Seven steps to work legally in Peru

From filling the forms to getting your carnet

These seven simple steps will help you prepare the necessary documents and make the appointments to become a legal worker in Peru.

Unlike other countries, work visas in Peru don’t exist, but you are allowed to legally work in Peru once you get your carnet de extranjería, which is the national identity document for foreigners. With this card, you can stay and work in Peru as long as you want, but before you must do a cambio de calidad migratoria (change of migration status) to detail your worker status, which requires a work contract.

1. Check your company’s registration number (RUC)

To change your status, it is necessary to work for a Peruvian company that is legally and actively registered in Peru with SUNARP  (public registry; site in Spanish) and SUNAT  (tax agency). Make sure your company is registered and has a Registro Único de Contribuyentes (RUC). Print the company’s RUC from the SUNAT website, as it is needed for your appointment.

2. Bring a completed F-007 form to a Banco de la Nación

Fill out the F-007 form  from the Peruvian migration office known as DIGEMIN (Dirección General de Migraciones y Naturalización del Perú) website and go to your nearest Banco de la Nación  (the national bank), where you will let them know you wish to do a Cambio de Calidad Migratoria. Here, you will have to pay a fee and give your transaction code, which differ depending on the visa type .

3. Get your Ficha de Canje Internacional

To get your Ficha de Canje Internacional, which is an international background check, you must go to INTERPOL, located in Lima:

Comisaria de Monterrico, Av. Manuel Olguin Cuadra 6, Santiago de Surco, 15039, Lima, Peru

Make sure you have the following documentation prepared:

• One standard-size passport photo (format  2"x2")
• A completed F-004 form
• Your receipt of payment to Banco de la Nación along with the transaction code
• A photocopy of your passport as well as your last entry stamp into Peru
• Your Tarjeta Andina de Migraciones (TAM) given to you when you entered Peru
• If you are an American, Canadian, or Australian citizen:
  • USA: a giro internacional (international money order) of $18 USD from a BCP bank made out to “The Treasury of USA”
  • Canada: a giro internacional (international money order) of $26.75 CA from a BCP bank made out to “The Receiver of Canada”
  • Australia: make the payment and print your receipt online 
• If you are a diplomat, consular, or other officer, you should also submit a copy of your Carné de Protocolo
• If this is NOT your first application, a copy of your Carnet de Extranjeria (Alien Registration Certificate)
• If you are married to a Peruvian citizen, a copy of your marriage certificate (RENIEC) and your spouse’s DNI (Peruvian ID card)

You can receive your Ficha de Canje Internacional by returning to INTERPOL five working days after having given your application, but it is best to wait a full week as there can sometimes be delays.

Hours for visa transactions are from 8am-11am, Monday to Friday. If you arrive before 8am, which is recommended, keep in mind that the line on the left side of the building is to drop off your application. The line on the right side of the building is to pick up your completed Ficha de Canje Internacional.

4. Create and notarize a work contract

You must create a work contract with your company and have it either notarized or authenticated by the DIGEMIN Migration Office beforehand. SUNAT has created a form to fill out for this contract , which requires your personal information and your company’s registration information.

5. Get your vigencia del poder del representante legal receipt

After creating your work contract, go to any SUNARP office and request a vigencia del poder del representante, which you will have to hand over to your company’s legal representative for him to sign. This document can be returned afterwards to DIGEMIN, where it will be notarized and authenticated. This document expires after 30 days, so make sure to have your appointment in this timeframe.

6. Make your appointment

Now, you can finally make your appointment. The form is fairly simple, so just fill it out and print the parts you are prompted to. At the end, you will schedule your appointment with the Migrations office for your cambio de calidad migratoria.

7. Go to your appointment

Go to the local Migration Office  on the day of your appointment. Here, you will wait for your visa approval and pay $200USD. Make sure you bring all the above documents with you to avoid complications.

Once approved, you will be able to get your carnet de extranjería right away. Keep in mind that this card is valid for one year, so you will have to renew it for the coming years - but it should be even easier next time!