Peru

Peru: New Law to Simplify Immigration Categories, Allow Spouses to Work, Among Other Changes

A new law effective March 1, 2017 will reorganize Peru’s immigration categories into temporary and resident categories, will allow foreign nationals to work in the public sector, and will relax travel bans but create new fines for foreign nationals violating immigration laws, among other changes.

New Immigration Category: Temporary Workers

The immigration category for temporary workers is meant for short-term workers. It includes the following key subcategories, among others:

Mexico: Exemptions for visa nationals expanded

A new law exempts visa nationals with a Canadian, Japanese, Schengen or UK visa from business, tourist and transit visa requirements for up to 180 days, effective immediately. This policy expands the current exemption available to visa nationals who hold a U.S. visa. 

Additionally, visa nationals who are permanent residents of Chile, Colombia or Peru will be exempt from business, tourist and transit visa requirements for up to 180 days on or after July 1, 2016. The current exemption is available to visa nationals with permanent residence in Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States or the Schengen Area countries

Latin America: Holy Week closures to cause delays

Public offices in the Latin American region will be closed parts of this week due to the observance of Easter and Holy Week. The following are notable closures:

Global: Immigration processing during the holiday season

During the holiday season, many government offices worldwide will close or have reduced staff and hours of operation, likely resulting in processing delays for work permits, residence permits and visas over the coming weeks and into the new year.The following is a non-exhaustive list of immigration office and government closings during the holiday season. Employers and foreign nationals with travel or relocation plans between now and early 2016 should contact their immigration service provider to discuss the impact of holiday closures on their specific circumstances.

Forthcoming law to restructure work visa categories in Peru

Peru recently enacted an immigration reform measure that will restructure the country’s system of work visa classifications once the regulations are published.

Under the reformed system, Peru will offer two new short-term worker visas; a Temporary Worker Resident Visa for intra-company transferees that will be valid for a non-renewable two-year period; and a separate Worker Visa (WRA) that will be available as a renewable, one-year temporary visa or a provisional two-year visa that could be converted into permanent status. Eligibility requirements for the new visas and details of the new non-compliance sanctions will be determined by the upcoming regulations.