Peru Visa and Entry Requirements (2026)
There's no single answer — it depends on your passport. Most Western nationalities (US, Canada, UK, EU, Australia, NZ) enter Peru visa-free for 90-183 days, with the exact number set at the immigration officer's discretion and stamped in your passport. India, China, and Gulf-state nationals generally need a visa in advance, unless they hold a valid US, Canada, UK, Schengen, or Australia visa, in which case Peru typically waives its own visa requirement. South Africa is visa-exempt.
Peru has a genuinely useful shortcut buried in its visa rules that most guides skip: if you already hold a valid visa from the US, Canada, UK, Schengen area, or Australia, Peru will often let you in visa-free even if your own passport would normally require one. Here's the real breakdown by nationality.
Last checked 15 July 2026 directly against Peru's own official sources — the Superintendencia Nacional de Migraciones (Peru's immigration authority, for entry/exemption rules and permanencia extensions), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' official tourist-visa procedure page (for nationalities that need to apply for a visa in advance) — not just this page's own history. Visa rules like this one change with little notice, so we re-verify against those two sources every few weeks rather than trusting our own last edit. Spotted something that's changed since? Tell us and we'll fix it fast.
Visa-free entry by nationality (as of mid-2026)
| Passport / nationality group | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States, Canada | Visa-free | Typically up to 183 days within a 365-day period, though the number stamped is at the officer's discretion — some travelers get 90 days initially, extendable at Migraciones. Check your entry stamp. |
| United Kingdom | Visa-free | Up to 90 days, extendable once for a fee at a Migraciones office, up to a combined 183 days within 365 days. |
| EU / Schengen countries | Visa-free | Same terms as the UK — up to 90 days, extendable; confirm your specific country is on Peru's current exemption list. |
| Australia, New Zealand | Visa-free | Same terms as the UK/EU — up to 90 days, extendable. |
| India | Visa required in advance | Exception: Indian citizens holding a valid US, Canada, UK, Schengen, or Australia visa can generally enter Peru visa-free instead, using that visa. |
| China (mainland) | Visa required in advance | Same exception as India — a valid US, Canada, UK, Schengen, or Australia visa/residency generally allows visa-free entry instead. |
| Gulf states (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar) | Visa required in advance for most | Same US/UK/Schengen/Canada/Australia-visa exception generally applies; UAE nationals should confirm current status directly, as exemption rules shift. |
| South Africa | Visa-free | Typically up to 90 days, similar terms to the UK/EU. |
| Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and other Andean Community / Mercosur-associated countries | Visa-free, often ID-card entry | Citizens of several South American countries can enter using just a national ID card instead of a passport under regional agreements, typically for up to 183 days — a genuinely useful shortcut if you qualify. |
| Other nationalities not listed above | Check Peru's current exemption list | Rules shift periodically — confirm your specific passport against Peru's Migraciones/consulate list before booking, and check the US/Canada/UK/Schengen/Australia visa exception either way. |
This table is a starting point, not a substitute for checking your exact passport against Peru's current official Migraciones list — exemption rules and day allowances do shift. If your nationality normally needs a Peruvian visa, check whether you already hold a valid US, Canada, UK, Schengen, or Australia visa first; it very often lets you skip the Peru visa application entirely.
Other entry basics
- Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry.
- Officers may ask for proof of onward or return travel and sometimes proof of funds — have a return ticket ready to show if asked.
- Keep track of the exact number of days stamped in your passport on arrival — it isn't always the maximum allowed for your nationality, and overstaying results in a fine paid on departure.
The TAM Virtual — no more paper entry card at Lima's airport
Your arrival is recorded on a Tarjeta Andina de Migración (TAM), the standard Andean immigration record — but if you land at Lima's Jorge Chávez International Airport, it's now issued electronically (the 'TAM Virtual') rather than as a paper slip, and in many cases your passport doesn't get a physical ink stamp either. That makes the 'photograph your entry stamp' advice below slightly outdated for most air arrivals into Lima specifically — instead, download or verify your TAM Virtual record through Peru's official Migraciones portal soon after you land, and keep a screenshot of it alongside your boarding pass in case you need to prove your entry date later (for an extension, or at a land border that still uses the older paper process).
Extending your stay
Visa-exempt entries can generally be extended once at a Migraciones office (in Lima, Cusco, or other major cities) for a fee, up to the maximum allowed for your nationality. Bring your passport, entry stamp, and a completed extension form; processing can take a few business days, so don't leave it until your last day.
Crossing to Bolivia from Lake Titicaca
If your itinerary continues from Puno into Bolivia, check Bolivia's separate visa rules well ahead — several nationalities that enter Peru visa-free (including US citizens) require an advance visa for Bolivia, which has different requirements entirely.
Entering by land vs. by air
The same nationality-based rules apply whether you fly into Lima or cross by land (common at the Bolivia border near Lake Titicaca, or the Ecuador border near Tumbes) — but land-border checkpoints tend to have less predictable processing times and are more likely to be cash-only for any on-the-spot fee, so carry soles and some patience if you're crossing overland rather than flying.
Whichever way you enter, photograph or photocopy your entry stamp and keep a note of the exact date — it's the single easiest way to avoid an accidental overstay, since the days granted aren't always the maximum your nationality technically qualifies for.