Guides · Peru
The stakes: Relocating to Peru requires a specific order of steps. Missing one can delay your residence card or bank account.
The facts: You must first obtain a residence visa, then the Carné de Extranjería. This card is your key to renting, banking, and driving.
The context: Peru’s rules changed recently for bank accounts. Passport-only accounts are now possible, easing the first weeks.
Residence Visa Routes
To live in Peru, you need a residence visa before getting a Carné de Extranjería. Categories include worker, investor, family member, religious, and rentista, according to VisaAtlas in July 2026.
The rentista visa suits foreigners with passive income. You must show at least US$1,000 per month, plus US$500 per dependent, as per OpenVisa in January 2026.
For a family-member visa based on marriage to a Peruvian, you need regular immigration status and no criminal records. You must also provide an apostilled background check and a valid passport, says Immigration Peru in January 2026.
Carné de Extranjería: Your Foreigner ID
The Carné de Extranjería (CE) is the identity document for foreign residents in Peru. It is issued after your residence status is approved, according to Migraciones in July 2026.
The CE issuance fee is S/ 24.00 (about US$6.40) for residents, payable at Banco de la Nación under code 07561. Some guides quote S/ 49.20 for permanent residence, as per Trámites Perú in March 2026.
To apply for the CE, you need valid resident status, the payment receipt, your passport, and an INTERPOL check issued within the last six months for adults, says IPerú in September 2025.
RUC and DNI Equivalents
Peru’s tax ID for individuals is the RUC, issued by SUNAT. Foreign residents typically use their Carné de Extranjería number to obtain a RUC, according to Andino Peru Tours in April 2026.
The CE serves as the foreigner’s ‘DNI’ for most identification purposes. The DNI for nationals is managed by RENIEC, while Migraciones handles the CE, as per Trámites Perú in March 2026.
No official figure has been published for exact mapping rules between CE numbers and RUC formats. You will need to consult SUNAT directly.
Opening a Bank Account
Foreign residents can open bank accounts with a valid Carné de Extranjería, passport, proof of address, and sometimes a RUC. Banks like BCP, Interbank, BBVA, and Scotiabank follow SBS rules, says ComparaLatam in April 2026.
A recent change allows foreigners to open basic accounts using only a passport, per Resolución N.° 00908-2025 in June 2025. This lowers the barrier for newcomers without a CE, as noted by Wilhard.ru in July 2026.
For standard accounts, you may need a formal rental contract and utility bills. Without these, banks may only offer a basic account, warns Expat.com in July 2026.
Rental Contracts and Guarantees
Rental contracts in Peru often require a guarantor (fiador) or proof of stable income. Foreign residents use their Carné de Extranjería and local bank statements, but this is market custom, not a single law, says Settling in the Sun in January 2026.
Any foreign document for rental transactions must be translated into Spanish and may need apostille. This applies to income proof or IDs submitted to notaries, according to the same source.
No official figure has been published for typical rent deposit multiples. Arrangements vary by landlord and city.
Health Cover Options
Foreign residents can enroll in private health insurance plans from local insurers. Many expat guides recommend private cover in addition to any public system entitlement, says Settling in the Sun in January 2026.
No official figure has been published for monthly premium costs. You should compare plans from local insurers.
Driving Licence Exchange
To drive long-term, foreign residents are expected to exchange their licence. The process requires a medical certificate, a certificate from the issuing authority, and a knowledge test unless reciprocity exists, according to MTC in February 2026.
The exchange fee is S/ 7.50 for an electronic licence or S/ 15.50 for a physical one, plus a medical exam costing about S/ 99–200. Pay at Banco de la Nación, says Trámites Perú in June 2026.
Do not assume automatic recognition. Without proper exchange, you risk fines and insurance issues, warns MTC.
Shipping and Customs Allowances
Peru allows duty relief on household goods (‘menaje de casa’) for foreign residents with approved residency visas. You must have lived abroad for at least 13 consecutive months before arrival, says Flyto Relocation in August 2026.
