At Biz Latin Hub we are experts on the visa types in Peru and can guide you through the process from start to finish as well as advise on the best option for your situation. However, that’s not all. We can help you to incorporate a company in Peru and our array of back office services can make sure you stay compliant and completely above board. This guide provides an overview of the four most common visa types—tourist, business, work, and investor—and outlines their primary purpose and requirements.
Key Takeaways: Types of Visas in Peru
| What are the main categories of Peruvian visas? | Work, business or investment visas. |
| Can you work on a business visa? | A business visa is for short-term trips and does not permit work. |
| What is required to obtain a work visa (residente de trabajo)? | This working visa is also known as a Foreign Resident ID Card and is issued to expats with an employment contract in Peru. |
| How can you get an investor visa? | An investor visa requires a minimum investment in a Peruvian company. |
Visas for Short-Term Stays
1. Tourist Visa (Turista)
For tourism and recreational activities. Most Western nationalities can enter visa-free.
2. Business Visa (Negocios)
For short-term business activities like meetings. It must be obtained at a Peruvian consulate before travel and does not permit work.
The Peruvian Business visa is a single entry visa that lasts up to 90 days and is issued by your country’s Peruvian Embassy. It takes up to four days for this type of visa to be issued, but expats can pay a higher fee and get their business visa in only one day. Aside from the application fee, applicants are required to submit the following documents:
- Two passport size photographs
- Contract photocopy
- Valid passport
- Recent bank statement
- Business reference letters
- Proof of two-way ticket airline reservation
Visas for Long-Term Residency
1. Work Visa (Trabajador Residente):
This requires a formal employment contract with a company in Peru. The contract must first be approved by the Ministry of Labor. This visa grants temporary residency.
This working visa is also known as a Foreign Resident ID Card and is issued to expats with an employment contract in Peru. The employment contract would need to be for a minimum of (1) year and this working visa does of course give you the right to work in Peru. Working visas are issued by the Peruvian General Directorate of Immigration and Naturalization (DIGEMIN for its acronym in Spanish) and expats can only apply to them once they are in the country with either a tourist or a business visa. Applicants are required to submit the following documents translated to Spanish by a certified translator:
- Processing fee proof of payment
- Passport photocopy
- Employment contract signed by the company and authenticated by either a notary public or the DIGEMIN
Expert Tip: The Employment Contract Approval Process
From our experience, the most critical and often longest step in obtaining a work visa is getting the employment contract approved by the Ministry of Labor and Promotion of Employment. Before Migraciones will even accept the visa application, the contract must be submitted to and approved by the Ministry.
This process verifies that the contract complies with all Peruvian labor laws, including rules on hiring foreign nationals. We advise employers to ensure the contract is perfectly drafted to meet all legal requirements from the start, as any errors will cause the Ministry to reject it, forcing the entire process to begin again.
2. Immigrant Visas in Peru
Expats may apply for a Peruvian immigrant visa after holding a Foreign Resident ID card for two years and not having spent three consecutive months or six intermittent months outside Peru. This visa, which does not expire, may be issued by your country’s Peruvian Embassy or the DIGEMIN and takes up to 8 weeks to be processed. Applicants are required to submit the following documents translated to Spanish by a certified translator:
- Passport photocopy
- Foreign Resident ID Card photocopy
- Certificate of entries and exits from the country
- International Police background check
- First and most recent proof of income
3. Investor Visa (Inversionista)
For individuals who invest at least PEN 500,000 in a Peruvian company. This visa also grants temporary residency.
A Peruvian Investor Visa can be granted if you decide to invest USD$30,000 into an existing Peruvian company or one that you have set up for yourself. An investor’s visa is valid for (1) year, but DOES NOT give you the right to work in Peru. Here you must also consider that you would need to present a business plan from the company you are investing in and this company must guarantee to employ (5) local staff within the first year of business.
- Passport photocopy
- Online non-immigrant Visa Application
- Photo
4. Independent Professional Visas in Peru
If you have a profession and are a member of a professional body, then you could look to obtain a Peruvian Independent Professional Visa to work as an independent professional (freelancer). This gives you the right to work in Peru as an independent, but not to be employed under a contract. Depending on the profession, this visa can be difficult and very time consuming to obtain due to the assessments that need to be performed.
- Passport photocopy
- International Police background check
- Processing fee proof of payment
5. Peruvian Retirement Visas
Peruvian retirement visas are issued to expats who can prove a minimum monthly income of USD$1000 coming from outside of Peru. This permanent visa allows expats to live in Peru without working and some benefits include not paying a foreign tax and being able to import personal items (except cars) into Peru tax-free.
This visa is for (1) year, but does not give the right to work in Peru. In addition, expats may apply for citizenship after two years of holding a retirement visa. Applicants are required to submit the following documents translated to Spanish by a certified translator:
- Passport photocopy
- Pension or social security letter notarized by the home country and legalized by a Peruvian Consulate
- International Police background check
Governing Body: Migraciones
The National Superintendence of Migration (Superintendencia Nacional de Migraciones), commonly known as Migraciones, is the government agency in Peru responsible for controlling entry and exit, and for processing all applications for residency and changes in immigration status.
FAQs on visa types in Peru
If you spend 365 or more days continuously outside of the territory you will lose your residency unless you apply for a special leave permit or have other unusual circumstances.
This is a one year visa, and after three years of these visas (dependent or independent) you can transition to a permanent resident work visa.
It depends on various factors, but we recommend leaving as long as two months to be on the safe side.
The company must be registered with SUNAT and be established in Peru.
Yes, as long as you do not spend more than 365 continuous days outside of the territory.
Yes, although for them to remain in the country you may have to consider a family and/or marriage visa plus dependency clauses.
Citizens of many countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, and the EU, do not need a visa to enter Peru as a tourist for up to 90 or 183 days.
A business visa allows for short-term trips to attend meetings or negotiate contracts, but you cannot earn a salary. A work visa is a long-term residency permit that allows you to be formally employed by a Peruvian company and earn income.
The minimum investment required is PEN 500,000 (Peruvian Soles) in a new or existing Peruvian company. The company must also hire at least five Peruvian employees.
This is the official Foreigner ID Card issued by Migraciones to all temporary and permanent residents. Once your residency visa is approved, you must complete the process to obtain this card, which is your primary identification document in Peru.
Biz Latin Hub can help with all visa types in Peru
To do businesses in Peru, there are many types of visas to choose from. Obtaining a business visa can be complex, especially in an unknown environment. Make sure to connect with a local immigration expert to coordinate your transition into Peru.
At Biz Latin Hub, our team of local and expatriate professionals in Peru can support this process to ensure you are in full compliance with the local law. As a market leader for corporate immigration, legal, and accounting services in Latin America, we are your point of contact for multilingual market entry, exit, and back-office services.
Contact our specialists in Peru for a personalized visa strategy and legal support.
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