From the towering Andes mountains to the lush Amazon rainforest, Peru offers a diverse tapestry of experiences that leave a lasting impression. However, traveling to this enchanting country requires careful attention to the various Peru entrance requirements.

This includes the necessary passport, VISA, and vaccination requirements for entry. Failure to meet any of these requirements can quickly ruin your trip, which is why careful pre-trip planning is essential to navigating Peru’s entrance formalities with ease.

To assist you in making sure you meet the necessary Peru entrance requirements, I have provided an outline of all the requirements in this article for your careful review. Furthermore, I also created a handy checklist that I linked to below that you can use to track the requirements as you meet them.

Download the Peru Entrance Requirements Checklist

Peru Passport Requirements

One of the most important Peru entrance requirements you must consider when planning your trip is the country’s passport requirements. To be allowed into Peru, your passport must have at least 6 months of remaining validity beyond the date on which you are arriving. If your passport is set to expire within 6 months of the date you plan to travel to Peru, you must renew your passport before traveling.

Peru VISA Requirements

In addition to your passport, one of the most important Peru entrance requirements you must consider is the tourist VISA requirement. Depending on which country you are from, you may or may not need to apply for a tourist VISA to visit Peru. The following sections outline the Peruvian tourist VISA requirements and how to apply.

VISA-Exempt Countries

If you are a passport holder from one of the countries listed below, you are VISA-exempt. This means you won’t need to obtain a tourist VISA before traveling to Peru if you plan on staying for less than the VISA exemption period of 183 days. If you are from a VISA-exempt country and would like to stay in Peru for longer than 183 days, you will need to apply for a VISA.

If you are a passport holder from China or India, you can visit Peru without a tourist VISA if you currently hold a tourist VISA from either the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Schengen, or the United States that has at least 6 months of validity left. Otherwise, you will need to apply for a tourist VISA before traveling to Peru.

All Other Travelers

If you aren’t traveling to Peru from one of the VISA-exempt countries listed above, you must apply for a tourist VISA before traveling to Peru. You can apply for your electronic Visa on the Peru VISA website. I recommend starting the application process well before your trip to ensure you receive your VISA in time.

Important Note: Ensure you have the following information when applying for your VISA.

• Passport – with a minimum validity of six months after the expected date of arrival in Peru.
• Personal Interview – This can be scheduled after presenting the rest of the documentation at the Embassy premises.
• Copy of Aadhar Card.
• Passport Copy – Photocopy of the front and back sides of your passport.
• Completed VISA Forms – Two (DGC 005) forms duly typed or handwritten, in block letters. In addition, the applicant MUST submit a valid email ID and phone number registered in their name. Submission of a phone number that does not belong to the applicant is not allowed, except for children.
• Passport Photos – Three recently taken, colored, passport-size photographs (4.3 X 3.5 cm) with a white background. The face size should cover between 70% – 80% of the photograph.
• Cover Letter – A cover letter duly signed by the applicant.
• Proof of Employment – If employed, the applicant must present a non-objection certificate furnished by the employer, indicating the date they joined the organization, as well as the purpose and the time of their stay in Peru.
• Airfare Receipt – Round-trip flight itinerary to Peru.
• Itinerary – Day-by-day detailed activities while in Peru.
• Hotel Reservation – Proof of hotel reservation(s) in Peru.
• Financial Records – Proof of financial solvency, e.g. bank statements, fixed deposits. These are required even if the trip is sponsored.
• Tax Forms – Personal Income Tax Return (ITR) of Form 16 (1 year), if applicable.
• In the case of sponsored trips:
  • The sponsor in Peru or India should present a guarantee letter attesting that he or she will be responsible for bearing some or all costs of boarding and lodging of the applicant, or repatriation, if needed.
  • Valid identification document of the sponsor, e.g. Peruvian DNI, Aadhar card, Passport, or any other valid national identification document.
  • Proof of financial solvency of the sponsor, e.g., bank statements, fixed deposit.
• In addition to the abovementioned documents, nationals of Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka are required to furnish a police clearance certificate.

Peru Immunization Requirements

Important Note: I am not a medical doctor and don’t have medical experience. The information provided in this section is a summary of information that I got from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States for travel to Peru. I am providing you with this information to help bring awareness of the necessary vaccinations to you. Still, consultation with my guide should not replace a discussion about your travels with your doctor or a travel medical clinic.

While there are generally no required immunizations for entering Peru, that isn’t always the case. If you are traveling from an area at high risk for Yellow Fever, you may be required to show proof of Yellow Fever vaccination before being allowed into the country.

In addition, it is also recommended to be up-to-date on standard immunizations. Please refer to the tables below for some guidance on what is recommended before traveling to Peru.

