visa is a multiple entry visa and entitles its holder to enter Peru within a time period of 12 months from the date of issue. The maximum stay on a business is 183 day per year, but the consulates abroad reserve the right to grant visas for shorter stays. Peruvian business visa can’t be extended.

Visa requirement for a Peruvian Business Visa include, but may not be restricted to:

• Application Form.
• Valid Passport.
• Round Trip Ticket.
• Letter from the company sponsoring the business trip, indicating the purpose of the visit to Peru, length of the stay, and assurance that the business person is travelling with sufficient funds to last the duration of the trip.
• Proof of legal residency in the country you are applying.
• Passport photos.
• Application fee.

Student Visa

Students planning to study at a Peruvian educational institution or wanting to do an internship / apprenticeship (without payment) at a Peruvian company, have to apply for a student visa. Please note that the Peruvian educational institution or training facility has to be recognized by the Peruvian Ministry of Education or the National Assembly of University Rectors.

Peruvian Diplomatic Missions abroad don’t issue Student Visa anymore. Students or interns have to enter Peru on a tourist visa and then change their immigration status at Peru’s immigration office DIGEMIN.

Requirements for a Student visa include, but may not be restricted to:

• Passport valid at least 6 months.
• Valid (tourist) visa at the time of application.
• For Students: Enrollment certification issued by a recognized educational institution.
• For interns: Official letter from the foreign university or higher education institution, legalized by the Peruvian Consulate (or stamped with an Apostille) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Proof of sufficient financial resources to fund your studies or internship in Peru.
• Application form and fee.