Work permits and visas in Peru: an employer’s guide

If you’ve found the perfect candidate or want to relocate an existing employee to Peru, they’ll need the right to work there and all the relevant work permits or visas.

Given that highly skilled work is more regulated in Peru, an international employer may end up on a slippery slope of non-compliance when hiring an employee or a contractor under conditions that might violate local labor laws and regulations. 

Some employers rely on an employer of record (EOR) to make global hiring quick and easy. In addition to helping you hire and manage team members compliantly abroad, an EOR like Remote also provides immigration and relocation services, which makes it the best choice while hiring in Peru. 

But first, let's discuss the process of obtaining the relevant work permits and visas in Peru.

The importance of immigration compliance in Peru

While hiring a remote employee, contractor, or digital nomad, employers always need to make sure team members are authorized to work in the country of hiring.

Legal tax status is one of the most important reasons why proper right-to-work permits and checks should be documented appropriately. If a business is non-compliant with Peru's laws, this presents regulatory risks, starting with fines and extending to civil and criminal offenses. 

There are specific work visas and permits in Peru based on each applicant’s status and other criteria. Failing to comply with specifications can lead to harsh penalties for the employer. 

In Peru, several work-related visas and permits are specified for each applicant's status and according to certain criteria, making infringements unjustifiable and harshly penalized. 

A non-citizen choosing to work remotely in the country for a Peru-based employer may also have to consider additional tax compliance requirements specified by Peru's National Authority of Customs and Tax Administration (" Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas y de Administración Tributaria," SUNAT).

Keep in mind that if a person on a tourist visa in Peru is found to be engaging in work, they are likely to be fined or even deported for working without a relevant visa. 

So if you're an employer hiring non-citizens in Peru, make sure each of your workers' visas and permits (if and when applicable) are valid and relevant.

Who needs a work authorization check in Peru?

In Peru, no work authorization checks are specified unless required by every employer separately under an employment contract for citizens and non-citizens.

Navigating the complex requirements of various work visas and permits in Peru can be a hassle for employers, who’ll need to understand immigration laws and manage the paperwork. Here is where Remote can be of enormous value.

At Remote, our world-class Mobility team is equipped to simplify and speed up the work visa and permit application process: quickly, smoothly, and compliantly. Using our in-house legal expertise and sophisticated software, our experts can perform right-to-work checks, revalidate misplaced application requests, and secure employees the right visa seamlessly.

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Do non-citizens need a work visa or work permit in Peru?

Yes. Non-citizens can work and stay in Peru legally if they have one of the following visas: 

Resident worker visa: For foreign employees or contractors who wish to work for a company based in Peru. This visa is valid for up to one year, but be renewed as long as you have stayed in Peru for 183 days in the year, and you’re still employed by the company.  

Designated worker visa: This visa applies to foreign workers who want to work in Peru on behalf of a company abroad. It’s offered when a service agreement confirms that a foreign company and a Peruvian company intend to hire a foreign employee in Peru.

After three years of living in Peru on the resident worker visa, the employee can apply for permanent residency, which gives them the right to live and work in Peru for an indefinite period.

• Resident Worker:  For workers who have an employment contract, an administrative relationship, or a service provision contract in Peru

• Extraordinary Work: For individuals who wish to carry out a professional internship or teaching activities (for a maximum period of 60 days), and who are already resident in Peru under a temporary immigration or valid residence card.

• Temporary Quality Visa, which is intended for athletes, artists, student-workers, and highly specialized persons working in international cooperation who wish to perform an economic or educational activity in Peru.

• Designated Resident Immigration Visa, which is for non-citizens who are highly specialized in technical assistance, corporate audits, and consultation.

What are the eligibility requirements to apply for a work visa in Peru?

You can apply online for the Resident Worker to work in Peru. The required documentation includes:

• Visa form

• Visa receipt number and payment date

• Copy of current passport

• Criminal and judicial record

• Copy of employment contract

• Sworn statement of contracting company's legal representative, including worker's full name.

The following documents are required for the designated worker visa:

• Visa form

• Visa receipt number and date of payment

• Copy of current passport

• Criminal and judicial record

• Copy of service contract cosigned by an international organization and a natural or legal service-receiving person 

• Copy of designation document signed by the international organization indicating all names, number of travel documents, specialty, and service duration for each individual

• Copy from a Peruvian company receiving such service, indicating all names, number of travel documents, specialty, and service duration for each individual.

As you can see, understanding immigration laws and applying for the relevant work permits in Peru can be a hassle for employers. That is why reaching out to an established employer of record (EOR) such as Remote helps make the relocation process — including visa processing and permit issuance procedures — a breeze. 

What is the process for employee work visa sponsorship in Peru?

There are no formal or specific employee work visa sponsorship programs in Peru. Instead, non-citizens who wish to work and stay in Peru need to do so independently or based on a notarized invitation from a Peru-based employer, as in the case of the Resident Worker visa. 

Employers and employees can face regulatory liabilities if they are found to be non-compliant with Peru’s immigration laws. Working with a global employment partner like Remote can help employers navigate Peru's labor laws and regulations quickly and compliantly. 

Through our end-to-end and purpose-built Remote Relocation service, Remote not only speeds up your work visa and permit process for your workers but also helps you:

• Complete and submit employee and independent contractor details and applications to relevant authorities

• Survey your existing workforce and prospects, so all documentation is done properly

• Perform in-depth right-to-work checks, so your employees and prospects are properly vetted and eligible for work in Peru

• Conduct pre-hiring assessments 

• Onboard successful candidates following necessary approvals.

What are the visa requirements for digital nomads in Peru?

There are no specific digital nomad visas or programs in Peru. Digital nomads can use the temporary work visa to enter Peru for the short term, which allows them to stay in the country for up to 183 days. If they wish to stay for a longer period, they can apply for a Resident Worker visa in Peru.

A new teleworking law has been published for workers who want to work remotely inside or outside the country. For more details, check out Telework Law No. 31572. 

Why use an employer of record to hire in the Netherlands?

To hire employees in Peru, you’ll have to establish your own legal entity in the country if you don’t have one. This is an expensive and time-consuming process in itself. In addition to understanding local labor and taxation laws, you’ll have to establish systems that can help you hire and pay team members compliantly. Working with an EOR can make things simple for you. An EOR can hire and pay employees on your behalf and handle the legal responsibilities of hiring abroad, including onboarding, benefits, payroll management, immigration, and compliance with local laws.

Navigating work permits and visas in Peru with Remote

In Peru, a combination of informal work culture and a lack of specific laws and regulations around work permits and work authorization makes it a challenging destination to do business. However, this shouldn’t stop you from hiring or relocating a team member to the country.

A global HR platform like Remote has the best-in-industry expertise and local insights to help you expand your business in Peru and beyond. Our Mobility team can help you:

• Fulfill all immigration and visa requirements for your employees and contractors, by ensuring all applications are made according to exact specifications and requirements

• Understand international taxation, by providing expert tax guidance on differences between tax systems in Peru and any other jurisdiction you already operate in 

• Avoid permanent establishment risk, by providing legal advice on ways how business establishment evolves, so you are aware of up-to-date developments in compliance regulations and rules

• Stay compliant with local employment laws and regulations, by ensuring your hiring procedures and practices are well aligned to the most recent labor developments in Peru.

Download Remote’s Relocation Guide to learn more about how you can streamline the process of employee relocation. Or book a call with one of our Mobility experts to get the process moving along today!

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