Shipments must arrive within one month before to six months after your arrival. You cannot have used the benefit in the previous two years, according to the same source.
If the full benefit does not apply, a reduced 12% tax applies to qualifying goods. This rate is only available with a resident visa and Carné de Extranjería, as per Flyto Relocation in August 2026.
No official figure has been published for the maximum customs value allowed. No official figure has been published for car import duties.
Schools for Expat Children
Peru has international schools in Lima and other cities. You will need to provide your child’s birth certificate, translated and apostilled if necessary, for enrollment.
No official figure has been published for school fees. Contact schools directly for current costs and availability.
First 90 Days Checklist
In your first 90 days, prioritize: enter on a valid visa, then apply for residence status change from within Peru. Use Migraciones’ online platform, says Andino Peru Tours in April 2026.
Obtain your Carné de Extranjería as soon as residence is approved. Then open a bank account, find rental housing, and arrange health insurance.
For permanent residence, you must maintain legal residence for three consecutive years. Absences must not exceed 183 consecutive days in any 365-day period, says Expat.com in July 2026.
Common mistakes include not apostilling documents, assuming tourist status converts freely, and paying the wrong Banco de la Nación code. Avoid these to prevent delays, warns Modelo.pe in June 2026.
Comparing Peru with Neighbors
Peru’s CE issuance fee is generally lower than Chile’s cédula de identidad for foreigners. Chile has a more integrated tax ID but stricter income thresholds, says Trámites Perú in March 2026.
Peru is more bank-integration-friendly than Ecuador due to passport-based accounts. Ecuador usually requires a cedula or local tax ID, but its digital systems are less backlogged, notes Expat.com in July 2026.
Exact Fees and Who Charges Them
The Carné de Extranjería for residents has an official issuance fee of S/ 24.00, payable to Banco de la Nación under code 07561. This fee is set by Migraciones and can be paid via Pagalo.pe, as reported by Trámites Perú on 1 March 2026.
For first issuance of the CE for permanent residence, some guides quote a fee of S/ 49.20 for the card itself, based on the TUPA of Migraciones. This figure appears in Expat.com on 10 July 2026 and Modelo.pe on 25 June 2026.
The change of migratory status to permanent resident has an official administrative fee of about S/ 161.40–162.50, referenced as the TUPA Migraciones ‘tasa cambio de calidad migratoria’. The stated resolution time is 30 working days, according to PeruPráctico on 1 January 2026 and Modelo.pe on 25 June 2026.
Extensions of resident status carry a S/ 20.20 fee under code 07566 at Banco de la Nación or Pagalo.pe, with a 5-working-day resolution deadline. This is based on practical TUPA tables summarizing Migraciones procedures, as reported by PeruPráctico on 1 January 2026.
A change from temporary status to special resident is listed with a fee of S/ 40.60 and an indicative resolution time of 30 working days, again referencing TUPA Migraciones codes. This information comes from PeruPráctico on 1 January 2026.
Step-by-Step Timeline for Residence and CE
The first step is to enter Peru on a valid temporary stay or visa, then switch to a resident category from within Peru using Migraciones’ online platform. This is confirmed by Andino Peru Tours in their Peru Immigration Guide 2026, published on 24 April 2026.
After your resident status is approved, you must apply for the Carné de Extranjería. The application requires a valid resident migratory status, payment of the fee at Banco de la Nación or Pagalo, the emission form with receipt number and date, your passport or travel document, and for adults an INTERPOL international criminal check issued within the last 6 months.
The resolution time for resident status changes is generally around 30 working days, while extensions are faster at about 5 working days. These are service standards from the TUPA of Migraciones, as summarized by PeruPráctico on 1 January 2026.
Once you have the CE, you can use it for most ID purposes, including opening bank accounts and signing contracts. The CE is issued after your residence status is approved, as stated by Superintendencia Nacional de Migraciones on 21 July 2026.
