Latest Amendments to Peruvian Immigration Laws
Peru has amended its immigration laws for travellers. With the new regulations, getting visas are now user friendly.
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Latest Amendments to Peruvian Immigration Laws
Bobby Castro is the online editor at Gringos, where he has published a number of articles about moving to Peru and many other topics.
The Peruvian government has recently instituted new amendments to address many issues currently besetting the immigration system of the country. The amendments also aim to facilitate migration procedures to benefit tourists and locals alike who comply with the legal requirements for tourism.
The main law is called Decreto Legislativo 703 and the recent amendments are contained in Decreto Legislativo Nu. 1043 dated June 25, 2008. Much of the changes are reflective of the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement. The following are some of the changes that have been instituted:
Tourist Visa Renewal. Before the June 2008 amendment, extensions for tourist visa stays in Peru required personal appearances to be made for up to three times to extend the stay for at least thirty (30) days per renewal appearance. The maximum stay can only be up to one hundred eighty (180) days. After the amendment, there is no more need for renewals as the length of the stay depends on the type of visa obtained to enter the country. For tourist visas, it is an non-extendible one hundred and eighty three (183) days at the discretion of the border official. Beyond the one hundred eighty three day period, any further extension would entail penalties such as payment of $1 per day and eventual deportation.
Changing Status from Tourist Visa to Resident Visa. Prior to the 2008 amendment, a tourist visa holder can apply for the change into a resident visa, then leave Peru to obtain the applied visa from a Peruvian Consulate located abroad. Now, post amendment, one can obtain a resident visa without leaving Peru at all. The process is called “cambio de calidad migratoria” and it requires fulfillment of all legal requirements and pay processing fees while in the country. Leaving the country during the pendency of the process would require obtaining special permission prior to travel. This permit to travel can only be done after the permit is issued to allow travel pending application for residency forty eight hours prior to travel and the length of such permission can be no longer than thirty (30) days.
These new provisions can streamline the process of remaining in the country. While before the required renewals were not only tedious but also prone to corruption, the one time issuance would allow the tourist to enjoy the country without time limitations for renewals for extension. Residency can be obtained during such time, while in the country, lowering the burden and costs that the applicant would need to shoulder. In the long run, these new amendments can only serve to make Peru a better tourist and resident haven for tourists from all over the world.
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