Peru: Technical Issues with Online Visa Application System Causing Delays and May Result in Travel Restrictions

The National Superintendence of Immigration’s online visa application system is experiencing technical issues, preventing foreign nationals (and their authorized third parties) from scheduling appointments for several immigration services. It is not clear when the issue will be resolved. Notably, technical issues are currently preventing foreign nationals from scheduling biometric appointments. Foreign nationals applying for initial visas from within Peru, and their employers, should account for delays in work start dates, as all in-country visa options involve submitting biometrics. Furthermore, foreign nationals who file their in-country initial visa application but cannot schedule a biometrics appointment will face travel restrictions, since Exit Permits (which are issued to foreign nationals with pending immigration applications in order to travel) are only issued after a biometrics appointment is scheduled. Technical issues are also preventing foreign nationals with approved visas from scheduling appointments to collect their Peruvian Identity Cards. Foreign nationals must obtain a Peruvian identity card to be enrolled in the local payroll and initiate certain administrative processes in Peru. Lastly, technical issues are also preventing foreign nationals from scheduling in-person meetings with immigration authorities to follow up on complex or delayed immigration applications, which may cause additional processing delays for those applications. Fragomen is actively monitoring the system and reaching out to affected clients. We will report on any developments.