Documentation and Legal Requirements for Traveling to Peru

When entering Peru, make sure your passport is valid for at least six months from your date of arrival. If your passport expires during your stay in Peru, you must check the procedure and corresponding cost with your country’s embassy or consulate.

Peruvian regulations include entities that oversee tourism activity. One of them is the National Superintendence of Migration, the entity responsible for immigration control throughout the country. For this reason, here are some documents you should keep in mind before entering Peru.

Which countries need a visa to enter Peru?

Currently, to enter Peru you need a valid passport with at least six months of validity from the date of entry. A tourist visa is not required for some foreign citizens, as this depends on their country of origin. Citizens of South America, North America, New Zealand, and Australia do not need a visa. For more information, we recommend visiting the official portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Consulate of Peru.

If your country is on the list of those that require a tourist visa, here are some of the requirements generally requested when applying for one at Peruvian consular offices abroad:

• Passport or travel document.
• Round-trip ticket.
• Payment of the consular fee.
• Proof of financial solvency.
• Passport-size photos with a white background.

Please note that the consular officer may request additional documentation to support the traveler’s application. If you wish to stay longer in Peru for reasons such as business, study, or work, you must apply for the corresponding visa at the Peruvian consulates.

Rules and Regulations in Natural Protected Areas (ANP)

The passport is one of the essential documents for any traveler, since it contains detailed information about the identity and nationality of its holder. It also allows international travel and free movement between countries.

If your passport is full of travel stamps but has not yet expired, check with your country’s embassy or consulate to see whether it should be renewed or replaced.

All visitors to Peru are issued the Virtual Andean Migration Card (TAM Virtual), which must be completed with the traveler’s personal information.

We recommend that, upon entering the country, you verify that your passport is valid for at least six months from your date of arrival. If your passport expires during your stay in Peru, you must check the procedure and corresponding cost with your country’s embassy or consulate.

Regulations in Peru’s Natural Protected Areas

Below, we provide information about some actions that are prohibited at tourist attractions:

• Carrying and consuming alcoholic beverages inside archaeological sites.
• Climbing on walls and other archaeological structures.
• Writing or carving on floors, walls, stones, etc. These actions may be sanctioned.
• Removing samples of stone material and/or plants or flowers.
• Throwing solid and/or liquid waste.
• The entry of professional filming or photography equipment for commercial purposes is prohibited. For this, the corresponding permit and authorization must be processed through the Regional Directorate of Culture.
• Feeding wild animals.
• Making noise or causing noise pollution that negatively impacts the ecosystem, through loudspeakers, shouting, whistles, speakers, or other similar elements.
• Leaving the campsite alone and without express authorization is prohibited.
• Tourists may only bathe in places and at times authorized by the guides.

Prohibitions and crimes against natural and cultural heritage

• Smoking in public places is prohibited by law.
• Carrying firearms without the corresponding authorization constitutes a serious offense.
• Speech, whether spoken or written, in defense or praise of terrorist actions or organizations is punishable by law.
• The transportation, possession, and/or sale of narcotics such as marijuana, cocaine, opium, crack, LSD, and others is considered a serious offense and is punishable with imprisonment.

Penalties for violations in National Parks and Reserves

• Administrative fines: The sanctioning regulations allow fines to be applied according to the severity of the violation, classified as minor, serious, or very serious. The financial penalty will depend on the type of damage caused, the impact on the ecosystem, and what is established by the competent authority.
• Criminal liability: The destruction of protected flora and fauna may lead to prison sentences of 2 to 4 years. Damaging archaeological sites within protected areas may result in prison sentences of 2 to 6 years.
• Preventive measures: Authorities may proceed with the confiscation of equipment or vehicles used to commit the violation.
• Procedure: SERNANP is responsible for determining violations and applying sanctions, based on the Law on Natural Protected Areas.

Required documentation for minors

Minors under 18 years of age may enter Peru by meeting the corresponding immigration requirements, but they must also comply with some additional rules to avoid problems. The main requirement is that the minor present a valid passport, or an ID card if they belong to countries of the Andean Community or Mercosur, depending on nationality and current agreements. In addition, the minor must travel accompanied by at least one parent or legal guardian.

If the child is traveling without one or both parents, they must present a notarized, consular, or judicial travel authorization, as applicable, in original and physical format during immigration control. Failure to present this document will prevent the minor from boarding.

Travel insurance, health, and recommended vaccines

Although having travel medical insurance is not mandatory, it is considered essential because any medical care in Peru may represent a significant cost for the traveler. This is because there is no healthcare assistance agreement between Peru and many other countries, which means that medical expenses, even minor ones, will be the traveler’s responsibility. If you purchase comprehensive travel insurance, you will have additional benefits that protect your travel investment, such as coverage for theft or damage to luggage, compensation for early return due to the hospitalization or death of a family member, and reimbursement for necessary purchases due to delayed checked baggage delivery.

Currently, it is no longer mandatory to complete this form, according to updates made at the end of 2022. Regarding COVID-19 vaccines, it is not necessary to present a vaccination card when entering the country. However, vaccination against yellow fever is recommended if you are visiting jungle areas, such as Amazonas, Loreto, Madre de Dios, and others. This vaccine should be administered at least 10 days before the trip.