Countries › Peru › Guide › 8. Immigration › Andean and MERCOSUR residence in Peru: two year regional residence without a job offer and the switch to permanent

Andean and MERCOSUR residence in Peru: two year regional residence without a job offer and the switch to permanent

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Last verified: 2026-10-28 · Status: Stable

Nationals of Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador (Andean Migration Statute, Decision 878) and of MERCOSUR States Parties (2002 Residence Agreement) can get a two year temporary residence in Peru without an employment contract or investment, and then switch to permanent residence within the 90 days before it expires by showing lawful means of living. Fees are S/ 58.80 from abroad and S/ 161.40 inside Peru. Andean residents may work employed or self employed on the same terms as nationals.

USD figures use S/ 3.452 per US dollar, the banking system selling rate published by the Superintendencia de Banca, Seguros y AFP for 27 October 2026, from the Banco Central de Reserva del Perú statistics series PD04640PD. Conversions are for orientation only.

Key facts

Term of the Temporary Andean Residence in Peru, not renewable	2 yearsTUPA Migraciones PA3500765D; Decision 878, as of 2026-10-28 · in force
Migraciones fee for the Temporary Andean Residence from abroad	58.8 PENTUPA Migraciones PA3500765D, as of 2026-10-28 · in force
Maximum tourist stay per year for Andean citizens entering with a national ID	180 daysDecision 878 art. 16, as of 2026-10-28 · in force
Term of the MERCOSUR temporary residence in Peru, not renewable	2 yearsTUPA Migraciones PA35007DC1, as of 2026-10-28 · in force
Migraciones fee for the MERCOSUR temporary residence from abroad	58.8 PENTUPA Migraciones PA35007DC1, as of 2026-10-28 · in force
Window before expiry of the temporary residence to request Andean or MERCOSUR permanent residence	90 daysTUPA Migraciones PA3500E6F2 and PA3500781F, as of 2026-10-28 · in force

The rule

1. The Convenios internacionales residence status lets nationals of countries with which Peru has treaties providing for residence live in Peru; the term and conditions are those of the applicable treaty, and Migraciones grants it.Decreto Legislativo Nº 1350, Decreto Legislativo de Migraciones, as amended by Decreto Legislativo Nº 1582, Art. 29.2 p, 2023-11-14 official text · verified 2026-10-28

2. Andean Migration Statute: nationals of Andean Community member countries can obtain a Temporary Andean Residence and then a Permanent Andean Residence in another member country. The temporary residence can be requested at a consulate or, if already in the country, before the migration authority whatever the status held, and this exempts the applicant from fines or heavier sanctions. Temporary and permanent Andean residents may take up any activity, employed or self employed, on the same conditions as nationals; permanent residents enjoy the same civil, social, cultural and economic rights as nationals. The permanent residence is requested within the 90 days before the temporary one expires, with proof of lawful means of living for the applicant and family.Decisión Nº 878 de la Comunidad Andina, Estatuto Migratorio Andino (Gaceta Oficial del Acuerdo de Cartagena Nº 4239), Art. 18 to 23, 2021-05-12 official text · verified 2026-10-28

3. Andean citizens may enter another member country as tourists with only a valid national identity document and no visa, for 90 days extendable by another 90, without exceeding 180 calendar days in the same year. In Peru the tourist extension is filed within the 30 days before expiry and decided within 5 business days.
Cost to do it: Tourist extension S/ 17.70 (about US$5.13).Decisión Nº 878 de la Comunidad Andina, Estatuto Migratorio Andino; Texto Único de Procedimientos Administrativos (TUPA) de la Superintendencia Nacional de Migraciones, as modified by Resolución de Superintendencia Nº 000150-2025-MIGRACIONES, Decision 878 art. 16; TUPA procedure PA350042D2, 2021-05-12 official text · verified 2026-10-28

4. In Peru, the Temporary Andean Residence is open to nationals of Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador (and others covered by the Statute) and lasts two years, not renewable, with the carné de extranjería as the document. The file needs a travel document valid for at least six months, a current certificate of no police, judicial or criminal record in the country of nationality or residence for the previous five years (apostilled or consular certified) and a written statement of intent to reside. The Permanent Andean Residence is a change of status filed in person within the 90 days before the temporary residence expires, with proof of lawful means of living and no record in Peru. Each is decided within 30 business days.
Cost to do it: Temporary from abroad S/ 58.80 (about US$17.03); temporary as change inside Peru S/ 161.40 (about US$46.76); permanent S/ 161.40 (about US$46.76).Texto Único de Procedimientos Administrativos (TUPA) de la Superintendencia Nacional de Migraciones, as modified by Resolución de Superintendencia Nº 000150-2025-MIGRACIONES, Procedures PA3500765D (Solicitud, Residencia Temporal Andina), PA3500F325 (Cambio, Residencia Temporal Andina) and PA3500781F (Cambio, Residencia Permanente Andina), 2025-12-12 official text · verified 2026-10-28