To qualify for permanent residence, you must hold an eligible resident category for three consecutive years, maintain migratory obligations, and not exceed 183 consecutive days of absence in any 365-day period. This is according to VisaAtlas on 25 July 2026 and Expat.com on 15 July 2026.
Documents and How They Are Legalised
Any foreign documents used in Peru residence applications, such as birth, marriage, or criminal checks, must be apostilled or legalized and then translated into Spanish by a sworn translator in Peru if not originally in Spanish. This is stated by Settling in the Sun on 29 January 2026.
For a family-member visa based on marriage to a Peruvian citizen, you must hold regular immigration status, have no criminal records, submit an apostilled criminal background check, a valid passport, a recent marriage certificate, and an INTERPOL form issued in Peru. The Peruvian spouse must provide a valid DNI and a sworn address declaration, as per Immigration Peru on 19 January 2026.
For the CE issuance, the general document package includes the SE form, a valid passport or recognised travel document, proof of payment of the CE fee (code 07561), the resolution approving resident status from Migraciones, and an INTERPOL certificate for adults. The criminal check must not be older than 6 months, according to IPerú on 24 September 2025.
Proof of accommodation in Peru, such as a lease contract or property title, is often required as part of the initial residence visa documentation. This should be notarized and apostilled, as advised by My Latin Life on 1 September 2026.
Common mistakes include arriving without apostilled and translated documents, assuming tourist status can be freely converted, not obtaining the INTERPOL check in time, and failing to pay the correct Banco de la Nación code. These errors can delay or derail residence and CE issuance, as highlighted by Modelo.pe on 6 June 2026 and IPerú on 24 September 2025.
What Changed in the Last 18 Months
A recent regulatory change is the 2025 resolution enabling passport-only bank accounts for foreigners. This significantly lowered the barrier for newcomers who have not yet obtained a CE, as highlighted by Wilhard.ru on 26 July 2026 and Expat.com on 8 July 2026.
The resolution, Resolución N.° 00908-2025 (16 June 2025), authorises Peruvian banks to open accounts for foreigners identified solely by a passport. This is consistent with simplified accounts rules of the Superintendencia de Banca, Seguros y AFP (SBS), as reported by Wilhard.ru on 26 July 2026.
This change is a key update for 2025–2026 expatriate banking guidance, as it allows tourists and new arrivals to open basic accounts without a CE. However, for standard savings or salary accounts, banks usually still require a valid CE, proof of address, and sometimes a RUC, as noted by ComparaLatam on 11 April 2026.
In the last 18 months, there have also been updates to the TUPA fees and procedures for Migraciones, including the fees for CE issuance and status changes. These are documented in practical guides from 2026, such as PeruPráctico on 1 January 2026.
Additionally, MTC has clarified the requirements for driving licence exchange, emphasizing that knowledge exams and medical checks are mandatory for most origins except specific reciprocity agreements. This is according to the Ministerio de Transportes y Comunicaciones on 19 February 2026.
| Item | Fee (S/) | Fee (US$ approx.) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carné de Extranjería issuance | 24.00 | 6.40 | Not specified |
| Permanent residence CE issuance | 49.20 | 13.10 | Not specified |
| Change to permanent resident | 161.40–162.50 | 43–43.30 | 30 working days |
| Extension of resident status | 20.20 | 5.40 | 5 working days |
| Driving licence exchange (electronic) | 7.50 | 2.00 | Not specified |
| Driving licence exchange (physical) | 15.50 | 4.10 | Not specified |
Sources: VisaAtlas, Superintendencia Nacional de Migraciones, Andino Peru Tours, Stamped Nomad, OpenVisa, Peru Visas, Immigration Peru, Settling in the Sun, Expat.com, Trámites Perú, Modelo.pe, IPerú, PeruPráctico, MTC, Wilhard.ru, ComparaLatam, Flyto Relocation, H-H ReLo
Related guides: Ecuador Residency Visas: Guide for Expats · Bolivia Residency for Expats: Permits, Costs, Steps
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