Recommended Vaccinations for Peru

There are several vaccinations that the CDC recommends that you get before traveling to Peru, which I have outlined for you below. Please pay special attention to the details in this guide section and ensure you discuss all vaccinations with your doctor or travel health clinic.

Routine Vaccinations for Travel

In addition to the vaccinations recommended for travel to Peru specifically, there are other routine vaccinations you should be current on before traveling anywhere in the world. For an overview of the routine vaccinations recommended by the CDC, please review the chart that I have included below.

Non-Vaccine Preventable Diseases

In addition to the recommended vaccinations, other health precautions should be taken when visiting Peru to avoid getting sick. While these health precautions aren’t on the list of the Peru entrance requirements, they are important measures that you can take to make sure you don’t get ill while traveling.

AVOID CONTAMINATED WATER

When traveling, one of the easiest ways to get sick is to come into contact with contaminated water. There are illnesses found in Peru that can be spread by either drinking or swimming in contaminated water. Before you depart for your trip, you will want to be aware of the illnesses below. To avoid getting sick, make sure you stick to drinking bottled water and avoid swimming in stagnant pools.

AVOID BUG BITES

Another easy way to get sick while traveling is to be bitten by bugs that carry illnesses. The most common insect that spreads diseases to humans is the mosquito, but ticks and flies can also spread serious illnesses through their bites.

To make sure you don’t fall ill from an insect bite while in Peru, I would recommend bringing insect repellent and mosquito netting with you when you visit, and avoid getting bitten by bugs as much as possible.

BE AWARE OF AIRBORNE AND DROPLET ILLNESSES

Out of all the ways that illnesses can be spread, airborne diseases are the hardest to protect yourself against. After all, you don’t have to physically touch or be touched by an infected person or animal, and there isn’t a repellent that you can spray on to avoid catching these illnesses.

This is why it is always important to be observant of those with whom you interact while traveling and make sure you don’t expose yourself to potentially harmful airborne illnesses. According to the CDC, the particular airborne illnesses that you should be aware of while traveling to Peru are as follows:

Peru Customs Restrictions

Another important aspect of travel to Peru that you must be aware of before you travel is the country’s customs regulations. Like other countries, there are certain goods that you are restricted or even prohibited from bringing into the country. To ensure you don’t make the costly mistake of having one of these restricted items in your baggage, I have outlined the Peru entrance requirements for customs regulations for you to review below.

FREE IMPORT

According to the VISAHQ.com website, the following items are considered free-import items when entering Peru, but with limits (as described below).

• Medicines for personal use only (should be in the prescription bottle).
• 20 packets of cigarettes, 5 cigars, or 250 grams of shredded or threaded tobacco for smoking.
• 3 liters of alcohol.
• Other goods for personal consumption or gifts:
  • The total value must not exceed USD 300.
  • The price for one item cannot exceed USD 100.
• 2 kg of non-prohibited food products.
• Electrical items for personal use (no more than 1 per person).
• Music records, compact discs, or cassettes, up to a total maximum of ten (10) units.
• Up to five (5) recording cassettes (camera or camcorder rolls/cassettes).

Important Note: You need to be at least 18 years of age to bring tobacco products into the country, and you must be 18 years of age or older to drink alcohol in Peru.

PROHIBITED ITEMS

Before you are allowed into Peru, you will also need to clear customs to be sure you aren’t carrying any prohibited items with you. For instance, travelers are strictly prohibited from bringing the following items into Peru:

• Sausages, salami, ham, and cheese are allowed if they hold an original sanitary certificate issued by the manufacturer.
• Raw ham from Italy and Portugal.

CONTROLLED ITEMS

In addition to these prohibited items, the government of Peru has placed limits on other items that can be brought into the country. If you plan to travel with any of the following items when visiting Peru, you will want to plan accordingly so that you do not violate the Peru entrance requirements:

• Pets – Cats and dogs must be accompanied by a veterinarian’s good health certificate, rabies vaccination certificate, and, if applicable, other vaccinations issued at the point of origin.

Peru Currency Restrictions

The final aspect of the Peru entrance requirements that you will want to ensure you comply with is the amount of currency you plan on bringing to the country. Like all countries, there are certain restrictions on currency in Peru.

According to the US State Department website, the government of Peru has the following currency limits and regulations in place:

• You are not allowed to bring more than USD 30,000 (or its equivalent) into Peru. In addition, bringing in more than USD 10,000 (or its equivalent) must be declared upon entry.
• You cannot leave Peru with more than USD 30,000 (or its equivalent). In addition, if you have more than USD 10,000 (or its equivalent) it must be declared upon leaving the country.

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