Visa for Peru

Passports
Valid passport required by all except nationals of Bolivia, Chile and Ecuador entering certain regions of Peru. Citizens of these countries are advised to contact their nearest Peruvian Consulate before traveling.

Visas

Required by all except the following:

(a) 1. nationals of countries shown in the chart above traveling as tourists for stays of up to 90 days with the exception of Malta nationals of which do require a visa;

(b) nationals of Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR), Iceland, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Kiribati, Korea (Rep), Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, The Philippines, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Surinam, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City and Venezuela, provided traveling as tourists, for stays of up to 90 days;

(c) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft within 48 hours provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.

Note
(a) Nationals of Bangladesh, Cuba, China (PR), Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan and Sri Lanka require special authorization from the Immigration Office in Lima to obtain a visa. This application could take one month (approximately) to be processed. (b) All visitors must hold return tickets or letter of guarantee from travel agency and sufficient funds for their stay.

Types of visa and cost
Tourist and Business: £19.20. Costs are subject to change according to exchange rates.

Validity
Up to 90 days.

Note
A Business visa is required for all nationals if the purpose of the visit is business. Any business-related unpaid work can be made on a tourist visa. Upon arrival in Peru, the Business visa holder must register at the Direccion General de Contribuciones for taxation purposes. Business visa holders can remain in Peru for 90 days. If wishing to extend the visit, an application must be lodged with the Direccion General de Migraciones.

Application to
Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see General Info section for details.

Application requirements
(a) Valid passport. (b) Return or through ticket to show the visitor will be leaving Peru. (c) Two passport-size, color photos. (d) Fee. (e) Two completed application forms. (f) Proof of economic solvency, such as latest bank statement. (g) For business visas, a company letter specifying the reason for the trip, the length of stay and confirming your employment status. (h) For student visas, a letter from your center of studies confirming attendance.

Note
(a) All nationals are advised to check with the Peruvian Consulate prior to departure to obtain current details of any documentation which might be required. Postal visa applications are not accepted unless submitted through a travel agency. (b) Visitors traveling to areas with a tropical climate are advised to have yellow fever, smallpox and malaria vaccinations.

Working days required
At least 24 hours; longer if authorization from the Immigration Office in Lima is required.

Health

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required of travelers over six months of age arriving from infected areas. Travelers arriving from non-endemic zones should note that vaccination is strongly recommended for travel to areas within the Amazon Basin, even if an outbreak has not been reported and they would normally not require a vaccination certificate to enter the country.

Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is no longer a condition of entry to Peru. However, autochthonous cases of cholera were reported in 1996. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness.

Immunization against typhoid is advised, as the incidence of typhoid is very high.

Falciparum malaria exists in all areas below 1500m and in the areas of Jaen, Lambayeque, Loreto, Luciano Castillo, Piura, San Martin, Tumbes and Ucayali. All health centers, which are controlled by the Ministry of Health, will provide free information and medication to anyone entering a high risk area.

Food and drink

Drink only bottled water. Pasteurized milk is widely available. Avoid dairy products that are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Avoid street food vendors and the cheaper restaurants. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. Always check the expiry date of processed food.

Other risks

Hepatitis A occurs, and hepatitis B and D are a risk in the Amazon Basin. Dengue fever outbreaks are common in the Amazon Basin. The incidence of typhoid fever is very high.
Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay.

Altitude sickness can be a problem if visiting the highlands. Visitors should take time to acclimatize and avoid doing too much strenuous exercise on the day or arrival.
Insect bites may be a problem in the jungle and the highlands. Insect repellent and long layers for the evening are recommended.

Health care
International travelers are strongly advised to take out full health insurance and should be prepared to pay up front for medical services.