Travel
How long can I stay in Peru as a tourist?
Are you worried that you need a visa to enter Peru? This is most likely not the case (check visa for Peru here), depending on your nationality, of course. The majority of travelers do not need to apply for a visa for Peru beforehand. When you arrive at the airport in Lima and go through customs, the officer will ask you how long you will be in Peru for. You will be given a tourist visa for the number of days of your trip to Peru, with most customs officers adding extra days to your visa so that it is not the exact length of your trip.
According to both the old Foreigner Law (Decreto Legislativo 1350) and the new Foreigner Law (Decreto Legislativo 1582, November 2023), foreign tourists can stay in Peru for a maximum of 183 accumulated days in a 365-day period. However, this does not guarantee that you will receive the full 183 days upon entry. Most foreign nationals are allowed to stay in Peru as tourists for up to 90 days in a 180-day period for tourism, recreation, or health purposes, as per the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (RREE) regulations.
Since August 2021, Peruvian immigration officers have been strictly following the RREE rule, granting up to 90 days in a 180-day period upon entry. This means that after you have stayed 90 days, you have to leave the country for 90 days to receive your other 90 days. The duration given is at the discretion of the immigration officer and can vary based on your travel history and compliance with previous visa terms.
If you are not granted the full 183 days upon arrival, the new Foreigner Law allows for an extension to reach the 183-day limit, unless international agreements or conventions dictate a shorter period or do not permit extensions. However, as of January 2024, the administrative regulations (TUPA) required to implement these extensions have not been published, leaving the eligibility and process unclear.
If you overstay your visa, you must pay a fine before leaving the country. The fine is 0.1% of an UIT (Unidad Impositiva Tributaria) per day of overstay.
- In 2024: The UIT is S/ 5,150, so the fine is S/ 5.15 per day.
- In 2023: The UIT was S/ 4,950, so the fine was S/ 4.95 per day.
The fine can be paid online via Banco de la Nación’s platform "Pagalo.pe," or at any Banco de la Nación branch. You will need your passport and the migration control number (CUI). Save the receipt and present it at the airport upon departure.
For detailed steps and updates on overstaying fines, visit the LimaEasy Overstay Fine for Tourists page.