Peru Visa Process 2026: Requirements, Types, and Electronic Registration

(PERU) Peru’s 2026 entry rules now start online: visa‑exempt travelers must complete an electronic registration system at least 72 hours before arrival, then clear airport biometric scanners instead of getting a passport stamp. For millions heading to Machu Picchu or Lima, that single step now decides whether you board the plane.

The change, introduced in late 2025, sits on top of Peru’s still‑generous visa policy for tourists from over 100 countries, including the United States 🇺🇸, the United Kingdom, Canada 🇨🇦, Australia, and most of Europe. Travelers who skip the online step risk delays at check‑in, and reports in the policy rollout put boarding denials at 20–30% when confirmations are missing.

What the new digital entry process asks from you

If you qualify for visa‑free entry, Peru still admits you as a tourist for up to 183 days, but you must show you’re a genuine visitor and that your passport is in good shape. Immigration officers often check three basics: passport validity, proof you will leave, and the electronic confirmation tied to your biometrics.

Plan on meeting these baseline requirements:

• Passport valid for at least six months beyond arrival.
• Onward or return travel such as an e‑ticket or itinerary.
• Electronic registration completed 72 hours before your flight, with a printed or saved confirmation.
• Proof of funds, like bank statements, because checks happen even when they’re not routine.

The electronic registration system asks for your travel dates and basic identity details, and it links them to biometric scanners on arrival to track entry and exit automatically. Keep the confirmation handy at the airline desk, because staff now use it as a gatekeeping document.

Important: Missing the electronic confirmation frequently leads to check‑in delays and, in some rollout reports, boarding denials of 20–30%.

Timeline for a visa‑free trip — booking to airport

Most travelers can treat the process as four checkpoints:

1. Before you fly (at least 72 hours out): complete the online registration and save the confirmation.
2. Day of travel: carry your passport, confirmation, and onward ticket where you can reach them fast.
3. Arrival: present yourself for the biometric scan, then receive your digital tourist permission, often granted initially as 90 days within a 180‑day period.
4. During your stay: track your allowed days, and arrange any extension before you hit the 183‑day ceiling.

At major airports, the biometric scanners are designed to speed up queues, but they also remove the wiggle room that paper stamps once created. If your details don’t match, you’ll spend your first hour in Peru fixing data problems rather than planning your train to Machu Picchu.

When you need a visa, and what activity triggers it

Tourist status covers sightseeing, family visits, and remote work during the authorized stay, but Peru draws a line when you sign contracts or earn local income. Business travelers attending meetings or conferences often remain visa‑free, while a business visa becomes essential for contractual work.

Longer‑term plans usually require a formal consular application. Common visa categories and typical durations include:

Peru also offers an e‑visa channel for select nationalities for transit, tourism, or business. Single‑entry e‑visas don’t extend in country, so your schedule must match your permission.

Five actions to keep formal visa applications on track

For business, study, or work, treat the application as a documentation project with deadlines:

1. Confirm the right category: match your planned activity to the visa type, especially if you’ll be paid or signing contracts.
2. Apply through the nearest Peruvian consulate: bring proof of purpose such as an employer letter or school acceptance.
3. Budget for fees and timing: consular processing runs from 3–5 business days to several weeks; third‑party business consultations are listed around $99.
4. Prepare originals for an interview: expect questions about funds, itinerary, and ties to home.
5. Print the approval and travel with it: even digital visas are checked at boarding and at the border.

Peak travel months (especially June through August) slow decision times by 1–2 weeks, so applicants with fixed start dates should file early. A clean file matters because the new digital entry checks make last‑minute fixes harder once you are at the airport.

Overstays, fines, and departure requirements

Peru’s shift to automatic tracking also tightens overstay enforcement. Fines are mandatory, calculated per day, and must be paid before you leave.

• Recent guidance cites rates around $1–2 per day.
• Officials raised fines 15% in 2026, increasing the cost of overstaying.

Practical risks include missed flights if you arrive at the airport without proof you settled the penalty. Families also face extra paperwork when minors travel, including notarized consent documents and supporting civil records.

Practical expectations at airports and land borders

Airports are where the new system is most visible, but land borders with Bolivia and Ecuador follow similar checks and may require cash on hand for fees.

• Carry a printed confirmation and keep your passport accessible.
• Officers may ask for the same documents multiple times when systems are busy.
• If you hold a visa from Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States 🇺🇸, Canada 🇨🇦, or the Schengen area with more than six months of validity, carry proof with your passport.
• Peru grants visa‑free entry for up to 180 days for eligible travelers.

Where to confirm the latest rules before you travel

Peru adjusted entry rules three times in 2025, so check official updates shortly before departure, especially if you have connecting flights or mixed passports in the family.

Start with the Peruvian government’s official source: https://www.gob.pe/minrel, which posts travel and consular information used by airlines and border staff.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, Peru’s move toward paperless entry mirrors a regional push to reduce queues while tightening identity checks for overstays and repeat entries.

Remote work and longer stays: staying legal in Peru

Peru’s 183‑day allowance attracts remote workers to Lima and Cusco, but the permission is still tourist unless you switch into a worker category through the proper channel.

• Resident Worker Visa: employers must show job proof and a commitment tied to that status.
• Applicants should expect document checks that match the new digital focus.
• Entering as a visitor and then starting longer‑term paperwork once you have local contacts is common, but it does not replace visa rules for paid work.

Checklist to reduce entry problems:

• Register early, then screenshot the confirmation in case email access fails.
• Use the same passport details everywhere, including airline profiles.
• Keep a return ticket that matches your plan, even if you intend to extend later.
• Track days in Peru as you would hotel nights — the exit scan will match the entry record.

When you land, expect an immigration declaration and possible questions about where you’ll stay. Declare valuables if asked on customs forms. If an officer grants fewer than 90 days, fix it immediately at the desk. Do not assume you can “reset” time with quick border runs, because the electronic registration system and biometric scanners log each entry and exit.

A clean record makes later visa applications easier, especially for students and worker visas. That matters before your next Machu Picchu visit.