Your passport has five months left. Can you still fly to Peru? According to Peru’s immigration office, no. That one rule can end your trip at the immigration desk. This guide covers the few entry rules that matter most, so your trip starts at the hotel, not in an airport line.
Already sure about your dates? See Cusco and Machu Picchu tour packages, a classic Lima and Cusco circuit, or browse more Peru destinations. This is an independent travel guide. It is not the official peru.travel site and not a government page.
Peru entry requirements: the passport rule
Peru’s immigration office (Superintendencia Nacional de Migraciones) says your passport must be valid for at least six months. If it is not, you will not be allowed in.
Check this today, not the week before your flight. Look at the expiry date and count six months from the day you arrive in Peru.
One exception: Migraciones says citizens of the Andean Community and Mercosur can enter with their national ID card.
Do you need a visa?
Many nationalities can visit Peru as tourists without a visa. Others need one before they fly. The rule depends on your passport.
Peru’s Foreign Ministry (Cancillería) publishes an official list of visa requirements and exemptions for ordinary passports. Check it on gob.pe before you book. If your country needs a visa, apply early. Do not rely on a forum post or an old blog.
No passport stamp: download your Virtual TAM
Here is the part that surprises many visitors. Migraciones says Peru stopped stamping passports at immigration for international flights.
Instead, you get a Virtual TAM (Tarjeta Andina de Migración). It shows:
- Your personal details.
- The date, time, and border post where you entered.
- How many days you are allowed to stay.
You can download it on the Migraciones website. Fill in the form, type the captcha, and save the PDF. Use only letters and numbers, without dots, dashes, or spaces.
Do this on your first night. Keep a copy on your phone and one in your email.
How long can you stay?
Your allowed stay is shown on your Virtual TAM. Do not guess it. Read it.
If you stay longer than allowed, Migraciones charges a daily fine of 0.1% of Peru’s tax unit (UIT) for each extra day. It is small per day, but it adds up. It can also cause trouble at your exit.
Citizens of Andean Community countries can ask online for an extension, up to 180 days in a year, according to Migraciones. Other travelers should check the rules for their own case.
Crossing into Bolivia, Chile, or Ecuador?
Many trips add Lake Titicaca and Bolivia, or northern Chile. Migraciones is clear: if you leave Peru for a neighboring country, pass through an immigration checkpoint to record your exit.
If you skip it, you break immigration rules. Migraciones warns you may not be allowed to re-enter Peru or board a flight from Peru.
Ask your tour operator where the border checkpoint is and how long it usually takes.
Lost or stolen passport
Go to your nearest embassy or consulate right away. They can issue a new passport or an emergency travel document so you can fly home.
Before you travel:
- Save your consulate’s phone and address.
- Keep a photo of your passport page on your phone.
- Keep your Virtual TAM PDF saved separately.
Signing documents as a tourist
Planning to sign a contract, a property paper, or a bank form while in Peru? Migraciones says tourists can do it, but you must first ask for a special permit to sign documents. You request it through the Migraciones digital agency.
Most vacation travelers will never need this. But if you do, do it before your appointment.
Quick checklist before your flight
- Passport valid for six months from your arrival date.
- Visa checked on the Cancillería list (gob.pe).
- Consulate contact saved.
- Plan to download your Virtual TAM after landing.
Common mistakes
- Counting six months from today, not from your arrival date.
- Trusting an old visa list instead of the official one.
- Never checking the Virtual TAM, then overstaying by accident.
- Leaving for Bolivia or Chile without passing the exit checkpoint.
Final tip: five minutes now saves a ruined day
Peru entry requirements are simple once you know them: a valid passport, the right visa check, and your Virtual TAM. Check all three this week. Then you can spend your energy on the fun part, like choosing between the Sacred Valley and one more day in Lima.