5. MERCOSUR residence: under the Agreement on Residence for Nationals of the States Parties of MERCOSUR, Bolivia and Chile (2002), Peru grants a two year temporary residence, not renewable, to nationals of MERCOSUR States Parties, extendable to family members of other nationalities, with multiple entries. From abroad the request goes through a Peruvian consulate. The file needs a valid passport or identity card proving nationality, birth and civil status documents where needed, five year record certificates and sworn statements of no international or Peruvian record. The permanent residence is a change of status filed within the 90 days before the temporary residence expires, with proof of lawful means of living for the applicant and the cohabiting family.
Cost to do it: Temporary from abroad S/ 58.80 (about US$17.03); temporary as change inside Peru S/ 161.40 (about US$46.76); permanent S/ 161.40 (about US$46.76).Texto Único de Procedimientos Administrativos (TUPA) de la Superintendencia Nacional de Migraciones, as modified by Resolución de Superintendencia Nº 000150-2025-MIGRACIONES, Procedures PA35007DC1 (Solicitud, Residencia Temporaria por MERCOSUR), PA3500C132 (Cambio, Residencia Temporaria) and PA3500E6F2 (Cambio, Residencia Permanente); base legal Reglamento art. 94-C (added by DS 004-2023-IN) and Agreement art. 1, 3, 5 and 14, 2025-12-12 official text · verified 2026-10-28

6. Andean Community members had to set up, progressively and no later than 11 February 2026, special migration control lanes for Andean citizens and their families.Decisión Nº 934 de la Comunidad Andina, substituting art. 13 of Decisión Nº 878 (Gaceta Oficial del Acuerdo de Cartagena Nº 5548), Art. 1, 2024-09-10 official text · verified 2026-10-28 · changed: Decision 934 (10 September 2024) replaced article 13 of Decision 878 and set 11 February 2026 as the deadline for the special lanes.

Route	Who	Temporary	Permanent	Fees
Andean (Decision 878)	Nationals of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and others under the Statute	2 years; travel document, records, statement of intent	File within 90 days before expiry; lawful means of living	S/ 58.80 (US$17.03) from abroad; S/ 161.40 (US$46.76) in Peru
MERCOSUR (2002 Agreement)	Nationals of MERCOSUR States Parties, plus family	2 years; nationality proof, records, sworn statements	File within 90 days before expiry; lawful means of living	S/ 58.80 (US$17.03) from abroad; S/ 161.40 (US$46.76) in Peru

Regional residence routes in Peru (Decision 878; MERCOSUR Residence Agreement 2002; TUPA Migraciones as modified by RS 000150-2025-MIGRACIONES; S/ 3.452 per US$)

Worked example

A Colombian software developer hired by a Lima startup can skip the employment contract route: from Bogotá, the developer applies for the Temporary Andean Residence (S/ 58.80, about US$17.03) with a passport valid for six months, an apostilled Colombian record certificate and a statement of intent.
The residence lasts two years and allows employed or self employed work on the same terms as Peruvians (Decision 878 art. 20). Note that the Peruvian employer still applies the labor rules on foreign staff; see labor/foreign-workers for the exceptions that may apply to the developer's nationality.
Between month 21 and month 24, the developer files in person for Permanent Andean Residence (S/ 161.40, about US$46.76) with proof of lawful income.
An Argentine national can follow the same pattern under the MERCOSUR route. The Argentine side of the agreement, and Argentina's own rules for Peruvian nationals, are covered at a high level by The Argentine Thread guide.

Step by step

Check the person's nationality: Andean (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador) or a MERCOSUR State Party.
Gather the passport or national ID with six months of validity, apostilled record certificates for the last five years and, for MERCOSUR, birth and civil status documents if nationality or family links must be shown.
Apply at the Peruvian consulate or online from abroad, or as a change of status if already in Peru.
Obtain the carné de extranjería; diary the 90 day window before the two year expiry.
File for permanent residence in person with proof of lawful means of living.

Common traps

The two year temporary residence is not renewable: missing the 90 day window before expiry leaves the holder under ordinary migration rules.
Regional residence does not remove labor law limits on foreign staff; check whether the nationality is covered by a labor reciprocity exception under DL 689 before counting the worker against the caps.
The permanent Andean residence filing is personal and cannot be made through a representative.
Andean tourists entering with an ID card are limited to 180 days a year in total, including the 90 day extension.

Sources

← Permanent residence and Peruvian nationality: the three year switch, the 10 UIT income test, naturalization and nationality by marriageKeeping a Peruvian residence status: extensions, carné renewals, travel and absence permits, and migration fines →

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