Peru Investor Visa | An Incomplete Guide

Overview:

According to the updated Peruvian immigration law of 2017, individuals seeking to apply for a Peruvian investor visa must meet the following basic requirements:

1. Invest 500,000 Peruvian soles, approximately $133,700 USD, within Peru to start or acquire a company. The company must create at least five jobs for local residents within the first year of its establishment.It is important to note that you must fully own the company; partial ownership is not recognized.Additionally, the investment of 500,000 Peruvian soles must be deposited in a Peruvian bank before you submit your visa application.

2. You need to provide a convincing business plan that demonstrates the company’s potential for sustainable development in Peru.

3. You are required to purchase valid Peruvian health insurance for both the main applicant and any dependents, covering the entire duration of the visa.

Application Process:

To apply for a Peruvian investor visa, the applicant must personally go to the capital city of Lima and submit the application in person. The main steps in the visa process are as follows:

1. Preliminary Preparations: In this step, you need to determine your investment path, prepare a feasible business plan, open a bank account in Peru, transfer the investment funds into a Peruvian account, and gather all the necessary documents.

You do not need to complete the investment before obtaining the visa, but you must transfer the full investment amount of at least 500,000 soles into a Peruvian account before submitting your visa application.

Required documents for this process include:

• Identification Documents: Passports for all applicants, passport-sized photos, and proof of relationship for primary and secondary applicants, such as birth certificates and marriage certificates.

• Bank Statements: Your Peruvian bank account must already contain at least 500,000 soles.

• Primary Applicant’s Resume: The resume should highlight your business experience.

• Criminal Record Certificate: All adult applicants must provide this document.

2. In-Person Application: Once you have gathered all the necessary documents, you can go to Lima and schedule an in-person appointment to apply for the investor visa.

The processing time for the visa is 60 to 90 working days. During this waiting period, you cannot leave Lima for more than 30 working days.

Dependents:

For the Peruvian investor visa, the main applicant’s spouse and minor children can apply as dependents for a family reunification visa to settle in Peru together.

Visa Validity:

The initial validity period of the Peruvian investor visa is one year. If, upon expiration, you can prove that you have maintained your investment, employed more than five local employees, and resided in Peru for at least 183 days each year, the visa can be continuously renewed for two-year periods.

Currently, as long as foreign nationals legally reside in Peru for two years and demonstrate sufficient proficiency in Spanish and knowledge of Peruvian culture, they are eligible to apply for Peruvian citizenship.

If you reside in Peru for three years and do not wish to obtain citizenship, you can apply for an Immigration Visa, which is similar to a permanent residence card. This visa is renewed every five years and can essentially be held indefinitely.

However, even as a permanent resident, if you leave the country for more than 365 consecutive days, your permanent residence card may be revoked.