Guidance

Living in Peru

Information for British citizens moving to or living in PERU, including guidance on residency, healthcare and driving.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Published
8 January 2014
Last updated
22 October 2024 — See all updates

This guide sets out essential information for British citizens moving to or living in Peru. Read about how our Embassy in Lima can help.

This information is provided as a guide only. You should get definitive information from the Peruvian authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information.

Support for British Nationals Abroad: A Guide sets out how British nationals can stay safe abroad and how the FCDO can help if you do get into difficulty.

Read general guidance on moving or retiring abroad.

To stay up to date: follow the British Embassy in Lima on Facebook and Twitter

Before you go

See our travel advice for Peru for up-to-date information on entry requirements, local laws and customs, safety and emergencies.

Visas and residency

Check the entry requirements for Peru in our travel advice.

For information on Peruvian immigration law, please contact the Peruvian Consulate in London or, if you are already in Peru, please contact the Peruvian Immigration Office (in Spanish). They will be able to provide you with advice on visas to work and reside in Peru.

Passports and travel

You can apply for or renew your British passport from Peru

Check the Peru travel advice for passport validity requirements.

Healthcare in Peru

Healthcare is available in Lima, but medical care outside Lima can be limited. Medical care in public hospitals is free, but you are expected to pay for your medicine and sometimes for a few other things. Public hospitals often experience serious shortages of basic medicines and equipment.

Private medical care is available, but it can be expensive. If travelling and/or living in Peru, it is highly advisable to obtain your own medical insurance. The British Embassy is unable to fund medical care or treatment for British nationals in Peru. Private hospitals may require payment prior to giving treatment to patients.

For mental health matters, see our travel and mental health guide for a list of UK and international organisations that can offer support.

More information about Peru’s public health system can be found on the website of the Health Ministry (in Spanish).

Please find the Embassy’s list of medical facilities and practitioners.

Note: UK Travel insurance providers will not generally cover your healthcare costs if you live overseas.

Medicine

If you are on a prescription for any medication, you should ensure you have a supply of it, or are able to obtain it when in Peru. Certain medicines may not be available in Peru (including major brands readily available in the UK), and you may be prohibited from taking them into the country. You should consult your GP before travelling to Peru to find out about any alternative medication.

If you’re travelling with prescription or over-the-counter medicine, read this guidance from National Travel Health Network and Centre on best practice when travelling with medicines

Working in Peru

If you are planning to move to Peru and work, you may need a visa. Please contact the Peruvian Consulate in London, for information on their requirements and what kind of visa you need.

The Ministry of Employment Promotion (in Spanish) deals with employment matters in Peru. For matters related to recognised educational qualifications, please contact the Ministry of Education.

Studying in Peru

If you plan to study in Peru, you must meet all visa requirements before you travel. Please contact the Peruvian Consulate in London for information on student visa application.

Tax

You should get professional advice on paying tax in Peru. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Peru

Read guidance on:

Benefits

Check which UK benefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim them.

Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid if you are abroad for more than 4 weeks.

Pensions

Read State Pension guidance if you have lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and you are claiming or waiting to claim your UK State Pension.

If you retire in Peru, you can claim your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pension Centre for further information.

Peru and the UK do not have a bilateral agreement on pension funds. If you have any queries in respect to local pension laws and procedures, please contact the Superintendencia de Banca, Seguros y AFP (in Spanish) and the Asociacion de AFPs (in Spanish) in Peru.

Life certificates for UK State Pensions

If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you must respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you do not.

Money and banking

If opening a personal bank account, you will be expected to submit many documents. Please ask the bank of your choice about their requirements.

For information on the banking rules and private funds (AFP) regulations in Peru, please visit the website of the Superintendencia de Banca y Seguros (SBS) (in Spanish). The SBS regulates and supervises the financial, insurance and private funds systems, and prevents and detects money laundering and terrorism financing.

Accommodation and buying property

See buying a property abroad.

Driving in Peru

In Peru, you can drive for up to 6 months using a UK driving license and up to 1 year with an International Driving Permit. Carry your passport with you at all times when driving.

For information on driving in Peru and how to obtain the relevant permissions for your vehicle or how to obtain a local driving license, please contact Peru’s Ministry of Transport ( in Spanish).

Driving standards in Peru are poor. The SOAT is a mandatory vehicle insurance established by law that guarantees the immediate attention of road accident victims.

Driving abroad https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad

If you are asked for a letter authenticating, certifying or validating your UK driver’s licence, you should contact your UK issuing office (eg the DVLA)

Please see guidance for travelling by road in Peru

If you wish to take your vehicle with you, see (https://www.gov.uk/taking-vehicles-out-of-uk )

Disabled drivers

If you have a UK Blue Badge and live In Peru, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.

Voting

You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:

Births, deaths, marriage and civil partnership

Births

If your child is born in Peru you should register the birth with the local authorities. You can then register with the UK authorities and apply for a UK birth certificate.

If your child has British nationality you do not need to register the birth with the UK authorities to apply for a British passport.

Deaths

If someone dies in Peru read our guidance on:

Marriage and civil partnerships

Find out how you can get married or get a civil partnership abroad.

You may also need guidance on notarial and documentary services in Peru or list of lawyers in Peru

Pets

Read guidance on:

If you are moving to Peru with your pet, read the guidance and ensure you comply with the regulations on

To visit other countries with your pet, check the rules for the country you are travelling to. Contact your vet to get the travel documents your pet needs.

Read guidance on:

Emergencies

Peru uses the following emergency numbers:

  • Dial 105 (Police)
  • Dial 116 (Fire Brigade)
  • Dial 107 (Covid-19)
  • Dial 114 (Missing person)

In the case of domestic violence, if you want to report it to the Police, you should call the police on 105. The Peruvian Government has a number set up to address domestic violence, line 100 (information is only available in Spanish), where you can receive guidance and report incidents.

More information on violence against women can be found on the Ministry of Women website (in Spanish).

If you are a victim of sexual assault in Peru, please red our guidance for victims of sexual assault in Peru. You may need to get in contact with a lawyer, list of lawyers in Peru.

See also https://www.gov.uk/guidance/victim-of-rape-and-sexual-assault-abroad

If you are the victim of a crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis, contact the British Embassy in Lima at our 24/7 number: 01 617 3000.

Read the guidance on international parental child abduction if your child may be at risk of this.

Returning to the UK

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on bringing family members, tax and access to services.

Updates to this page

Published 8 January 2014
Last updated 22 October 2024 + show all updates

  1. Information has been updated.

  2. We have removed the Coronavirus section.

  3. Living in Peru guide reviewed and updated - August 2021

  4. Added new information about COVID-19 vaccines for UK nationals

  5. Updated guidance - December 2020

  6. First published.

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