Peru
PERPeru is a large, ecologically diverse nation on the western coast of South America, home to Andean highlands, Amazonian rainforest, and a narrow Pacific coastal desert. Lima, its sprawling capital, is the commercial and financial hub and accounts for roughly one-third of the national population. Spanish is the dominant language, alongside Quechua and Aymara in the highlands.
Peru operates a territorial tax system, meaning foreign-sourced income is generally not taxed for residents. One of the most accessible naturalisations in South America, Peru grants citizenship after just two years of lawful residence, with no language test currently required by statute, though applicants must demonstrate integration. Dual citizenship is permitted. The Peruvian passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to around 130 destinations.
- Naturalisation
- 2 years
- Tax system
- Territorial
- Currency
- Peruvian Sol (PEN)
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
- Capital
- Lima
- Region
- americas
- Population
- 33,396,698
- Cost-of-living
- 33 /100
Passport Rank
#48
Visa-Free
130
destinations
Visa-free travel
A Peru passport has visa-free access to 130 destinations. See the full Peru passport breakdown →
Passports that enter Peru without a prior visa (102)
Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.
Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.
Immigrating to Canada from Peru
Current IRCC processing times for Peru nationals, by application type.
| Visitor visa (outside Canada) | 25 days |
| Super visa | No processing time available |
| Study permit | 5 weeks |
| Work permit | 5 weeks |
| Sponsor a dependent child | No processing time available |
| Adopted child (citizenship) | Not enough data |
| Government-assisted refugees | Not enough data |
| Privately sponsored refugees | sponsor: Not enough data / refugee: Not enough data |
Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They’re not a maximum or a guarantee.
As of 2026-09-22 (IRCC). See all Canada processing times →
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — “Check processing times”. This is a copy of the version available at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html. Reproduced under the Government of Canada’s non-commercial reproduction terms; not endorsed by or affiliated with IRCC.
Sources & last verified
Government of Canada — non-commercial reproduction (canada.ca Terms and conditions)
Country Details
- Capital
- Lima
- Currency
- Peruvian Sol (PEN)
- Languages
- Spanish, Quechua, Aymara
- Population
- 33,396,698
- Tax System
- Territorial
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Naturalisation
- 2 years
- Schengen / EU
- No
- Climate
- Varies by region: tropical in the Amazon basin, arid along the Pacific coast, and alpine in the Andes highlands
- English Proficiency Rank
- #56
- GDP per capita
- $9,684
- Life expectancy
- 77.94 yrs
- Population growth
- 1.04%/yr
- Territorial Taxation
- Yes — foreign-sourced income may not be taxed
GDP per capita, life expectancy, and population growth: World Bank (2025).
Indices
Cost of Living
33
Safety
38
Healthcare
52
Quality of Life
50
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- Territorial
- Territorial Taxation
- Yes — foreign-sourced income may not be taxed
- Naturalisation
- 2 years of legal residency
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
Cost of Living by City
← scroll the table →
| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lima | $694 | $327 | $165 | $62 | $25 |
| Cusco | $135 | $162 | $100 | $27 | $18 |
| Arequipa | $329 | $219 | $130 | $22 | $20 |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Climate
Lima
Rainfall range: 1–3 mm/month · Daylight 11h (winter) to 13h (summer)
Cusco
Rainfall range: 5–140 mm/month · Daylight 11h (winter) to 13h (summer)
Visa Categories & Immigration Authority
Major Visa Categories
- Tourist
- Student
- Worker
- Investor
- Family
- Rentista
- Religious
- Permanent Residence
- Humanitarian
- Authority
- Superintendencia Nacional de Migraciones
- Official Portal
- www.migraciones.gob.pe
- Phone
- +51 1 200 1000
- consultas@migraciones.gob.pe
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- 2
- Language Test
- Yes (Spanish basics)
- Civic Test
- Yes
- Oath Required
- Yes
- Dual Allowed
- Yes
- Fee
- $140
- Processing
- ~15 months
Safety
GPI Rank
#99
Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)
Common Risks
- ⚠Fake plainclothes police officers who demand to inspect your wallet for counterfeit bills then steal cash or swap notes
- ⚠Unlicensed street taxis that agree a verbal fare then demand far more on arrival or take extended routes
- ⚠Mustard or liquid spill distraction where a stranger helps clean you up while an accomplice pickpockets you
Examples of areas to avoid: San Juan de Lurigancho, Lima — highest extortion complaint volume in the city, El Agustino, Lima — elevated gang and drug-related crime, Callao port district — high violent crime especially after dark
Regulators & official sources
Bodies that regulate immigration advice in Peru, and the official sources indexed for it by Visa Atlas. Descriptions are verbatim; each links to its source.
Ministry of Justice and Human Rights
MINJUSDHOfficial Peruvian justice ministry portal. There is no dedicated immigration-adviser regulator; immigration representation is generally by licensed lawyers or direct filing with Migraciones.
Related Guides
Zero and low-tax residencies: the real list
Countries with zero personal income tax, territorial-only taxation, or special expatriate regimes — and what each one actually requires from you to qualify as a resident.
Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave
Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Visa routes
Official visa and residence routes for Peru, indexed from Visa Atlas. Each links to its government source. This is a licensed external index, distinct from our own curated visa guides.
Residence
Permanent Resident (Residente Permanente)
ResidenceFor residents ready to settle: after three consecutive years of legal residence in a qualifying category you can change to permanent resident in Peru, with settled status.
Rentista (Independent Means / Passive Income)
ResidenceFor people with a pension or steady passive income: this category lets you settle in Peru on a permanent pension or recurring income, without needing a Peruvian job.
Work (sponsored)
Worker Resident (Trabajador Residente)
Work (sponsored)For people moving to Peru with a job: this is the employer-tied residence category for foreign nationals working under a registered employment contract for an employer in Peru.
Family
Resident Family Member (Familiar Residente)
FamilyFor close family of a Peruvian or of a foreign resident: this category lets you live in Peru as part of the family unit, based on your relationship to your sponsoring relative.
Investor
Investor (Inversionista)
InvestorFor people investing in Peru: this category grants residence to foreign nationals who form, invest in or manage a Peruvian company with a qualifying capital investment.
Digital nomad
Digital Nomad (Nomada Digital)
Digital nomadFor remote workers: Peru has created a digital-nomad residence category in law for people who telework for a company based abroad - but heads-up, it is not yet usable, so check the official page before planning around it.
Sources & last verified
Route index from Visa Atlas (CC BY 4.0), as of 2026-09-12. Each route links to its official government source.
Banking Options Based in Peru
Sources & last verified
- Last verified