Moving to Peru – A Guide for Safe Residency

Are you wondering about relocating to one of the most multicultural and vibrant countries?  If so, then Peru might be your preferred destination!

Moving to Peru offers an opportunity to enhance your life by discovering its rich history, geography, gastronomy, and landscape, which range from the capital city’s coastal regions and the dunes of Ica to the Peruvian Amazon.

If you wish to find out more details about relocating to Peru, IMovingTo is here to provide you with further guidance for your upcoming trip!

Living in Peru as an Expat

The culture of Peru is a wonderful fusion of indigenous and Hispanic customs. The 2 main indigenous groups of Peru are the Quechua and the Aymara, who both speak their native tongues. Despite the rise of globalization, these Inca descendants have successfully created and maintained their proud culture.

Families and friendships are highly valued by Peruvians. The social life of Peruvians is inviting. Over lunch on the weekends, they would frequently come together and spend a lot of time together.

Despite being entirely in the tropics, where you would anticipate a warm to hot and humid temperature year-round, the country has a wide variety of climates thanks to a special combination of tropical latitude, the Pacific Ocean, the Andes Mountain range, and unique topography.

Cost of Living & Career Opportunities in Peru

Since you can generally meet your essential needs in Peru for $2,000 per month or less, it is considered one of the least expensive countries in South America to live in.

• In a mid-range restaurant in Peru, you can get an excellent meal for two individuals for only about $14.
• In Peru, a monthly pass for public transportation costs about $30, whereas a one-way ticket costs less than $1.
• While the Internet costs approximately $40 per month in Peru, utilities are not overly expensive.
• A membership to a fitness center or gym will set you back about $40, whereas $5 lets you into a movie theater, which is a reasonably inexpensive pastime.
• The average monthly salary for an employee in Peru is around $383.

Agriculture, fishing, mining, and manufacturing have traditionally been the main industries in Peru that provide employment, but the services sector has fallen behind in terms of development.

The websites of several international corporations usually contain sections dedicated to open positions, so looking at them may help you in your search. Additionally, there are a lot of locally and internationally accessible job portals you can take advantage of while looking for employment, such as Bolsa Laboral Lima, Aptitus, Laborum Peru, and Indeed Peru. 

Visa Types & Permit Requirements

For 183 days, citizens of the EU, the USA, Australia, or New Zealand do not need visas to enter and work in Peru. However, regardless of the length of their stay, all citizens of African and Asian countries need to apply for a visa before moving there.

In Peru, there are 2 primary categories of visas:

• The tourist visa is valid for 90 or 183 days. It is given as a stamp on your passport upon arrival in the country. After receiving the tourist visa, you can apply for a job and once you secure work, you can also apply for a Peruvian working visa.
• Anyone intending to run a business in Peru requires a business visa. You should send a letter from your company to the Peruvian Chamber of Commerce outlining the nature of your business and the duration of your stay, along with a valid passport.

It is recommended that you visit the Peruvian embassy or consulate nearest to you well before your upcoming relocation to Peru to learn more about alternative visa types and to obtain information on precisely which forms you will need to complete.

A Brief Overview of the Peruvian Healthcare System

It is recommended to have a reliable private international healthcare policy if you intend to relocate to Peru. The World Health Organization regrettably rates Peru’s healthcare system as among the least equitably funded in the world. This happens because the majority of Peruvians earn inadequate funds to cover the high expenses related to healthcare.

Aside from the expensive health insurance system, Peruvian hospitals have high standards, and the country’s main towns, like Lima and Arequipa, are home to a huge number of private health clinics.

Before moving to Peru, get a general checkup with your doctor to make sure you are up to date on all necessary immunizations. Currently, the WHO advises travelers coming from Europe to Peru to have typhoid, hepatitis A and B, yellow fever, and rabies vaccinations. Take precautions against mosquito bites if you’re thinking of going to the Amazon rainforest region because malaria is still a risk of infection there.

What Does the Transportation System Look Like in Peru?

With more than 234 airports, 5 of which are international, nearly 2,000 km of railways, and more than 137,000 km of roadways, traveling to and within Peru isn’t a problem.

Peru’s main highways are in excellent condition, are controlled by traffic police, and have prompt access to emergency services.

While the Metropolitano, a rapid bus service, and the electric train system are examples of official transportation options, there are numerous bus companies as well that run routes practically everywhere in the country, offering services that vary in terms of comfortability, speed, and value.

