Your first 90 days in Peru: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · July 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
Residence lapses automatically after more than 183 consecutive days outside Peru in any 365-day period (permanent residents: 365 days) unless Migraciones authorizes the absence in advance.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Inscription in the Registro Central de Extranjería (RCE), then collect the carné de extranjería
After the residence permit is approved — filed online (free); no separate statutory window published
Runs through the Agencia Digital Migratoria: the electronic registration certificate arrives first, the physical carné days later by appointment.
Get your RUC (Registro Único de Contribuyentes), from SUNAT
Freelancing and invoicing (recibos por honorarios), formal contracts and some bank products require it.
Issued by SUNAT online or in office with the carné de extranjería.
Open a bank account
Most banks require the carné de extranjería; a few open accounts on passport plus visa-in-process. FATCA paperwork is routine for US persons, and Wise bridging is common until the carné arrives.
Enrol in healthcare
Employees are auto-enrolled in EsSalud; carné holders without other coverage can register with the public SIS. Private EPS plans dominate among foreign residents in Lima.
Sort your driver's license
A foreign license covers only the first 6 months; the MTC canje needs the carné, a health certificate, certification of the license — and a theory exam, since the US is not among the exempt treaty countries.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
Moving to Peru?
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Peru: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Peru?
Inscription in the Registro Central de Extranjería (RCE), then collect the carné de extranjería — After the residence permit is approved — filed online (free); no separate statutory window published. Runs through the Agencia Digital Migratoria: the electronic registration certificate arrives first, the physical carné days later by appointment. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the RUC and do I need one?
RUC (Registro Único de Contribuyentes), from SUNAT is Peru's personal tax/ID number. Freelancing and invoicing (recibos por honorarios), formal contracts and some bank products require it. Issued by SUNAT online or in office with the carné de extranjería.
Can I drive in Peru on a US license?
A foreign license covers only the first 6 months; the MTC canje needs the carné, a health certificate, certification of the license — and a theory exam, since the US is not among the exempt treaty countries. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Peru?
Employees are auto-enrolled in EsSalud; carné holders without other coverage can register with the public SIS. Private EPS plans dominate among foreign residents in Lima. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Peru's system treats foreign residents.