Immigration Tips

Updated 22 January 2012

***Be sure you ask at Immigrations about your visa as rules and fees seem to change often. ***


● Immigration Letter Templates
● Visa requirements in English
● Immigration Offices
● Complete list of immigration fees.

Immigrations or DIGEMIN (Direccion General de Migraciones and Naturalizacion) is in charge of all the visas, resident permits and naturalisation done in Peru.

The main immigration office is located in Brena. Bowever, there are other smaller immigration offices around Peru. Some of them are very small and can only do little things, such as help you get a replacement TAM. Others are bigger and will even allow you to get your CE there, outside of Lima. If you live outside of Lima, check with your closest immigration office and see what they can do.

The main office in Brena isn't one of the very nice districts in Lima. However, the area around Immigrations is safe. The worst thing that you'll have to deal with is people shouting "copies 20 cents". The address is Av. España 730. Maps can be found at Guia Calles. They open at 8am and close at 1pm. Go early to avoid lines. Their phone number is 4176900.

Forms for Migraciones
All visas (except tourist visas given upon entry) require you to fill out Form F-007 (Either click on the link and print it off the website. Ignore the description, just find F007, open the document and print it. Or get it for free at immigrations.) then pay 58.32 soles at the Banco de la Nacion (don't pay at immigrations, the lines are super long, go to another BN and pay beforehand), have a copy and the orginal of your passport.

If there is a bilateral agreement between your country and Peru for free visas, you have to pay a fee in order not to pay for the visa. Go figure: nothing is free in Peru.

Migraciones Tips
Going to Immigrations can give you a headache, so here are some tips to help you.

● One: Don’t go to the Banco de la Nacion in Immigrations.
There's usually a long line. Instead go to another one near your house and go in the morning, but not right when it opens because there is usually a line. I found the one on Pardo in Miraflores, near the Ovalo Miraflores is pretty fast. Also, don’t go to the Banco de la Nacion on days near the 15th or the 30th, these are pay days and the lines are super long.

● Two: Forms are free.
You can print these off the website or get them there. If you need to get forms there, they are on the left-hand side immediately as you enter Immigrations. After you have completed the forms and have paid at the Banco de la Nacion, you will have to make a copy of the form with the ticket from the bank on top of the form.

● Three: Have everything ready.
Make sure you have all the documents that you need and if necessary have them translated, notarised or legalised. See DIGEMIN for the latest immigration information.

● Four: Make copies.
Make sure you have photocopies of all your documents, front and back if necessary. They will stamp your copies and keep the orginals. You'll have to show either a passport or CE to get in. So make sure you bring it with you.

● Five: Go early.
Go to Immigrations early in the morning when it first opens (8am) and there are less people in line.

● Six: Bring something to do.
A book to read, music to listen to, anything to keep you occupied as you might be there for a few hours.

● Seven: Be nice to the people who work there.
Happy government workers are more likely to help you than unhappy or angry ones.

● Eight: Go to Mesa de Partes first.
When you're walking towards Immigrations, you'll see that the Peruvians go to the right, you go to the side door on the left. You'll have to show either a passport or CE to get in. If you have bags, they'll make you open them so they can check them.

Go to the Mesa de Partes on the left-hand side when you enter. After they stamp your photocopy of your form and ticket from the bank, they will keep the originals. Then they will tell you when to come back. Simple things, like renewing your CE, take about 2 working days. More complicated things, like when you get your visa for the first time, can take a couple weeks to a couple months. When you come back, go to the third floor. All foreigners do their tramites on the third floor.

● Nine: Get a tramidator.
If you don’t want to go through all of this paperwork, get a tramitador to do the work for you. The following have been recommended by expats.
Marcos Saman, cell phone 97360078
Juan Salas 9984-6714.
Adelfio Alcalde Auerzola 2249739 or 2262412
Jorge Huaranga 4718617
Marcelino Ibarra 3360572

● Ten: Smile.
Remember it’s not too bad; if you think that it’s difficult for you, look at the line to get Peruvian passports.

Resources: Check out the Ultimate Peru List's recommended ebooks and The LA Jobs List's free list of schools in Peru.