If you want to drive in Peru, keep a copy of your passport, your driver’s license, and a rental agreement with you at all times if the car is rented. International driver’s licenses are valid for 1 year, while licenses from any other country are only valid for 30 days.

How to Get Accommodation in Peru

Due to a lack of suitable rental housing in Peru, finding a property to rent might be difficult. This is why many expats decide to use a real estate agency to save time and reduce stress. Rental advertisements can also be found in local journals and newspapers, but understanding them will require a basic command of Spanish.

Additionally, you can search for a property online at several well-known websites:

• Peru Inmobiliaria
• Compra Venta
• Urbania

Property can be bought in Peru by both locals and foreigners. Except for properties near Peru’s borders, any government institutions, or any military bases, investing in Peruvian real estate usually does not require government approval.

It is highly recommended that you consult with a professional real estate agent throughout the purchasing process unless you speak Spanish well. An agent can help the process run as smoothly as possible by assisting you with all of the local nuances and laws.

Moving Your Household Belongings

Since the customs process is quite complicated, if you are arranging the relocation to Peru independently, you will need to identify what documents are required and what import taxes and duties are expected. Considering this, you will probably need to take advantage of international moving companies that will arrange any customs and importation documents on your behalf.

For further guidance, they frequently provide international moving and packing services as well. So, you can benefit from comprehensive assistance regarding your relocation based on predetermined criteria.

It would probably take 2 to 3 days to transport your belongings by plane to Peru. Air freight is not recommended unless you need to move quickly because it is also very expensive.

For those traveling on a tight budget, sea freight is the best option because it is substantially less expensive than air freight, typically costing around five times less. It’s advisable to make your plans well in advance because cargo ships are slow and typically take several weeks to get to their destination.

Best & Worst Places to Live in Peru

Best cities to live in Peru

Arequipa

Arequipa is the second-largest city in Peru, with a population of just over a million. Along with textiles, farming, and mining, tourism is one of its main industries. Arequipa is unique in its gastronomic scene. Peruvian regional food is served in its traditional restaurants at reasonable prices in a social setting.

Lima

The vast capital city of Peru, Lima, home to more than 10 million people, is where most foreigners reside. The majority of foreigners are drawn to these areas by the dense concentration of art galleries, fancy restaurants, glamorous stores, and vibrant nightlife.

Two cities to avoid in Peru

Tumbes

In Tumbes, tropical woods, banana plantations, mangroves, and white sand beaches replace the coastal desert that extends from the Chilean desert in the south. The average annual temperature in Tumbes remains about 80 degrees Fahrenheit, making it a very hot and humid city. Although most of the year is very dry, the South American summer, which lasts from January through April, can bring about heavy rains.

Juliaca

In addition to having a cold, windy climate and being a very unattractive city, Juliaca is considered a hotbed of criminality. As a matter of fact, 60% of the population of Juliaca is thought to be directly or indirectly involved in illegal actions, including the smuggling of cocaine and gold.

Pros & Cons of Living in Peru

Pros

Sunny beaches

Peru has an expansive 2,500 km coastline, which is home to several stunning beaches. If you want to surf the longest wave in the world, relax in one of the numerous resorts, or simply walk down the beach that looks out over the ocean, Peru has everything to offer.

Mouth melting gastronomy

There are multiple restaurants here that truly qualify as world-class, and Peruvian chefs are innovative and progressive, and use local, fresh ingredients to elevate the country’s traditional gastronomy to new heights.

Peru’s food will excite you if you enjoy fresh fish, unique ingredients, and inexpensive dining out.

Festive locals

Peru becomes the heart of the nightlife during the weekends. There are a lot of people on the streets, and they’re all trying to have fun. Depending on who is hosting, parties can begin later in the evening at around 11 PM and occasionally last until 6 AM.

Cons

Language barrier

Making new friends, communicating with store employees, or even just random strangers on the street will be difficult if you don’t speak the language, which may make you feel lonely. To blend in, it’s essential to at least know the fundamentals. Searching for a translation tool or using the well-known language-learning app Duolingo could be a solution to this problem.

Natural disasters

You have a probability of experiencing natural disasters if you live in Peru. Flooding and landslides are frequent due to the country’s location in a seismic zone. Being ready for these occurrences and knowing what to do in an emergency is necessary if you reside in Peru.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, Peru is one of the most convenient countries for relocation if you’re looking to explore its rich history, gastronomy, and a wide variety of geographical landscapes.

So, take advantage of IMovingTo’s services for international relocation services, and we’ll make sure to expedite your moving process without any hesitation!