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Information for U.S. citizens resident in Peru

For more information on general Consular services for U.S. citizens residING in Peru, please see the State Department publication “Tips for Americans Residing Abroad”.

Updating your Social Security Benefits Information

Recipients of Social Security benefits should report any changes in their personal contact information to the Federal Benefits Unit located in the American Citizen Services Section of the Embassy.  We are open from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday and Wednesday afternoons for Social Security Services.  Additionally, all benefits recipients will receive via mail the bi-annual "Report to the United States Social Security Administration" Form SSA-7162.  This form must be completed promptly by all recipients and may be returned to the Federal Benefits Unit at the U.S. Embassy for mailing.  The Social Security Administration must receive the completed form within 60 days or benefits will be suspended.

Absentee Voting

The 2006-2007 Voting Assistance Guide has arrived at the Embassy.  It contains the latest information about where to send your voter registration.  Stop by the Embassy, fill out a Federal Post Card Registration and Absentee Ballot Request (the FPCA), and we will make sure that it is submitted to the proper official.  The Federal Voting Assistance Program recommends that each citizen submit an FPCA to his or her state of legal residence in January of each year, and again each time there is a change in the citizen's mailing address.  More information is also available on the Federal Voting Assistance Program website at http://www.fvap.gov. See more information here.

Marriage in Peru

Local authorities usually require that single U.S. citizens marrying in Peru present a sworn statement (known locally as a certificado de solteria) stating that they are legally free to marry in Peru.  This document can be prepared by American Citizen Services at the Embassy and must be signed in front of and notarized by a Consular official.  Divorced U.S. citizens will need to present an official copy of their divorce decree.

U.S. citizens are also usually required to provide a legalized copy of their birth certificate to local officials, which must be translated into Spanish.  The American Citizen Services section does not provide translation services, but can provide a list of local translation services.  American Citizen Services can also make certified true copies of legal documents from certain states (click here for more information on certified true copies).  However, American Citizen Services strongly recommends that U.S. citizens intending to marry in Peru obtain all necessary legal documents, such as birth certificates and divorce records, while in the United States and have them authenticated by a Peruvian Consul in the U.S. before traveling to Peru.   
 
If not previously authenticated by a Peruvian Consul in the U.S., the U.S. documents must be legalized in Peru by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  
 
Marriage in Peru is performed according to the Peruvian law, and specific questions on the process should be addressed to a Peruvian attorney or local authorities. 

In order to reside in or travel to the United States, Peruvian citizens are required to have a passport with the appropriate U.S. visa.  Please see the Immigrant Visa or Nonimmigrant Visa sections for more information.

Information about Avian Influenza

Recent events have highlighted concerns surrounding H5N1 Avian Influenza, or "bird flu".  American citizens visiting or living in Peru should review the Department of State Avian Flu Fact Sheet for important information about avian flu.  While useful for travelers, the Avian Influenza Frequently Asked Questions page is particularly relevant to Americans living overseas.

More Information from the Department of State

The Department of State regularly publishes Consular Information Sheets, Public Announcements, and Travels Warnings.

  • Consular Information Sheets are available for every country of the world. They include such information as location of the U.S. embassy or consulate in the subject country, unusual immigration practices, health conditions, minor political disturbances, unusual currency and entry regulations, crime and security information, and drug penalties.  Peru’s Consular Information Sheet can be accessed via this link.
  • Public Announcements are a means to disseminate information about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term and/or trans-national conditions posing significant risks to the security of American travelers.  There are currently no Public Announcements for Peru, but there is a current Worldwide Caution, issued 06/06/2006 and set to expire 12/06/2006.
  • Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department decides, based on all relevant information, to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country.  There are currently no Travel Warnings for Peru. 

All of these documents can be accessed at the Department of State web page at http://travel.state.gov/travel.